Cate Blanchett as: An American recruiter

Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Selected Cast: Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Hoyeon, Gong Yoo
Release Year: 2021-2025
Genre: Drama

 

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Hundreds of cash-strapped players accept a strange invitation to compete in children’s games. Inside, a tempting prize awaits — with deadly high stakes.

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Quotes from Others

• Hwang Dong-hyuk:
  — On Cate Blanchett: “We thought having a woman as a recruiter would be more dramatic and intriguing. And as for why Cate Blanchett, she’s just the best, with unmatched charisma. Who doesn’t love her? So we were very happy to have her appear. We needed someone who could dominate the screen with just one or two words, which is exactly what she did. If Gong Yoo is the Korean Recruiter, I thought she would be the perfect fit as the American Recruiter, bringing a short but gripping and impactful ending to the story.”
  — “During the shoot, she reminded me of what true talent looks like. Even with just a few looks and lines, her performance was mesmerizing. She was amazing at playing ddakji. I believe she successfully flipped the ddakji with her first try, and we were able to get that one long take right away.”
  — On how Cate Blanchett’s cameo came about: “In the beginning, I was tossing around different ideas. I thought, “Should it be a man that we see as the recruiter?” But I thought that, unlike in [the] Korea [version], having a woman who’s a recruiter for the American system would be a nice contrast and also quite a powerful, impactful element. So we were set on having a woman. Then I thought, “Who would be the right fit for that?” It’s a very short scene. There’s only one line, so we needed someone who had that level of presence and charisma to completely dominate the screen in that instant. And that naturally led me to Cate Blanchett. I’ve always been a fan of hers. She’s someone who can instantly grab your attention with a single stare. So that’s how that’s how we set on her.”
• Lee Byung-hun:
  — On Cate Blanchett: “We shot our parts separately with just a camera going back and forth. In the end, we parted ways without even saying hi. I actually saw her practicing it for quite a while on set.”

Trivia & Facts

• The first season of the series was released worldwide on September 17, 2021, to critical acclaim and international attention.
• In 2021, it became Netflix’s most-watched series and the most-watched program in 94 countries.
• Hoyeon gained global acclaim through this series. She and Cate Blanchett appeared together on Disclaimer* (2024) directed by Alfonso Cuarón. They also shared the same agent, Hylda Queally.
• The series received accolades from Primetime Emmy Awards (winning six awards Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for Hwang Dong-yuk and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Lee Jung-jae), Golden Globe Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, BAFTA TV Awards and more.