Indian filmmaker
Soham Shah has filed a lawsuit against Netflix and Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator of the hit series Squid Game, alleging plagiarism. Shah claims that the central concept of a deadly competition with a growing jackpot, featured in Squid Game, was first portrayed in his 2009 film Luck.
According to Shah, Luck revolves around a group of people competing in life-threatening games, with the prize money increasing as participants die.
He argues that this plotline is strikingly similar to Squid Game, where financially desperate individuals engage in dangerous games with deadly consequences. Shah's legal team emphasizes that this similarity is not a mere coincidence but rather evidence of plagiarism.
Shah asserts that he conceived the story for Luck around 2006, and the film was subsequently released globally in July 2009. He further notes that Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator of Squid Game, has stated that he began working on the script for his series in the same year, 2009.
What Netflix said in its statement
Netflix and Hwang Dong-hyuk have vehemently denied the accusations.
Netflix stated in a statement, "Squid Game was created and written by Hwang Dong-hyuk, and we intend to defend this matter vigorously." Both parties insist that any resemblance between the two works is purely coincidental and that Squid Game is an entirely original creation.Hwang has previously mentioned that he began developing the script for Squid Game in 2009, the same year Luck was released. However, Netflix maintains that this timeline does not support Shah's claims of plagiarism.
The lawsuit has sparked a legal battle between the two parties. The outcome of the case will determine whether Shah's allegations hold merit and if Squid Game was indeed influenced by his film Luck.