Netflix’s original series “The Devil’s Plan” is gearing up for an ambitious return with its second season, having wrapped up filming on Sep 1. A day later, Netflix and producer Jung Jong-yeon invited the press to tour the expansive studio where production had just concluded. The set is designed with an array of immersive environments, from cozy residential areas to game zones resembling a monastery and even a prison, reflecting the elevated ambitions for “The Devil’s Plan 2.” The series, which captivated a global audience in its first season, is clearly stepping up its game.
Jung Jong-yeon shared some exciting details with reporters, saying, “The number of players has increased to 14. The studio for Season 1 was 600 pyeong (around 21,528 square feet), but this time it’s 1,000 pyeong (about 35,880 square feet), making it roughly 1.8 times larger. Building it took around eight weeks, while the planning phase spanned six to seven months. Having the experience of Season 1 made me even more ambitious for this season.”
The number of cameras used in filming has also significantly increased. Cameras were cleverly hidden throughout the set to capture every moment of the contestants’ experience without interrupting the flow. Jung explained, “As the cast moves between the game area and the living area, staff members discreetly swap memory cards to minimize contact with the contestants. We used about 24 ENG cameras, which were moved between the game and living areas during different phases. Including fixed cameras, we used roughly 150 cameras in total.”
With the expanded set and production scale, labor costs have also risen. A larger filming location means higher expenses for staff, including camera crews and lighting technicians. Jung noted, “While the overall production budget hasn’t skyrocketed, it has gone up by about 20%. Most of these costs are tied to manpower, with labor being the largest portion of the budget.”
The games themselves have also evolved, addressing some of the criticisms from the first season about repetitive content. Jung said, “In the past, while working on ‘The Genius’ and ‘Society Game,’ we continuously developed games with the writers. But feeling the need for more variety this season, we created a dedicated game development team for the first time. I even reached out to some old colleagues from ‘The Genius,’ and we met up on Sundays to brainstorm and test games together. They were thrilled to have their names in the credits of a show they love, and their contributions were invaluable. This season, about half of the games were developed by that team, setting the stage for a longer series run.”
Jung hinted at the show’s long-term vision, saying, “The Devil’s Plan” aims to become a long-running original series. Recently, cast member Kwak Joonbin (KwakTube) won the Best New Male Entertainer Award at the 3rd Blue Dragon Series Awards. Jung commented, “Of course, I’m delighted when a cast member wins an award, but from my perspective, we should be aiming for the Best Program Award. My goal is to create something lasting. While achieving success like ‘Squid Game’ would be wonderful, I simply wish to continue making more seasons. My humble dream is for Netflix to keep appreciating our work and continue releasing new seasons.”
“The Devil’s Plan 2″ is slated for release in the second quarter of 2025. The show has captivated global audiences with its intense competition to find the best strategist, combined with the intrigue of observing diverse human characters and evolving relationships within a community, akin to a social experiment. After its release, the show topped Netflix Korea’s Top 10 Series, entered the Top 10 lists in 23 countries, and ranked third on the Global Top 10 TV Shows (Non-English) list, generating worldwide interest in “The Devil’s Plan.”
