EXCLUSIVE: Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator and director of Netflix’s global juggernaut Squid Game, is set to be feted with the Creator Tribute at the second annual Gotham Television Awards, taking place at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City on Monday, June 2nd and livestreaming on YouTube.
The Gotham Television Awards Creator Tribute was created last year to recognize the artists and creators who have enriched the landscape and pushed the boundaries of TV. Peter Morgan, creator of Netflix’s The Crown, was its first recipient. Director Hwang’s individual honor comes following The Gothams’ recognition of Squid Game with the competitive award for Best Long Form Breakthrough Series back in 2021.
“Since Squid Game‘s breakout win at The Gotham Awards four years ago, its ascent has been nothing short of extraordinary—earning global acclaim, sweeping honors, and cementing its place as a landmark in modern television,” said The Gotham’s Executive Director, Jeffrey Sharp. “With his genre-defying series, Director Hwang has reshaped the possibilities of episodic storytelling, captivating audiences worldwide with a series that is both thrilling and culturally defining. We are proud to recognize Squid Game and Director Hwang in this final chapter, in what promises to be an unforgettable moment at this year’s Gotham Television Awards.”
Now Netflix’s most popular show of all time, which has become its own franchise — spawning a reality competition series, a touring fan activation, and a video game — Squid Game amassed 1.65 billion viewing hours in its first 28 days on the service. The show also made Emmys history with 14 nominations and six wins, including Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series, a first for a non-English language show. The honor made Dong-hyuk the first Asian recipient in the category and the first native Korean winner.
Season 2, which premiered this past December, broke streaming records with the most views for a show in its premiere week and entered Netflix’s Most Popular Non-English TV list within three days. The third and final season of Squid Game is set to premiere globally on June 27.
Along with Director Hwang, Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino — the creators of Prime Video’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and new ballet series Étoile — will be recognized with the Creator Tribute, as previously announced
