Dhaka, June 27 -- Fans of Netflix's global hit Squid Game were bracing for shocking twists in the series finale-but few could have predicted the show-stopping surprise that closed out the final season.

In the closing moments of the last episode, the camera cuts to Los Angeles, where Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett appears, playing a character recruiting Americans for what appears to be a US version of the deadly competition.

The unexpected cameo instantly fuels speculation about the future of Squid Game, suggesting a possible US spinoff of the Korean dystopian thriller. So far, details remain scarce on who might direct the next chapter, who else will join the cast or how involved series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk will be, as reported ...