Producer Jeong Jong-Yeon officially confirmed that Netflix's reality competition series "The Devil's Plan" will return for a third season.
Jong-Yeon made the announcement during the Netflix Variety Festival 2025 event held at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul on September 2.
The confirmation comes after the show's second season, titled "The Devil's Plan: Death Room," received mixed reactions from viewers and critics. Jong-Yeon acknowledged the polarized response to the series during his announcement at the festival.
"It was a program that received both a lot of support and a lot of criticism," Jong-Yeon stated. He added, "I felt there are still stories worth exploring. When I asked myself whether it could be better or more entertaining than the previous season, I thought the answer was yes, so we decided to produce Season 3."
The South Korean reality game show features celebrity contestants competing in strategic mind games for a substantial cash prize. The first season premiered in September 2023 and ranked among Netflix's top 10 most-viewed shows in 23 regions. Notable participants in the inaugural season included science YouTuber Orbit, actors Ha Seok Jin and Lee Si Won, with Ha Seok Jin ultimately claiming victory.
The second season, which aired in May 2025, drew criticism from some viewers who felt that certain contestants' actions appeared to favor particular players, reducing the competitive integrity and entertainment value. The season's winner, TV personality Jeong Hyun-gyu, faced significant backlash for his controversial gameplay strategies and issued multiple public apologies during interviews.
Despite the controversy, Jong-Yeon emphasized that unfinished narratives within the show's format motivated the decision to proceed with another installment. The producer, known for creating popular variety shows including "The Genius," "Society Game," "Great Escape," and "High School Mystery Club," joined Kim Tae Ho's production company TEO to develop the series.
The show's format combines collaborative and competitive elements, with contestants managing "Pieces" that determine their survival in the game. Players participate in daily Main Matches and Prize Matches, with elimination occurring when contestants lose all their pieces. The games range from social deduction challenges to board games and abstract strategy competitions.
No specific release date for the third season has been announced. The confirmation comes as part of Netflix's ambitious unscripted programming slate, which plans to launch at least one variety show monthly from September through February 2026.
