Squid Game has smashed Netflix viewership records once again with its second season.
Created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, the dystopian thriller’s second season picks up three years later, as Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) returns to the games in the hopes of bringing down the organisation entirely.
READ MORE: ‘Squid Game’ season two review: Netflix’s survival thriller will wrap its tentacles around you again
Other returning cast members include Lee Byung-hun as the Front Man, Wi Ha-joon as detective Hwang Jun-ho, and Gong Yoo as the recruiter. Among the newcomers to the cast is Choi Seung-hyun, also known as K-pop star T.O.P, who plays Thanos.
The show’s second and third season were filmed back-to-back, with the latter set to be released at some point in 2025.
Is there a reason Thanos speaks English in Squid Game season 2?
While there’s no concrete explanation from the creators about the characterisation of Thanos in Squid Game season two, his frequent jump between Korean and English is a common trait among Korean rappers.
This can be heard in songs by K-pop bands like BigBang; the group Thanos actor T.O.P was a member of until May 2023. As such, the decision to cast T.O.P for the role of Thanos, who is a wannabe South Korean rapper, is a smart play on the actor’s history.
Why was the casting of T.O.P considered controversial?
Choi Seung-hyun, also known as T.O.P, achieved stardom as a member of K-pop band BigBang. His role in Squid Game season two, however, represents a comeback for the rapper, singer and actor.
In July 2017, T.O.P was found guilty of using marijuana, which is an illegal substance in South Korea. He was given a 10-month prison sentence and a two-year suspension from his mandatory military service, with the ensuing scandal preventing him from doing other projects.
Speaking about the decision to cast T.O.P in Squid Game, show creator Hwang Dong-hyuk said it took “a lot of guts” for the actor to play a character like Thanos, who is also a rapper and is seen taking drugs.
Choi Seung-hyun, aka T.O.P in 2016 CREDIT: Han Myung-Gu/WireImage
“As you may know, the actor Seung-hyun, about nine years ago got involved in a marijuana scandal in Korea and wasn’t able to do any projects for the past nine years in Korea,” Dong-hyuk told People. “And so this is a comeback after quite a long hiatus, and particularly because he portrays a character that’s a rapper and also someone who is on drugs.
“I feel that it took him a lot of guts, in a way, to portray a character, especially someone who shares a lot of similarities that are quite negative to him as a person too. So I think it took him a lot of courage to take on that role.”
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