T.O.P Opens Up About His Approach To Playing His Iconic “Squid Game 2” Character
Spoiler Alert
Fans of former BIGBANG member T.O.P (also known as Choi Seung Hyun) have anticipated the idol-actor’s role in the second season of Netflix‘s hit series Squid Game.
T.O.P portrayed Player 230, Thanos, a retired rapper who lost everything to a cryptocurrency scam. Another characteristic of Thanos is that he is eccentric and seems to abuse substances.
In an interview with PEOPLE, director Hwang Dong Hyuk acknowledged that the character shares some similarities to T.O.P. While both T.O.P and his character are rappers, Hwang also noted that this role is a comeback for T.O.P following his previous drug scandal. In July 2017, T.O.P was given a 10-month jail sentence and a two-year suspension from his mandatory military service after he was found guilty of using marijuana.
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.
Despite the long hiatus, I have to say, as a director, he performed very impressively and I’m very satisfied with what he did with the character.
— Hwang Dong Hyuk
Now, Thanos has opened up about how he intentionally portrayed his character, although many netizens have joked that T.O.P was let loose without a script.
Seriously obsessed with T.O.P speaking english in the series 😂 idk if this is part of the script or him just adding adlibs 😂#ChoiSeunghyunForSquidGame #SquidGame2
— just winter 🌝🐇 THANOS WORLD (@winterwhatever) December 29, 2024
I really don’t think that the writers of Squid Game gave a script to T.O.P
They just told him to go out and have a good time. https://t.co/xfqQJORhxE
— deni (@solofilmdates) December 27, 2024
T.O.P explained he actually attempted to deliver his lines as authentically as possible. Many have considered him a comedic relief amid the dark show, but T.O.P actually didn’t want to come across as “too lighthearted or comical” but rather “unpredictable and with a couple of loose screws.”
Since I’m a rapper myself, I tried to deliver the lines as natural as possible while not being too lighthearted or comical. My personal goal was to show the viewers a character they hadn’t seen before — someone who is mysterious and unpredictable and with a couple of loose screws.
— T.O.P
Read more about viewers’ reactions to T.O.P’s role below.
