“It Required Courage”: Squid Game Season 2 Creator Addresses Backlash Over Thanos Casting

This article delves into sensitive topics, including drug use and suicide.

Controversy Surrounding T.O.P’s Role in Squid Game

Hwang Dong-hyuk, the visionary behind the acclaimed series Squid Game, is facing scrutiny for casting K-pop icon T.O.P, also known as Choi Seung-hyun, amidst his past drug scandal. T.O.P previously received a ten-month prison sentence along with a two-year mandatory military service after admitting to marijuana use, which remains illegal for recreational purposes in South Korea. Following this incident, he faced a significant ban from the entertainment industry. His recent announcement to portray Thanos, a character who grapples with substance abuse during the harrowing games of Squid Game Season 2, has stirred considerable backlash from fans.

Hwang’s Defense of T.O.P’s Casting

In a candid interview with People, Hwang articulated his rationale behind casting T.O.P in this controversial role. He recognized the significance of this project as a pivotal comeback for the star, who had been on hiatus since the scandal broke. Hwang emphasized that embodying the character of Thanos, with its challenging aspects, required a great deal of courage from T.O.P, who parallels some negative traits shared by the character. He expressed satisfaction with T.O.P’s performance, noting:

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, 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.

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.

The Implications for Squid Game Season 2

The Challenge of Authentic Casting

T.O.P’s role as Thanos is rooted in Hwang’s commitment to authentic casting. The K-pop star has faced real-life struggles with substance abuse and mental health. Following his 2017 indictment, he issued a heartfelt apology through YG Entertainment, expressing regret for disappointing the public. Just a day into his military service, he suffered a significant health crisis due to an overdose on prescribed tranquilizers, which led to further psychiatric care.

Since the aftermath of his scandal, public sentiment towards T.O.P has largely been negative. This context makes it unsurprising that his role as Thanos, reflecting many of his personal struggles, has attracted criticism. While the recreational use of marijuana is legalized in various parts of the world, stringent laws against it still prevail in many countries, particularly South Korea. The 2017 scandal has had lasting repercussions on T.O.P’s career, resulting in his image being censored on Korean television. Consequently, his inclusion in Squid Game Season 2 has incited controversy, and notably, he has been excluded from promotional materials and interviews related to the show.

Moreover, this season has faced other casting controversies, including the decision to feature Park Sung-hon, a cisgender actor, in the role of a trans woman. Hwang previously acknowledged the intention to cast a trans actor but cited the limited number of openly trans performers in South Korea as a challenge in achieving authentic representation.

Our Perspective on Squid Game Season 2

T.O.P’s Performance as Thanos

The mixed reactions to T.O.P’s portrayal of Thanos highlight the complexities surrounding his casting. Viewers are divided; some find Thanos relatable and humorous, while others describe T.O.P’s performance as “cringe”and “absolutely awful.”It is important to recognize that season 2 intentionally crafted Thanos as a flawed character, and T.O.P’s portrayal succeeded in making this antagonist a standout presence in the series.

For further insights, refer to the complete interview in People and explore more on this evolving entertainment narrative.

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