The explosive second season of ‘Squid Game’ has delivered new characters that have fans talking. However, none more so than the purple-haired rapper named Thanos. With his unpredictable antics and controversial role in the series, he has divided the fandom.
Additionally, while some viewers found him hilariously entertaining, others saw him as an unbearable troublemaker. But what’s the real story behind his peculiar name? Recently, the series’ creator Hwang Dong-Hyukshed shed light on why the character was named Thanks.
Hwang Dong-Hyuk Expected The Name ‘Thanos’ To Connect Globally
Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-Hyuk recently revealed his thought process behind naming the character Thanos. “It doesn’t really suit a rapper as a name, does it?” Hwang remarked in a recent interview. “The goal was to make him someone fans worldwide could connect with and even love, despite his flaws. But I’m honestly so thankful he’s getting this much attention and appreciation.”
Portrayed by South Korean rapper Choi Seung-Hyun, better known by his stage name T.O.P., Thanos is a divisive character in the Squid Game universe. His quirky personality and questionable behavior led to some of the season’s most chaotic moments (like the infamous men’s washroom brawl). Yet, it’s this very chaos that endeared him to many viewers.
Moreover, Hwang praised T.O.P. for his courage in taking on such a controversial role. “It takes guts to portray someone so deeply flawed,” he said. “I wanted Thanos to be a reflection of the imperfections we often see in real life, someone who reminds us of the complexities of human nature. And T.O.P. brought that vision to life beautifully.”
T.O.P.’s Thanos Hit The Right Spot In ‘Squid Game’ Season 2
In real life, T.O.P.’s past controversies are well-documented. Nine years ago, the rapper faced a public scandal involving drug charges that temporarily derailed his career. The ‘Squid Game’ creator saw an opportunity to give the artist a chance to reclaim his narrative.
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By casting him as Thanos, Hwang Dong-Hyuk hoped to showcase T.O.P.’s depth as a performer while reflecting a real-life redemption arc. “For someone like T.O.P., this was more than just a role. It was a chance to remind people of his talents,” Hwang explained. And it seems to have worked.
Additionally, just weeks after the show’s release, T.O.P.’s performance has won over audiences worldwide. In fact, a Netflix fan poll with over 700,000 participants revealed that Thanos was the most popular character from Season 2. Despite his past legal troubles and the stigma that came with them, T.O.P. garnered a majority of the votes.
