In Season 2 of Squid Game, a new and controversial character named Thanos was introduced. He’s a rapper with purple hair and nails painted like the Infinity Stones.
The creator of the series, Hwang Dong-hyuk, named him after the Marvel villain to make the character more appealing worldwide, and it seems to have worked, as Thanos has become a standout character this season. His role as a chaotic antagonist marks a change from the characters in the first season and greatly affects the storyline.
However, Thanos’s casting sparked some controversy. The actor, Choi Seung-hyun, had a drug-related arrest in 2017 and took a nine-year break from acting in Korea. Director Hwang commented on this, saying that Choi’s choice to play this role, which parallels his own struggles, showed a lot of courage. Hwang is pleased with Choi’s performance despite his past.
Thanos’ design and name are closely linked to the Marvel universe, which likely helped attract international interest in the season. His character plays a significant role in the plot, creating chaos among other players and changing the competition’s dynamics. His personality is different from those in the first season.
According to director Lee Jung-Jae “The reason I named the character Thanos… It doesn’t really suit a rapper as a name, was to design him to be a character fans worldwide could love. But I am so grateful he is getting this much love.”
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The decision to cast someone with Choi’s history sparked discussions among fans. Some questioned the choice to use a well-known name from another franchise, raising concerns about character development and marketing strategies. Nonetheless, this approach seems to have been effective, boosting the season’s popularity and making Thanos a memorable character.
Looking ahead, the next season is expected to take a different path without Thanos, suggesting a change in the show’s tone after the intense events of Season 2.
Source: Still Watching Netflix, People
