Former BIGBANG Member T.O.P Returns in Big Way as Thanos in Netflix’s “Squid Game 2”

Choi Seung-hyun, formerly part of BIGBANG and a rapper by profession, made his screen comeback after nine years by appearing as Player 230/Tanos in Netflix’s series “Squid Game 2.” He had completely disappeared from South Korea’s entertainment industry following his arrest in 2016 on charges of marijuana use while serving in the military, during which he was sentenced to 10 months of probation. Choi joined BIGBANG under YG Entertainment in 2006 and served as the group’s lead rapper, helping the group sell over 140 million album copies worldwide. As a solo artist, he released tracks such as “Turn It Up” and “Doom Dada,” and began his acting career in 2007 with the drama “I Am Sam.” In 2009, he appeared in the thriller drama “Iris” alongside Lee Byung-hun, who is now best known as the lead of “Squid Game,” and solidified his status as a promising actor by winning two New Actor awards in 2010 for the film “71: Into the Fire.” His last film appearance was in the 2017 Chinese movie “Out of Control.” When convicted of marijuana use in 2017 and sentenced to 10 months of probation along with a two-year suspension from military service, he apologized to his fans in a handwritten letter, stating, “I sincerely apologize for causing you great disappointment and harm,” and adding that he felt too ashamed to appear in front of them personally. He also said, “There is no room for excuses, and I am ready to accept any punishment.” After that, Choi was placed on a blacklist in South Korea’s entertainment industry. When BIGBANG reunited in 2022, it was confirmed that his contract with YG Entertainment had ended, and he officially left the group in 2023. In “Squid Game 2,” the character Tanos portrayed by Choi became one of the most popular characters in Season 2. Though the character has somewhat unpleasant traits, he serves as a comedic relief amid the bloodshed and grotesque scenes. His actions, such as dancing during the rapper game and mispronouncing casual English phrases, make the audience laugh. In particular, the scene where he forgets his lyrics during the game is an homage to a real incident from years earlier when he actually forgot his lyrics during a rap battle with rapper GD on a variety show; that video accumulated 2 million views on YouTube. Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator of “Squid Game,” defended and praised Choi’s casting, saying, “I think he must have shown great courage to play a character who shares many negative similarities with him, especially in terms of his own acting flaws.” Although some Korean media outlets expressed dissatisfaction with Choi’s return, the director’s comments indicate that his casting was a deliberate and calculated decision. Choi is currently 37 years old and maintains over 17 million followers on Instagram. Despite appearing in “Squid Game 2,” he was excluded from most promotional activities due to controversies in South Korea. In 2023, he stated that he wanted to focus his career on other areas such as acting, art collecting, and a potential SpaceX Starship space flight, though that spaceflight plan was eventually canceled. His appearance in “Squid Game 2” essentially represents a grand comeback after a nine-year hiatus.