“I was afraid that it would remind people of my past”: T.O.P talks about hesitation and breakthrough role as Thanos in Squid Game Season 2

T.O.P, aka Choi Seung-hyun, recently spoke about his fears about playing the character of Thanos in the second season of Squid Game in an interview with Brut America which was released on January 26. The rapper portrayed the character of Thanos, a player in the Squid Games and a rapper who went bankrupt and was in debt after investing in Bitcoin.

"Accepting the role meant I had to face my past and some of my mistakes. By embodying the character of Thanos, I was afraid that it would remind people of my past mistakes." said T.O.P.

Previously caught in controversy after receiving a suspended 10-month jail sentence for marijuana use in 2017, the rapper had announced at the time that he would not be returning to the entertainment industry.

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Why did T.O.P decide to star in Squid Game 2?

After the rapper realized that encountering this character, "Thanos," could be a significant opportunity, the rapper decided to go for it. He auditioned by recording a video and sending it to the production company. Since the director responded positively, they met.

"After several readings, the director trusted me, which helped me rise to the challenge," he said.

In an interview with Sisa Week on January 16, T.O.P also revealed that he felt like repaying director Hwang Dong-hyuk who had trusted him with the character even when no one had approached him in ten years.

He said that the character Thanos itself was intriguing since it was a flawed character, without any righteousness. Had it been another character, he claims he would not have been able to muster the courage to play it.

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Will T.O.P rejoin BIGBANG?

When asked about the possibility of resuming his career as a member of BIGBANG or continuing his activities in the future in the same interview, T.O.P reflected on his past and the decisions he had made. He admitted feeling responsible for the harm caused to the group due to his actions, which led him to inform his agency and fellow members of his decision to leave, as he felt unworthy of staying and causing further damage.

T.O.P also revealed that during the difficult years that followed, he became isolated from society, spending his time between his home and the studio, where making music became his solace. He described how creating music allowed him to feel alive and find moments of relief, even though he had no clear purpose for it at the time.

"For the past 7~8 years, I have been isolated from society and only went back and forth between my home and the studio, continuing to work on music in the dark. I felt like I could breathe a little easier when I was making music," the rapper said.

Although he expressed hesitation about returning to BIGBANG, feeling it necessary to bear the consequences of his mistakes on his own, he shared his hope of releasing the music he had created. He concluded by stating that he would remain open to opportunities in the future and, if given the chance, would give his best in any field he chose to pursue.