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On November 13, 2024, SPOTV New reported that Squid Game 2 director Hwang Dong-hyuk, shared his opinion on the controversy regarding BIGBANG's T.O.P's casting in the show. In 2017, T.O.P (real name Choi Seung-hyun) got a suspended 10-month jail sentence for using marijuana while serving in the military. Soon after his sentencing, he was taken to the hospital after overdosing on prescription drugs.
Meanwhile, the BIGBANG rapper was cast as one of the lead members in the upcoming second season of Squid Game. However, many netizens were stunned to see the rapper get a part in the popular Netflix drama. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk revealed during the press conference on November 13 that they screened T.O.P several times and cast him because he proved his merit for the role.
"There were rumors about 'what kind of character he is', and it took a lot of courage for Choi Seung-hyun to play the role. That's why I decided, this actor is the most suitable. It became controversial, but I couldn't change my mind or do anything, because I had been through a lot with that actor myself," he said.
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Director Hwang Dong-hyuk continued:
"I have no choice but to show the results of why I had to do this project with this actor. That's why I didn't back out and went ahead with it. You may be very curious, and you may not understand why I insisted on Choi Seung-hyun. However, I will reveal that I had my own process."
More about the upcoming Netflix show Squid Game 2
Squid Game 2 lead cast includes popular stars like Lee Jung-jae, Im Si-wan, Lee Jin-uk, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Park Sung-hoon, Choi Seung-hyun aka T.O.P, Jo Yu-ri, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Roh Jae-won, and Won Ji-an.
Gi-hun, played by actor Lee Jung-jae, was confirmed to return as the reluctant hero who narrowly escaped the deadly competition in Squid Game season 1. According to Hwang Dong-hyuk, Gi-hun’s journey in season 2 will dive deeper into his determination to find the founder of the lethal game.
Joining Gi-hun in the returning cast is The Front Man, played by Lee Byung-hun, who ran the games in season 1 under the direction of mysterious higher-ups. Wi Ha-joon will make a comeback in season 2 of the show as well.
South Korean star, Gong Yoo, is also set to make an appearance in Squid Game 2, potentially reprising his role as the enigmatic recruiter who lured Gi-hun and others into the game in the first place.
Plot details for season 2 remain mostly under wraps, but Hwang Dong-hyuk hinted that the new games will be more twisted than those of the first season. In terms of themes, season 2 is expected to continue exploring class disparity, the desperation of debt, and societal injustice.
Squid Game 2 will premiere on Netflix on December 26, 2024.
