[theqoo] [INTERVIEW] “TOP, I DIDN’T KNOW PEOPLE WERE UNABLE TO FORGIVE LIKE THIS”

“I’ve watched many auditions and couldn’t find anyone that suited [Thanos] role. The directing team brought me a list, and Choi Seunghyun’s name was on it. When I asked, ‘Isn’t he not promoting anymore?’ they said, ‘He has the willingness to act.’ At first, I thought, ‘Isn’t he too much like the character?’ But after thinking about it for a while, he contacted me saying, ‘I want to try.’ During the reading and audition, I saw the potential. His appearance and acting suited the character. The story up to Season 3 involves a person’s downfall due to drugs, and I thought it would be meaningful if he acted in it. Considering that, I cast him, but I didn’t expect people to not forgive him to this extent. I was shocked when the reactions came out. If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have announced him.”

TOP was sentenced to 10 months in prison with a 2-year probation for marijuana use at his home in 2016. He made his acting return after 9 years in Squid Game 2. The drama depicted the intense battle between ‘Seong Gihun’ (Lee Jung-jae), who returns with a vow of revenge and participates in the game, and ‘Front Man’ (Lee Byung-hun), who welcomes him. Thanos seems to have been inspired by TOP’s life. His real name is Choi Soobong, and he resembles the character in the setting of being a former rapper involved with drugs.