Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk had good reason to name Thanos after the Marvel Cinematic Universe character. Introduced in season 2, the character is a naive and compelling rapper with a good heart and a strong personality. Every player in Squid Game season 2 has their own unique traits and gimmicks, but Thanos’ career history, hair color, and bizarre name helped to set him apart. While it would be easy to assume that Thanos’ name came because of his purple hair, the reason was far more practical.
In an interview presented by Still Watching Netflix on YouTube, Hwang gave the real reason for Thanos’ surprising name. Hwang reacted to a variety of TikTok clips, which each related to his show in some way. After seeing a video of Thanos, he elected to explain Thanos’ unique name. Rather than gearing the character towards the South Korean audience, Hwang intended for Thanos to become a worldwide sensation:
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.
What Thanos’ Name Meant For Squid Game Season 2
Thanos’ Name Did Make Him A Sensation
As a rapper, it was not entirely surprising that Thanos would prefer to use his stage name, as opposed to his legal designation or his game-provided number. Outside of his career, he was known as Choi Su-bong in his personal life. In the game itself, he was given number 230. Choi Su-bong would be a fairly traditional South Korean name, so the decision to buck that trend helped Thanos stand out both for Korean audiences and worldwide viewers. It also helped to tie his identity with the wildly successful MCU, which likely brought attention to the character.
Thanos was played by T.O.P. (Choi Seung-hyun), a real-world Korean rapper.
Thanos is also fairly unique in that he regularly speaks English with little prompting. Like the VIPs in the previous season, Thanos’ decision to speak English helped him develop his personality and his one-of-a-kind disposition. Unlike their fluent and business-oriented English, Thanos’ proved his need to fit in with the international community. His vulnerability contrasted strongly with his English skills, which have always been tied to power, wealth, and influence in the show.
Our Take On Thanos’ Name
It Was A Brilliant Decision That Made His Arc Compelling
Tying Thanos to the Marvel character was a clever decision, and it had narrative decisions as well. Though Thanos appeared to be a ruthless and cold-blooded player, he had more depth than it initially appeared. He was a deeply caring person, who struggled to cope with a complicated world. He relied on divine signs and hope to get by, and he faced a devastating loss at the end. All of that describes both the MCU’s Thanos villain and Squid Game‘s Thanos. It was an interesting connection, and it was not just purple hair and nails that made it work.
Source: Still Watching Netflix / YouTube
In Squid Game, a mysterious invitation to join a competition is sent to people at risk who are in dire need of money. Four hundred fifty-six participants from all walks of life are locked into a secret location where they play games to win 45.6 billion won. Games are selected from traditional Korean children’s games, such as Red Light and Green Light, but the consequence of losing is death. To survive, competitors must choose their alliances carefully – but the further they go in the competition, the more likely betrayal will rear its ugly head.
- Release Date
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September 17, 2021
- Finale Year
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November 30, 2024
- Cast
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Wi Ha-joon
, Anupam Tripathi
, Oh Yeong-su
, Heo Sung-tae
, Park Hae-soo
, Jung Ho-yeon
, Lee Jung-jae
, Kim Joo-ryoung - Seasons
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2
- Writers
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Hwang Dong-hyuk
- Directors
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Hwang Dong-hyuk
- Showrunner
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Hwang Dong-hyuk