According to Dispatch, after “Squid Game 2” was released on December 26, T.O.P’s (Choi Seung Hyun) acting received mixed opinions.
Returning to the screen with the role of "Thanos" - a drug-addicted rapper, T.O.P's performance was expected to demonstrate his "method acting" ability, but instead, he caused controversy about his acting skills.
In the film, T.O.P's role is a famous rapper who has fallen out of favor. He invested in virtual currency and then went bankrupt.
Thanos joins the deadly game hoping to win a huge bounty to return. He secretly smuggles synthetic drugs, causing chaos among players and pushing weaker players to the brink of destruction.
While some viewers praised T.O.P's acting as reminiscent of the Korean version of "Joker", others criticized him for portraying the character too exaggeratedly and ostentatiously.
In fact, the casting of T.O.P (former Big Bang member) for “Squid Game 2” has been controversial since the new cast was announced in the middle of this year, due to his past scandals.
In 2017, during his mandatory military service, T.O.P was sentenced to two years of probation for smoking marijuana.
Many people question why the producers of “Squid Game 2” cast an actor with a controversial past like T.O.P.
Director Hwang Dong Hyuk explained that he cast actors based on whether they were truly suitable for the role, not based on relationships or friendships.
The director emphasized, “He (T.O.P) showed strong commitment, and I personally supervised his audition. He sent videos of his practice sessions and showed effort and talent, even during the script reading.
The role he is taking on in Part 2 requires courage, and I felt he was the right choice. Although this decision caused a lot of controversy, I still went ahead, because we had spent time together.”
In a recent interview with People, director Hwang praised T.O.P's performance, saying he was "really moved" by the actor's portrayal.
However, these things still cannot dispel the suspicion that T.O.P was cast in "Squid Game 2" thanks to his relationship with the male lead Lee Jung Jae.
Dispatch published an article at the end of June, pointing out that T.O.P's presence in "Squid Game 2" was thanks to Lee Jung Jae's recommendation and influence.
Lee Jung Jae and T.O.P are famous close brothers in the Korean entertainment industry, both of whom built their friendship based on common interests. They went to the Hong Kong (China) art fair together and drank wine at Im Se Ryung's restaurant.
“In 2014, the secret dating location between Lee Jung Jae and Daesang Group's heiress Im Se Ryung was T.O.P's luxurious villa in Hannam-dong” - Dispatch wrote.
Additionally, according to Dispatch, rumors that T.O.P earned 300 million won per episode of “Squid Game 2” have further increased public criticism.
Although there has been no confirmation from the producer, it was previously reported that Lee Jung Jae's salary per episode this season is 1 million USD, so it is also possible that T.O.P will receive 300 million won/episode.
If this information is true, T.O.P is receiving the same salary as some famous actors such as Kim Soo Hyun, Song Joong Ki...
