The brutal Korean satire “Squid Game” became a global phenomenon when it premiered in 2021, and its highly anticipated return promises to be just as intense, with expectations soaring for another massive hit.
Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has now shared the reasoning behind the naming of a fan-favorite Season 2 character, portrayed by Choi Seung-hyun, as “Thanos.” While one might assume the character’s name is inspired by the infamous purple-skinned villain from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Hwang revealed a different motivation.
In an interview on YouTube’s Still Watching Netflix, where Hwang and series star Lee Jung-jae reacted to TikTok clips inspired by the show, Hwang explained that the name was chosen to give the character, a rapper, an international appeal. “The reason I named the character Thanos, even though it doesn’t quite fit a rapper, was to make him a character that fans around the world could love. I’m really grateful for the amount of love he’s receiving,” he said.
Squid Game Season 2
Season 1 followed Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), a gambling addict who joins 455 other financially struggling individuals, all hoping to win a large cash prize by competing in a series of games.
However, they soon find themselves trapped on an island, playing deadly games like marbles in front of a mysterious masked group, with a horrifying twist: failure means death at the hands of the guards.
Season 2 will consist of seven episodes, all written by Hwang Dong-hyuk. All episodes will be released simultaneously on December 26, 2024.
Where to stream
The success of this macabre Korean-language horror series was unprecedented, making Squid Game Netflix’s most-watched show of all time, with over 265 million views. Season 2 is available exclusively on Netflix.
