T.O.P, former member of BIGBANG and now a singer-actor, is breaking his long silence by participating in an official interview for Netflix's Squid Game 2. According to Netflix on January 10, the interview will take place on January 15 in Seoul. This marks T.O.P's first meeting with Korean media in nearly 11 years since promoting the 2014 film "Tazza: The Hidden Card".

T.O.P recently appeared in the Netflix original series "Squid Game" Season 2, taking on the role of Thanos, a fallen rapper who once enjoyed fame but now smuggles and consumes drugs inside the deadly games. His intense portrayal has drawn attention from fans and viewers alike.

News of T.O.P's casting in Squid Game 2 initially sparked controversy. In 2016, he faced legal issues after being convicted for marijuana use, receiving a suspended prison sentence. After the incident, T.O.P hinted at retirement following conflicts with fans. His decision to return to the entertainment scene through such a high-profile project has sparked criticism.

Rumors also surfaced that T.O.P's casting was influenced by the connections of lead actors Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun. However, both sides denied these claims, stating that no personal recommendations were involved.

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk addressed the casting controversy, saying,
"We spent a long time casting for the character of Thanos. T.O.P's name was on a list someone brought to me. He had acting experience and was a rapper, but I heard he had been inactive for a while due to the drug incident. He went through multiple auditions, and I saw potential in him."

Meanwhile, Squid Game 2 will center on the fierce confrontation between Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae), who returns to the game seeking revenge, and the Front Man (played by Lee Byung-hun), who awaits him.