Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk’s explanation is that Thanos was conceived as a cartoonish, lighter presence beside Gi-hun’s seriousness. The name and look also deliberately evoke Marvel’s Thanos: Netflix’s character guide confirms the connection, while actor Choi Seung-hyun says the purple hair and colored nails were developed with Marvel’s character and the Infinity Stones in mind.
What Hwang said about the character’s name
In a Jan. 5, 2025 interview with YTN, Hwang described wanting a cartoonish, light character to contrast with Gi-hun, whose outlook is heavy and serious. YTN’s English page labels its text as Papago AI-translated; its rendering says Hwang named the character “Tanos.” That is the spelling used in the translated page, so it should not be silently presented as an exact English quote with the spelling changed to “Thanos.”
The contrast explains the character’s tone, while the Marvel reference explains why the name is recognizable. Netflix’s official cast guide identifies the character as Thanos and says his name refers to the villain from Marvel.
How Marvel shaped Thanos’ appearance
Thanos is played by Choi Seung-hyun, also known as T.O.P., and is Player 230. Netflix describes him as a rapper who enters the games after losing money in a failed cryptocurrency investment. Choi told Netflix Tudum that Hwang initially said the character should not have black hair. They settled on purple because it matched Marvel’s Thanos.
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The purple hair and colored nails
Choi said the nail colors were inspired by the Infinity Stones. Hwang liked the idea, and Choi also recalled that the colors brought Skittles to mind. The production then added dialogue about collecting Infinity Stones after the nail-polish idea was chosen. Netflix’s cast guide likewise describes the look as drawing on both the Marvel character and the pair’s shared appreciation for Skittles; that description is Netflix’s editorial summary, not a direct quote from Hwang.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.So why is the Squid Game character called Thanos?
The supported explanation has two parts: Hwang wanted a lighter, cartoonish foil for Gi-hun, and the character’s name and styling point directly to Marvel’s Thanos. The available sources establish those connections; they do not establish a separate naming rationale beyond them.
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