Squid Game VIP Actor Reveals Dubbed Voices and Behind-the-Scenes Struggles

One of the most controversial aspects of Squid Game’s third season has been the baffling portrayal of its VIP characters. Played by actors with widely varying performances, these English-speaking figures seemed to clash with the show’s otherwise immersive Korean atmosphere. The wealthy, inhumanely detached characters were meant to serve as villains, but they came across as awkward and unconvincing, largely due to cringeworthy dialogue and performances that distracted from the gripping story. However, a recent revelation from actor Bryan Bucco, who portrayed one of the VIPs, shed light on this issue.

In a TikTok video responding to criticism about the VIPs’ acting, Bucco explained that the voice dubbed over his character wasn’t his own. ‘Those are the English dubs,’ Bucco clarified, adding that while he didn’t want to criticize his voice actor, the dub didn’t capture his original performance. Bucco suggested that this could be due to a common practice in non-English productions where all dialogue is dubbed for clarity. ‘I think whoever is contracted to do the dubbing does ALL of the dubbing,’ he said, hinting that the process is routine in international productions to ensure consistency across languages.

Interestingly, Bucco pointed out that different versions of the VIPs’ dialogue were available depending on the region. Some versions featured his original English voice, while others were completely dubbed over by another actor. He jokingly added, ‘Could be Netflix messing s**t up?’ When he watched a pirated version of the show, he didn’t hear the dub at all, which led him to question why there was such inconsistency. Ultimately, Bucco emphasized that it didn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things, but it was certainly an odd situation to find himself in.

Looking back at the first season, the VIPs’ awkwardness was also discussed by some of the actors, with John D Michaels, who played VIP #1, stating that non-Korean actors often struggle with dialogue that’s translated poorly. The actors rarely saw the full script, and often only received their individual scenes. This, along with heavy plaster masks, contributed to the offbeat delivery that fans found jarring. For some, it created a strange atmosphere of ‘dirtbag millionaires’ who felt disconnected from the rest of the world, both in tone and delivery.

Geoffrey Giuliano, who portrayed VIP #4, also discussed how playing Westerners in the show felt different from their portrayal in Korean culture. ‘We are generally providing an interpretation of what a westerner is from the point of view of a different culture,’ he explained, highlighting that there can be an ‘uncanny valley’ feeling for Western viewers watching non-Western actors portray them.

For Bucco, his experience in season 3 mirrored the challenges faced by the previous VIP actors. The scenes were filmed in isolation, with minimal interaction with the rest of the cast. Despite the show’s fame, the VIP actors had little context for their roles and struggled with how to interpret the lines. Bucco himself admitted that the VIP characters didn’t do much to advance the plot: ‘I agree 🙁 They didn’t further the story or compliment it well.’

While the reception of Squid Game season 3 has been mixed, the series remains a massive hit for Netflix, breaking records and attracting more global attention. Whether the VIP storyline was necessary or not, Squid Game continues to captivate audiences, leaving fans eagerly awaiting a potential spin-off in the future.

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