Simu Liu Slams Hollywood For Continued Lack Of Range: “[It’s] F**king Appalling”

Star Simu Liu speaks out on a continued lack of range in Hollywood productions, particularly speaking concerning the prejudice confronted by Asian actors. Liu will seem in Avengers: Doomsday subsequent yr, anticipated to be one of many largest films of 2026, reprising his function from 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, one of many better-received MCU installments post-Endgame.

The rising star is among the many expertise in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, the 2023 cultural phenomenon, portraying the secondary chief of the Kens and hilariously enjoying off Ryan Gosling’s Ken. Liu additionally lends his voice to the latest Netflix streaming hit In Your Goals. His different main credit embrace Star Wars: Visions, Invincible, Arthur the King, and Gremlins: Secrets and techniques of the Mogwai.

Lately, by way of Threads, Liu referred to as for the leisure trade to “put some asians in actually something proper now. the quantity of backslide in our illustration onscreen is f**king appalling.” The actor went on to level out a number of main success tales of latest films led by Asian actors, arguing that it is just acceptable for a white actor to have a disastrous flop. Try his full feedback:

studios assume we’re “dangerous”. minari farewell previous lives all the pieces in all places loopy wealthy shang chi. each single one a monetary success. no asian actor has ever misplaced a studio even near 100 million {dollars} however a white dude will lose 200 million TWICE and roll proper into the following tentpole lead.

we’re combating a deeply prejudiced system. and most days it SUCKS.

A number of films Liu cites are credited with bringing Asian expertise to the forefront of Hollywood in an unprecedented means. Loopy Wealthy Asians was seen as a milestone, as a large field workplace hit with an all-Asian lead forged, whereas Every little thing All over the place All at As soon as swept the Oscars and allowed Michelle Yeoh to be the primary Asian lady to win the Oscar for Greatest Lead Actress.

Every little thing All over the place All at As soon as additionally marked the comeback of Ke Huy Quan, who was unable to make it in Hollywood for many years following his iconic roles as a toddler star due to a scarcity of alternatives for Asian actors. He additionally received an appearing Oscar for this film. Minari, The Farewell, and Previous Lives have been all extra understated however nonetheless profitable and critically acclaimed films.

Within the post-pandemic period, films that may have as soon as been business hits proceed to battle on the field workplace generally, however Liu argues that Asian actors take care of a harsher fallout for an unsuccessful film. His touch upon Threads was in response to a fan’s publish linking to different articles and feedback regarding high-profile expertise discussing biases in casting in Hollywood.

Liu is ready to proceed to be a trailblazer within the trade. A Shang-Chi sequel is in growth at Marvel with Liu anticipated to return, whereas his different upcoming initiatives embrace the motion fantasy TV collection The Copenhagen Check and the action-adventure collection Seven Wonders, based mostly on Ben Mezrich’s novel. Nonetheless, hopefully Hollywood will enhance in response to the phrases of Simu Liu and others.

Birthdate

April 19, 1989

Birthplace

Harbin, Heilongjiang, China

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