LOS ANGELES — Primarily based on the graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang, “American Born Chinese” tells the story of Jin Wang, a highschool teenager juggling his social and home life.
When he makes a brand new buddy, Wang turns into entangled in a battle of Chinese language mythological gods.
Chatting with Spectrum News, Yang mentioned that whereas the novel is vaguely set within the Nineteen Eighties when he was rising up, the present takes place within the 2020s.
“The conversation about who we are as community, who Asian Americans are, has changed in that time. Those changes needed to be reflected in the show,” he mentioned.
For Daniel Wu, who performs The Monkey King, “American Born Chinese” means lots for illustration.
“It is a rare moment in time for Asian Americans in that we got the best of the best to work on this project. We get to display a lot of aspects of our cultural heritage. What I like about this show is its universal theme of trying to fit in and finding your identity in high school. It’s okay to be awkward. It’s okay to not fit in,” he mentioned.
Daniel Wu in “American Born Chinese” on Disney+. (Picture courtesy of Disney/Carlos Lopez-Calleja)
Ben Wang, who performs Jin Wang, instructed Spectrum News that “American Born Chinese” is the present he wished he may have had rising up.
“Now I get to be part of a show that can hopefully be that for someone else,” he mentioned. “I feel I am part of something that is going to give something to someone who might need it like I did.”
Melvin Mar, who’s an govt producer, instructed Spectrum News he hopes for folks to remove that “AAPIs are three-dimensional characters.” He mentioned as a father to a younger daughter, he seems to be at it by way of a specific lens.
“She’s growing up seeing characters like these portrayed on screen. It’s unlike the way I grew up, when that was never the case,” he mentioned.
For Yeo Yann Yann, who performs Christine Wang, “American Born Chinese” is her first challenge within the U.S. She mentioned the present means lots, and it has been an unbelievable journey. Her character, Christine, may be any lady, mentioned Yann Yann.
“She is warm. She is kind and hopeful. She tries and fails and succeeds. I just hope that everyone is inspired by her because she is always hopeful, even when she fails,” she mentioned.
“American Born Chinese” is now streaming on Disney+. It stars Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh, Ben Wang, Yeo Yann Yann, Chin Han, Daniel Wu, Academy Award winner Key Huy Quan, Jim Liu and Sydney Taylor.
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