Simu Liu Opens Up About Asian Actors and Iconic Roles

The star of Marvel's Shang-Chi has never shied away from discussing diversity issues in the entertainment industry. During a candid conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Simu Liu addressed whether audiences might ever see an Asian performer take on legendary spy characters.

Following his success in both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the blockbuster Barbie film, Liu expressed his realistic view about certain casting possibilities. The actor acknowledged that he understands the industry's current limitations when it comes to considering Asian performers for certain iconic roles.

The Reality of Casting Decisions

Liu shared his perspective on the matter with striking honesty: "Knowing that I would never get an opportunity to play a role like Bond, something like the Alexander Hale character is such a blessing because his cultural identity is really baked into his character."

The performer continued to elaborate on the broader challenges facing underrepresented communities in Hollywood: "Fighting for representation for all marginalized communities is important, but it can sometimes suck if you're not a part of that conversation."

Despite his realistic assessment about certain casting opportunities, Liu remains confident that Asian performers shouldn't be viewed as financial risks for major studio productions. He believes this misconception contributes to fewer opportunities for actors from his community.

Speaking Out on Industry Bias

The Canadian-born actor has been particularly vocal about these issues on social media platforms. He recently posted about the disparity in how different actors are treated after box office disappointments, noting that Asian performers don't have the same safety net as their counterparts.

"Put some Asians in literally anything right now. The amount of backslide in our representation onscreen is f*cking appalling. Studios think we are risky..." Liu wrote in his post.

He expanded on this point by highlighting the double standard: "No Asian actor has ever lost a studio even close to 100 million dollars but a white dude will lose 200 million TWICE and roll right into the next tentpole lead. We're fighting a deeply prejudiced system. And most days it SUCKS."

A Different Approach to Representation

Interestingly, former Bond actor Daniel Craig once offered a perspective that might address Liu's concerns. When asked about diversifying the famous spy role, Craig suggested that instead of changing existing characters, the industry should create equally compelling roles specifically designed for women and actors of color.

"There should simply be better parts for women and actors of colour. Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?" Craig stated in a 2021 interview.

This approach could potentially provide Liu and other talented Asian actors with original characters that showcase their abilities while honoring their cultural backgrounds, rather than waiting for traditional roles to open up.