A new comedy series, Interior Chinatown, is generating significant buzz for its satirical and insightful exploration of Hollywood’s often stereotypical treatment of Asian Americans. Based on Charles Yu’s award-winning novel, the show delves into the experiences of Willis Wu (Jimmy O. Yang), an aspiring actor who finds himself trapped in a cycle of playing background roles in a fictional police procedural.
“This guy is a background actor, but he’s really the lead,” says Yang, who himself navigated a unique path to Hollywood success. Yang, originally from Hong Kong, found his breakout role in the acclaimed comedy series Silicon Valley and has since starred in projects like Love Hard and Space Force.
He connects deeply with Willis’s journey: “[Willis] is like a young adult – still fighting with his parents and kind of stuck in his life,” says Yang. “I felt that when I was graduating from college with an economics degree – that part of my life definitely didn’t work out for me.”
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Willis’s story, while specific to his experience as an Asian American in the entertainment industry, also carries a universal appeal. “He is like a young adult – still fighting with his parents and kind of stuck in his life,” says Yang, highlighting the relatable themes of familial expectations and the pursuit of personal dreams.
Adding another layer of complexity to the narrative is Chloe Bennet, who portrays Lana Lee, a police detective grappling with her own identity as a mixed-race woman. Bennet’s personal journey resonates powerfully with Lana’s character arc.
“I was in an audition and the casting director was like, ‘You’re just not white enough to be the lead, but you’re not Asian enough to be the Asian’,” Bennet reveals, shedding light on the frustrating reality faced by many mixed-race actors.
This experience led Bennet to change her stage name from Wang to Bennet early in her career, a decision that further underscores the challenges faced by Asian American actors seeking visibility and recognition in Hollywood.
Interior Chinatown doesn’t shy away from using humor to expose the ingrained biases and stereotypes that persist in the entertainment world. The series creator, Charles Yu, draws on his own experiences growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, a time when Asian representation on screen was virtually non-existent.
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“I grew up in the 1980s and 1990s and I just never saw Asians on TV,” says Yu. “It’s as if they didn’t exist. So that sort of shaped me in wanting to tell this story.”
Beyond the satirical lens, Interior Chinatown also touches on the broader theme of feeling like a side character in one’s own life. This feeling, Yu believes, is something that viewers of all backgrounds can connect with. “Anyone can feel like they’re not the main character of a story,” Yu says.
The Verdict
With its witty social commentary, relatable characters, and timely exploration of identity and representation, Interior Chinatown promises to be a thought-provoking and entertaining addition to the television landscape.
The series premieres on Disney+ and Hulu on November 19th.
