Simu Liu on Asian Representation in Hollywood & Disney's Fan Film Controversy

Simu Liu's Critique of Hollywood

• 💬 Actor Simu Liu expressed concern on Threads about a "worrying backslide" in Asian representation in Hollywood, stating studios perceive Asian talent as "risky."
• 📌 He highlighted the "appalling" amount of backslide in on-screen representation, urging studios to include more Asian actors in projects.

Financial Success vs. Perceived Risk

• 📈 Liu countered the "risky" perception by citing the critical and financial success of Asian-led films like Minari, The Farewell, Past Lives, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Crazy Rich Asians, and Shang-Chi.
• ✅ He emphasized that the numbers speak for themselves, proving these films are financially successful.

Hollywood's Double Standards

• ⚖️ Liu criticized Hollywood's double standard regarding repeat opportunities, noting that no Asian actor has ever lost a studio $100 million, unlike some white actors who receive multiple chances after significant financial losses.
• 💡 This disparity reveals a deep-seated prejudice that Asian performers must navigate daily in the industry.
• 🗣️ Co-host Alan Ng agreed with Liu, observing a consistent lack of Asian representation in many "diversity" focused movies, often finding "no Asians" present.

Fan Filmmaker Accuses Disney

• 🎬 A Star Wars fan filmmaker, Loren Hideoshi, accused Disney of stealing his fight choreography for an episode of Star Wars Visions.
• 📸 Hideoshi posted a 12-second side-by-side comparison on Instagram, showcasing "identical action design, choreography, and camera angles" between his 2019 fan short Dark Jedi and the 2023 Visions episode The Bandits of Golak.

Choreography Theft Allegations

• ⚠️ Hideoshi questioned Disney's motives, suggesting they hire an action designer instead of "lifting choreography from fan work" and implying that non-profit fan films shouldn't be justification for theft.
• 🗣️ The hosts, Chris Gore and Alan Ng, agreed that the comparison showed "blatant" theft, attributing it to Disney's perceived entitlement.