Simu Liu calls out renewed decline of Asian representation in Hollywood

Simu Liu is urging the film industry to confront what he calls a troubling reversal in Asian visibility on screen. In a widely shared social media post this week, the actor said recent casting trends show an industry moving backward rather than building on earlier progress. He described the shift as “fucking appalling,” arguing that the setbacks point to deeper systemic issues.

Questioning studio claims of “risk”: Liu challenged the idea that Asian-led projects remain uncertain investments, pointing to recent films that have drawn critical and commercial success. Citing titles such as “Minari,” “The Farewell,” “Past Lives,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Shang-Chi,” he wrote that “every single one a financial success.” The Chinese Canadian star added that “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,” presenting the disparity as evidence of unequal treatment.

Discussion about casting pressures: The actor’s remarks appeared in response to a social media thread about Asian men in romantic lead roles, which highlighted the challenges performers continue to face in securing varied opportunities. Posts within the thread included comments from Manny Jacinto and references to limited genre offers for John Cho, underscoring the frustrations many actors have voiced about typecasting. By sharing the thread, Liu linked these individual experiences to industry patterns that restrict the roles available to Asian performers.

Calls for industrywide accountability: Liu concluded his message by characterizing the circumstances facing Asian actors as part of a broader structural problem that continues to shape casting and greenlighting decisions. “We’re fighting a deeply prejudiced system. And most days it SUCKS,” he wrote. His comments add to ongoing discussions among Asian and Asian American audiences who have pushed for meaningful improvement in visibility, consistent casting opportunities and equitable decision making across major studios.