Interior Chinatown Cast: Breaking Hollywood Stereotypes

Jimmy O. Yang, known for past roles as insignificant as “Chinese Teenager #1,” now leads Hulu’s “Interior Chinatown” as Willis Wu, a struggling background actor. Adapted from Charles Yu’s award-winning novel, the series satirizes Hollywood’s stereotypical portrayal of Asian American men.

Yang’s career mirrors the show’s meta-narrative, rising from minor roles to leading man. He emphasizes the importance of leadership on set, a lesson learned from observing established actors.

“Interior Chinatown” follows Willis, a Chinatown restaurant server trapped in a fictional police procedural. Investigating his brother’s disappearance, Willis confronts his own identity. The 10-episode dramedy features a predominantly Asian cast, including Ronny Chieng, Chloe Bennet, Archie Kao, and Tzi Ma. Behind the scenes, Asian talent thrives, with Yu as creator and executive producer.

The series homages classic cop dramas like “Law & Order” while referencing ’80s and ’90s action-comedies starring Asian martial artists. However, Yu’s inspiration comes from his immigrant parents’ struggles for belonging in America.


Taika Waititi, director of “Jojo Rabbit” and “Thor” films, produces, lending his experience championing underrepresented voices. Waititi, the first Māori Oscar winner, co-created the Emmy-nominated “Reservation Dogs,” a groundbreaking Indigenous series. He recognized similarities between “Interior Chinatown” and the treatment of Māori in New Zealand.

Each “Interior Chinatown” episode title highlights a common Asian American stereotype: “delivery guy,” “tech guy,” “kung fu guy,” and “Chinatown expert.” Recent projects like Marvel’s “Shang-Chi” and the CW’s “Kung Fu” reclaim the “kung fu guy” trope, showcasing complex characters with martial arts skills. Often, these stories unfold in San Francisco’s Chinatown.

The show’s commentary on stereotyping resonates deeply post-pandemic, as Chinatowns face economic hardship. Tzi Ma hopes the series encourages viewers to see Chinatown as a vibrant community, not just a place to eat.


Ronny Chieng, playing the irritable server Fatty Choi, brings his experience challenging racist portrayals. His 2016 “Daily Show” segment criticizing a Fox News report on Chinatown led to his casting in “Crazy Rich Asians.”

Many “Interior Chinatown” cast members have worked in Chinatown-set projects, highlighting Hollywood’s limited Asian American roles. Yu notes that even successful actors like Yang faced early typecasting.

Chloe Bennet, of mixed Chinese and white heritage, discussed struggling to get roles under her surname, Wang. She felt her whiteness emphasized professionally while her Asian heritage was personal. The “Interior Chinatown” set offered a contrasting sense of belonging through its diverse cast and crew.

Yang, who runs his own production company, acknowledges parallels between Willis’s journey and his own fight for meaningful roles. He admits to once vying for a role as insignificant as “Chinese Teenager #1.”