Michelle Yeoh, an Oscar winner for “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” refuses to rest on her laurels, maintaining an intense exercise regimen and readiness for action scenes, as she gears up for her new Netflix series, “The Brothers Sun,” set to debut on Jan. 4.
The martial arts luminary, known for her iconic roles in groundbreaking action movies like “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Supercop,” and “Yes, Madam,” discussed her rigorous preparation for an intense fight sequence in the upcoming series. Yeoh’s history in the genre has equipped her to handle demanding combat scenes effortlessly.
Despite her recent roles in “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts,” “A Haunting in Venice,” and Disney+’s “American Born Chinese,” it’s “The Brothers Sun” that will resonate strongly with fans of her award-winning performance in “Everything Everywhere.” The series follows Taipei gangster Charles Sun (played by Justin Chien) as he journeys to Los Angeles to safeguard his mother, Eileen (portrayed by Yeoh), who fled the triad alongside her younger son, Bruce (played by Sam Song Li), who is unaware of the family’s criminal ties.
Alongside the intricately choreographed fight scenes, the series offers humor and heart, exploring Bruce’s immersion in the world of organized crime while the Suns protect and navigate their differing lifestyles. Yeoh’s character, Eileen, balances being a loving mother with her aspirations to reclaim her position as an underworld figure. She revealed that she crafted the multifaceted matriarch by maintaining an in-character diary and collaborating closely with the show’s creators, Brad Falchuk and Byron Wu.
Yeoh expressed her close involvement in shaping her character’s depth, stating, “They’re always an e-mail away. And I’m like, ‘Sit down with me, please. Let’s go through this because once we do, it will be so easy on the day. You will get the emotions that you need from me.’”
Working with the influential producer Brad Falchuk, known for his work on “Glee” and “Pose,” has furthered Yeoh’s advocacy for equality in the entertainment industry, a cause she’s championed throughout her career.
Reflecting on the industry’s evolution regarding Asian representation, Yeoh remarked, “For the last few years, I have been fighting for different roles and hoping to find the entry point into where we all deserve to have a seat at the table. It’s only in the last couple of years that you see more and more of the Asian stories being told.”
Yeoh’s commitment to fostering inclusivity extends beyond her roles, influencing her interactions on set. Justin Chien, her co-star, found her presence inspiring and underscored her compassion as a defining trait.
“Just by watching how she carried herself, I realized that you can be the best at your job and a wonderful actor, and you can still be a good human being,” Chien said. “You can still be kind and gracious, and that’s something that I plan on aspiring to in my journey.”
Looking ahead, Yeoh remains resolute in her determination to broaden horizons within the industry. “We continue to push the envelope,” she asserted. “We already kicked that glass ceiling to hell, so we’re not thinking about that anymore. It’s just keeping the door open, the windows wide and giving each other a chance to tell, with each other, the best story.”
