Simu Liu believes breaking through in Hollywood comes with added challenges if you’re not white and says that even after leading a Marvel blockbuster, the road ahead hasn’t become any smoother.
Reflecting on his post-Shang-Chi journey, the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star told The Hollywood Reporter that success in the industry is less about one big moment and more about long-term staying power. However, he added a sobering caveat: “That it’s a marathon and that success is defined by longevity more than just the bigness of a single moment. And then with the caveat that it’s going to be a lot harder for you than if you were white.”
Liu acknowledged that such a view might be uncomfortable for some. “Maybe that’s a controversial thing to say or a hot take,” he said, explaining that watching other actors’ trajectories after their breakout roles made the disparity clear to him. According to Liu, the system often works in favour of a certain kind of actor, making it easier for them to secure one opportunity after another once they’ve had their breakthrough. “That has not been the case for me at all,” he said, adding that he still feels like he’s fighting an uphill battle daily.
The actor also expressed disappointment with the kind of projects that have come his way since the MCU film’s success. “The things that come across my desk – I don’t know if this is the best stuff for me. I wish it were better,” he admitted.
Speaking about the scale and nature of roles he’s been offered, Liu revealed that they were far from what he expected after headlining a major franchise. “Tiny, tiny budget (projects), playing third or fourth lead. Maybe a villain. But never the main character, never the proxy for the audience,” he said, while clarifying that he isn’t ungrateful for the work. Still, he confessed he was “a little surprised by how few number one roles came across my desk” after Shang-Chi resonated the way it did.
Liu went on to suggest that if a different actor, one who “looked differently”, had experienced the same level of success, leading offers might have arrived faster and in greater numbers.
The 36-year-old also pointed out that there are several filmmakers he deeply admires who would likely never cast him, a reality he says he understands. This, he noted, is one of the reasons many Asian actors turn to producing, writing or directing – to create the kind of stories and roles they want to see on screen, rather than waiting for the system to change on its own.
