Eternals, Superman's lover, Shang-Chi: Asian Record Breakers
Eternals, Superman's lover, Shang-Chi: Asian Record Breakers
Marvel’s 'Eternals' No. 1 in AMC presales, beats 'Shang-Chi' and 'Black Widow' in early sales. Check out more Asian Entertainment headlines.
“Almost half of all Asian roles serve as a punchline, study finds.”
You’re not the only ones disappointed by that headline. For us, “crushing the myth” means dismantling stereotypes and improving Asian representation across all industries, including Media & Entertainment. Because to “see” our community is to see us on screen.
So welcome to Entertainment Exclusive, Crushing the Myth’s new weekly newsletter that breaks down the latest Asian Entertainment news & newsmakers.
Get ready for new shows to binge, videos to keep you on the edge of your seat, and Asian celebs to stan.
*Note: Our weekly “Entertainment Exclusive” newsletter will be free to preview for 1 month. After that period, this will only be available for paid subscribers only — subscribe below. But our separate weekly general headlines newsletter will always be free.*
🏆 Record-breaking Headlines
Marvel’s 'Eternals' is No. 1 in AMC presales, beating 'Shang-Chi' and 'Black Widow' in early sales. The latest upcoming film to enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), directed by Oscar winner and Asian American history maker Chloé Zhao, is estimated to have garnered $2.6 million in the first 24 hours of its advance sales, according to Deadline. Talk about a superhero entrance.
There’s more superhero news to love. The new Superman’s love interest is a male reporter named Jay Nakamura. Jonathan Kent – the son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane – is set to come out as bisexual after falling in love with a Japanese male reporter in the fifth issue of “Superman: Son of Kal-El.” The new issue, written by Tom Taylor with art by John Timm, will be available on Nov. 9.
Teaser images from “Superman: Son of Kal-El” And we can’t talk about 2021 record breakers without reminding you of Shang-Chi’s accumulated success. Shang-Chi passed $400M at the global box office even without China. Owing to comments the film's star, Simu Liu, made in a CBC 2017 interview that referenced negative aspects about his parents living in China, the Chinese government excluded Shang-Chi from their list of upcoming MCU movies scheduled to release in its territories. This is particularly noteworthy because Disney's latest film passed the $400 million global box office milestone without the help of a Chinese release, making it the first pandemic-era Hollywood movie to do so. This has led many to speculate on how well Shang-Chi could have performed if it was allowed to release in China.
🎬 Industry catch-up
Netflix Acquires ‘The Henna Artist’ Starring Freida Pinto From Miramax TV; Sri Rao To Develop As Part Of First-Look Deal (Deadline)
20th Television’s Gloria Fan Joins Disney Branded Television As Head Of Current Series (Deadline)
Proximity Media Taps Rebecca Cho as Senior VP of Film Development and Production (Variety)
Desmond Chiam, Alexander Hodge & Chris Pang Board Adele Lim Comedy From Lionsgate & Point Grey (Deadline)
Open Casting Call for the film adaptation of Abigail Hing Wen's LOVEBOAT, TAIPEI
📺 Deep dive: Squid Game
For those who live under a rock or need a refresher, this is “Squid Game.” In this Korean Netflix thriller, hundreds of cash-strapped contestants accept an invitation to compete in children's games for a tempting prize, but the stakes are deadly.
And people are saying the show’s good? Not just good, but historic. Squid Game is Netflix’s biggest show in history. Ever!!
The show’s got the internet talking about a lot, even 1-inch subtitles. This Korean American woman pointed out inaccurate translations in the English version of ‘Squid Game’ and it’s starting a big online debate. What do you think?
And if you can’t get enough of the cast, check them out on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Because we’re not over seeing them play childhood games.
If you’re more of a listener, here’s a breakdown for you from NPR.
👀 Have you watched…
Justin Chon’s ‘Blue Bayou’ which has been described as “Emotional” and “Beautifully Filmed” In this drama, Antonio LeBlanc is a Korean adoptee raised in a small town in the Louisiana bayou. He's married to the love of his life, Kathy, and raising his beloved stepdaughter, Jessie. Struggling to make a better life for his family, he must soon confront the ghosts of his past after learning that he could be deported from the only country he's ever called home. Before you start streaming, note the movie faced backlash after accusations of exploiting an adoptee's story.
007’s latest go in “No Time to Die” directed by Cary Joji Fukijawa. Am I the only one who recently learned this James Bond film had an Asian director? On growing up — His father, who sold electric generators, was a third-generation Japanese American born in an internment camp during World War II. “My father never talked about it and my grandparents never talked about it, either,” he says, sipping a green matcha in London’s Ham Yard Hotel. “I think it shaped me, that multigenerational struggle. The psychological trauma inherited from [my father’s] childhood defines who I am, and I think that internment process was incredibly destabilizing for the entire Japanese American population.”
That salmon rice trend on TikTok. If you haven’t heard, Emily Mariko’s cooking videos are the talk of TikTok. In the past month alone, the fresh-faced food-fashion-and-lifestyle influencer with bright kitchen lighting, a wardrobe of minimalist athleisure, and a knack for making easy, healthy-looking food with Asian roots has grown her following on TikTok from 70,000 to more than 2 million, without her ever saying so much as “like and subscribe.”
Alright, time for me to go back to my Netflix binge. See you for next week’s Entertainment Exclusive!
👋, Lea @ Crushing the Myth