Lee Yoo-Mi becomes first Korean actor to win ‘Outstanding Guest Acting’ award at Creative Arts Emmys

‘Squid Game’s Lee Jung-jae Lands Male Lead In ‘Star Wars’ Series ‘The Acolyte’ From Leslye Headland And Lucasfilm

“Almost half of all Asian roles serve as a punchline, study finds.”

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🏆 The Headlines

Lee Yoo-Mi becomes first Korean actor to win ‘Outstanding Guest Acting’ award at Creative Arts Emmys — The ceremony for the Creative Arts Emmys precedes the Primetime Emmys, scheduled this year on Sept. 12, and honors the artistic and technical achievements in TV production.

• Lee took home the accolade for her performance in “Squid Game” as Ji-yeong, a young woman who was recently released from prison after killing her abusive stepfather. 

• The 28-year-old gave her acceptance speech in Korean initially, saying, “Thank you so much for this huge honor. I want to give my thanks to the TV academy, especially a big thanks to my Netflix team as well.” She then added in English, “I’m so very happy, thank you!”

• Other nominees for the category included Hope Davis (“Succession”), Marcia Gay Harden (“The Morning Show”), Martha Kelly (“Euphoria”), Sanaa Lathan (“Succession”) and Harriet Walter (“Succession”). 

‘Squid Game’s Lee Jung-jae Lands Male Lead In ‘Star Wars’ Series ‘The Acolyte’ From Leslye Headland And Lucasfilm — The eve of his potential historic night at the Emmys, Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae looks to have found his first major studio role following that breakout in a property more popular then the Netflix global phenomenon.

• Sources tell Deadline that Lee has landed the male lead in the new Disney+ Star Wars series The Acolyte from Lucasfilm. Amandla Steinberg is set for the other lead role, with Deadline also recently breaking the news that Jodie Turner-Smith also is joining cast. Leslye Headland tapped as the series director, writer, exec producer and showrunner. Headland has been very hands-on with Lucasfilm execs including President Kathleen Kennedy in putting together a diverse, A-list ensemble, and with Steinberg, Turner-Smith and now Lee, it looks to be headed in that direction.

• The Acolyte is a mystery-thriller that will take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging Dark Side powers in the final days of the High Republic era, Disney+ said in announcing the project in December 2020. In the real universe of Star Wars, “acolyte” can refer to individuals with Force abilities who learn from a more experienced Sith Lord.

• Landing Lee for The Acolyte is quite the victory for Lucasfilm and Headland, given that every studio and streamer was looking to get into business with the Squid Game breakout star. It’s been a year since the Netflix series premiered, smashing streaming records, scoring 14 Emmy noms and turning Lee and his castmates into household names. He and Jung Ho-yeon will be presenters at the Emmys next week.

See below for more entertainment headlines, casting calls, and entertainment-related job opportunities from Disney, Essence and more ⬇️