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Tag: Bruce Lee

  • Star Wars’ Diana Lee Inosanto Digs Deep Into Tales of the Empire

    Star Wars’ Diana Lee Inosanto Digs Deep Into Tales of the Empire

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    Star Wars loves nothing more than understanding a villain. Part of the reason the franchise’s greatest evils are also some of its most compelling characters is because it loves to dive deep into understanding why these figures are the way they are. The time has come for Morgan Elsbeth’s turn—and for us and the actress behind her alike to lift the lid on this wayward daughter of Dathomir.

    Giancarlo Esposito Instantly Knew Baby Yoda was the star of The The Mandalorian

    Although we saw Morgan meet her untimely end at the climax of Ahsoka, we will finally get to see more of what makes her tick this coming weekend when Star Wars day brings Tales of the Empire to Disney+. The new six-part anthology series delves into two tales of survival in the Imperial Age: including, of course, Inosanto’s return to Morgan Elsbeth, as we see her journey from Nightsister to Magistrate—and Thrawn’s right hand. To learn more about how she prepared to return to the galaxy far, far away, io9 sat down with Inosanto over Zoom to learn more about Tales of the Empire. Check it out in full below!

    James Whitbrook, io9: Morgan has been well established in live action Star Wars. What surprised you about getting to visit her now in the realm of Star Wars animation?

    Diana Lee Inosanto: For me, it’s the details the confirmation of finally, really understanding her background—particularly going all the way back to Dathomir, and what happened in that period of time. I love the fact that we see her love for people. I think people have been used to, in the live-action, seeing this more villainous approach [to Morgan], her own agenda. But I love that we get to go back and see what her people meant to her: her love for her mother, her love for her fellow Nightsisters, and that she was, still, in her own way unique.

    As dark as it is, you understand why she had to become a survivor, and that every time, in every moment, she’s always thinking of her people, and her roots, and her heritage—that’s what I find fascinating about Morgan.

    io9: We get to see her history with the Nightsisters here—how much of that history as we saw it in Clone Wars and Rebels were you familiar with as you started to embrace this particular facet of Morgan’s character?

    Inosanto: For me, it was kind of… almost like an IV drip for me! [Laughs.] When I auditioned, I really didn’t know what I was getting into, to be honest with you. When I met with Dave [Filoni, Lucasfilm’s Chief Creative Officer and co-creator of The Mandalorian], that’s when I started learning. “Oh, she’s a Nightsister?” I understood even from the audition sides that this was a woman who was a conqueror, and that she was definitely resilient… and somewhat of a bully, in her later evolution. But I think it was down to her having to survive and being misunderstood.

    The people I really leaned on and their work… there was Timothy Zahn, with all his books—because I figured there must be something that she has in common with the people that circle around Thrawn. The second important person I leaned on was E. Anne Convery [a writer in the Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark anthology], where she writes about the Nightsisters in her short story “Bug.” That was very instrumental for me to understand her better. I didn’t even know if Morgan, back then, was there to see what happened to her people—I just had to find out what was the culture, and the heritage, that she’d been a part of. And it’s going to be interesting because [in Tales] we’re going to learn more about all these other clans that were there on Dathomir too.

    Image: Lucasfilm

    io9: Part of what has defined Morgan so much for people is the physicality you’ve imbued her with. What was it like for you to transition away a little from that side of her now that you’re potraying her primarily through your voice?

    Inosanto: I remember watching the behind the scenes [of The Mandalorian], of Pedro [Pascal] doing the voice of Mando, and I saw his physicality there. To me, when I’m in that recording booth, it’s still the same thing: I’m still locked up in my actor’s bubble, and I will do anything everything. I’ll get the breathing down, I’ll jump in place, I’ll move, I’ll grunt, to get everything right!

    But my hat goes off to the Lucasfilm animation team—I met with them several weeks ago and I was stunned at the martial arts [on display in the animation]. Steward Lee [Lucasfilm animation director], who ironically had met my godfather [famed martial artist Bruce Lee] as a child, really loves martial arts. Several of the team members that were just on the fight scenes for Tales alone had an understanding of martial arts, and they studied videos of me on YouTube, as well as my fight scenes in Mandalorian and Ahsoka—and there’s some homages to my godfather, and my father. I think it’s an amazing compliment when people come to me just having watched the trailer alone, with the fight scenes, and they go, “Did you do mocap?” They think it’s actually me—that’s an idea of the sophistication of the animation.

    io9: In Tales we get to see Morgan, as her story progresses, her meeting with Thrawn for the first time. Having established their relationship in Ahsoka, what was it like to play that moment for you?

    Inosanto: I love that scene with Thrawn—especially because in some ways, they’re both considered outsiders in the Empire, right? They’re two very highly intelligent people who have their specific goals.

    Lars [Mikkelsen] does such an amazing job as Thrawn, so it’s really easy to all of a sudden disappear into the space with him. When I recorded, I wasn’t with Lars, but I’d had enough time with him on Ahsoka to know and hear his voice in my head—and it came out, I feel, beautifully, in that moment, with him, and the whole Lucasfilm animation team, how they put it all so swiftly and smoothly together.

    io9: Ahsoka gave us Morgan’s untimely end, and now Tales has brought us back to parts of her life before we met her in The Mandalorian. What’s a side of Morgan you think hasn’t been explored yet, that you’d love to see in the future?

    Inosanto: If there was a chance to see her expressed somewhere in the Star Wars timeline… I always love playing characters that are a little bit vulnerable, and maybe seeing them laying down off on a trail to hell, whatever kind of people they become. That’s why I loved going back particularly to episode one [of Tales], because now you know where her vulnerability came from, her pain and the hurt and how she lost her people. It’s that reflection of her being connected to her roots, and this is really, truly what drives her. Sometimes they say that the most troubled people do what they do because they come from a place of fear and pain—we’re truly seeing a survivor [in Morgan].

    And you know, I do love though, in a way, she is a character that just does not forget. She has this whole revenge factor that’s like… wow. [Laughs.] There’s just so much more to explore about this woman. There’s a lot of different shades to her.

    Star Wars: Tales of the Empire begins streaming on Disney+ May 4.

    Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

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    James Whitbrook

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  • What to Watch on Streaming This Week: February 16-22

    What to Watch on Streaming This Week: February 16-22

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    Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer. Universal Pictures

    From major Oscar nominees to a massive new Netflix series, this week boasts some exciting new titles across streaming. Action, thriller, musical and more—it’s all available to watch this week, so make the most out of your streaming subscriptions.

    What to watch on Netflix

    Warrior

    A gripping historical crime drama that mixes martial arts with gangsters, Warrior is an excellent blend of genres that’s worth watching for its fight scenes alone. The show comes from a long lost pitch from the late Bruce Lee, and it’s brought to life by his daughter Shannon Lee and a dedicated team. The series takes place in 1870s San Francisco, where the burgeoning Chinatown sees brewing gang wars. Meanwhile, Chinese immigrants in the city are facing threats from a white establishment that’s growing increasingly hostile. All three seasons of Warrior will begin streaming Friday, February 16th. Read Observer’s review.

    Avatar: The Last Airbender

    One of the most anticipated live-action television adaptations in recent memory, Avatar: The Last Airbender is a new fantastical adventure series based on the mid-’00s cartoon of the same name. The show takes place in a world where nations tied to the elements (water, earth, fire, and air) are at war. The Fire Nation is on a path of conquest, helped by those who can wield and bend the element, and only the mystical figure known as the Avatar (who can control all four elements) can stop it. The problem? The Avatar, Aang, is only a child, but he’s been hiding from his responsibilities for years. Avatar: The Last Airbender premieres Thursday, February 22nd.

    What to watch on Hulu

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPKIlB8qhow

    Life & Beth 

    Amy Schumer returns with Season 2 of Life & Beth, a dramedy about grappling with love, loss, and buried trauma. Schumer stars as Beth, a woman who ditched her fairly comfortable (but fairly boring) life to deal with the death of her mother and all of the feelings that it stirred up. Along the way, she discovered a charming farmer (Michael Cera) and decided to really try to live her life rather than just exist in it. Now, they’re a happy couple, but personal realizations and rushed proposals threaten to derail that relationship. Season 2 of Life & Beth premieres Friday, February 16th.

    What to watch on Amazon Prime

    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 

    The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have long been sources for middling movies, so it’s a good thing that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem finally realized the fun that could be had with these characters. The animated film takes the kind of creative visual swings that made the two Spider-Verse movies such hits, oozing with bright, clever animation. Mutant Mayhem follows the heroes in a half shell as they work to bust a mysterious mutant crime syndicate and get some good press (with the help of Ayo Edebiri’s April O’Neil) for mutants at large. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem streams Wednesday, February 21st.

    What to watch on Max

    The Color Purple 

    A new take on an American classic, The Color Purple puts Alice Walker’s riveting story of self-discovery and empowerment (and, more specifically, its Tony Award-winning Broadway musical adaptation) on the big screen. American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino stars as Celie, who suffers abuses of all kinds as she struggles to find her voice. The rest of the cast is overflowing with musical and acting talent, with Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey, and Ciara making up the sprawling ensemble. The Color Purple premieres on streaming Friday, February 16th.

    What to watch on Apple TV+

    Constellation 

    From Invasion to For All Mankind, no platform loves a space show as much as Apple. Constellation is the newest space-set series from the streamer, though it leans a bit more into psychological thriller than sci-fi or drama. Noomi Rapace stars as Jo, an astronaut whose mission goes awry. When she returns to Earth, she discovers that key parts of her life are different, from an inexplicable new ability to play the piano to Jo’s altered relationship with her daughter. Jonathan Banks and James D’Arcy also star. The first three episodes of Constellation premiere Wednesday, February 21st.

    What to watch on Peacock

    Oppenheimer 

    The biggest addition to streaming this week comes in the form of one of 2023’s biggest and best movies. Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer made a massive splash in theaters last summer, combining the director’s affinity for richly realized filmmaking and an intricate story about one of history’s most notorious figures. It’s a heavy favorite to walk away with plenty of Oscars come March 10th, given that it’s the most-nominated film of the year. With stellar performances from Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, and Robert Downey Jr., this period piece about the science and politics of war is near-perfect. Oppenheimer premieres Friday, February 16th. Read Observer’s review.

    What to Watch is a regular endorsement of movies and TV worth your streaming time.

    What to Watch on Streaming This Week: February 16-22

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    Laura Babiak

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  • Bruce Lee, Anna May Wong heirs talk legacy, roles for Asians

    Bruce Lee, Anna May Wong heirs talk legacy, roles for Asians

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    Almost every working Asian actor in Hollywood can trace their path back to Bruce Lee and Anna May Wong.

    The Chinese American screen legends are typically talked about the way one talks about revered ancestors. One was a martial arts icon, the other an actor who stood out during the silent film era despite playing women who were either submissive or dragon ladies. Both are credited with demonstrating Asians could be more than just extras for movies about China or Chinatown.

    Although Wong was born in 1905 in Los Angeles and Lee in 1940 in San Francisco, their families like to imagine they crossed paths.

    “They may have. Well, they may have seen each other at like a party or something,” said Anna Wong, the elder Wong’s niece and namesake.

    “My father was an actor when he was a child in Hong Kong. So, you know, he may have seen some of her films that came across,” Shannon Lee chimed in. ”He loved to see Hollywood films as well when he was young.”

    Lee and Wong had never met before doing a recent joint Zoom interview with The Associated Press. They discovered parallel experiences protecting the legacy of a family member who happens to be an icon of both Hollywood and Asian America.

    They have seen their relatives’ popularity ebb and flow over decades. They have grappled with bogus long-lost child claims, weird licensing requests and on-screen portrayals out of their control. But they’ve also seen how the fascination continues: There are museum exhibits, TV show projects and an American quarter tribute.

    With “Everything Everywhere All at Once” poised to snag trophies at the Oscars on Sunday — particularly for Asian cast members Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan — both women reflected on how things have changed since the blatantly racist practices that permeated Wong and Lee’s heydays.

    Lee has a “soft spot” for Yeoh because she came from kung fu cinema like her father. She’s thrilled for Yeoh’s recognition, especially because for so long Hollywood used Bruce Lee to justify casting Asians only as characters there just to karate chop.

    “Of course she’s doing action in the film but being recognized for her artistry and her acting and for all of that is really heartwarming for me to see,” she said. “And Ke as well who … as a young kid was very sort of stereotyped and he was put in a box because of it.”

    It’s especially phenomenal when compared with Anna May Wong’s era, according to her niece.

    “Back in those days, no one had an Asian man and an Asian woman in the lead roles,” Wong said. “It’s crazy how far we’ve come. But then again, how far are we?”

    While Lee was 4 when her father died, Wong never met her aunt. She knew her as “the pretty lady” in the pictures her father — Anna May Wong’s brother — kept around the house.

    “When he started telling me about the pretty lady, I was wanting to realize who she was,” Wong said. “And then I became obsessed with her films and seeing all kinds of things.”

    Both grew up hearing stories of how Anna May Wong and Bruce Lee fought hard against stereotypes, yet were sometimes stuck in unwinnable situations.

    After gaining fame in movies like “The Thief of Bagdad” and “Shanghai Express,” Anna May Wong suffered one of the greatest disappointments of her life in 1937. She lost the lead role of a Chinese villager in “The Good Earth” to Luise Rainer, who was white. Rainer went on to win a best actress Oscar.

    The younger Wong brings this up on the lecture circuit. Millennial audiences “find it completely irrational to say, ‘Okay, so let’s take a Caucasian person and make them up to look like an Asian person and … no one will notice,’” Wong said.

    “It’s actually a good thing that today’s generation thinks that that’s crazy,” Lee added.

    Even earning a lead role didn’t necessarily mean a big payday for Asian talent. Before Bruce Lee went to Hong Kong and made hits like “The Big Boss” and “Fist of Fury,” he was Kato in “The Green Hornet.” The TV series premiered in 1966, only lasting a season and carrying a massive pay disparity.

    “When you look at the pay stubs and then they say what everyone’s getting paid, he’s like way down on the bottom,” Lee said. “Hopefully, there’s changes happening there.”

    Neither actor was ever nominated for an Oscar. But the 2020 Netflix miniseries “Hollywood” depicted an alternate universe where Anna May Wong — played by Michelle Krusiec — won an Oscar. It created a nuisance for her niece and a reminder of a sad time in the actor’s life.

    “After that series came out, people said, ‘Do you have her Oscar?’” Wong said. “I’m thinking, ‘You know that that series was fictionalized, right?’”

    Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 flick “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” featured a fictitious scene of Bruce Lee picking (and losing) a fight with Brad Pitt’s stuntman character. His daughter criticized the cameo as nothing but “horrible tropes,” even penning an op-ed in The Hollywood Reporter.

    “With this one film now everybody’s like, ‘Oh, that’s what Bruce Lee was really like,’” Lee told the AP. “No, that was not what he was like at all.”

    Anna May Wong died in 1961 at 56 and Bruce Lee died in 1973 at 32. All these years later, the interest in them hasn’t abated.

    In a total coincidence, both families recently signed on as producers of biopics. Lee is working with Oscar-winning director Ang Lee (no relation), Wong with “Crazy Rich Asians” star Gemma Chan.

    “Ang is a very earnest, gracious man. I think he wants to make a really great film,” said Lee, who’s been working on her movie for several years. “I would say in this moment I am cautiously optimistic.”

    Wong almost walked away from her project when several self-proclaimed “Anna May Wong experts” reached out to producers — but they reassured her they’re “not going to take these people on when we can have an actual relative of Anna May Wong.”

    They both also receive (and often deny) steady merchandising proposals like Anna May Wong teacups and Bruce Lee football helmets, snack bowls and tin guitars.

    “I guess I have to say it does speak to the love that people have. So I’m grateful for that,” Lee said.

    Both women hope people take away lessons in perseverance when looking at Bruce Lee’s and Anna May Wong’s lives. They were “symbols of what’s possible,” Lee said.

    “For them to have gotten the opportunity to get on the screen, in the first place meant that they had extremely big energy, amazing work ethic and then they were able to accomplish the impossible in some way,” she added.

    ___

    Tang is a member of The Associated Press’ Race and Ethnicity team. Follow her on Twitter at @ttangAP.

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