Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, is one of the most iconic figures in world literature.
But this is the Monkey King like you’ve never seen him before.
Wu continues, “He’s no longer the young, rebellious, naughty guy that he was.
Daniel Wu as the Monkey King in ‘American Born Chinese’.Carlos Lopez-Calleja/disney
It’s indicative of what real life is like.
This is Liu’s first American production, and English is not his first language.
Much like his character, he had to adapt to a new environment.
Guanyin (Michelle Yeoh) and Wei-Chen (Jim Liu) in ‘American Born Chinese.'.Carlos Lopez-Calleja/disney
The actors bonded the same way so many fathers and sons do: With sports.
“Daniel Wu is a huge star in Asia,” Liu tells EW.
“My mom, my whole family, my friends, they all know him.
Daniel Wu as Sun Wukong in ‘American Born Chinese.'.Carlos Lopez-Calleja/Disney
When I first met him, he was super warm and kind.
We watched NBA basketball games together, and we root for the same team, the Golden State Warriors.
We watched basketball together and played around on set.
He was really easy to work with and I was very happy to work with him.”
“So it might take a little bit for them to adapt to it.
American Born Chinesedoes show the Monkey King in his more recognizable form, though.
“I thought it was cool because it completes my character,” Wu says of the flashback.
“When we start, he’s more stern and stoic, but he wasn’t always that way.
American Born Chinesepremieres on Disney+ on May 24.
