Michelle Yeohhas a production ritual.
“It’s not a religious ceremony.
What it is, we are coming into your space.
Michelle Yeoh on ‘American Born Chinese’.Carlos Lopez-Calleja/Disney
In the action comedy series from creator Kelvin Yu, Heaven and Earth collide.
“And it’s very hard, especially when you think, ‘I have to fit in.’
“Our culture, our heritage, is so steeped with history and beauty,” Yeoh adds.
Guanyin (Michelle Yeoh) and Wei-Chen (Jim Liu) in ‘American Born Chinese.'.Carlos Lopez-Calleja/disney
“Why would we not want to learn more about it?”
“You have the Goddess of Mercy, who is from Heaven, now part of Earth.
I love the way our writers have brought her to a very modern place.
Michelle Yeoh and Daniel Wu on ‘American Born Chinese’.Carlos Lopez-Calleja/Disney
I love the fact that we are telling these stories for friends over here that might not know.”
Besides, “Who gets to play the Goddess of Mercy every day?”
“We had to be very respectful,” Yeoh says.
“Goddess of Mercy does not fight.
She looks at you with love and compassion.”
In one particular showdown with Wu’s Bull Demon, the antagonist charges toward the deity (ole!)
“This was something that we did not want the Goddess of Mercy to be doing.
She’s deflecting him.
She’s pushing him away.
American Born Chinesepremieres May 24 on Disney+.
