Author: Ricardo Lopez / Source: Variety
A decade ago, Hong Kong native Wesley Wong set his sights on an acting career while he was a student at USC.
But in 2008, film roles for Asian actors were virtually non-existent. Even in 2016, less than 6 percent of speaking roles were Asian in the top 100 films that year, according to a recent comprehensive USC study.
Moreover, according to the report, just two Asian men had lead roles in 2016.“I did some research and thought because of my ethnicity, I should go to Beijing (to pursue acting),” Wong tells Variety. “That was 10 years ago – it wasn’t that established for minorities here. We didn’t have that much opportunity. Back then I thought my best choice was to start off in China or the Asian market.”
Wong, who grew up speaking Cantonese, had to learn Mandarin and he also attended the prestigious Beijing Film Academy. After a number of acting credits in Chinese films, including a starring role in a romance last year, he earned enough recognition to audition for – and land – his first role in a major Hollywood blockbuster, “Pacific Rim Uprising,” bowing this weekend.
The science-fiction action flick features Wong in a supporting role as Cadet Jinhai, one of the Jaeger pilots who do battle with the Kaiju monsters out to destroy Earth. Starring John Boyega and Scott Eastwood, the Steven S. DeKnight-directed sequel comes five years after “Pacific Rim” first debuted. Though the original picture grossed just $102 million domestically, it found commercial success internationally, grossing $411 million worldwide.
Its sequel is on track to top the box office this weekend and gross up to $29 million.Wong’s journey to landing a role in a major Hollywood blockbuster underscores the struggles of Asian actors, many of whom decry the…
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