‘Wicked’ Director Jon M. Chu Discusses ‘The Essence of Artistic Beauty’ in the Age of AI

Manisha Krishnan: It seems like you might be open to it. You’re not shutting the door on the possibility of collaborating with AI, right?

Jon Chu: I’m not sure.

Manisha Krishnan: Fair enough. I’d love to discuss Crazy Rich Asians since I adore that film. However, I’m curious if you had any worries about being typecast in Asian-themed projects. That film was significant for representation. Did you feel a heightened sense of responsibility when taking on that project?

Jon Chu: Absolutely. There was a reason I took it on; I was genuinely afraid of discussing my Asian American identity. As soon as you label yourself as the “Asian American director,” it feels like all you’ll get are scripts centered around that theme. I feared being boxed in. I wanted to be recognized as a director, but I didn’t have all the answers regarding my cultural identity struggles.

At the time, while working on Now You See Me 2, I had spent ten years in the film industry. Collaborating with well-known actors like Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Mark Ruffalo, and Woody Harrelson made me realize, “I belong here. I’ve earned my place.” But then I looked around and thought, “Anyone could make this film.” It forced me to reconnect with my earlier self and ask, “What do I want to express with the skills I’ve developed?”

This was tied to my cultural identity struggle, something I pondered often while working at Chef Chu’s. I observed how customers interacted with servers, sometimes treating my parents poorly. While not every guest was rude, it angered me to see disrespect. I would tell my dad, “You should kick them out!” But my parents explained, “We are ambassadors here. For many, we might be the first Chinese family they’ve encountered. They pre-judge us based on that, but remember, we’re providing a service and taking their money …”