Hulu’s Interior Chinatown offers a powerful adaptation of Charles Yu’s 2020 novel of the same title, narrating the story of Willis Wu, an Asian American man cast to the sidelines in Hollywood and life. The recently released trailer has stirred up excitement, offering audiences a first look at this compelling series that breaks stereotypes and reshapes perceptions of identity. Acclaimed New Zealand director Taika Waititi is among the show’s executive producers, and directs the first episode. The show features emerging Asian heritage actors including Jimmy O. Yang and Ronny Chieng.
Interior Chinatown is framed by Black & White, a fictional TV police procedural that is used to cleverly critique Hollywood and American television’s reliance on stereotypes. The fictional show stars a Black and a White lead detective, while Asian characters like Willis Wu (played by Jimmy O. Yang) are relegated to minor roles such as “Background Oriental Male.” This setup highlights how Hollywood often confines Asian actors to sidelined, clichéd parts, contrasting them with the more prominent roles Black and White actors typically receive, even if these roles also play on stereotypes.
Within Black & White, Willis dreams of being more than a mere “Background Oriental Male,” aspiring to play “Kung Fu Guy” — a role he hopes will finally bring him recognition. The show captures Willis’ journey into the spotlight when he accidentally witnesses a crime, setting off a chain of revelations about his family and Chinatown’s hidden history.
Yu, who is also the series creator, was inspired to write Interior Chinatown to challenge the stereotypical portrayal of Asians in the media. “Growing up… I was a heavy, heavy consumer of television as a kid,” he recalls via UC Berkeley News, explaining that both the invisibility and stereotyped portrayals of Asians in television deeply affected him. He crafted the novel in a screenplay format to mimic the feeling of confinement that many Asian Americans face on screen and in real life. Reflecting on the story, Yu hopes readers feel the absurdity and sadness of being reduced to a stereotype, yet also find moments of humor in the irony of it.
The Hulu series adaptation, with Taika Waititi directing the pilot, remains faithful to this vision, blending dark comedy with introspection, capturing the balance of satire and emotional depth he sought to achieve. According to The Illuminerdi, the adaptation “promises to retain the book’s humor and heart while adding a fresh, visual dimension to its layered story.”
Alongside Yang and Chieng, the cast also includes Chloe Bennet, and Diana Lin, adding depth to this unique narrative. Waititi’s involvement adds an edgy, comedic style that complements Yu’s satire, pushing viewers to reflect on stereotypes and the quest for personal identity. The trailer teases dynamic scenes where Willis Wu navigates his dual roles — both on the fictional set of Black & White and in his own life — filled with humor, tension, and the emotional depth that promises a thought-provoking journey for audiences. The ten-episode series releases November 19, and is set to resonate with anyone who has felt confined by societal roles, especially within Asian communities in the U.S.
This adaptation of Interior Chinatown is more than a simple book-to-screen project — it contributes to the growing importance for authentic Asian representation in media. It challenges stereotypes while exploring the journey to self-discovery in a world that often reduces people to fixed roles.
Banner image via Hulu.
