Hulu has released the trailer for its adaptation of Charles Yu’s award-winning novel Interior Chinatown, which is premiering on November 19. Jimmy O. Yang stars as Willis Wu, a background actor toiling away in the fictional police procedural “Black & White,” yearning for something more than bit parts and stereotypical roles.
The series appears to be a metafictional noir, exploring themes of identity and representation with a blend of dark humor and existential dread. Imagine Barton Fink trapped in a David Lynch fever dream, with a side of egg rolls.
Willis, tired of playing “Generic Asian Man Number 3,” stumbles into a real crime that tangles his on-screen life with his off-screen reality. He’s forced to confront not only the criminal element of Chinatown but also the buried secrets of his own family history. The trailer offers glimpses of stylized sets, noirish lighting, and a fractured narrative style that hints at the book’s unconventional structure. The supporting cast, including Ronny Chieng and Chloe Bennet.
Taika Waititi’s presence as director of the pilot and executive producer is a wild card. Will his quirky comedic sensibilities clash with, or complement, Yu’s more introspective and melancholic exploration of identity? All ten episodes drop on Hulu on November 19.
Interior Chinatown is a 20th Television production for Hulu. Executive producers are Charles Yu, Dan Lin, Lindsey Liberatore, Jeff Skoll, Miura Kite, Elsie Choi, Garrett Basch, John Lee, and Taika Waititi.
