Steven Yeun is something we haven't seen in a long time: a new type of protagonist.
The Korean-American actor had a few credits when he landed his career-defining role on “The Walking Dead” in 2010; He quickly became a fan favorite on one of the biggest shows on television. His Glenn Rhee evolved from a quick-moving, goblin-like good guy to a leader of the group of survivors: a respected zombie-slaying warrior and a sex symbol in an interracial relationship. That kind of versatility has marked his career and is decidedly unusual compared to the traditional array of actors of Asian descent in Hollywood.
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Since leaving the program, Yeun, 40, has compiled the most impressive CV of his students. He earned Oscar and Screen Actors Guild nominations for best actor for his heartfelt portrayal of the struggling, dreaming immigrant father in “Minari,” a turn reminiscent of Gérard Depardieu’s in “Jean de Florette.” After a sharp change of course, he won awards, including a Critics' Choice, a SAG and an Emmy, as the morally tainted loser with anger issues in “Beef.” He won an award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. award as the enigmatic cool guy in the acclaimed “Burning”; and played an accidental action hero in “Mayhem,” a former child actor eagerly hoping to communicate with aliens in “Nope,” and an emerging superhero learning brutal lessons in the animated film “Invincible” (98% positive on Rotten Tomatoes).
Big, bold filmmakers want to work with him: Lee Chang-dong, Jordan Peele, Boots Riley (“Sorry to Bother You”), Bong Joon Ho (twice; in “Okja” and the upcoming “Mickey 17”). Next, he headlines a post-apocalyptic sci-fi romance opposite Kristen Stewart (“Love Me,” which competed at Sundance). He was going to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, supposedly as Sentry, one of Marvel's most powerful antiheroes, in “Thunderbolts,” but backed out, via email. Instead, it is confirmed that he will reunite with “Minari” writer-director Lee Isaac Chung for what screenwriter Eric Roth has called a “little love story,” produced by Bong.
So it is in demand. What makes him a “new” type of protagonist? Name another Asian-American actor to achieve this kind of range, this kind of acclaim in America. Yeun is neither relegated to the roles of a nerd, nor a mysterious villain, nor a kung fu master. His characters have relatable struggles, crazy dreams, and the whole rainbow of emotions. It is a sign of changing times, of course, and of doors broken down by the streaming era. Today, Henry Golding leads romantic comedies and “Riverdale” star Charles Melton is racking up praise for “May December.”
But Yeun is doing all of the above and more. He is showcasing a variety of Asian American actors who have not previously had the opportunity to be showcased in film and television. It remains to be seen if his success as a leading man can lead the way for others, but his trajectory only points upward.
