After decades in the business, Michelle Yeoh is finally having her moment. The Malaysian actress recently won her first-ever Golden Globe for her performance in the critically acclaimed action-adventure Everything Everywhere All at Once. Not to mention, she just scored her first Oscar nod too.
Meanwhile, just a few months before the awards season kicked off, Yeoh also headlined The Witcher: Blood Origin, Netflix’s prequel to the highly successful The Witcher series. And while it’s unclear if the series will return for a second season (the reviews aren’t good), Yeoh already has a full slate of projects to keep her busy in the next few years.
Michelle Yeoh Stars In James Cameron’s Upcoming Avatar Sequels
Following the success of the recently released Avatar: The Way of Water, Cameron confirmed that more Avatar films will be coming soon. And in particular, Avatar 3 will see the introduction of Yeoh as a scientist named Dr. Karina Mogue.
For now, however, the actress is keeping further details under wraps. “So, yes, I am in the Avatar sequels and as you know we can't really talk very much about it,” Yeoh said recently.
“But it's James Cameron! Come on! I would be the tea lady for James Cameron! We shot for a few weeks, and I was so impressed with the work that he's done, the work that he's doing, the energy. He's a genius, he's a walking genius. And I really really enjoyed the experience and I can't wait to go back soon, I hope.”
Meanwhile, Cameron is equally happy to have Yeoh in Pandora. “Throughout her career, Michelle has always created unique and memorable characters,” the director said in a statement to Variety upon the announcement of Yeoh’s casting.
“I look forward to working with Michelle to do the same thing on the Avatar sequels.” Aside from Avatar 3, Yeoh is also expected to star in both Avatar 4 and Avatar 5.
She’s Joining Ariana Grande And Cynthia Erivo In Wicked
Now, while it may seem that Yeoh has already done everything possible in film, it turns out that there’s a Hollywood dream that she hasn’t realized yet.
“I’d love to do a musical,” Yeoh revealed. “I haven’t done a musical, not that I can sing. I would like to keep it fresh so that my audience is not quite sure what to expect and I give them something else to see.”
Just like that though, Yeoh’s dreams are coming true. And soon, fans will see her star alongside Grande and Erivo in the movie adaptation of Wicked.
While Grande and Erivo are playing Glinda and Elphaba respectively, Yeoh is portraying Crage Hall’s headmistress Madame Morrible.
As early as now, Yeoh has also started preparing for her role, watching Wicked on Broadway for the first time recently.
“I loved it, and then I go, ‘Oh my God, Madame Morrible sings a lot,’” the actress said during a red-carpet interview with Variety at the Golden Globes.
And while she may still have to get used to the singing aspect of her role, Yeoh is excited about working with both Grande and Erivo.
“Those two are so adorable, so gorgeous, so talented,” the actress added. “I’m so blessed that I’m going to be one of them and I’m really looking forward to it.”
The Actress Is Also Reuniting With Shang-Chi Director For An Asian Action-Comedy
Yeoh may have several films in the works, but the actress is also making time for television, specifically the upcoming Disney+ series American Born Chinese.
Based on a graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang, the show tells the story of a son (Ben Wang) of Chinese immigrants growing up as an American.
Yeoh plays Guanyin, the goddess of mercy, a character that originally appeared in Yang’s other graphic novel, Boxers & Saints.
And for newcomer Wang, working with Yeoh certainly felt like being around an actual goddess. “She's actually magic. I've got this joke prepped that's like, 'Michelle Yeoh is the goddess of compassion and she plays one in the show too.' Hey! But seriously, she was so kind and generous with her spirit and also she's just a very fun, goofy person. It's just a great energy to have on set,” he told Entertainment Weekly.
“I probably was way too nervous around her all the time, I couldn't shake that off. But that was also kind of a gift for me as an actor, because she's playing this god whose stories you've heard in folk tales growing up her as an actual person is basically a perfect one-to-one. I was like, 'I'll just use this nervousness.'”
And while Yeoh is already working with Cretton again, it is unclear if the actress will also be joining him for the upcoming Shang-Chi sequel. Marvel confirmed the film back in 2021. Since then, however, there haven’t been any updates.
That said, the Shang-Chi himself, Simu Liu, did offer some thoughts on the upcoming installment recently. “I think just what Shaun decides to do with all this newfound power, you know? It kind of consumed his father, consumed Wenwu,” he said.
“I’m curious as to how someone much younger, much more inexperienced, would fare against the rings.” Perhaps, with the help of Yeoh’s Ying Nan.