The actor describes issues with salary and collaboration and denies he is “too Hollywood” for Canadian TV
Courtesy of CBC
As the final season of Kims Convenience landed on Netflix Wednesday (June 2), co-star Simu Liu took to Facebook to air out the behind-the-scenes drama that led to the popular Canadian shows abrupt end.
When producers announced on March 8 that the CBC series would conclude with its fifth-season, Liu expressed his heartbreak and disappointment on Twitter, suggesting that we would get into the reasons behind the cancellation someday.
That day has come.
In a 1,300-word plus post, the star of Marvels Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings mentions tensions on the Kims Convenience set and less than ideal collaboration between white producers and the Asian-Canadian cast on a show that was celebrated for diversity.
Our producers were overwhelmingly white and we were a cast of Asian-Canadians who had a plethora of lived experiences to draw from and offer to writers, says Liu. He describes frustration with his characters inability to grow and how the cast didnt have the opportunity to offer input on their arcs. We were often told of the next seasons’ plans mere days before we were set to start shooting.
That creative aspect was one among a number of issues Liu got into in his post, while clarifying that the decision to end Kims Convenience didnt come from CBC or Netflix but the producers who own the IP.
“The show can’t be ‘saved,’” he wrote. “It was not ‘cancelled’ in a traditional manner, i.e. by a network after poor ratings. Our producers (who also own the Kim’s Convenience IP) are the ones who chose not to continue. Neither CBC nor Netflix own the rights to Kim’s Convenience, they merely license it.”
He expresses bitterness that Kims Convenience was cancelled but the producers are moving forward with a spinoff about the shows white character Shannon Ross, Strays. Though Liu also says hes loves star Nicole Power and hopes her show succeeds.
CBC also announced a new show starring fellow Kims star Andrew Phungs called Run The Burbs and a CBC Gem series created by Liu and Nathalie Younglai called Hello (Again) about a broken up couple who get a second thanks to time travel.
“Were excited about Simus new project that we announced today,” said CBC’s head of public affairs Chuck Thompson, who declined to comment on the tension described on the Kim’s set. “Respectfully, its not our place to speak for the producers or Simu Liu.”
Liu writes that the Kim’s Convenience cast was paid poorly despite the shows success on Netflix, adding that they didnt have major American agents like Schitts Creek cast negotiating their deals.
But we also never banded together and demanded more, Liu adds, probably because we were told to be grateful to even be there, and because we were so scared to rock the boat. Maybe also because we were too busy infighting to understand that we were deliberately being pitted against each other.”
He owned up to how he contributed to tension within the cast, saying that he often felt like the odd man out or the problem child, feelings that reflected his own insecurities at the time that were buoyed by awards snubs and less screen time.
This is a reality of show business, says Liu, there is only so much to go around.
Liu also says that showrunner Ins Choi, whose life is the basis of Kims Convenience and whose departure triggered the shows cancellation, didnt do enough to champion more Korean or East Asian voices.
[He] left no protege, no padawan learner, no Korean talent that could have replaced him, says Liu, expressing disappointment in Chois abrupt departure and refusal to heed even Lius own attempts to pitch himself as a writer or director in training.
Liu also dismisses speculation that his deal with Marvel leading a whole new franchise as the martial artist Shang-Chi got in the way of continuing with Kims Convenience. He insists that he was willing and ready to make it all work.
“I wanted to be a part of a sixth season,” he said. “I’ve heard a lot of speculation surrounding myself specifically, about how getting a Marvel role meant I was suddenly too ‘Hollywood’ for Canadian TV. This could not be further from the truth.
I love this show and everything it stood for, Liu adds. I saw firsthand how profoundly it impacted families and brought people together.”
@justsayrad
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Radheyan Simonpillai
Radheyan’s first assignment for NOW was reviewing the Ice Cube heist comedy First Sunday. That was back in January 2008. Born in Sri Lanka and raised in Scarborough, Rad currently lives in Leslieville with his wife and two adorable kids.