“Don’t you sweat it, baby, it’s alright,” because Taylor Swift’s music video for “Opalite” is incredible, and it features a truly remarkable cast. However, while it may seem like the inclusion of Domhnall Gleeson, Jodie Turner-Smith, Greta Lee, Cillian Murphy, Graham Norton and Lewis Capaldi is very random, it’s actually really not. Now, Swifties are pointing out the exact moment they think the pop star came up with the idea to get all these folks in the video for her The Life of a Showgirl track.

Back in October, right when The Life of a Showgirl was released, Taylor Swift appeared on The Graham Norton Show to promote it. As this chat show goes, she was seated next to a wide-ranging group of talent that included Cillian Murphy, Greta Lee, Jodie Turner-Smith, Domhnall Gleeson and Lewis Capaldi. And during the interview, The Paper star made a comment about how he’d love to appear in one of the singer’s music videos.

Well, I guess you can say he manifested it, because it happened. It also seems like that mention is what sparked the idea for the “Opalite” video. Or at least that’s what fans think, as they’ve been posting things like:

Literally, it looks like a lightbulb went off in Taylor Swift’s head right after Gleeson said, “I’m hoping to get in a Taylor Swift music video.” And she kind of confirmed that, too. That’s because in the “Opalite” video, she included a clip of this happening and that “ah-ha” moment, take a look:

Then, in Swift’s Instagram post about the video, she wrote that the idea for this video “crash landed” into her “imagination” during the interview. Specifically referencing what Gleeson said on The Graham Norton Show, the singer wrote:

Sometimes, you can’t stop inspiration, and it’ll hit you at the wildest moments. However, in this case, I think the About Time star’s comments made the inspiration obvious. Now, we have this remarkable music video directed by Swift that’s hilarious and features a truly iconic cast.

So, to celebrate, fans are pointing out the exact moment they think the crash landing happened. I have to say, I agree with them, and I too am thinking things like:

Now, Taylor Swift is no stranger to a celebrity cameo in her music videos. Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles appeared in “Fortnight” for a fun Dead Poets Society moment, and Swift’s Eras Tour dancers, singers and band played big roles in “The Fate of Ophelia” video.

Truly, fans are obsessed with the celebs Swift chose for “Opalite,” because it really feels like we could see the idea forming in real time. As this fan pointed out:

The jaw drop really is amazing, and I’m so happy Swift fully committed to the idea. Fans are, too, and I’m loving their reactions. Here are a few more:

• Opalite mv is so cuteeee she had them ALL star in it 😭 -@lovetaydua
• PLEASE IT WAS EVERYONE ON THAT COUCH??? EVEN GRAHAM NORTON HIMSELF?????? #Opalite THAT’S SO CUTE. -@adorkablyswift
• Taylor after finishing her interview on the Graham Norton: YOU GET A CAMEO, AND YOU GET ONE, YOU ALL GET A CAMEO #opalite -@fvreverwinter

Well, I guess if there’s a lesson to be learned here, it’s that if you pitch a great idea to Taylor Swift, she might act on it.

Now, if you don’t mind me, I’ll be watching this video on repeat, searching for Easter eggs and saying thank you to Domhnall Gleeson for joking about being in one of Taylor Swift’s music videos.

Spoilers ahead for The Morning Show Season 4 so far.

Every streaming service has its own set of hit shows, and for those with an Apple TV+ subscription, The Morning Show is likely on that list. Arguably one of the best Apple TV+ shows to watch, the drama series is currently deep into its fourth season on the air. The most recent episode "If Then", Greta Lee's Stella Bak left UBN, and the showrunner and actress both confirmed that it was her final episode. And I'm legit shocked by this choice.

The Morning Show Season 4 has had plenty of wild twists and turns, including the introduction of Marion Cotillard's Celine. That newbie got involved in the drama quickly, thanks to Stella having an affair with her husband. Showrunner Charlotte Stoudt spoke to THR about why Lee's character has left for good, offering:

Throughout Season 4, Stella has been putting all of her eggs in one basket. Namely UBN's coverage of The Olympics, and her AI chatbot which would allow Alex to broadcast in any language. Unfortunately this did not work out, and her professional and personal life was blown up by the AI in front of an audience of people. It was so cringeworthy that I still haven't recovered, especially when it revealed Stella's affair with Miles.

After her life got blown up, Stella tried to convince Miles to leave New York and make their relationship official in Naples. While he originally agrees, the last we see Greta Lee's character she's left boarding the plane alone. It's a tragic ending, especially since we seemingly won't see her again on the Apple Tv+ series. Later in the same interview, Stoudt spoke about saying goodbye to the character, saying:

I didn't realize that Greta Lee wouldn't be back on The Morning Show after this latest episode, so the showrunner's comments totally blew my mind. Stella is one of my favorite characters, so it's a real bummer. Although maybe she could end up returning one day; Claire recently returned to the show after being gone for years.

Lee also spoke to the outlet about her departure from the Emmy-nominated series, coming after Stella was one of the most significant characters in Season 4. As she shared:

Sounds like Lee isn't sore about her Stella's fate... even if fans like me are absolutely shook. She's known about the direction of her Morning Show character, so it seems like it wasn't a shock. And with the Past Lives actress being busy with a number of exciting film projects like Tron: Ares, maybe departing the series will free up her schedule for more movies.

The Morning Show airs new episodes Wednesdays on Apple TV+ as part of the 2025 TV schedule. There are still four episodes to go, so it feels like just about anything could happen. Anything but Stella returning to UBN that is.

Greta Lee is known for her powerhouse emotional performances in films like Past Lives and shows like Russian Doll and The Morning Show. However, now the actress is dipping her toe into something new by starring in the blockbuster action film Tron: Ares. The movie required a lot more from her physically than she’d experienced in the past, meaning it was time to get a trainer. Now, the Emmy nominee is opening up about her crazy training ritual, working with a Marvel trainer, consulting Brie Larson and how hard work paid off big time.

In a recent interview on LIVE with Kelly and Mark, Lee chatted with the titular co-hosts about what separated her new movie from acting ventures in the past, and different skills she had to acquire, like riding a motorcycle and running for long stretches. She found starring in the highly anticipated film on the 2025 movie schedule pretty daunting, considering she had never done anything remotely similar to this, and wasn’t quite in “Tom Cruise” shape yet. She said:

After getting a trainer, however, there wasn’t much Lee couldn’t do. Disney brought out all the stops for the Tron: Ares cast, and set Lee up with the same trainer who trained a lot of the actors for the Marvel movies to get them in superhero shape. The actress chatted with Brie Larson, who notably got into incredible shape for Captain Marvel, as well, and eventually got into this kind of shape herself. She said:

Lee wears a biker suit for the majority of the film’s runtime, so despite her being in the best shape of her life, there wasn’t exactly an opportunity to show off her new physique. The hard work still paid off, as the House of Dynamite star was able to carry out some of the stunts in fight sequences and was able to run intensely for long stretches. However, Lee still wishes there was a scene in Tron: Ares where you could see her abs. She joked:

I totally get it. If I were an actress in the best shape of my life for an action film, I’d want to show off a little bit, too. All the superhero movies give their actors an opportunity to show off their shredded abs, like Chris Pratt in Guardians of the Galaxy and Henry Cavill in Man of Steel. I think Lee should’ve had her moment as well, and not just have to tell us about it. Hopefully, Tron: Ares gets a sequel, and Lee can have her flexing moment in the near future.

You can see the Golden Globe nominee in Tron: Ares, which is currently in theaters nationwide. Fans of the Tron world can also revisit its predecessors, Tron and Tron: Legacy, with a Disney+ subscription. Additionally, you can check out Greta Lee in Kathryn Bigelow’s A House of Dynamite, which will be available with a Netflix subscription on October 24.

Of all the upcoming action movies on the 2025 movie calendar and beyond, Joachim Rønning’s Tron: Ares may be among the most highly anticipated, if only because it’s been 15 years since the third movie in the classic sci-fi series was announced. The wait is officially over, as it hit theaters on October 10, with Jared Leto leading an impressive cast as Ares, a computer program who travels out of the digital realm to complete an important mission in the real world.

Critics have seen this third installment — which also stars Greta Lee, Evan Peters and Jodie Turner-Smith, with Jeff Bridges reprising the role of Kevin Flynn — and they kind of can’t stop talking about Nine Inch Nails’ music. In CinemaBlend’s review of Tron: Ares, Eric Eisenberg was ultimately disappointed after looking forward to another exciting adventure in The Grid. He rates the movie 2.5 out of 5 stars, writing:

Kristy Puchko of Mashable notes that 43 years after the original Tron, the franchise doesn’t have anything intriguing to say about technology. However, she found herself enjoying the movie anyway, and the Nine Inch Nails soundtrack is enough to make this one a must-see on the big screen. Puchko says it’s “heavy-handed, dunderheaded, and over earnest, but also occasionally funny, charming, sexy, and thrilling.” She continues:

Clint Gage of IGN gives it a “Mediocre” 5 out of 10, saying the music alone bumped it up from a 4. Gage says the movie simultaneously forgets where it came from and somehow is still a paler version of the original. The critic says:

Jim Batts of We Are Movie Geeks rates the upcoming sci-fi movie 2 out of 4, saying it’s obvious that a lot of creativity went into the film’s nifty gadgets, but it’s missing the human element or any sort of connection. Fans of the first two movies will likely still be satisfied, Batts says, writing:

David Rooney of THR admits Tron: Ares is not an instant classic, but the threequel honors its roots while advancing its story for a surprisingly entertaining popcorn movie. The critic says it also gets a “considerable shot of adrenaline” from Nine Inch Nails’ score. Rooney continues:

Critics may be unsure about most things in Tron: Ares other than the music — giving it 54% on Rotten Tomatoes, but the audience’s Popcornmeter is much more forgiving, scoring Jared Leto’s movie at 86%. If you’re a fan of the franchise or just want to see a fun sci-fi flick set to some amazing music, this movie is in theaters now.

Trailers for Tron: Ares have not only featured exciting action but have also teased eye-popping visuals (which may warrant fans booking 3D showings). So it tracked that there were some awesome sights at the 2025 movie release’s Los Angeles premiere on Monday, and I’m not talking about anything digital. The cast came out in full force, looking absolutely smooth in their threads. Jodie Turner-Smith stunned with a look that was more than fitting of the Grid, though Greta Lee’s butterfly-esque fit is just mesmerizing to me.

Jodie Turner-Smith Sports A Sleek Outfit At The Ares Premiere

During any kind of movie premiere, an actor needs to come correct when it comes to their attire, and that’s especially true for an event celebrating a flick like Tron. Jodie Turner-Smith more than understood the assignment, as she wore a black, leather piece with hints of red from Burberry. The backless dress not only had a plunging neckline, but it also featured a striking zipper running down it. Check out Turner-Smith’s smooth ensemble in the photo below:

Now, if that’s not someone who looks Grid-ready, then I don’t know who is. Jodie Turner-Smith’s outfit is downright perfect, as it looks like a more formal variation on the outfit her powerful character, Athena, wears in Ares. It’s actually pretty amazing just how on-brand the costume is. Of course, it’s not uncommon for actors to method-dress in some ways while they’re promoting a given project. With that, I just love to see Turner-Smith fully committed for the big premiere.

It’s fair to say, though, that while there are cosmetic similarities between that premiere dress and the armor featured in the film, Turner-Smith wouldn’t actually be able to wear the former while filming action scenes. Like her “balls to the wall” co-star, Jared Leto, Turner-Smith had to engage in physically demanding scenes. That aside, Athena also seemingly serves as an antagonist in this story, with Turner-Smith even signifying this as her "villain era.” What I can say, however, is that there’s nothing criminal about her dress.

Greta Lee Stuns In A Dress That’s Reminiscent Of A Sprite

As great as Sophie Turner-Smith’s dress is, Greta Lee also deserves points for her bold look. Lee walked the red carpet in a piece from the Dior Spring/Summer 2026 collection. Lee’s piece was a sheer number marked by its lovely silver color. What really sets off the ensemble, though, is the bow-cum-butterfly-wing-bustle, which is absolutely stunning. Take a look at the outfit and try your best not to get too caught up on that bow:

Such a fashion statement is a major counterbalance from the darker colors that are typically associated with the Grid. Despite that, this fit totally works and Lee definitely sports it well. Also, if Lee was trying to be on brand for the film, it would make sense that she wouldn’t go with an outfit that’s super dark. Her character in the film, ENCOM CEO Eve Kim, wears somewhat lighter colors compared to the digital programs that are invading the real world. And, even if it weren’t on brand, I’d still give this fit high marks due to that large bow alone.

Of course, there’s far more to look forward to in Ares than the outfits, as the story expands upon the mythology of this beloved franchise. The film even brings back Jeff Bridges’ Kevin Flynn, whose role has already seemingly been revealed. Nevertheless, as a fan, I’m hopeful that this latest venture involving the Grid proves to be thrilling. For now, though, I’m just going to keep admiring Jodie Turner-Smith and Greta Lee’s outfits, especially the latter’s bow.

Tron: Ares surges into theaters nationwide on October 10. In the meantime, prepare for the flick by streaming the first two films in the franchise with a Disney+ subscription.

Greta Lee and Charles Melton are finally getting their moments to shine! Lee’s performance in the fan-favorite A24 film Past Lives has generated a lot of buzz, and Melton’s heartbreaking role in the cerebral May December has made the Riverdale alum’s star truly rise. Given they were busy starring in some of the best films of 2023, it’s no surprise that they may not have time to check out other new flicks or binge the most celebrated TV series. The two actors got together for a photoshoot recently, and it quickly became apparent that Melton hadn’t seen Lee’s wonderful performance on Russian Doll, after the actress revealed "Sweet Birthday Baby" is her favorite line ever. And yeah, Melton needs to check it out immediately.

Both actors were honored to be a part of Vanity Fair’s annual Hollywood issue, which also featured stars like Bradley Cooper, Pedro Pascal and Natalie Portman. The magazine had the actors ask each other questions about some of the most notable lines they’ve said over the years. When Charles Melton asked Greta Lee what her favorite line was from her various film and TV roles, she mentioned the previously mentioned iconic line from the Natasha Lyonne-fronted Russian Doll. She said:

The Bad Boys for Life alum was a bit puzzled, as he initially thought that “Sweet Birthday Baby” was a movie Lee had done, rather than a line from a series. When Lee cleared up the confusion, she also admitted to not seeing an abundance of Charles Melton’s previous work either. She quipped in the YouTube clip: 

It’s good that the feeling was mutual and all in good fun so there wasn’t any awkwardness between the two stars. Both actors have appeared in notable TV shows amid a massive sea of content, and it’s hard for everyone to catch up on even the most acclaimed series out there. Russian Doll has a unique surrealist tone that Charles Melton may actually respond to, considering his participation in the equally strange May December. Maybe now that he and the Morning Show alum have made an acquaintance, the 33-year-old may be more inclined to check it out. 

If he had seen Russian Doll, he would’ve known that “Sweet Birthday Baby” was a line that Greta Lee says repeatedly on the series. It follows Natasha Lyonne’s character, Nadia, who is stuck in a time loop and keeps reliving her birthday party over and over again. She slowly starts to lose touch with her own reality as the story goes on and getting out of the time loop seems more hopeless. Lee plays her friend, Maxine, who is consistently there to celebrate Nadia on her birthday, calling her a sweet birthday baby. It’s a fixture of the show, and Lee’s character is definitely a highlight of one of Netflix’s best reviewed shows.

This awards season is finally dying down, so campaigning is soon coming to an end. So, maybe, this will give Charles Melton the opportunity to check out Russian Doll, which is now streamable for Netflix subscribers. I really think he should give it a chance. 

Aside from that, fans of the actor can also see his scene-stealing performance in May December, which is also streaming on the aforementioned platform. Audiences already hooked on Russian Doll should also check out Greta Lee in Past Lives, which is streaming now with a Paramount+ subscription.

It seems like Tron 3 has been in development for forever, with over a decade separating the Disney three-quel from Tron: Legacy. But the gears have been turning pretty fast for the film finally confirmed to be titledTron: Ares. With Jared Leto and Evan Peters kicking off the casting for this long-awaited follow-up, the doors are open for all sorts of new talent to sign on.

From this point on, we’re about to run down the cast list for Tron’s next adventure, which is slated to hit theaters in October 2025! You’ll definitely want to keep tabs on the information we’re about to present, as it’s bound to change from time to time. That having been said, let’s get up to speed with the who’s who of the world once run by CLU.

Jared Leto

The first cast member to sign up for Tron 3 was a recent addition to the Disney family, actor Jared Leto. Currently, you can see him raising all sorts of hell in Disney’s Haunted Mansion adventure as the Hat Box Ghost. However, before that movie even went into production, Leto was cast in 2020 to become a part of this new chapter in Encom history. 

Cue the stories of how the Morbius actor was getting ripped for his new role, as well as that time he may have accidentally leaked the Tron: Ares title way ahead of the game in 2020. The point is, even in the real world, it feels like Jared Leto helped keep the fires of this world burning. Though inside of that fictional universe, he might be the one to burn it all down.

Playing an artificial intelligence that’s trying to make its way into the human world, Jared Leto sounds like he’ll be Tron 3's functional villain. However, who can really say, as these movies have featured AI in both heroic and villainous ways. Still, as the titular character Ares, Leto is initiating a moment that humanity isn’t exactly prepared for, that sort of talk is the greatest sign of being an ally to our world. 

Evan Peters

With Jared Leto as the foundation on which Tron: Ares’ cast has been built, it took a couple of years before we learned about any other players set to join him. That changed very quickly in 2023, and it started with the announcement of Evan Peters’ Tron 3 casting. 

Another Disney vet, thanks to his role in Wandavision, Peters came on board as the first in a wave of several announcements that happened around the same time. Details on the Tron character Evan Peters was picked for are scarce. 

However, THR did mention some interesting details in its reporting of the deal. Apparently, he may be playing a character that is speculated to be “a soldier in the computer world and an awkward gamer in the human world." So if Jared Leto is our villain, then Peter's unspecified lead might be the hero. 

Greta Lee

Continuing the train of good news for those wondering what’s going on with Tron 3, was a double shot of casting that happened at the same time. Coming off of the success of A24’s Past Lives, as well as reprising her role of Lyla in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Greta Lee was the first of two female leads cast for this Disney adventure. 

As Ms. Lee was drafted into the world of Tron, we also got a glimpse into who her character will be. Since those sorts of details are a bit rare, learning that Greta will be playing “a video game programmer and tech company CEO who aims to protect her world-changing technology” was a bit of a game changer. 

Whether this is a new company, or if Greta Lee’s character is the new face of ENCOM management, is an intriguing question that currently does not have an answer. Especially if Tron: Ares somehow ties into previous adventures like Tron: Legacy, which saw the landmark computer company run by Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund).

Jodie Turner-Smith

As Tron 3 scored two female leads at the same time, those two announcements were handily rolled into a single event. So when Greta Lee was revealed to be part of this digital/physical hybrid world, so was Jodie Turner-Smith. 

Seen in action films like Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse, as well as being lined up for the dark Star Wars spinoff series The Acolyte, Turner-Smith is another performer who seems to be sticking with her new Disney family. Unfortunately, her character details haven’t been unveiled as of yet; so we’re not sure which side of the screen she shall be representing in Tron: Ares.

Cameron Monaghan

Shameless and Gotham star Cameron Monaghan is yet another Disney-adjacent actor lined up for Tron 3's fight between Program and User. Monaghan is also a familiar face to Star Wars fans, thanks to his role in Jedi: Fallen Order.

News of Monaghan's involvement broke via Deadline, and that’s about all there is to report at this moment. This next Tron film is pretty selective with what information is revealed to the public, so it’s unsurprising that this is yet another case of specifics being played close to the identity disc.

It is also hard not to think of the actor's bonkers Gotham performance, and how that Joker-esque energy could best be used to create a wild card on The Grid similar to Michael Sheen's Castor in Tron: Legacy. At least, one can truly hope for such madness.

Gillian Anderson

As far as the world of sci-fi goes, Gillian Anderson is practically royalty. Thanks to her long-running role as the skeptical Dana Scully on The X-Files, genre fans have long held Ms. Anderson in high regard. With general audiences doing the same, thanks to her roles on The Crown and Sex Education, Gillian’s presence on the Tron: Ares roster is something that needs celebrating, and definitely hints at a new authority figure in this universe.

Hasan Minhaj

Well well well, another Disney vet here to represent! Fresh off of his role in 2023’s Haunted Mansion reboot, comedian Hasan Minhaj is another addition that could probably bring his own mouse ears to the Tron: Ares set. As you can guess, the details on The Morning Show star’s role are under tight encryption, but to be honest, it’s just really cool to see another comedic talent on hand for some potential levity. 

Arturo Castro

Racking up credits on series like The Recruit and The Terminal List, as well as through movies such as The Menu and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, actor Arturo Castro is a versatile talent. Though audiences will next see him in Amazon’s Road House remake, Castro has secured himself his own segment of Tron: Ares real estate. So sing along with this next part if you know it…but his role in this new project is classified, and requires Level 7 access.

Sarah Desjardins

Another mysterious presence in Tron: Ares is that of Canadian actor Sarah Desjardins. A veteran of hit TV series like Yellowjackets and The Night Agent, Ms. Desjardins’ addition to the cast of this long awaited three-quel is shrowded in secrecy. As such, we’ll have to wait to find out who she’ll be playing in the grand scheme of things.

Jeff Bridges

Last, but most certainly not least, is an addition that many fans have been hoping for since the day Tron 3 was announced. Spilling the beans during a podcast appearance in late April 2024, Jeff Bridges announced his return to The Grid for Ares! Naturally this more than likely means that Kevin Flynn will be making an appearance in this new adventure, but the real question is how?

While Tron: Ares has officially wrapped production to meet its October 10, 2025 release date, there’s plenty of time to learn the secrets of The Grid (grid, grid, grid). Using your Disney+ subscription, the world of Tron is completely at your fingertips. So if you’re someone who’s a loyal warrior for the User, or a newcomer who wants to know what the fuss is about, you’re covered in either case. End of Line.

Fans of the Tron franchise are probably celebrating this week thanks to the flurry of news that’s seen casting on Disney’s third entry announced with great detail. Previously, Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story star Evan Peters was cast in Tron 3, making him the first casting on the project besides Jared Leto. Now the latest activity has seen director Joachim Rønning’s threequel score its first two female leads, which continues to signal that it’s almost game time for this long-awaited sequel.  

Two different reports have broken that give the hypothetically titled Tron: Ares its latest faces. From THR, the news that Past Lives star Greta Lee had been cast was sent out into the world. Meanwhile, over at Variety, The Acolyte star Jodie Turner-Smith has been mentioned as joining up as well. And if you thought the previous plot details revealed from Evan Peters’ casting was juicy, wait until you get a load of what these reports have revealed.

Apparently, Jared Leto is indeed playing Ares, “the manifestation of a program that becomes sentient and crosses over into the human world.” So that sentient AI that was mentioned previously now has a face to put to the name, which could very well confirm the Tron: Ares title Leto once accidentally leaked so long ago. As for our new players on The Grid, we only have details on Greta Lee’s character, who is “a video game programmer and tech company CEO who aims to protect her world-changing technology.”

So already, it looks like the human world will be the foundation for Tron 3’s main story, with the digital realm intruding into that fabric through Jared Leto’s Ares. I hate to put too fine of a point on it, but once again, the now-discarded draft for Tron: Ascension seems to be more important than ever. Though it doesn’t feel like we’ll be following the story of Sam Flynn, as Evan Peters’ casting could be for an unknown figure who's going to battle Ares in our world, and maybe even in the machine world. 

With Greta Lee and Jodie Turner-Smith’s casting now on the books, Tron’s next adventure is making some pretty fluid progress into production. As the writers strike and other potential industry strikes may put these plans on pause, it seems that all of these announcements currently dropping are meant to keep the momentum going on what could be called Tron: Ares. As always, fans of this legendary Disney saga will have to be patient and keep watching closely for any further movement in the near future. 

Tron 3 still doesn’t have a release date or a confirmed start date. However, production is still rumored to be starting this August; so you might want to polish up those ID discs just in case. And if you want to revisit almost the entire Tron timeline, you can head to your Disney+ subscription and partake in the pre-existing chapters in preparation for the future. End of Line.

We are experiencing an important and exciting time for Asian representation in Hollywood, with 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings proving to be one of Marvel’s biggest recent successes and Everything Everywhere All At Once winning the Best Picture Oscar in 2023, to name a few pivotal examples. Luckily, it does not stop there, as there are many Asian actors who are promising to make a real splash in upcoming 2023 movies and some fascinating upcoming TV shows in leading roles. Take a look at some of our most anticipated examples.

Anna Cathcart (XO, Kitty) 

In addition to playing Cinderella’s niece, Dizzy Tremaine, in Disney’s Channel’s Descendants movie series, Anna Cathcart is best known from Netflix’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before cast as Lara Jean Song-Covey’s youngest sister, Kitty. The Canadian-born, half-Chinese, half-Irish actor (according to Bustle) is reprising the role in her own spin-off series, XO, Kitty, which premieres on Netflix May 18th and follows the teen on her own search for true love in Seoul, South Korea.

Ben Wang (American Born Chinese) 

Based on the graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang, Disney+’s American Born Chinese stars Ben Wang as Jin Wang — an ordinary teen who embarks on an extraordinary adventure when he becomes embroiled in a war of godly proportions. The young actor — who also starred in a 2023 Disney+ original movie called Bo Can Dunk — shares the screen with several members of the Everything Everywhere All At Once cast (Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, and James Hong) in the series, which premieres on the platform on May 24th and is executive produced by Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton.

Greta Lee (Past Lives)

Greta Lee — an American-born daughter to Korean immigrants, as a Vogue article mentions — has been working in the business for more than two decades, from guest spots on shows like Nurse Jackie to joining The Morning Show in Season 2, more recently. However, 2023 marks her first time standing front and center in the spotlight as the lead of writer and director Celine Song’s drama, Past Lives, in which she plays a married woman who begins to question her life choices after reconnecting with a childhood friend (Teo Yoo).

Leah Lewis (Elemental)

Leah Lewis — who was adopted from China as an infant, according to Orange Observer — has gained a great deal of traction in the last few years from playing Georgia “George” Fan on The CW’s Nancy Drew TV show, leading Netflix’s coming-of-age LGBTQ+ drama, The Half of It, and voicing Batgirl on recent Batman TV show, Batwheels. The singer and actor is getting animated again for her biggest role yet in Pixar’s upcoming film, Elemental — coming out June 16th — in which she voices an incendiary young woman who forms a close bond with a water-based being (Mamoudou Athie). 

Ashley Park (Joy Ride)

After breaking out on Broadway and originating the role of Gretchen Wieners in the musical adaptation of Mean Girls, Ashley Park went on to join Netflix’s Emily in Paris cast as Mindy Chen. On July 7th, audiences can see her lead the hilarious ensemble cast of co-writer and director Adele Lim’s Joy Ride, as a young woman traveling with her friends to China in search of her birth mother.

Sabrina Wu (Joy Ride) 

Making their acting debut alongside Ashley Park, Stephanie Hsu, and Sherry Cola in Joy Ride is comedian Sabrina Wu. A child of Chinese immigrants, Wu’s previous claim to fame is writing for the Disney+ original TV show, Doogie Kameāloha, M.D.

Hudson Yang (Honor Student)

Leading the Fresh Off the Boat cast as a young, fictionalized Eddie Huang made Hudson Yang one of the most promising young talents of his generation. The now 19-year-old actor is showing his more serious side in co-writer and director Tamika Miller’s upcoming thriller, Honor Student, in which — according to Deadline — he plays a prep school student seeking to avenge his twin brother, who was killed in a mass shooting.

Natasha Liu Bordizzo (Ahsoka)

Since making her debut in 2016’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, Australian-born Natasha Liu Bordizzo — who is of Chinese and Italian descent — has led an impressive career that also includes The Greatest Showman. Soon, she will be able to say she is part of the Star Wars universe as a live-action version of Sabine Wren, the popular Star Wars Rebels character, on Ahsoka, which premieres on Disney+ in August.

Chase Sui Wonders (City On Fire)

After proving to be a standout in the 2022 horror hit, Bodies Bodies Bodies, Chase Sui Wonders would reunite with Pete Davidson in the Bupkis cast (and, possibly, in a real-life romance if the rumors are true). However, know for sure — from a preview by People — that the actor is leading the cast of the new crime drama, City on Fire, which you can stream with an Apple TV+ subscription, now.

Jimmy O. Yang (The Monkey King)

After stealing the show in HBO’s Silicon Valley cast as Jian Yang, Jimmy O. Yang would also appear in Crazy Rich Asians, and released a funny Amazon Prime original stand-up special called Good Deal in 2020. According to Netflix Life, the comedian is lending his voice to the title character of The Monkey King — an animated, upcoming Netflix movie expected to hit the platform on August 18th.

BONUS: Hoa Xuande (The Sympathizer)

Following his recurring role on Netflix’s live-action series adaptation of the hit anime, Cowboy Bebop, Hoa Xuande will star as the central character of a whole different kind of thriller, set to premiere on Max (formerly HBO Max) in 2024. He stars alongside Sandra Oh and executive producer Robert Downey Jr. in the Vietnam War-era drama, The Sympathizer, which is based on Viet Thanh Nuyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a half-French, half-Vietnamese man working for Communist forces as a spy.

Keep an eye out for what other exciting projects these Asian actors have in store!

Greta Lee joined Season 2 of The Morning Show as Stella, and if joining an award-winning streaming series in its sophomore season isn't stressful enough, she joined at a time when Hollywood was shut down for months due to COVID-19. While that ultimately afforded the Apple TV+ series the chance to re-shape the season around the pandemic and many other events that occurred in 2020, one can imagine that being a part of all that was a lot.

I asked Greta Lee about her experience of joining The Morning Show, and she confirmed that joining the series as UBA's youngest and only female President of News Stella Bak was a stressful experience for many reasons. Lee talked about what it takes to be on The Morning Show and the additional challenge there was for her playing Stella:

Stella Bak has made it clear early and often in The Morning Show Season 2 she doesn't think bringing back Alex Levy is the best move for UBA. Stella learned, much like many characters in Season 1, you can't tell Cory Ellison (Billy Crudup) much of anything, and he went about moving heaven and Earth to arrange a mega-deal to get Alex back on the show.

Stella thought it was a bad idea, but Greta Lee the actress was mentally pumped about the idea of sharing a screen with Jennifer Aniston and other actors that she respects deeply. Perhaps it was the excitement of that which led to her embarrassing first day at work, though she quickly recovered from the "mortifying" moment thanks to her co-star Reese Witherspoon.

It's cool that Reese Witherspoon let her co-star Greta Lee know things were all good, especially knowing she's new to the cast. Of course, Lee recovered from the moment and is already off to a strong start with her scenes shown thus far in Season 2. Hopefully, the best is yet to come, and we'll get to see her interact more with the major characters in future episodes.

The Morning Show airs new episodes on Apple TV+ Fridays. For more on the series, check out our interview with Hasan Minhaj and what he had to say about joining an actual morning show at some point.