During an interview with ComingSoon ahead of the release of Legion of Super-Heroes, Harry Shum Jr. spoke about his iconic role in Everything Everywhere All At Once.
In the Oscar-nominated film, one of the universes Michelle Yeoh’s Evelyn sees is a parody of Pixar’s 2007 film Ratatouille. In it, a chef played by Harry Shum Jr. cooks with the help of a raccoon who is perched on his head.
“It’s great. I mean, the Daniels … they hit me up and told me about the story — I mean, first the bit, and then I was already in,” the actor said when asked about balancing the comedy and heart of the film’s “Raccacoonie” segment. “Then they kept telling me about the storyline and then they’re like, ‘It’s not long, but there’s a lot to chew on.’ I kind of rolled my sleeves up. In this universe, he is the protagonist of that universe. And I think we’re all protagonists in our own stories — in our own universe — in a lot of ways. So I just love that they did went from this ridiculous gag to something so heartfelt and really directed it in that way as well.”
Shum Jr. elaborated on taking the segment seriously while fully embracing its comedic concept.
“So I took it very seriously,” he stated. “I think all the actors in all their universes did that, and I think that’s why the film works on the level of being able to be recognized in so many areas of the film. I think everyone had that. I would never have thought that I would be acting with a raccoon — not just in front of me, but on my head and along with Michelle Yeoh on my shoulders. I definitely don’t even believe that it’s real, but yet it is, and I’m so happy that it is.”
Everything Everywhere All At Once is written and directed by directing duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert a.k.a. the Daniels. Joe and Anthony Russo are producing through their AGBO banner, along with Ley Line Entertainment and Jonathan Wang. Eli Bush and Mike Larocca are among the executive producers, along with Josh Rudnick, Timothy Headington, and Theresa Steele Page.