HARRY SHUM JR TALKS LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES & EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

Harry Shum Jr (Crazy Rich Asians, Glee) stars as Brainiac 5 in the recently released Legion of Super-Heroes. The feature-length animated movie from Warner Bros. Animation, DC, and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment features Supergirl, (Meg Donnelly) as she ventures to the 31st century to find answers to her present-day dilemmas, only to encounter new problems and an old enemy. In addition to voicing the 12th-level intellect trying to gain membership into the Legion of Superheroes, Shum recently gained attention as the raccoon-controlled teppanyaki chef in the award-magnet film Everything Everywhere All at Once. the actor recently sat down with Bleeding Cool to explain Brainiac 5's relationship with Kara/ Supergirl in Legion of Super- Heroes and shares his reaction to Everything Everywhere All at Once receiving 11 Oscar nominations.

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES and all related characters and elements are TM and © DC. © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Legion of Super-Heroes explores a new take on Brainiac 5  and how he interacts with other heroes, specifically Supergirl. Can you expand on that relationship?

Harry Shum Jr: It starts off very combative. As to be expected, someone who tried to destroy one of your relatives and seeing them show up at a place you thought was a very safe space is definitely a trigger. The relationship really is going to take on different heights and grow. What's important about the whole movie when you're talking about Brainiac five and Supergirl is (they are) starting off not believing in themselves. Then over time, not just that, but believing in each other. Knowing that they had each other within someone who looks like a villain, who you're not used to seeing as someone that you can trust becomes someone that almost at certain moments, is the only person you can trust. And I love how they explore that throughout the film. A lot more in the sense of exploration of what it is to be an outcast. To be lonely and to feel like you don't belong anywhere. To have your past dictate how people feel about you is something I thought was really nice to be able to put into this character that is so complex as Brainiac 5.

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES and all related characters and elements are TM and © DC. © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Can you share your reaction when you heard that Everything Everywhere All at Once, in which you play Chad/ Raccacoonie, was nominated for 11 Academy Awards?

HSJ: Honestly, it's very surreal. I think that's the best word I can use. From the very top of when this movie was being made prior to the pandemic. It was the last movie that I made before the pandemic hit. It just seemed like this long journey 'Is this movie ever going to even be finished?' To what it turned out to be? I feel like seeing the miracle, whatever was on that screen, and then the people liking it is another kind of obstacle that you go through with anyone making films. On top of that, it's just having a group like the Academy to be able to really embrace this film, especially how wacky it is. I look at it as a kind of normal filmmaking, to be honest with you. (When I met) the Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) I was like, yes, I found someone normal. I found someone I could talk to you about the weirdest things, nodding in every direction that we can possibly go. To see it being recognized is truly an honor and seeing the leads, Ke (Huy Quan) and Michelle (Yeoh) being nominated is just mind-blowing. At the same time, it makes complete sense. I'm just so glad they're getting their due and the recognition that they deserve.

Legion of Super-Heroes, an all-new, feature-length DC Universe Movie is currently available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack, Blu- ray+Digital, Blu-ray, and Digital from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.