Michelle Yeoh analyzes the bloody fight scenes in “Brothers of the Sun”: I’m always ready to attack

Michelle Yeoh She made history last March when she won an Oscar for “Everything Happens at the Same Time,” but she’s not sitting still.

“I work out every day,” she said. “I work out every day and know my moves. It’s not difficult when you’re in the zone and ready to go.”

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Michelle Yeoh is describing the process of performing a harrowing fight scene in her new drama “Brothers of the Sun,” which debuts Jan. 4 on Netflix. But as a martial arts icon, she left her mark in some of the most influential action films of all time – “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, “Super Cop”, “Yes Ma’am” – it’s no surprise that she’s ready for all comers.

Michelle Yeoh has been on a roll since winning the Oscar, starring in Transformers: Rise of the Beast, Haunting in Venice and Disney+’s Born in China in 2023 alone. However, “Brothers of the Sun” is the project that speaks most directly. In the show, ruthless Taipei gang boss Charles Sun (played by Yu-Hsuan Chien) travels to Los Angeles to protect his mother Irene (played by Michelle Yeoh), who takes her young son Bruce (played by Li Shansong) with her. ) escaped from the underworld. The average person in their 20s knows nothing about the family business.

In addition to its complex and creative fight scenes, the show also has a lot of humor – Bruce gets to know the world of organized crime like a duck to water – and a core focus on the Suns looking out for each other despite their conflicting lifestyles. Irene is a loving mother who also harbors ambitions to once again rule the underworld. Young said she created the multidimensional matriarch by keeping a character diary and working closely with the show’s creators Brad Falchuk and Byron Wu.

“They always need an email,” Young said. “I’ll say, ‘Please sit down with me. Let’s talk about this, because once we do that, the day will get easier. .You will get the emotion you need from me.”

Another benefit of working with super-producer Falchuk (“Glee,” “Pose”) is that he’s a powerful ally in the push for equality in the entertainment industry, a cause Michelle Yeoh has been fighting for throughout her career struggle.

“Over the past few years, I’ve been fighting for different roles to find an entry point where we all deserve a seat at the table,” she said. “Only in the past few years have you seen more and more Asian stories being told.

“And, Brad Falchuk is not Asian, but he supports our stories. I think the most important thing is how we embrace each other and help each other tell our stories and the best stories possible so that we keep pushing those boundaries. “

Michelle Yeoh’s dedication extended to the set. For Chien, working with the legend was inspiring, but he says it was her compassion that left a lasting impression on him.

“Just by watching how she carried herself, I realized you could be the best at your job and be a great actor, and you could still be a good person,” he said. “You can still be kind and gracious, and that’s what I plan to pursue on my journey.”

As for Ms. Yang, she is already planning her next step.

“We continue to push the envelope,” she said. “We’ve kicked the glass ceiling to hell, so we don’t think about it anymore. Just keep the doors open, the windows open, and give each other a chance to tell each other, and Each other is the best story. “

The martial arts superstar brings some of the most creative action scenes to the screen. Here are five key performances.

“Yes, Ma’am” (1985) — Michelle Yeoh and Cynthia Rothrock deliver a masterclass in boxing in the climactic showdown of this classic “Girl with a Gun.”

“Supercop” (1992) – The actor risked her life in a chaotic chase scene when she dodged multiple attacks by grabbing onto a van before jumping into (and bouncing back out of) a convertible .

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) — In an unforgettable duel with In-woo (Zhang Ziyi), Michelle Yeoh’s Shu Lian wields countless weapons against the legendary Green Sword of Life.

“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” (2021) – A brief but affectionate quarrel between Yingnan and her nephew Shang-Chi (played by Simu Liu) gives Marvel audiences a taste of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”-style fight scenes.

Everything Happens at the Same Time (2022)—A multiverse-spanning conflict over butt plugs is brilliantly crafted and outrageously beautiful.

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