Jentry Chau vs the Underworld is now streaming on Netflix. I had the chance to sit down with star and producer Ali Wong along with creator and director Echo Wu, to learn more about this awesome new show.
Ali Wong and Echo Wu Interview: Jentry Chau vs the Underworld
Jentry Chau vs the Underworld has it all, an exciting story, incredible cast, fire soundtrack, anime-inspired animation, and a kick-butt female lead. Echo Wu is the creator and director responsible for this awesome new show. She had a specific vision for Jentry and made it happen. Heading up the ensemble is the talented and hilarious Ali Wong. Wong not only stars as Jentry Chau but she is also a producer for the show.
Ali, you’re both a producer and a star. Was that always the plan or did one come before the other?
I think Echo first came to me to executive produce it then, very shortly after, she was like, please also voice the character. And I was like yes! We always had Bowen Yang in mind for Ed, from the jump. I’ve been dying to work with him forever, ever since that iconic video where he lip syncs to Tyra Banks’s speech in America’s Next Top Model! Now after seeing him in the episodes, it’s a dream come true.
Echo, with such an awesome cast, what was that process like getting them all to come together for the project?
I remember writing letters to everyone in the cast like will you please join this amazing show that Ali is executive producing? And I have to say, it wasn’t difficult grabbing everyone because I think [because] everyone wants to work with Ali and so it’s just been amazing putting this cast together and seeing all the dream castings come true. It’s awesome, I’m really proud of the people that we have.
Watch the full Ali Wong & Echo Wu Interview
About Jentry Chau vs the Underworld
The series follows Jentry Chau (voiced by Ali Wong), a Chinese-American teen living in a small Texas town, who finds out a demon king is hunting her for the supernatural powers she’s been working her whole life to repress. With the help of her weapons expert great-aunt and a millennia-old jiangshi (Chinese hopping vampire), Jentry must now fight an entire underworld’s worth of monsters while balancing the horrors of high school.
Jentry Chau vs the Underworld is now streaming on Netflix.
*this interview has been edited for length and clarity