Summary
The year 2025 is set to become Steven Yeun’s oyster, with the actor being fresh off the start of Season 3 ofInvincibleand the anticipated blockbuster release of the Bong Joon-ho and Robert Pattinson sci-fi movieMickey 17. While Yeun rose to fame from his expeditions inThe Walking Dead, the actor has since become a household name in the industry, becoming a significant presence in film and television, both in lead and supporting roles.
While still enjoying a promising career in Hollywood, Yeun has collected an impressive resume filled with star-studded directors and co-stars who he has been able to collaborate with to a high standard. While plenty of prominent roles are set to arrive in his dazzling career, Yeun’s current catalog of roles has paved the way fora lasting legacy for the versatile actor.
The quirkyblack comedySorry to Bother Youprovided Yeun with a chance to flex his talents, opening the door for the actor to become a noteworthy film star. In a complex story,Sorry to Bother Youfollows Cassius Green, a telemarketer who utilizes a white voice to embark on a road of success. However, his greed causes him to start losing friends and relationships, with the narrative providing many eccentric twists and turns.
While being a supportive friend to Cassius in his role as the confident union organizer, Squeeze, Yeun operates as a smooth and slick operator, even pursuing Cassius' girlfriend, Detroit. The role provides Yeun with plenty of room to play thanks to the movie’s outlandish setting.
In what became one of Yeun’s big breaks in film, the actor played a dynamic role inthe Bong Joon-ho-directedOkja, the Korean-American production that emerged as one of Netflix’s premier movies of the last decade.Okjafollows the adventures of a young girl named Mija and her pet pig Okja, as the famed animal is kidnapped by a US company that takes Okja to New York. Here, Mija is tasked with rescuing her friend, with activists and eccentrics playing their part in the battle for the super pig.
As an activist, Yeun’s K acts as a translator between his ALF group and Mija, with Yeun’s bilingual abilities allowing the movie to connect its absurd storyline.
One of Yeun’s most prominent performances can be seen in Jordan Peele’sNope, a movie that sees the actor play the lavish and over-the-top theme park owner named Jupe.Nope’s central premise is based on tworanch-owning siblings who try to gain evidence of possible UFO activityin their area, with Yeun’s Jupe doing his part to attract the unidentified object.
Much like his profession, Jupe comes across as a natural showman, spanning from his days as a child actor. However, the tragedy that struck during his adolescence left a mark on his mind, pushing Jupe to strive for greatness. Yeun undeniably knocks this peculiar role out of the park.
Yeun’s starring role in the mystery thrillerBurningranks as one of his most critically acclaimed performances. After childhood friends Lee Jong-su and Shin Hae-mi reunite, their reunion is interrupted when Ben, a stranger Hae-mi recently met, comes between the former classmates. To further complicate matters, his and Hae-mi’s distressing behavior prompts questions from Jong-su.
In his mysterious role as Ben, the wealthy but unusual character gives off sinister vibes, leaving Jong-su to become even more suspicious of his activities and involvement with Hae-mi. Yeun’s role as a villain was new territory for the actor at the time of release.
Invinciblehas given Yeun plenty of room for variation and experimentation, with his voice actingportrayal of its superhero protagonist, Mark Grayson, becoming a mainstay in pop culture in recent years. Centered on a teenage superhero who becomes the hope of the planet after his father Omni-Man’s betrayal, Mark has to deal with a myriad of problems involving love, family, extraterrestrial threats, and the villainous Viltrumites that threaten to eliminate human civilization.
While Mark is hampered by the traumatic events he has endured in his short span as a superhero, Yeun has perfectly captured the teenage angst, comedic sensibilities, and emotional vulnerability that make the character such a compelling protagonist.
The Netflix limited seriesBeefbrought Yeun further international fame, with his role as Danny Cho producing a feisty and explosive viewing experience. After a car collision between two strangers leads to a confrontation, Danny and Amy Lau take their beef to the extreme, mercilessly trying to wreak havoc on each other in a series of chaotic and comedic events.
In his role as Danny, Yeun churns out a tremendous performance fueled by hate and rage, with his pulsating chemistry with Ali Wong as they go back and forth making for an excellent showcase of the actor’s exceptional range.
While Yeun has appeared in several high-profile projects,Minarihappens to be the actor’s most critically acclaimed piece of work, with the Korean immigrant drama netting him his first andonly nomination at the Oscarsthanks to his well-rounded performance.Minarifollows the journey of a Korean family that immigrates to Arkansas, hoping to achieve the American Dream that became the basis for their relocation. However, the sudden culture change and struggles of running a farm grow to become a hindrance.
As the head of the family, Yeun’s performance as a young father trying to provide for his family in a foreign land is truly heartbreaking, with the nuanced and subdued portrayal of his character undergoing marriage problems and experiencing job security fears acting as the movie’s heartbeat.
In his breakout role, Yeun was in for the long haul as Glenn Rhee, the young resourceful scavenger in the hit zombie showThe Walking Dead, becoming one of the most iconic and celebrated characters in the story. From the show’s very beginning, Glenn’s cocky and cheeky personality endeared itself to audiences. Much ofTWDrevolved around constant death and heightened drama, and Glenn became a symbol of fun and youthful exuberance, especially in the earlier seasons.
As Yeun’s character develops, his romantic chemistry with Maggie becomes one of the best aspects of the show, with their close-knit bond seeing Glenn transition into a responsible adult. He even acts as Rick Grimes’s right-hand man throughout the ongoing conflict and turmoil that their group encounters. WhileGlenn’s death remains one of the show’s most devastating and shocking moments, Yeun’s tenure onTWDwas nothing but thrilling, with Glenn representing the heart and soul of an often bleak and morbid series.
