Ross Butler Says Shazam! Was a Breakthrough for Asian Americans in Superhero Films

It's a little hard to keep everything straight in the superhero world nowadays, but you might remember that 13 Reasons Why's Ross Butler has some major cred in the genre. See: Butler beaming lightning out of his chest as Eugene Choi in Shazam!

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In a new interview for our "Explain This" video series, Butler says there's much more to his appearance in Shazam! than just a couple action shots for his mixtape. Aside from talking about the multitudes of high schoolers he's played over the years in the video, Butler says that his role as Choi in Shazam! marked a major step for Asian Americans in the superhero genre.

"You know, Asian superheroes are always a little stereotyped. They're always either martial artists, or they're from the far east and they have these wispy beards," Butler says. "To be a superhero that wasn't that was my goal from the beginning, just to represent Asian Americans [as] not these mystical creatures... Asian Americans should not feel like they have to play stereotypes. That's all I'm saying here."

Butler went on to reveal the next dream role on his superhero wishlist. Batman Beyond's Terry McGinnis. A role Butler would nail, without a doubt. Check out the rest of the video if you want to see Butler talk 13 Reasons Why and To All the Boys I've Loved Before, too. And one more thing. Stick around to the very, very end of the video if you want to see Butler attempt to recreate his dangling-a-spoon-from-his-nose trick from 13 Reasons Why.

Mike Kim

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