Jon M. Chu Has a Vision for America

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In the musical Wicked, the strong-willed Elphaba (played by Cynthia Erivo) faces a difficult choice: should she leave the land of Oz, or stay and fight for change? Oz, ruled by the deceitful Wizard (Jeff Goldblum), is filled with unfairness and foolishness. However, simply leaving won’t fix the problems. Elphaba considers staying and working from within the flawed system to make things better, singing that Oz represents potential and she wants to help fulfill that promise.

Director Jon M. Chu understands this feeling perhaps better than anyone. For nearly twenty years, he’s worked within the Hollywood system, consistently delivering successful, popular movies based on established ideas, like Step Up 2: The Streets, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, and Crazy Rich Asians. His knack for connecting with both American and international audiences has made him a highly reliable director – a true example of achieving the American Dream.

Ariana Grande, who plays Glinda in the film, shared with TIME that the director has incredible talent. She wrote, “It’s hard to know where to begin when describing his abilities! He truly understands people and has a lot of empathy and heart.”

Glinda realizes that becoming too involved with a powerful system can mean promoting illusions or becoming complicit in deception. As Chu reflects during an interview, “The system constantly lets me down. When cherished beliefs are proven false, it forces you to confront who you are.” She connects this to a broader cultural shift, asking whether the inspiring narratives of the past – from filmmakers like Spielberg and Disney to performers like Michael Jackson – still hold up now that we have access to so much information. Can those hopeful stories coexist with reality?

At 46, director Chu has become a significant figure in Hollywood at a time when the film industry is facing major difficulties. Studios are increasingly controlled by financial pressures, company buyouts, and streaming services, which tend to favor predictable sequels over new, original stories. With movie ticket sales declining and the rise of potentially disruptive AI technology, Chu could have chosen to distance himself from the industry and challenge it from the outside.

That’s not really his true self, he explains. He identifies with the character Elphaba, saying he dislikes having to be a people-pleaser. Having grown up working in restaurants, he was always expected to make others happy. Now, he hopes to find a balance – giving people what they want while also achieving his own goals.

Jon M. Chu is now a central figure in Hollywood, similar to Glinda the Good Witch, and his success continues to grow. The second part of the Wicked movie adaptation, Wicked: For Good, arrives on November 21st, building on the massive success of the first film, which earned over $750 million worldwide. Chu hopes that by creating large-scale, hopeful, and compassionate stories, he can inspire positive change in America.

You know, I really believe stories are how we make a difference and shift how people think. It’s about finding that little bit of hope and happiness even when things are tough – like a beautiful flower pushing its way through concrete. That’s what really resonates with me.

Chu grew up in the 1980s living the classic American Dream. His parents, who immigrated from China, owned a popular restaurant, Chef Chu’s, in Silicon Valley, and it was frequented by people like Steve Jobs and other leaders in the tech industry. His mother nicknamed him Jon-Jon after President John F. Kennedy. As he puts it, “I really am a product of the best ideals of what America can be.”

Growing up, Chu’s parents frequently took him to movies and musicals, sparking his early passion for filmmaking. This interest was further encouraged when customers at his family’s restaurant donated cameras and computers. As he began creating films, Chu quickly discovered their power went beyond simple entertainment, bordering on manipulating emotions. He recalls making videos for his church and noticing how deeply they affected people. “I realized it wasn’t about faith, but about the techniques – the dramatic music and visual effects,” he said. “I saw the potential for harm and decided to stop.”

He didn’t abandon filmmaking, though. While at USC, Chu wasn’t known as one of the more artistic students – his peers expected him to work on big-budget studio films. That prediction proved accurate when, after graduation, Steven Spielberg saw and praised one of Chu’s short films, opening doors for him to meet with industry executives.

Chu admits it was difficult to get his creative visions realized early in his career, and he often felt ignored or even confused with other crew members. He recalls being told to wait for deliveries when he was just starting out, which made him feel like he always had to prove himself.

Jon M. Chu’s early directing work, like the 2008 film Step Up 2: The Streets, wasn’t known for being high-art, but he brought a vibrant energy and genuine emotion to these projects, making them surprisingly engaging. He’s particularly skilled at creating bold and technically impressive scenes, such as the card heist in Now You See Me 2 and a gravity-defying dance number in In the Heights. Choreographer Christopher Scott, who has worked with Chu for many years, describes him as a “conceptual genius” who consistently strives for innovation.

Shawn Levy, the director of last year’s Deadpool & Wolverine, commends the natural rhythm and flow in Jon’s filming and editing. He notes that Jon approaches his work with genuine warmth and excitement, and that positive energy shines through in every shot.

Despite achieving personal success and entertaining others, Chu felt lost and unsure of his own identity. He explains, “It’s strange to be someone people rely on for strength when you’re still figuring out who you are and where your own confidence comes from.”

As a movie fan, I remember how around 2015 things started to shift in Hollywood. People were really speaking up online about the lack of diversity in films and who was getting recognized. That’s when Jon M. Chu got the chance to direct Crazy Rich Asians, this really glamorous, over-the-top story set in Singapore. Honestly, some people wrote it off as just being about fancy things and money, but it felt like something more was happening with that movie.

Chu envisioned something even greater: a chance to redefine how people see Asian faces and stories on the big screen, with a major Hollywood film featuring an all-Asian cast for the first time in a quarter-century. He explains, “Sometimes audiences don’t see beauty or inspiration in what they’re used to, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there.” Chu wasn’t focused on making viewers envy the film’s luxury cars or settings; he wanted them to connect with the people in the story. He aimed to change how we picture movie stars, showing that someone like Michelle Yeoh can embody the same timeless glamour and iconic presence as classic Hollywood stars from the 1950s – as if they’ve always belonged on screen.

The movie Crazy Rich Asians earned $238 million in theaters, becoming the most successful romantic comedy of the 2010s. It helped launch the careers of actors like Michelle Yeoh and Awkwafina, created more opportunities for Asian filmmakers and artists in Hollywood, and proved director Jon M. Chu could both entertain audiences and make a positive impact.

It’s a real challenge to make a movie that’s both enjoyable and meaningful,” he explains. “If I focus solely on entertainment, it feels pointless. But if I prioritize message over entertainment and no one watches it, then what’s the point?

Wicked represents the biggest project yet for director Jon M. Chu, who began working on the movie adaptation of the popular musical during the pandemic. He says the national focus on social justice and inequality at the time influenced the film’s direction. Chu, along with stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, shared a common goal: to create a movie with a strong and meaningful social message. He describes a feeling of collaboration and secrecy, saying they all knew they were making something truly special and impactful.

Ariana Grande told TIME she was impressed by director Craig Chu’s talent for seeing different sides of every character and finding something to love in them, even when they made mistakes. She also noted that while Chu came prepared with detailed plans, he remained open-minded and spontaneous while filming.

The film Wicked, released last November, quickly became a box office hit, reaching number 5 worldwide and earning 10 Oscar nominations, winning two awards. Director Chu received the Best Director award from the Astra Awards, the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, and the National Board of Review. He also filmed Wicked: For Good simultaneously with the first movie, viewing them as one continuous story, and is expected to receive even more recognition for it.

The movie has a noticeably more serious and somber feel, both visually and in its overall mood. The story of Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship doesn’t begin at Shiz University anymore, where they used to meet at parties and dances. Instead, they’re dealing with difficult issues like government monitoring, biased information, creating fear, and the forced removal of people—except in this movie, it’s animals who are being targeted.

Chu understands how impactful this film will be with audiences in 2025, despite its themes being familiar. He points out that many of the film’s most powerful lines were actually written 20 years ago, reflecting the post-9/11 era, and that the core ideas date back even further – to The Wizard of Oz from a century ago. However, he notes the film’s message has become increasingly resonant recently, particularly the imagery of animals confined to cages.

As a movie fan, I’m really excited about Wicked because it feels like director Jon M. Chu is genuinely trying to shake things up and make mainstream cinema more inclusive. Seeing Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, and especially Marissa Bode as Nessarose – a wheelchair user playing a character who is a wheelchair user – feels like a huge step forward. It’s a little bittersweet though, because it’s coming out at a time when Hollywood seems to be taking a step back from diversity initiatives, especially with everything that’s been happening lately.

Chu acknowledges that the entertainment industry has been moving backwards when it comes to diversity. However, he’s tired of constantly discussing the problem. He explains that casting choices, like Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, might spark debate, but he has the ability to simply make those choices and bypass the discussion. He prefers to let the work speak for itself rather than constantly explaining it.

Chu is a forward-thinking producer who prioritizes family. He recently missed the premiere of Wicked because his youngest child was born. Because he consistently delivers successful projects, he now has significant influence in the industry and can get the films he wants made. However, he doesn’t plan on moving to smaller, independent films any time soon. He feels a responsibility to reach the widest possible audience. Currently, he’s developing film adaptations of Dr. Seuss’s Oh! The Places You’ll Go!, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and movies based on the popular children’s brands Play-Doh and Hot Wheels.

Chu’s ambitious goals involve helping major companies profit from their brands by making blockbuster movies, much like the recent success of Barbie. His influence and importance within the entertainment industry have grown so much that he’s less like the on-screen talent and more like the powerful figure behind the scenes – the one calling the shots. This raises concerns, as many people worry about Hollywood executives using entertainment to manipulate public opinion or promote misleading narratives.

Chu explained that he gets why the Wizard thinks stories are so important. He believes narratives have a huge impact on how we all think and understand the world, and that people often rely on simple stories to make sense of their own lives. He emphasized that stories aren’t just entertainment – we need them, whether it’s stories about religion, government, or our place in the world, because they provide a sense of order and comfort in the face of the unknown.

Unlike many leaders who focus on fear, Chu builds his vision on joy and understanding. He creates stories where people see each other as complex and imperfect, offering forgiveness and finding wonder everywhere. Chu hopes these hopeful ideas, inspired by Oz and America, can inspire a more positive and cheerful world.

Chu understands some people might consider his belief optimistic or even unrealistic. However, he doesn’t. Throughout his career, he’s consistently worked hard and turned his aspirations into reality with dedication on every film set.

He explains that leading creatively involves holding a vision in your mind and convincing others to share it. It’s like creating an image from light – initially an idea, but needing to feel increasingly tangible with each step. The goal is for that vision to become fully realized by the time you achieve it.

Scott, having collaborated with Chu on both Wicked movies, notes that Chu has become a more assertive and confident leader, increasingly willing to stand up for what he believes in. Scott explains that Chu prefers to create change from within established systems, challenging them from the inside, but isn’t afraid to draw a line and refuse to participate if his vision isn’t respected. Essentially, Chu still maintains his optimistic outlook, but now possesses a stronger, more determined side.

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2025-11-07 19:09