Imagine chasing your dreams, only to have them dismissed as 'dumb' by someone who’s never walked in your shoes. This is the reality Simu Liu faced when Canadian businessman Kevin O’Leary criticized background actors, claiming they’re to blame for skyrocketing movie production costs. But Liu, who started his own career as an extra, wasn’t having it. He passionately defended these aspiring performers, calling O’Leary’s comments 'out of touch and wrong.' This incident highlights a larger conversation about the value of every role in the film industry, no matter how small it may seem. And this is the part most people miss: those 'dumb' AI-generated extras O’Leary champions can’t replace the raw human experience and dedication that real actors bring to a set, even in the background.
Liu’s journey from accounting to starring in Marvel’s Shang-Chi and now Avengers: Doomsday is a testament to the power of perseverance and believing in your dreams. His latest project, In Your Dreams, is a perfect fit for him. Not only did he write about dreams in his 2022 memoir, We Were Dreamers, but he’s also a natural performer, as he proved during a Hollywood Reporter interview where he sang three songs a cappella.
In In Your Dreams, Liu plays Michael Ting, a struggling musician clinging to past glory with his former bandmate-turned-wife, Jennifer (Cristin Milioti). Their indie folk band, The Hypsonics, released a gold record 12 years ago, but life got in the way when Jennifer became pregnant with their daughter, Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport). Now, with their family on the brink of falling apart due to differing life goals, Stevie and her brother, Elliot (Elias Janssen), embark on a magical journey into their dreams to find the Sandman (Omid Djalili) and save their family.
What’s even more exciting is that Liu and Milioti collaborated on an original song, 'The Holding On and The Letting Go,' which could be a contender for Best Original Song at the 98th Academy Awards. Liu admits he didn’t even know there would be an original song when he signed on, but it turned out to be a delightful surprise. 'And then hearing that Cristin was going to be on it with me was the absolute cherry on top,' he shared with THR.
Liu’s path to stardom wasn’t easy. In 2012, he left his accounting job to be an extra in Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim. That decision changed his life, as he fell in love with filmmaking and realized accounting was never his true calling. When his employer laid him off shortly after, he saw it as a sign to fully pursue his passion for acting.
Fast forward to today, and Liu is rubbing shoulders with legends in Avengers: Doomsday. 'It was like, “That’s Sir Ian McKellen, and he’s wearing his superhero costume,”' Liu recalled, still in awe. The film, shrouded in secrecy, promises to blow audiences’ minds with its star-studded cast and epic storytelling. But here’s where it gets controversial: even Liu isn’t entirely sure what the final version will look like. 'I believe I have, in my head, a version of the story that’s been presented to me,' he said. 'But am I entirely sure that’s what’ll end up on screen? Not a whole lot.'
This raises a thought-provoking question: How much do actors really know about the projects they’re in, especially in massive franchises like Marvel? And does it matter? Let’s discuss in the comments—do you think actors should have more control over their characters’ arcs, or is it better to leave it in the hands of the filmmakers?
In Your Dreams premieres in select theaters on November 7 before its Netflix debut on November 14. Don’t miss this heartfelt story about family, dreams, and the imperfections that make us human.
