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James Chen Talks Wolfpack Magic, ‘FBI,’ and Phoebe Waller-Bridge [Exclusive Interview]
James Chen is no stranger to popular fictional universes. He joined the MCU last year as Samuel Chung in Marvel’s Iron Fist, and has now returned to the “Wolfpack” as Ian Lim on FBI.
The “Wolfpack” consists of the plethora of successful dramas Dick Wolf has executive produced over the past three decades. Chen starred as CSU Adrian Sung on Law and Order: SVU in 2011.
I recently spoke with James about FBI, what he does when the cameras aren’t rolling, and what TV shows he is currently binging.
When it comes to the “Wolfpack,” Chen attributes Dick Wolf’s success to a keen eye for talent.
“[The writers] know drama — how to make these amazing stories and get you hooked on the story of ‘whodunit.’ That’s his special recipe, right there,” Chen began.
The right mix of people makes all of the difference, and for Chen, that’s what made the decision to rejoin the Wolfpack an easy one.
“It’s always great to work with the same people again,” he said. “It’s familiar to go back to the same people that you know and trust, and you like their work. It’s awesome.”
The perfect combination of actors is also one of the reasons why the show is now in its sophomore season.
“There is such great chemistry between the pairs of actors — Missy [Peregrym] and Zeeko [Zaki], and Ebonee [Noel] and John [Boyd]. I think that’s a huge part of it.”
Chen’s character, Ian Lim, is behind the computer for now, but Chen said that he could see Ian aspire to more.
“I would love to see Ian out in the field. I think he’d be very amenable to it and be excellent at it.”
With as heavy of a premise as the show brings, Chen stated the cast still finds a way to have fun on set.
“It’s not heavy off-camera unless it’s a particularly deep, intense moment. I feel like everyone has found their rhythm where they don’t need to obsess in a dark corner about that sort of thing,” he said.
“In a way, it’s to the betterment of the work that it feels really free and relaxed. It makes it that much easier to be that way when the cameras are rolling.”
Another resource that helps when the cameras roll is the show’s team of advisors who help ensure that things stay authentic onscreen.
“The show has got some advisors who are ex-FBI. I spoke to someone who does work in analytics for electronics,” Chen said, referring to his preparation for the role. “I was really trying to dig into his process, his day-to-day, his work, and how he approaches this sort of thing.”
Much like an FBI agent, Chen spends his time off-camera fine-tuning his skillset.
“I started mixed martial arts a couple of years ago, ongoing with singing lessons,” Chen shared. “I feel like I’m constantly keeping myself busy. If there’s ever any downtime from auditions, I’m constantly trying to deepen and expand what I have to offer.”
Chen’s busy nature makes it difficult to keep up watching friends and colleagues in other projects, but that does not keep him from enjoying television entirely. His most recent binge was the award-winning Amazon original series, Fleabag.
“Phoebe Waller-Bridge is such an inspiration because she does it all. She acts and creates her own content, showruns, and goes between character-based comedy with Fleabag, but also to spy thriller with Killing Eve,” Chen gushed. “I think that’s an artistic dream to be able to balance between genre and also what hat you’re wearing.”
Chen does not have to go far to find another fellow actor to draw inspiration from, either.
“Speaking of Killing Eve — Sandra Oh. She does make a stand about being an Asian American actor, but I think she made a really great statement just by the nature of how she looks,” he said, noting that Oh has paved the way for actors such as himself.
“The more high-profile projects I am able to do, that in and of itself speaks loads for diversity and inclusion.”
You can catch James Chen on FBI every Tuesday at 9/8c on CBS.
*Featured image credit: Ryan West
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Gina Zippilli
Gina is the co-host of Meet Us At Molly’s, the first-ever Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago P.D. podcast. Outside of One Chicago, she has never met an ensemble-driven cop show, post-apocalyptic drama or true crime whodunit she has not liked.