Kee Chan Talks ‘Kung Fu’ Season 2 and Russell’s Complicated Relationship with His Son [Interview]

Currently airing on The CW, Kung Fu is based on the original series of the same name from the ’70s, but it offers a refreshing twist. As seen in Kung Fu Season 1, the series introduces a new portrayal of the esteemed show by casting a female lead and predominately Asian-American cast.

The series continues to cause an uproar with its frighteningly well-executed storylines, immaculate character progression, and downright mesmerizing fight sequences.

Kung Fu Season 2 premiered earlier this month and has been bringing the action week-to-week thanks to a bit of help from their resident villains.

I recently had the opportunity to chat with one of those said villains, Russell Tan, played by Kee Chan. Chan can be recognized from the wide variety of films he’s been in, such as Mission: Impossible II, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, and Mortal Engines.

Chan plays Russell Tan, a billionaire who wishes to control anyone and anything he can, whether it be real estate, oil, or local street vendors. Currently, he has his eyes set on harnessing the Biange magic Nicky Shen, played by Olivia Liang, released into the world at the end of Season 1.

Russell is also the father of Kerwin Tan, played by Ludi Lin, and Juliette Tan, played by Annie Q. So far, fans haven’t seen many different sides to Russell, but Chan promises more humanity and humility in the role to come.

“He’s a very ambitious person. He has a very complicated relationship with his children, of course. He believes what he is doing is for the good of many, many, many things. But, also, he is very insecure in certain ways. He has a need to have power and to hold on to it. Many of his actions are self-serving. However, he’s also very, very loving, genuinely loving, and caring about his children, despite his ambitions,” Chan said.

“He is not supposed to be likable. But throughout the evolution for the entire season, I’ve made sure that people can relate to him, that he is humanized, humane, and he’s caring — and you know that he’s a father and has a family.”

Russell’s plans are currently a mystery to the audience and even his children. His ulterior motive, however, will not stay hidden for much longer. According to Chan, Russell is in for a character arc that is bound to do him justice.

“He deals with his own demons,” Chan said. “This is a very complicated and extraordinary season. The arc is just incredible. He does have a vision and a goal which will slowly be revealed throughout the season.”

While Chan couldn’t give too much away about who we might get to see him interact with this season, he can confirm that we will see more interactions between him and Nicky, which he called “wonderful interactions intellectually with her.”

“T>he rest of it is a singular journey with many, many other people who we will see introduced throughout the season,” Chan said.

To say that his relationship with his son, Kerwin, is complicated is an understatement, but it looks like we’ll finally see them get past their differences. “You will definitely see more interaction between him and his son. And they will definitely have a resolution of some kind.”

When it comes to the relationship between Russell and Zhilan, played by Yvonne Chapman, however, Russell could care less. She may be after him, but he rarely gives her a second thought.

“He doesn’t care. Russell is incredibly powerful. He feels invincible,” Chan explained.

Chan also discussed what it was like filming the series, including what the first day on the set of Kung Fu felt like. It was an experience that he had never had before, even in his thirty-three years of acting.

“The first day being on set for me was like an out-of-body experience because I was surrounded by all Asian actors, which has never happened before. It was the most amazing feeling. We have a very good cast. It was a very tight-knit cast and very, very supportive of each other,” Chan said.

For Chan, acting wasn’t something he decided to pursue from a young age. “I fell into it by chance when I went to a party, and someone suggested to me that I should be on television. It wasn’t that Asians did not seem to have no television roles at all, but they were tokenism.”

“But you know, it’s a different day now because I’d like to think that my generation paved the part. We paved the blood, sweat, and tears for this generation to be able to work so freely. I’m happy with my journey. I love what I have. I love what I’ve done in my life. I love working in television. It’s an extraordinary experience; I would never change anything,” Chan continued.

During our chat about the importance of giving credit where credit is due, it reminded him of one intense situation.

“You know, you just triggered something, one particular experience I had, an audition, which is one I remember to this day. It was a long time ago,” he began.

“On the callback, I was asked by the director, the key, ‘So why should I pick you? Small little Asian man, small little skinny Asian man, over the other four, big white, brawny men, muscular, six-foot-tall? How can you portray power?’ And of course, in that moment, I just wanted the floor to open up, swallow me, and never be seen again.”

“It was very disabling. I don’t know where the courage came from, out of my sheer terror of the question. But I found it inside me to say, ‘Power is not really brawn, muscles, brains, and color. If you know who you are, you’re the most powerful person on earth.’ That’s when I left the audition room. And by the way, I did book the role,” Chan said.

One thing that continues to motivate Chan is the ability to learn new things.

“I like being challenged with new actors every time I’m on a different set because of the way they are, the way they work, and what they bring to the table. It’s interesting and makes me dig even deeper to be able to compliment them and create a dynamic in a relationship on screen.”

“You learn so many things every time if you’re open to it. Working on Kung Fu, I learned so much more about acting after 33 years. Truly, truly, it’s been such a blessing. It’s a journey, and I’m quite sure in my next project I will learn even more.”

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Kung Fu airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on The CW.

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