Yeoh Calls Blade Runner 2099 'Amazing Journey,' Won't Direct — SkimNews
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- Michelle Yeoh called Prime Video's 'Blade Runner 2099' 'an amazing journey' at Busan, praising co-star Hunter Schafer, showrunner Silka Luisa, Alcon and Ridley Scott; all eight episodes drop Nov. 25 and she'll promote the series at New York Comic Con.
- Yeoh ruled out directing in her own words — 'being an amazing, great director, you have no life' — and said she'll stick to acting and producing while supporting visionary filmmakers.
- Yeoh received Busan's Asian Filmmaker of the Year award at the opening ceremony, marking her first festival visit in 15 years (she last attended with 'The Lady' in 2011), and earlier in 2026 collected an honorary Golden Bear at Berlin.
- Yeoh walked Busan with 'It's My Time,' her return to Chinese-language cinema, in which she plays Zhao Yanhong, a nursing-home resident in her 70s who takes up Rubik's Cube blindfolded — a role she also produced, with Bai Xue directing.
- Yeoh said she hopes to work in Korea, naming Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon Ho as dream collaborators, and singled out Lee Chang-dong's 'Possible Love' as the Busan title she most wanted to see.
- Yeoh recalled having knee surgery mid-shoot on 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,' saying she had to prop her leg on a box during the scene where Chow Yun-fat dies in her arms — and now laughs about it.
Why it matters: Yeoh is doubling as the connective thread between Asian art cinema and Hollywood streaming tentpoles: at one Busan press conference she fronted Prime Video's biggest sci-fi bet of the year, collected a major Asian-cinema honor, and screened a Chinese-language indie she produced. Her firm 'no directing' closes a door that other actor-producers — herself included — have increasingly walked through, making her next moves a study in selective crossover rather than expansion.
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