As an original member of K-pop powerhouse Exo, Lay Zhang enjoys household-name status across wide swaths of Asia. But after conquering the world of boy bands and embarking on a wildly successful solo career, the Chinese actor, singer-songwriter, dancer and fashion icon just wants to collaborate with … Joe Wright.
“I loved ‘The Darkest Hour’ and would like to have the opportunity to work with [him],” Zhang tells Variety of the British director. “I like a movie that can dig into the personality and conflict.”
For K-pop talent looking to cross over to Hollywood careers, the field is crowded. Blackpink’s Jennie Kim scored a buzzy role in Sam Levinson’s HBO series “The Idol.” And after signing with CAA in 2021, Aespa became the first K-pop act to perform at the Governors Ball and Outside Lands music festivals. But Zhang is perhaps best poised for the pivot thanks to his starring role in this year’s massive box office hit “No More Bets” (nearly $530 million worldwide). He’s already laid the groundwork: “No More Bets” got a limited release in the U.S. in September, while his solo debut EP, “Lose Control,” hit No. 4 on Billboard’s World Albums chart.
Last month, the 31-year-old pop phenom signed with Range Media, the management company behind Bradley Cooper and Tom Hardy, and embarked on a 13-day trip to the United States, where he took meetings with executives at production company Escape Artists (“The Equalizer”) as well as Sony casting director Ashley Marks.
“I want to be an actor who can bridge between Chinese and American culture,” says the hoodie-wearing Zhang, who prepped for the stateside swing by binge-watching “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” “I hope that the success of ‘No More Bets’ in China is just the beginning of being able to be recognized as an actor in the U.S.”
Zhang, who is fluent in Mandarin, Korean and English, is still figuring out some of the cultural nuances. When asked who his favorite music performers are, he offers up Michael Jackson and Chris Brown before catching himself and checking with his manager. “Can I say that?” Then he settles on a controversy-free dream collaboration.
“The Weeknd would be at the top of the list,” Zhang says. “I really like the way he’s changed pop music, and he’s incredible what he’s able to do onstage.”
After wrapping concerts in August for his Grand Line tour in Shenzhen and Beijing, Zhang is looking to expand into the lucrative U.S. music market, recording with such producers as David Stewart and SoolGotHits (Beyoncé) during his visit.
On the film front, he will be seen starring opposite Jackie Chan in next year’s “A Legend,” the long- awaited sequel to the 2005 martial arts adventure pic “The Myth.” The big-budget production gave him an opportunity to work with one of his career inspirations.
“He does his own stunts,” Zhang says, explaining what’s most impressive about the “Rush Hour” star. As for his other bucket-list team-up, he says with a laugh, “Tom Cruise. He does his own stunts.”
