Willis Wu is an Asian-American character stuck in background roles in a police procedural TV show called Black & White: Impossible Crimes Unit. He works as a waiter at the Golden Palace restaurant and dreams of being a hero like the lead detectives, but he is always overlooked. One day, he accidentally witnesses a crime, which pulls him into a bigger mystery involving his family and the secrets of Chinatown. As Willis investigates, he begins to uncover the truth about his world and his role in it, leading him on a journey of self-discovery.

Trivia/Facts

• Willis Wu is an Asian-American man working as a waiter at the Golden Palace restaurant in Chinatown. He dreams of becoming a lead character like the heroic Detective Green and Turner but feels stuck in the background of life. Willis often struggles with being unseen and undervalued, both in his personal and professional existence. His best friend, Fatty Choi, advises him to accept life as it is, but Willis yearns for more.
• One day, Willis accidentally witnesses a crime outside the Golden Palace, changing his life forever. This event pulls him into an investigation involving Chinatown’s criminal underground. He collaborates with Detective Lana Lee, who seeks his help to uncover hidden truths. The journey also leads Willis to probe his brother Jonathan’s mysterious disappearance.

Willis Wu in Interior Chinatown (2024)

• Willis and Lana set up an undercover operation to investigate Chinatown’s criminal activities. As they dig deeper, Willis discovers tunnels beneath Chinatown connected to a gang called the Painted Faces. However, the gang’s true nature reveals surprising truths about their harmless rebellion against systemic oppression. These discoveries force Willis to question his reality and the roles people play in it.
• Willis starts noticing strange occurrences, like flashing lights and the inability to enter the police precinct as himself. He learns that his world is part of a fictional TV procedural show, Black & White: Impossible Crimes Unit. Every role in the city, including his own, is scripted and controlled by a media company, HBWC. This realization shakes Willis to his core, forcing him to redefine his sense of self.
• Willis uncovers that his brother Jonathan, once a Chinatown informant for the police, was framed for murder by the show’s creators. Jonathan’s growing disillusionment with the fabricated reality led him to rebel against the system. He escaped through a staged death, waking up in the “real” outside world. Willis discovers clues about Jonathan’s survival through secret messages in an arcade game at the Golden Palace.

Interior Chinatown (2024)

• In the story’s emotional climax, Willis and Lana face off against the police while uncovering the true nature of their existence. Willis records an honest monologue about his struggles, acknowledging the importance of family and identity. The pair jumps off a rooftop to escape their roles, symbolizing their rejection of societal and systemic expectations. However, they wake up in a new narrative, continuing their existential journey.
• Willis’s journey symbolizes the struggles of marginalized communities, particularly Asian Americans, in finding individuality amidst stereotypes. The fictional world he lives in reflects real-life social and systemic pressures to conform. Despite the challenges, Willis’s story emphasizes the importance of self-discovery, family, and fighting against societal constraints. It leaves a powerful message about breaking free from predefined roles.
• The series concludes with Willis reconciling his dreams with the reality of his existence. He realizes that his family and loved ones have always been the center of his world. The ambiguous ending hints that Willis and others continue to resist the system, seeking freedom from imposed narratives. It highlights the endless struggle of breaking out of life’s roles while striving for self-authenticity.

Willis Wu in Interior Chinatown (2024)

Willis Wu’s Relationship with Other Characters

• Jonathan Wu (Brother): Willis admires his brother, who was once a heroic figure in Chinatown but disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Their bond drives Willis to uncover the truth about Jonathan’s fate.
• Detective Lana Lee: Lana becomes Willis’s ally in investigating Chinatown’s criminal underworld. Their partnership grows deeper as they uncover family secrets and the truth about their reality.

Interior Chinatown (2024)

• Fatty Choi (Best Friend): Fatty Choi provides emotional support to Willis, often advising him to enjoy life despite his frustrations. He is a grounding influence in Willis’s chaotic journey.
  Detectives Miles Turner & Sarah Green: Willis envies their lead roles in the police procedural show. However, his interactions with them reveal cracks in their seemingly perfect personas and the artificiality of their world.
• Painted Faces Gang: Initially perceived as dangerous criminals, Willis learns they are misunderstood rebels seeking to uncover the truth about their constructed reality.
  Uncle Wong (Golden Palace Owner): Uncle Wong is a fatherly figure to Willis but harbors secrets connected to Chinatown’s mysteries. His involvement complicates Willis’s quest for answers.

Willis Wu in Interior Chinatown (2024)