Watch Steven Yeun in one of his best roles in a thriller now available on Netflix
By Renee Hansen
Walking Dead fan favorite Steven Yeun portrayed Glenn Rhee from seasons 1 - 7. His death in the series was a divisive one, which Andrew Lincoln, who portrays hero Rick Grimes in TWDU, recently discussed in an interview with Empire. Since he departed The Walking Dead, Yeun has made headlines for his many accomplishments, including becoming the first Asian American to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Minari. In 2018, Yeun starred in the thriller Burning, a role that earned him critical acclaim, that is now available to stream on Netflix.
Burning is based on the short story Barn Burning from Japanese writer Haruki Jurakami's The Elephant Vanishes. Directed by Lee Chang-dong, his first film in eight years, Burning won the FIPRESCI International Critics' Prize at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. After its release, the film received high acclaim for the performances, the feeling of unease experienced by viewers, and the obscure storyline. The film is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a 95% ranking and 80% audience score.
The film is a thrilling slow burn that highlights the talents of Yeun, who portrays Ben, a mysterious man with a strange hobby. He encounters Lee Jong-su (Yoo Ah-in), a delivery man with aspirations of becoming a writer, through their mutual friend Shin Hae-mi (Jeon Jeong-seo). When Hae-mi returns from Africa with Ben, Jong-su becomes a third wheel in the relationship. Tensions rise when Hae-mi appears to have disappeared during the time that Ben carries out an act of his bizarre hobby. While the overall story is relatively straightforward, the ending will leave viewers scratching their heads as they interpret the meaning of what transpires.
In 2018, Yeun won awards for his performance in the film for Best Supporting Actor at:
- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
- Toronto Film Critics Association Awards
- Florida Film Critics Circle Awards
- National Society of Film Critics Awards.
Steven Yeun - recent roles
Yeun has made quite the name for himself, especially with his Academy Award-nominated performance in the immigrant drama Minari. He has also starred in the action horror Mayhem with Samara Weaving, the action-adventure Okja, and the dark comedy Sorry to Bother You.
In 2021, he co-starred with Jayne Houdyshell, Richard Jenkins, and Amy Schumer in the one-act play adaptation of The Humans, and in 2022, he starred in Jordan Peele's sci-fi horror Nope.
He won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor and a Golden Globe for Best actor for his performance in the Netflix original Beef. Yeun starred opposite Ali Wong (who won two Golden Globes and two Primetime Emmy's for her role), with supporting roles by Joseph Lee, Young Mazino, David Choe, Patti Yasutake, and Ashley Park.
Yeun continues to voice Mark Grayson/Invincible in Robert Kirkman's adult animated adaptation of the Image Comics Invincible comic, which airs on Prime Video. The series recently released its second season, with a third to follow.
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