Randall Park and Ming-Na Wen to lead ‘Better Life’ ensemble cast
The pair joins Margaret Cho, Joel Kim Booster, and Anirudh Pisharody in a sci-fi dark satire from writer-director Jessica Liu
Randall Park (left) and Ming-Na Wen (right)
Corey Nickols/Getty Images/Daniel Kim
Words by Daniel Anderson
Randall Park (The Residence, Shortcomings), Ming-Na Wen (Karate Kid: Legends, The Joy Luck Club), Joel Kim Booster (Fire Island), Margaret Cho (All That We Love, Cheap AF), Anirudh Pisharody (Never Have I Ever), and Yao (Sinners) will headline Better Life, the debut feature from writer-director Jessica Liu.
Blending grounded sci-fi with dark satire, the film centers on an aging father who utilizes a controversial medical procedure capable of turning underachievers into star performers as his last shot at achieving the American dream. His plan is to put his unemployed adult daughter through the treatment, no matter the cost.
According to Deadline, Liu expanded Better Life from her award-recognized short of the same name, drawing on personal experiences with her immigrant father. She developed the feature under Park’s mentorship. Annie Huang is producing, with Samantha Gao (Smoking Tigers) also serving as line producer.
Filming is scheduled to begin in Los Angeles in September.
Published on August 13, 2025
Words by Daniel Anderson
Daniel Anderson is a disabled Chinese American adoptee based in Seattle. His freelance writing specialties include K-pop, entertainment, and food. He believes that any restaurant can be a buffet, and the key to success is to take a nap each day. Follow his adventures on Instagram @danzstan.