Ming-Na Wen Breaks The Asian Mom Trope In Karate Kid: Legends

You’ve probably seen Ming-Na Wen wielding a sword, outsmarting enemies or saving the galaxy — often all at once. The actor has spent decades portraying warriors, leaders and legends across some of the world’s biggest franchises, from Disney’s “Mulan” to Marvel’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” to “The Mandalorian.”

But in her latest role as Dr. Fong in “Karate Kid: Legends,” Wen reveals a different kind of strength — one rooted in grief, compassion and the quiet determination of a mother trying to protect what’s left of her family.

“Dr. Fong was really well written, even though she was a supporting role,” Wen told HuffPost. “There was so much that I could infuse [from] my own experience as a mom for the last 24 years of my life.” (Watch the full interview above.)

In “Karate Kid: Legends,” which hit theaters on May 30, 2025, Wen plays the mother of the film’s lead, Li Fong. After the death of Li’s older brother — who was fatally stabbed following a martial arts tournament — Dr. Fong makes the difficult decision to uproot their lives. She accepts a job in New York City and moves Li across the country, asking him to give up martial arts entirely. While her actions are meant to safeguard her son after unimaginable loss, they’re misconstrued as an attempt to dictate his life.

For Wen, 61, the opportunity to portray an Asian mother who isn’t defined by stereotypical rigidity was not only rare — it was long overdue. Over the years, Hollywood has often leaned into narrow depictions of Asian moms: strict, stoic and overbearing. But Dr. Fong, Wen says, pushes against that trope. She’s thoughtful. Grieving. Protective, yes — but not controlling.

“We were both on the same page about not making Dr. Fong into this sort of Tiger Mom,” Wen explains. “You want to be able to feel this person and where her heart is. That was one of my [focuses] — and of course, dealing with grief. And in a lot of ways, Asians, we don’t like to cry in front of people. There’s this kind of quiet dignity that she has as she’s dealing with her personal loss.”

That quiet resilience, Wen says, is more than just a character trait — it’s a reflection of many real-life immigrant experiences, including her own. “I had a very strong mother,” Wen tells me, explaining that she is “still…