Ming-Na Wen Shares Her Mom’s ‘So Condescending’ Reaction To Fennec Shand In The Mandalorian, But I’m Cracking Up Over The Movie She Did Approve Of

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Ming-Na Wen stands out as an indispensable figure in Disney’s roster, with her memorable roles such as voicing Mulan across different productions and portraying Melinda May on the TV series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Star Wars enthusiasts recognize her as Fennec Shand from The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and The Bad Batch, all available on Disney+. Interestingly, her mother expressed a somewhat dismissive reaction upon first seeing her portray Fennec, but surprisingly approved of an obscure film of hers after watching it.

How Ming-Na Wen’s Mother Reacted To The Mandalorian

In “The Mandalorian” Season 1 episode “The Gunslinger,” the actress first appeared as Fennec Shand, initially portrayed as an adversary to Din Djarin. However, her character later transformed into an ally after Boba Fett rescued her life. Yet, according to Wen on “Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum,” her mother, Lin Chan Wen, was not enthused about the role. As Wen reminisced:

You’re into Star Wars? Really? Why?” It felt dismissive, like she couldn’t fathom why I would enjoy this franchise.

Later on, Ming-Na Wen shared that her mom had already recognized her enthusiasm for Star Wars long before she joined “The Mandalorian.” It’s understandable that not everyone may share the same appreciation for the space saga, as preferences can vary. However, it was surprising to the younger Wen that her mother didn’t pretend to enjoy the Star Wars series. So, it looks like they won’t be able to talk about upcoming Star Wars films and shows together.

The Obscure Movie Ming-Na Wen Did That Her Mother Loved

Lin Chan Wen seems to prefer the project “Super Cyclone,” a direct-to-video film released in 2012, over the work mentioned on her daughter’s resume. Ming-Na Wen did not take part in this movie for creative reasons, as explained by Lin Chan Wen.

While things were slow in my acting career, I took on a B-movie role titled “Super Cyclone” to maintain my SAG insurance, which is crucial given my responsibilities as a parent. The movie wasn’t great, but it was alright – a bit cheesy, similar to the Sharknado series. To my surprise, my mother called and told me she had seen me on TV. I asked her which movie, expecting her to mention something else. She replied, “Oh, you know, the hurricane one! It’s fantastic! I love it!” Even though I hoped this movie wouldn’t be easily accessible like a Red Box rental, my mother seemed to enjoy it immensely.

As I mentioned earlier, personal preferences in entertainment can vary greatly. It’s amusing to note that Ming-Na Wen’s mother found Super Cyclone entertaining but didn’t appreciate The Mandalorian. If you’re intrigued, you can watch the 2012 movie on platforms such as Pluto TV, Tubi, or Prime Video. However, Ming-Na Wen may not be thrilled about your choice of movie time due to her connection with Super Cyclone, but remember, playing Dr. Jenna Sparks in a challenging phase of her life certainly benefited her.

In the absence of a second season for “The Book of Boba Fett” and no hints suggesting that Fennec Shand might appear in “The Mandalorian & Grogu” next year, it remains unclear when Ming-Na Wen will reappear in the Star Wars universe. Nevertheless, you can currently watch her acting alongside Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio, and Ben Wang in “Karate Kid: Legends“, a movie that’s now playing in theaters.

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2025-06-16 02:37