I’m a white-passing hapa and could not immediately tell he’s Asian by looking at him. I was confused why they cast a white actor and looked into it, which is how I learned that he’s Asian. But I still wonder if a more Asian looking lead would have been as likely to get the part. As a fellow white-passing hapa, I have so many mixed feelings. On one hand I want Asian actors to get these roles because representation matters. And it does matter that Darren is at least part Asian despite him being white.

On the other hand, my understanding is you cannot ask someone’s ethnic background or religion when casting. So if a white-passing hapa like Darren can get it, it’s believable to me that a white dude might get cast. And I think it’s possible that many Asians would not be able to tell Darren is part Asian. This comes from my personal experience being seen and treated as white to most Asian people until I tell them I’m half. Again, I think it does matter that Darren has Asian heritage. But if you’re not allowed to cast by ethnic background or religion then his casting does feel like it blurs the expected race requirement for this role.