Kris Wu

From Seoul to Beijing

Kris Wu was born in Guangzhou in 1990 and spent his teenage years in Vancouver before the Korean idol system absorbed him. His departure from the group EXO in 2014 triggered a legal rift that sent him back to China with untouchable star status. The Chinese market welcomed him with open arms because his image fit the aesthetic that dominated the box office at the time.

His film debut came in 2015 with Somewhere Only We Know. The movie grossed 37 million dollars in its first six days in theaters. That early success allowed him to choose projects with leading directors in the Asian film industry.

And the business paid off.

In 2015, Wu appeared in Mr. Six under the direction of Guan Hu. Sharing the screen with Feng Xiaogang gave him a sheen of respect that Korean pop had never given him. But his ambition was aimed at the big-budget fantasy blockbusters that filled theaters in China.

In 2017, he worked with Stephen Chow and Tsui Hark on Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back. He played Tang Sanzang in a film that earned 239 million dollars in the domestic market alone. His presence ensured that young audiences flocked to theaters.

Conquering the Global Market

Hollywood's interest in the Chinese market helped him break into big-budget American productions. In 2017, he joined the cast of xXx: Return of Xander Cage alongside Vin Diesel. His role didn't require much dramatic depth, but it served as a commercial bridge between two continents.

Luc Besson signed him that same year for Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. Wu played Sergeant Neza in a visual spectacle that aimed to compete with superhero franchises. Studios were looking to his face to secure success in Asia through co-production deals.

His music career also reached technical milestones outside China. In 2017, he collaborated with rapper Travis Scott on the track Deserve. He became the first Chinese artist to reach No. 1 on the iTunes chart in the United States.

Chinese justice showed no leniency.

The Collapse of a Personal Empire

In 2021, Wu's career came to a complete halt after sexual assault allegations were filed by Du Meizhu. The scandal led luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton and Burberry to terminate their sponsorship contracts within hours. His filmography and music disappeared from Chinese streaming platforms almost immediately.

The legal case ended in November 2022 with a 13-year prison sentence handed down by a Beijing court. The charges included rape and organizing orgies. The sentence also called for his deportation to Canada once he had served his prison term.

In November 2022, Beijing tax authorities fined him 600 million yuan for tax evasion.