Newsweek - USA (2021-03-12)

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Culture

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while teen dramas have been a mainstay of hollywood for
generations, the latest entries are challenging familiar formulas. “I grew
up in the nineties and teen dramas back then were completely different than
teen dramas now,” says Ross Butler, who knows a thing or two about teen-driven
content. He’s starred in massive TV hits like Riverdale, 13 Reasons Why and the To
All the Boys movies. “What people in middle America see represents culture for
the rest of the world; it’s what international people see as America.” That expo-
sure helps break down stereotypes. “All the white girls in middle America see
that Asian guys can be seen as attractive.” Continuing to challenge perceptions,
Butler will be part of the mostly Asian American cast of Raya and the Last Dragon
(Disney+, premiering March 5). “Disney really does take it to the forefront. They
put their foot forward and really try and make a difference.” The impact of the
roles Butler has taken on, he says, has inspired him “to take a stand creatively”
and to “choose things that I think will have an impact or will lead culture.”

Ross Butler

What makes To All The Boys

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franchises?

It’s one of the only rom-com trilogies

I’ve ever heard of, so you can really

take your time with these characters

over a long arc, see them mature.

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out on in new teen dramas?

I think they’re missing out on a lot

because we’re kind of guiding the next

generation. It’s cathartic for adults to

watch because they probably felt the

same things, but there wasn’t anything

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nothing. Every role I had was written

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six, seven years and the landscape

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picking up on the idea that the next

generation knows these stereotypes

are antiquated.

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and the Last Dragon, one of the

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It felt good to be embraced by the

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platform where we can express

ourselves and show that we have

interesting stories that aren’t just

stereotypes. To be a part of that is

an honor. —H. Alan Scott

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