Evil GeniusThe American remake of the 2017 hit Thai film is set to hit theaters on October 11. The new adaptation is directed by JC Lee, who previously worked as a supervising producer on the film. Love, Victor and How to Get Away with Murderfrom the script he co-wrote with him Captain America: Brave New WorldJulius Onah. The story closely mirrors the source material, following a bright young high school student who funds his future college education by starting a scam ring for the higher-ranking, lower-intelligence kids in his class. But there is one key twist that defines it Evil Genius apart from its predecessor and that is the interaction of race in American society.
Although the Thai film focuses on class struggles, Evil Genius the remake naturally incorporates the country's diversity — especially relevant after the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action. Callina Liang plays Lynn, an Asian-American student with high grades and impeccable piano skills. Taylor Hickson and Samuel Brown play Grace and Sam, white classmates who convince her to cheat on them. Bel-Air Star Jabari Banks rounds out the main cast as Banks, the son of Nigerian immigrants who attends school on scholarship.
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Screen Rant Liang and Banks were interviewed about their roles Evil Geniusand what Lynn and Bank, respectively, have renewed or explored in order to play. The duo also reflected on the film's themes and how they speak to Gen Z audiences in the US
How Callina Liang and Jabari Banks Made Evil Genius
“Thank God my father forced me to learn the piano at a young age.”
Screen Rant: Amazing work on this movie. It seemed to me Risky Business meets Ocean 11 with a little Social network — For Gen Z. Callina, what drew you to the character of Lin and how did you prepare for the role?
Callina Liang: I remember when I read the script for the first time, it was 2 in the morning, and I was like, “Hey, I'm going to read a little bit, then I'm going to bed.” I stayed up all night because not only was her story amazing, it was Lynn's character [had me] Like, “Well, he's a genius after all.”
Everything drew me to him, but I think we had similar upbringings growing up. My dad had a lot of pressure on me, so when I saw this story and how he managed the whole fraud scheme, I was like, “This is literally the coolest thing ever.” It was a done deal for me. I loved everything about it and everything about the movie and every character in it.
And to prepare? Man, I used to play the piano all day, every day. Thank God my father forced me to learn the piano at a young age. He wanted me to go to Juilliard—it's the craziest thing. wow Literally, he forced me to learn piano from the age of 3, then practice at least two hours a day until I was 10 or maybe 12. I had to play the piano before I could go do whatever I wanted to do, play with my friends. or just chill. “Thank God, father,” I said.
Yeah, to prepare I was just playing a lot of piano and memorizing all these lines. He talks a lot and says very smart things. I can't relate [that]so it was difficult. [Laughs]
In
Evil Genius
Lynn is played by her father
Doctor Strange
fan favorite, Benedict Wong.
Screen Rant: Jabari, you surprise me so beautifully every time I see you in something. Tell us a little about Banks and what you'd like to bring to the role beyond the page.
Jabari Banks: I wanted to take this character in a direction that a lot of first-generation Americans relate to, and I hope I did that in a good way. It's not an experience I can relate to, but many friends have [who can]and so I did a lot of research with my friends and asked them a lot of questions about the pressures they felt in school and how they had to be hope for their families or get into a really good college. the family can grow. I really did a lot of research with a lot of my friends who are Nigerians that I grew up with and I definitely wanted to honor them in this role, so I hope I did that.
But stepping into Banks' shoes was really fun because we're definitely opposites. I am quite a sociable person, while Bank is very introverted and shy. While developing the role, JC and I talked a lot about Bank's pressure cooker [in]and hold these emotions until the moment they explode. I definitely hope to illustrate that as well.
Bad Genius uniquely connects with Generation Z and explores class divides with it
“I was thinking about how this movie fits into the class system in America.”
Screen Rant: You both knocked it out of the park. Callina, can you talk about your approach to the moral dilemma Lynn faces throughout the film?
Callina Liang: Yes, I think it was definitely difficult because there will always be something to lose for both sides. But I feel that I should have done what I thought was good and right for me at the time. And I had to remind you that this girl is a 16 or 17 year old girl in high school. He doesn't have all the answers right now.
Frankly, I would think otherwise, but if you throw these situations at me with the pressure I get from my family and how high the stakes are at that age? I mean, absolutely. I feel like she's already struggled a lot in the movie, but you see her go through the struggles and figure it out in the movie because it's just real life. No one has the answers, especially at that age.
Screen Rant: Jabari, this movie captures the tumultuous mood of Gen Z so beautifully. Can you talk about how Banks and Lynn embodied that and how you brought your personal ideas to the image?
Jabari Banks: Yeah, that's a great question. I think I was thinking about it a lot, coming up to these interviews and [while] re-watching the film, about how it fits the class system in America. It's the “I have to do this and train people with me” mentality. I think that's something that Lynn carries a lot on her shoulders as a 16- or 17-year-old student, and Banks is in a completely different way.
Instead of reading, they definitely thought outside the box, learned to play the piano, learned to play Mozart or whatever. But I think that's the natural nature of Gen Z, especially with who our parents are and where they come from. So it's becoming this hustler mindset with Gen Z. I'm also Gen Z, and I guess I'm kind of a hustler. Callina, would you say you are in a hurry?
Callina Liang: I hope so.
Jabari Banks: I feel like it was a natural thing. Being as authentic as possible, knowing the kids I know today, I hope I put their heart and soul into the character. But this is an interesting question. I never thought about how that lived in these characters and his portrayal.
Screen Rant: How do you think Lynn's character develops from the beginning to the end of the film?
Callina Liang: She's going on a trip. I think he had his head down at the beginning. He doesn't know anything but what he knows: his routine, getting into that good school… And I think the turning point is when he gets the golden ticket to this really great school, and then Julliard becomes a possibility, because it's not even in my head. i think [that’s] “Wait a second, maybe instead of living the life my dad wants me to live to make him happy, I can live the life I dream of.”
At this time, his way of thinking changes. Especially when Grace, Bank and Pat make such tempting offers. He accepts it—obviously because he wants to help his friends, but also because it's this whole new door that's open to him. “Living my dream is really possible” because the money was never there [there]. It didn't occur to me because we didn't have anything. It was never an option, but then it was like, “Okay, it's possible. This is all new.”
He's so young and he's like, “Oh my God, let's do this. Let's do this.” Until he gets way too in over his head and then he kind of figures it out. But he definitely grows a lot throughout the film and I think at the end he comes out on top like he always does.
More About Bad Genius (2024)
Bad Genius is a gripping thriller that follows Lynn, a brilliant scholarship student who devises an ingenious cheating scheme to help her friends with their exams. As their underground scam expands, Lynn finds herself at the center of a high-stakes game that tests her morals and pits her against the American education system.
Check out our other Evil Genius interview here:
Evil Genius It will hit theaters on October 11.