Jon M. Chu opens up on fear of not belonging in Hollywood

Jon M. Chu has opened up about a long-running feeling that he “didn’t deserve” his place in Hollywood, despite directing some of the industry’s biggest modern hits.

The 46-year-old filmmaker reflected on his journey during a recent Canva Create 2026 panel in Los Angeles.

He admitted that he often struggled with self-doubt early in his career and constantly compared himself to the “greats” who inspired him.

The Wicked filmmaker explained that while he admired legendary directors, he didn’t always feel he had the “language or tools” to match their level, leaving him questioning why he should be the one telling certain stories. 

At times, he said, he would ask himself: “Why am I the person to tell this story?”

Chu pointed to his breakout success Crazy Rich Asians as a turning point, but surprisingly, he compared it to “winning the lottery”, saying he initially felt lucky rather than deserving. 

That feeling, he admitted, made him worry he might not be able to replicate that success again.

“I didn’t think I deserved to be in Hollywood,” he shared, adding that after that breakthrough, he had to learn a completely new way of trusting his own voice as a filmmaker.

The director said it took time to realise that his strength came from telling stories only he could tell, rooted in his own experiences and cultural identity. 

He credited his team and the wider Asian diaspora audience for believing in his vision, even when he doubted himself.

Chu added that his creative process now starts with instinct, either a story “sparks” something in him, or it doesn’t. 

If it does, he feels compelled to bring it to life, no matter how long it takes.

“It has to mean something to me,” he said, describing imagination as the driving force behind everything he creates.

RELATED: Is Jemima Goldsmith getting married? Details inside