Daniel Henney Talks About ‘Big Hero 6’ And His Upcoming American TV Show [Exclusive Interview]

Daniel Henney has an extensive acting career which originated in Korea when he captivated audiences as Dr. Henry Kim in “My Lovely Sam Soon.” Henney provided the voice for Tadashi Hamada in the Walt Disney Pictures animated film, “Big Hero 6.”The film has received numerous honors since its U.S. theatrical release in November 2014, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film and the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. KDramastars spoke to the actor during a phone interview where he talked about his voice role in “Big Hero 6,” and his experiences as an Asian American star in Hollywood.

He is a lifelong Disney fan who enthusiastically joined the cast of “Big Hero 6” voice actors which included Ryan Potter, Jamie Chung, T.J. Miller, and Damon Wayans Jr. Henney passionately expressed his joy over the project, “To have the opportunity to participate in the 54th animated film from Disney was a huge blessing for me. I did not realize that it was going to be such as special film.”

The animated film has received strong support from the Asian American and Asian communities abroad, for its nuanced portrayal of characters like Tadashi and Hiro Hamada. While the 1998 animated feature “Mulan” emphasized Chinese culture, “Big Hero 6” provides an Asian American perspective through its plot and setting in the futuristic city of San Fransokyo. Henney weighed in on these themes and the impact the film has had on Hollywood, “There were a lot of themes in the film that I was proud to be a part of. The Asian theme and its prevalence in the movie, I think it was a first. It was a point of pride for me to see that this was film that could open doors and could move us forward.”

“Big Hero 6” premiered amidst increased interest from Hollywood in the Asian community. While the ABC romantic comedy “Selfie” failed to attract ratings, the network has experienced success with the family series “Fresh Off The Boat.” The Korean-American actor reflected on the increased opportunities have emerged within Hollywood. He stated, “Everything is becoming more globalized. The movie business and the TV industry is changing. There is a huge Asian presence in the United States. People are now realizing that. With movies like “Big Hero 6,” even though it is animated, doors are opening.”

He continued to explore the issue, “These projects wouldn’t have been there, years ago. There are so many doors that are opening now. I think that its a natural progression. I think it is important for us, as Asian Americans and Asians, to make sure we are ready.”

Henney thought that the filming experience was a liberating one, as compared to scripted live-action projects. His Korean movie roles have included the 2006 romantic comedy “Seducing Mr. Perfect” and the 2013 espionage comedy, “The Spy: Undercover Operations.” The opportunity to make his Hollywood debut came through a role in the 2009 action film “X Men Origins: Wolverine.” He previously provided voice acting for smaller roles in Korea but had never contributed to a large-scale animated film.

He explained the process behind his “Big Hero 6” role, “There really is no script when you are doing an animated movies. There is a basic layout, there’s a storyboard. The producers and the directors know where the movie is going. Every time you go in [as a voice actor], you get different pages. I hadn’t seen the movie in its entirety until after I had finished. So, I was super excited when I watched it.”

His enthusiasm about the film came through when he began to explore in role in-depth. He stated, “Every time I would go in, I would let loose. Playing a guy like Tadashi, who was neat, pure and such a good young man, made me a better person. I was very proud of the experience.”

“Big Hero 6” received strong support from fans throughout the world but Henney was touched by the warm reception of audiences in Korea. The film faced stiff competition when it debuted in Korea, facing off against the colossal domestic film “Ode to My Father” and the Lee Min Ho crime flick “Gangnam 1970.” Henney spoke about the fierce competition the filmed faced and his Korean promotional activities, “I went with producers to Korea, to promote the film. The response was absolutely incredible. By the second week, we were the biggest film in Korea. We held the top spot for awhile, which is not easy to do.”

He continued to addressed the film industry in Korea, “What I love about Korea, is that they love their Korean movies. They love to watch their dramas and their movies. For ‘Big Hero’ to come in and do as well as it did was pretty special. Around the world, the response has been incredible. It feels good.”

While he continues to maintain strong ties with Korea and its entertainment industry, his next project will be aimed at American audiences. He explained, “I am starting a TV show, here in the States. It’s important for me, if we shoot for a show for six or seven months, to leave the latter months aside for a project in Korea. I am always looking for the right one. I don’t ever want to do something just for the sake of doing it.”

Korea served as the launching pad for his acting career, the significance of which is not lost on Henney. His fondness for the nation is expressed through his time spent in the country, when he is not filming in the United States. He continued to speak about the Korean entertainment industry and his pursuit of quality projects, “For all the great dramas that come out of Korea and all the great movies, there are tons that don’t make an impact. I want to make sure that the one that I do is a good project. It is important to me and I want to do something soon, in Korea. It is a very special place to work, I owe everything to the country.”

His parting message for his fans emphasized the importance of supporting Korean and other Asian actors of other nationalities. He said, “For all of you who are lovers of K-Drama, movies, and Korean actors: Keep supporting us. Give constructive criticism but we appreciate your support. At the end of the day, we are all trying to fight the same fight and hustle for new work. We love your support; we read what you have to say and we see it. We are very proud to be doing as well as we are now.”

The accomplished actor then provided information about his upcoming American television program, which is a spin-off of the CBS crime procedural drama “Criminal Minds.” He enthusiastically spoke about his role on the show, “My next project in the United States is a ‘Criminal Minds’ spin-off with Gary Sinise. For the first time, I’m getting to play the American stud, which is a pretty big step forward for Asian Americans. My character is a married father who has served two tours of duty in Afghanistan. This type of role has never been done by an Asian American. I am hoping you guys and support that. I am looking forward to seeing what will happen.”

Daniel Henney has experienced many triumphs since his career began with “My Lovely Sam Soon.” He continues to serve as a bridge between the entertainment industries in Hollywood and Korea. As more roles for Asian and Asian American actors are created, the untold stories of countless people will be explored.

Criminal Minds” is currently in development but KDramastars will continue to track the progress of the series. “Big Hero 6” is currently available on Blu-Ray and Disney Movies Anywhere.