interview by JANA LETONJA

Derek Luh reprises his groundbreaking role as Jordan Li in Amazon Prime Video’s hit series ‘GEN V’, returning for its highly anticipated second season on 17th September. Celebrated for bringing depth, authenticity, and groundbreaking representation to the role, Derek has also appeared in ‘Runaways’, ‘Shining Vale’, and built an early career as a recording artist.

‘GEN V’ Season 2 picks up after ‘The Boys’ Season 4. What can you tease about where we find Jordan at the start of this season?

We find Jordan in what is now “Homelander’s America.” Supe supremacy reigns heavy. Humans are considered a stain on humanity. Meanwhile, Jordan has no idea any of this is going on. They’ve been sent to Elmira Prison where they’re being held captive. Next thing they know, they’re being thrown into the back of an Elmira prison van and shipped off somewhere. Doors fly open and who do we see? Stupid Cate and her stupid face welcoming them back to school. Jordan is puzzled to say the least. How did they get back to school? Why is Cate acting like nothing happened? Find out more on 17th September on Prime Video.

blazer and knit vest DUNST
shorts KING & TUCKFIELD
shoes SCAROSSO
ring BROSWAY ITALIA

Your role as Jordan Li is unique in television, sharing the character with London Thor. How do you and London collaborate to keep Jordan’s personality seamless across both portrayals?

Being able to play such a unique and complex role has been a dream come true as an actor. I’ve been so fortunate to share this role with London. We’re similar in so many ways and so different, and I think both those similarities and differences we bring to the role are what make Jordan dynamic and three dimensional.

This season, it was really important to me personally to make Jordan even more seamless from beat to beat, scene to scene, and moment to moment. On the days I had off, I’d go to set and watch London’s coverage. I’d bring my notebook and I’d track everything she was doing moment to moment. I wanted to make sure that everything Jordan was doing as female was translating when Jordan was male. Even if it was nuanced and different, there still needed to be an emotional thread from scene to scene. There’d be days where it would technically be the same scene, but Jordan would be male for one half and female for another. We’d shoot those scenes on different days, so I needed to make sure that I was on top of tracking female and male Jordan as much as possible.

Jordan’s powers, superhuman strength and invulnerability, are impressive, but their emotional journey is just as compelling. How do you balance the physical and emotional aspects of the role?

I think this is one of my favorite parts of male Jordan. Their powers exhibit one thing, but their emotions another. Physically, prepping for this role is a lot of fun. My powers are very practical, so I’m throwing punches or blocking punches and hammers. In order to prep for the second season, I did a few months of boxing just to learn the footwork and how to properly throw a punch, which helped so much when learning the fight choreo. As Jordan’s powers evolve, the fight beats grow significantly more complex, so having those few months of boxing really helped.

It’s funny because real fighting and stunt fighting are completely different. In real boxing, you want to keep your punches tight and close to the body, but that won’t read on camera. There were a few times where I’d throw a hook and Koy would say “Hey man, in the ring that’s a beautiful left hook, but on camera, I didn’t even see you throw it.”

As far as the emotional aspects of the role, I absolutely love how the writers are telling Jordan’s story. They’re doing such an amazing job at finding the heart and the subtlety within this crazy world that still needs to move the plot forward. They give me such a treasure chest of things to use that are right on the page. My job is to then bring it to life. I believe I relate to Jordan in so many ways that it makes my job a little easier. When I’m breaking down a scene, I’m already looking through this lens that is Jordan.

tank SAINT LAURENT
trousers TONYWACK
boots DR. MARTENS
jewelry BROSWAY ITALIA

The show explores identity in such a layered way. What personal or creative experiences have helped you approach that complexity authentically?

The greatest gift I’ve received creatively is from my best friend Asa, who plays Sam on ‘GEN V’, and our acting teacher Berg. Being in his class for a few years now has not only changed the way I approach my work, but how I view life. I believe having this new way of looking at the world through an artist’s eyes allows me to be open to many different possibilities within my work. I’d also say to every artist out there to go live life, experience as many things as possible, and work on your imagination. Our imaginations are, a lot of the time, more powerful than our reality.

‘The Boys’ universe is known for its extreme action and satire. What’s the wildest or most memorable moment you’ve had filming ‘GEN V’ so far?

Every day on that set is wild. The most memorable moment I’ve had filming ‘GEN V’ would be the arena scene in Season 2. There were around 650 background actors and it was insane. I can’t say too much, but the energy in that place was so electric. When I walked out, it was like this wave of energy smacked me in the face, my whole body was vibrating. I didn’t have to do anything in the scene, just feeling that energy alone was enough to get me going.

set KING & TUCKFIELD
boots DR. MARTENS
jewerly BROSWAY ITALIA

How does being part of a spin-off differ from joining a completely original series in terms of fan expectations?

It was scary at first. There’s this incredible historic one-of-a-kind franchise that really created a new genre of superhero TV, and here we are trying to expand that universe. It was nerve racking because we wanted to do ‘The Boys’ justice and make the fans proud. I’m very happy with the result of the first season and I think the fans are extremely happy as well. This second season is 10 times better, so if the fans loved the first season, they’re going to lose their minds with this second season.

You started in music before acting. What skills or perspectives from your music career have helped you as an actor?

Take your career into your own hands. Don’t trust that anyone is going to have a better vision for your career than you. Make sure your circle is full of good people, quality over quantity. Not everyone has your best interest and if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.

blazer SIMKHAI
shoes SCAROSSO

From ‘Runaways’ to ‘Shining Vale’ to ‘GEN V’, you’ve worked in very different genres. How do you choose your roles?

Earlier on in your career, you kind of don’t have a choice. You’re auditioning for any role and everything. I’ve just been so fortunate to have gotten to work on such amazing productions with such amazing actors. I’ve been fortunate enough to be slightly more selective with what I read for. I really just see what speaks to me, what story I want to tell, and what directors or actors I want to work with and go from there. As long as you believe in the character, the story, the script, and what you’re doing, it can never be wrong.

What’s been the biggest challenge transitioning from music to acting at this stage in your career?

The most challenging part was learning something new. It was scary making that leap. I had gone from learning how to make music and perform for 6 or 7 years, to being dropped into this completely new art form with no knowledge of how to break down a scene, how to hit a mark, find my light, eyeline, going moment to moment, listening and reacting to the other person. It was terrifying. Once I got into class and started really learning the technique, I fell in love. I became obsessed and knew that the universe was pushing me in this direction for a reason. I truly found what my passion is.

button down and leather trousers INTODUSK
belt DHRUV KAPOOR

With such a busy schedule, how do you recharge creatively between projects?

Do nothing. Absolutely nothing. Go to the movie theater, read, people watch, write. I’m traveling more which is ironic. I also get such energy from being creative, so sometimes when I have downtime, I actually feel less charged.

What can you share with us about your other upcoming projects?

I’m currently working on a few screenplays. I’ve finished one and I’m working on another with a friend, so I’m really just focused on getting those two things going. I do have some other exciting things in the works that I can’t share just yet.

button down INTODUSK

TEAM CREDITS:

talent DEREK LUH
photography SAMUEL RAMIREZ
styling ADAM BALLHEIM at The Only Agency
hair and makeup ERICA ADAMS at Redefine Representation
photography assistant NOLAN KNIGHT
editor TIMOTEJ LETONJA
editorial director and interview JANA LETONJA

IN CONVERSATION WITH DEREK LUH

IN CONVERSATION WITH SNOW RAVEN

IN CONVERSATION WITH BLACKCHILD