Comic's big-screen break

Li Jin Hao has joined Judd Apatow's latest film.

The currently untitled comedy, which stars Chad Powers' Glen Powell as a country and western star in freefall, is about to start shooting and is scheduled for a February release.

UK-based stand-up Li’s role in Apatow's comeback picture is currently under wraps. 

It is only the comic's third screen acting credit, after a bit part in Mitchell and Webb Are Not Helping last year and a small role in the 2023 Singaporean-Taiwanese film Tomorrow Is A Long Time.

Born in China and raised in Singapore, Li has recently changed how he prefers to be known to follow the Chinese tradition of putting the family name first

As Jin Hao Li, he earned a best newcomer nomination for his 2024  Edinburgh Fringe debut. A former student at St Andrew's University and Chortle Student Comedy Award finalist, Li is returning to the Fringe this August with Falling From A Moon at Pleasance Above.

Black Mirror: USS Callister star Cristin Miloti and I Know What You Did Last Summer's Madelyn Cline will also appear in the forthcoming film alongside Li and Powell, who had the title role in Edgar Wright's The Running Man remake last year.

Saturday Night Live UK's Ania Magliano was among those congratulating Li on Instagram after he posted a screenshot  of US entertainment website Deadline breaking news of his casting, simply writing ‘Yes please!’

London-based Norwegian stand-up Thor Stenhaug added: ‘Can't believe Glenn Powell is in a Li Jin Hao movie.’

The untitled film, which Apatow is producing through his Apatow Productions for Universal, will be the American filmmaker's first time directing a narrative feature since 2022, when he shot The Bubble at Shepperton Studios.

Set on a Covid 19-restricted blockbuster movie shoot, the critically panned ensemble comedy featured Guz Khan, Peter Serafinowicz, Fred Armisen, Vir Das, Harry Trevaldwyn and Keegan-Michael Key alongside the likes of Karen Gillan, Pedro Pascal, David Duchovny and Borat 2 star Maria Bakalova.

Apatow, who rose to prominence in the 2000s as the writer-producer-director of movies such as The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up and Funny People, has more recently focused upon documentaries.

These include Paralyzed By Hope: The Maria Bamford Story, which he co-directed with Neil Berkeley. Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in January, it has attracted positive reviews for its exploration of the life and career of the distinctive US stand-up.

- by Jay Richardson

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Published: 27 Mar 2026