7 Comedians Who Have Successfully Gone Dark

7) Ken Jeong – Advantageous (2015)

This science fiction drama provided a supporting role for Ken Jeong that revealed how far beyond comedy his acting skills stretch. While we’re used to seeing him in television shows such as Community, or movies such as The Hangover franchise, the independent film Advantageous had Jeong depict a man torn between family members, as secrets and lies are uncovered.

In the near future, a young woman faces an impossible choice to ensure the continued lifestyle of her daughter. Working for the Center for Advanced Health and Living, Gwen (Jacqueline Kim) spends her time encouraging people to undergo cosmetic procedures. But, when she herself is dismissed from her job, she submits to a procedure that would transfer her consciousness to a younger body, to enable her to earn more money. She asks for help from her cousin, with whose husband (Han, played by Ken Jeong) Gwen once had an illicit affair. As the drama unfolds, Han discovers that he is the father of Gwen’s daughter, and the family is forced to adjust to the news as a final twist casts each character adrift in a sea of bleak uncertainty.

While Advantageous did not receive the wide release of Ken Jeong’s other, more humorous film work, it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and secured an exclusive release on Netflix. Garnering numerous awards nominations, it bodes very well for a broader range of roles from Ken Jeong in the future.