Justin Chien is best known for his role in the Netflix action comedy series The Brothers Sun starring Michelle Yeoh, but 2026 seems to be the breakout year for the actor, who is set to star in the second season of Netflix’s hit live adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender as well as The Season.

Likened to Crazy Rich Asians and White Lotus, The Season is an upcoming Hong Kong English-language revenge drama set to premiere this week. The six-episode series follows a group of the Fragrant Harbour’s wealthiest whose idyllic summer is disrupted by the arrival of Jessie Mei Li’s Cola, the mysterious newcomer joining the city’s high society. Chien is joined by cast members Chris Pang, Yvonne Chapman, Celina Jade and others.

Here’s everything you need to know about Justin Chien.

What is Justin Chien’s background?

Justin Chien was born in Taiwan. His father Carl Chien is a prominent businessman and banker who serves as the Asia-Pacific vice-chairman and Taiwan CEO at J.P. Morgan. His grandfather, Fredrick Chien, is a Taiwanese diplomat and politician.

Chien spent his childhood in Hong Kong. It was during this time that he participated in a play at his church and he first discovered his love of acting. “It wasn’t necessarily the applause or the attention that I enjoyed. I just really enjoyed playing a character and reading – not even a script at the time – but reading a story. Figuring out creative ways to tell it, figuring out props and costumes,” Chien said in an interview with Femina, an Indian website.

He attended Taipei American School and later moved to the US, where he obtained his BFA from the USC School of Dramatic Arts. “I relish the challenge of attempting to play characters in other languages and markets. English is my first language, and I get way more nervous performing in other languages, but I kind of love it. I think that kind of pressure is what will force me to grow as an actor,” he told Behind the Blinds magazine.

How did Justin Chien get into acting?