Here She Comes: Olivia Cheng Joins the Deadly Game of “Ready or Not 2”
As the twisted world of Ready or Not (2019) expands into its sequel Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (2026), among the new faces stepping into the franchise is actress Olivia Cheng. Playing Wan Cheng Xing, one of the heads of the high council families competing for the throne and survival, Cheng enters the game with higher stakes, bloodier fights, and an even larger circle of power. Known for her commanding presence in projects Marco Polo (2014), Deadly Class (2019), and Warrior (2019), Cheng adds a fresh dynamic to the horror-comedy universe of Ready or Not.
One day before flying out to the 2026 South by Southwest Film and TV Festival for the premiere of Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, Cheng hopped onto a Zoom call with EnVi to share her experience on her first acting gig since Warrior, delving into the dynamics of her character, and her projections for the future of Asian creatives in cinema.
Thrown Into the Game
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come picks up directly after the events of the first Ready or Not movie, offering Grace MacCaulley (Samara Weaving) no break at all as she finds herself trapped in the same demonic game that killed her husband and in-laws. Her victory in the previous “Hide-and-Seek” game triggered another game, where the richest and influential families of the high council must hunt her in order to secure their fortune. Grace refuses at first to participate in the game, but with the threat of her albeit estranged sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton) being killed, she has no choice but to play again.
When asked if Cheng was a horror fan, she gave a hearty laugh and answered, “I’m such a little wimp… I’m not a horror girl.” Although Cheng is a longtime fan of Weaving’s work, she found the image of Grace’s bloodsoaked wedding dress to be daunting, and couldn’t work up the nerve to watch the movie.
When she received the audition request for Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, she resolved to give the film a watch, at first putting it on at 10 p.m., quickly realizing her mistake, and then putting it back on the next day in broad daylight.
Despite her squeamish tendencies that led her to avoid watching the horror genre, Cheng revered the power of horror in its “brilliant representation of the human psyche.” After watching Ready or Not, she further testified to that sentiment, praising it to be funny, satirical, and smart. “It was so campy in the best way because the camp was so grounded in these very real performances,” said Cheng.
She immediately put herself on tape after understanding the tone of the franchise and got a reaction within an hour, followed by an official offer two days later.
Guarding the Character
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come marks Cheng’s first acting project since the cancellation of Warrior in 2023 after three seasons. When EnVi last spoke with her in an exclusive interview about her seven-year run on the series, its future had yet to be decided. During the time since, Cheng has been busy directing I Am Raquel Welch (2025), a feature documentary about ‘60s Hollywood actress and icon, Raquel Welch.
When asked about her experience with acting as Cheng Xing after having spent some time behind the camera, Cheng breathed out a long sigh. “It was so nice to just be the actor,” she exclaimed. “It feels like the difference between being the cruise director and just kind of going for the ride on the cruise as the actor… because as an actor, your job is to be the guardian of your character.”
Cheng described the gripping process of locking into her character, so much so that despite her squeamish nature, the ludicrous amount of fake blood didn’t even faze her. Famed for their practical effects work, Ready or Not fans were told to expect an even bloodier and gorier sequel. Cheng remarked on how cool it was to see how the “pop-goes-the-weasel” moment was built behind the scenes. “You’re literally meeting the Wizard of Oz behind the effects,” said Cheng.
Much like the events of the movie, which takes place within a single night, Cheng commented on the fast pace of the shoot. “There’s so much action happening — that frenetic energy was happening on set [and] you’re just kinda filming rehearsal in a way.”
As a result, Cheng compared this filming experience to having less time than usual for her to sink into the character. However, she found the challenge brought its own advantages and diversions. She gave a nod to Tyler Gillet and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin from Radio Silence Productions for encouraging collaboration and input from the actors during filming.
“The fun in this one was the moments of trying to stay what was written on the page, but finding little moments to add a little bit of levity or dimension or something unexpected and that’s where the improv would come in,” remarked Cheng.
A Blade With a Twist
Cheng is no stranger to playing badass and layered characters who can handle a sword, crediting her martial arts and stuntwork experience in Marco Polo, Deadly Class, and Warrior. “Man, I can do that stuff in my sleep,” she laughed.
A veteran in action, Cheng’s training in swordwork for action sequences made handy when figuring out safety measures and blocking logistics. On the other hand, all her experience made it more difficult for her to hide the fact that she is adept with swords.
The trailer and promotional materials primarily illustrate Wan Cheng Xing to be a formidable character, her prowess as head of her family visible in her confident strides and fierce gaze. But viewers and fans should watch out for the unexpected, as Cheng noted the power dynamics that are constantly at play with her character. She pointed out a specific poster and expressed satisfaction in the picture they chose of her, one where Cheng Xing braces her sword with a grimace, her knees turned in, and her feet “pigeon toed.”
“I really wanted to play her like she didn’t know what she was doing,” Cheng explained.
The stakes are higher than ever, especially for Cheng Xing, to be born into a family that has made a pact with a devil and must now be responsible for upholding her family’s fortune and lineage. We can look forward to an ironic tight knit bond between the families of the high council, their relationship with each other defined by the intense competitive system of the demonic pact.
“I don’t even think I like any of them,” Cheng said on behalf of her character. “But it’s this tie and this bond that we all have because we are in such rarefied air — and to protect that rarefied air we all occupy.”
The antagonists of Ready or Not are more than just your cartoon villains, they possess extreme fortitude as well as vulnerability and represent a full bodied interpretation on the ugliest and realest parts of human nature. The same dynamics can be anticipated in Cheng Xing, which Cheng commented to be described in the script as always looking for a loophole and always playing a five dimensional chess game.
Cheng also shared a fun tidbit that a friend came up with a meaning from the phonetic spelling of Cheng Xing’s name, which means “morning star” in Mandarin. The gentle demeanor of her name is already a stark contrast to the bloody nature of the film’s premise, but Cheng observed a “real kindness” to her character that helped her immerse herself in the role.
“We’re all horrible people… I mean, I think I’m the least horrible,” Cheng jested.
Messy Women and Bold Stories
Alongside her extensive acting career, Cheng has also expanded into directing and producing, and most recently acted in and executive produced Lucky Star (2024).
Both films explore niche stories and trailblazing characters, spotlighting anecdotes and the lives of those on screen that rarely garner mainstream attention in traditional cinematic spaces. Lucky Star in particular centers the story of a Chinese-Canadian prairie diaspora family drama. At a time of ceaseless challenges and obstacles — economically, systemically, and politically — it’s undeniable that the visibility of underrepresented and Asian-leading narratives has been unprecedented.
When asked for her opinion on what will continue to shift in cinema for Asian creatives from the standpoint of both a director and actor, Cheng responded, “I’m really curious to see that myself… from Asian creatives, for Asian creatives, in front of and behind the camera.”
What you see, you can become
Photos courtesy of Richie Lubaton
In her directorial birdseye perspective, Cheng also spoke to the development and ties of the Asian diasporic literature field to cinema, as we continue to see more adaptations of written works by Asian authors into films and series. She hopes that if Asian creatives aren’t given a seat at the table, that they’ll build their own table. Reflecting on her own role models and inspirations, Cheng believes in the importance of carving out that space for representation. “What you see, you can become,” said Cheng.
She shared that she’s currently reading The Family Recipe by Carolyn Huynh, which tells the story of five estranged siblings competing to inherit their father’s bánh mì franchise. “She’s writing messy women… these women are messy! And I always wanna play messy,” Cheng said.
Messy women indeed is a testament to Cheng’s rich acting history, and viewers can count on Cheng Xing in Ready or Not 2: Here I Come to continue that trajectory. If her past performances and cinematic ventures are any indication, Cheng Xing will be none but a layered, unpredictable woman who proves that a little messiness brings a compelling story to the screen.
Be sure to check out Ready or Not 2: Here I Come playing in theaters near you on now.
Want to check out more exclusive interviews with EnVi? Read our interview with Nadine Bhabha!
