Nguyen returned from the US to Vietnam for the premiere of director Ha Vu's debut feature film in Ho Chi Minh City. He plays Mr. Tri, a wedding planner. One day, a wedding he organizes coincidentally takes place across from another couple's celebration, leading to a series of comical situations.

The actor explained that for years, he has been living in the US with his wife and children, no longer focusing on his career in Vietnam. Despite receiving many offers, Nguyen has been selective, wanting to collaborate only with compatible teams that feel like family. He accepted this role due to his close relationship with senior colleague Luu Huynh (the film's director of photography) and the Vietnamese producer.

When asked why he didn't choose an action film—Dustin Nguyen's forte—for his return, he expressed his appreciation for the film's story and his desire to challenge himself with situational comedy. "I didn't set out for this role to be groundbreaking, but simply hoped to contribute some humorous scenes. I believe in giving my best effort, and the film's success depends on the audience's reception," he said.

Dustin Nguyen with actress Dinh Y Nhung at the event. Photo: Mai Nhat

Director Ha Vu said he cast Nguyen because he admired the 63-year-old actor's maturity. "In my opinion, Vietnamese cinema has recently lacked the kind of masculine charm that Dustin possesses. Therefore, I wanted to tell a story where the male lead has a seasoned appearance and chiseled features," he said. The film, which also stars Dinh Y Nhung, Jun Vu, MisThy, and Hieu Hien, began filming in November and is slated for release in 3/2026.

Dustin Nguyen, whose real name is Nguyen Xuan Tri, was born in Vietnam and moved to the US with his family at the age of 7. His first role was as a Cambodian soldier in the film *Magnum, P.I.* (1980). Later, Nguyen appeared in several television series, including *21 Jump Street*, *Highlander*, and *Charlie's Angels*. His first major film role was in *Little Fish* (2005), alongside Cate Blanchett.

In 2007, Dustin Nguyen returned to Vietnam to play the antagonist Sy in *The Rebel*. He starred in subsequent Vietnamese films such as *Huyen thoai bat tu*, *De Mai tinh*, and *Canh dong bat tan*. As a director, he has made four films: *Lua Phat* (2013), *Trung so* (2015), *Bao gio co yeu nhau* (2016), and *789Muoi* (2018). In recent years, he gained attention for his role in the Hollywood series *Warrior*. He married model Bebe Pham in 2015 and they have four children.

Mai Nhat