20 Rom-Coms We Would Like Lucy Liu to Star In

Either you haven’t seen Set It Up yet, or you’ve watched it 9 times. There’s no in-between! Nostalgia for ’90s rom-coms means that everyone’s talking about the super-watchable Netflix movie. As well as the very likable Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell as assistants who try to set up their bosses (and, obviously, fall in love as well), Set It Up stars the desirable duo of Lucy Liu and Taye Diggs. WTF? Give the casting agent an Oscar! And after seeing the divine Ms. Liu in this ridic romp, it seems clear that she should be in everything, ever. If they’re romantic comedies? Even better.

We couldn’t wait for Hollywood to pony up these roles—the rom-com renaissance has just started, after all—so we went ahead and came up with some ideas ourselves. Call us, Lucy!

The Prime Minister and the President

Lucy Liu plays: Ariana, the single President of the United States, who finds herself locked in a White House bunker during a international crisis with the nerdy but handsome Prime Minister of Britain (Dev Patel).

Lucy Liu’s meet-cute: She must negotiate a crisis (don’t worry; someone just pushed the wrong button) while also trading quips with America’s ally and, potentially, her new love.

Game On

Lucy Liu plays: Maya, a harried single mom whose spitfire son (Hudson Yang) runs afoul of his basketball coach.

Lucy Liu’s meet-cute: When the son is kicked off the team, Maya laces up her sneakers and challenges the coach (Steven Yeun) to a game of one-on-one. Winner decides if the son gets to play on the team. But who will win her heart?!?!?!!?!?!?!!!!??????

While You Were Jogging

Lucy Liu plays: Annette, a lonely romance novelist living on a secluded island off the coast of New Hampshire.

Lucy Liu’s meet-cute: When she spies a handsome vacationing politician (Jay Ellis) jogging along the beach, Annette daydreams about what a romance with him would be like and starts to write a fanfiction with her and him at the center. When she accidentally sends the pages to her DC-based book agent (Kathy Bates), it immediately garners buzz—and brings the two together. Will it be awkward? Yes! Will it also be love? Yes!!!!!!!!!!!

Love You to Death

Lucy Liu plays: Beth, an assassin on vacation in Milan, who has a whirlwind romance with Logan, a young Instagram influencer (Zac Efron).

Lucy Liu’s meet-cute: When they part ways and she returns to work, she discovers that he is also the son of an oil magnate and, worse yet, her next target. Beth must decide whether to abandon her profession to save her young paramour’s life while chasing him around Europe.

Casper, the Really, Really Friendly Ghost

Lucy Liu plays: Lily, a SoulCycle instructor who recently took up pottery “just for fun!”

Lucy Liu’s meet cute: Casper (Devon Sawa) has haunted a pottery studio for 32 years, but nobody has piqued his interest as much as Lily, who often talks about a TV show called Nailed It!. Since he’s a ghost, he’s never seen it. When she’s workin’ the wheel late one night, he reveals himself to her and shyly asks if they can watch the reality TV hit together. Somehow, there’s a Casper mattress in the studio and they lie down on it to binge-watch all the episodes in one go (plus the first three episodes of the second season of Queer Eye). Sponsored by Casper.

Just the Two of Us: I and I

Lucy Liu plays: Lisa, a scientist who is working on genetic regeneration (that’s probably a thing, right?)

Lucy Liu’s meet-cute: During the course of her research, Lisa accidentally clones herself. Against their better judgement, she and the clone fall in love because, let’s face it, who knows us better than ourselves?

Talk of the Town

Lucy Liu plays: Samantha, a big time publicist who is trying to make sure nobody finds out about the very messy divorce between two of her big Hollywood clients.

Lucy Liu’s meet-cute: When a gossipy talk show host (Priyanka Chopra) gets ahold of some damaging footage, Sam must make nice with an old rival: Armand, the producer of the show (played by Idris Elba). Sparks fly as the two bicker and try to trick each other at every turn.

Just Following Up!

Lucy Liu plays: Ella, a small time publicist who is trying, desperately, to get placement for her client, a fledgling singer played by Hailee Steinfeld.

Lucy Liu’s meet-cute: When Pete, a journalist (Milo Ventimiglia) who has recently been reassigned from a political beat to entertainment accidentally replies, Ella thinks she’s gotten her break. She sets her client and the journo up for a dinner interview and night on the town but when the singer gets caught in a downtown caper, the publicist and the writer find themselves on the perfect date. Off the record.

Wow, I Might Be a Princess??????

Lucy Liu plays: Fleghan Flarkle, a moderately successful actress.

Lucy Liu’s meet-cute: Fleghan’s BFF (Kathryn Hahn) introduces her to a prince called Gary (Damian Lewis). After discovering they both love football (soccer, not NFL, obviously), they get engaged! But unbeknownst to them, they are bitter rivals in the same Fantasy Football League. Will their passion prevail? Or will ‘ball make them bail?

Pretty Woman Woman

Lucy Liu plays: Katie, a woman who is obsessed with the movie Pretty Woman, despite its problematic themes and its ‘90s attitudes about gender roles.

Lucy Liu’s meet-cute: When she wins a Pretty Woman-themed weekend at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons, she gets to live out Vivian’s journey but with modern twists. Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, and Hector Elizondo make cameos. There’s no real romance! She’s just really excited!

Poddy People

Lucy Liu plays: Madeleine, host of Boo! Crime, a true crime podcast which has been on top of the iTunes charts for at least 9 weeks now.

Lucy Liu’s meet-cute: Kaya (Kerry Washington), a doctor who just ‘casts in her spare time, because she’s just that efficient and smart, threatens to take the coveted #1 spot away when she launches a rival podcast, Pooh-Pooh Crime. When a third podcast, Dude, Crime, comes along—hosted by two irritating men (Zach Braff and Zach Galifianakis)—the two former competitors begrudgingly collaborate. Will true crime turn into true love?

The Fault’s in Your Stars

Lucy Liu plays: Celebrity astrologer Leni, who rises to fame on the basis of her dating books There’s a Ram for Everyone, and Scorpi-Oh No!

Lucy Liu’s meet cute: Hard-nosed biologist Mina (Tessa Thompson) chats Leni up at a bar but—gasp—she’s a Taurus. Can Leni defy everything she knows and her free-spirited Sagittarius nature and take this bull by the horns?

Just the Tips

Lucy Liu plays: Mei, a determined but beleaguered maitre d’ at hip Brooklyn restaurant Sturm Und Drank.

Lucy Liu’s meet-cute: When Mei discovers that her TV-famous chef boss is stiffing his staff and pocketing all gratuities, she seeks help from dreamy union boss Trish (Melora Hardin), who helps her realize that romance isn’t everything in life. Mei decides to follow her heart and…run for local office.

Taming the Drew

Lucy Liu plays: Drew, an intractible journalist whose powerful sense of right and wrong leads an arrogant co-worker Chad (Michael B. Jordan), who is obsessed with “chill, hot females,” and constantly mansplains why she’s single.

Lucy Liu’s meet cute: Drew won’t have any of Chad’s nonsense and explains structural inequality to him, which he doesn’t understand because he only became a writer “after a blog post he did went viral.” Chad sees the social justice light, sells the condo his parents gave him, and moves in with Drew after donating the proceeds to Planned Parenthood.

It’s Lit

Lucy Liu plays: Candy, an artisanal candle-maker whose first employee, Mira (Jameela Jamil) has a really hot boyfriend, AJ (Manny Jacinto).

Lucy Liu’s meet cute: At first, Candy is attracted to AJ and lightly schemes to steal him from the hardworking Mira. But then she realizes that would be a dick move and decides to give Mira health insurance instead. Months later, she wins the Small Business of the Year Award—and the previous year’s winner, cheesemonger Alec (Keanu Reeves), seems keen to set her aflame!

The 50-Year-Old Virgin Goes on 50 First Dates

Lucy Liu plays: Cassandra, the marketing director at a single-origin, fair trade coffee company, is turning 50. But she’s never had sex. Everyone is worried about her because they can’t keep their noses out of other people’s business.

Lucy Liu’s meet cute: Leigh, a cool young person who may or may not work at the same company, it’s never totally clear (Cazzie David), creates a Bumble profile for Cassandra and sneakily arranges 50 dates for her colleague (everyone from Westworld)—all at the same time. Cassandra realizes that she actually doesn’t need romance to make her life feel complete and calls a Lyft. Once inside the Lyft, she also orders Seamless.

Thanks for Nothing

Lucy Liu plays: Yoga instructor Clare (Lucy Liu), adrift and grumpy after her girlfriend breaks up with her in a dramatic Emmy-acceptance speech.

Lucy Liu’s meet-cute: She takes solace in the caustic comedy of standup Paige Reynolds (Hannah Gadsby). She invites Paige out for coffee but discovers that off-stage Paige is actually a ball of sunshine and gratitude who won’t leave her alone until she learns how to appreciate the world.

Just Plain Crazy Asians

Lucy Liu plays: Tina, the eldest daughter of an infuriating couple who want to know why she’s never dated an Asian guy.

Lucy Liu’s meet cute: Charles (Charles Melton) moves in next door and she, frustrated, asks him to pretend to be his boyfriend. He is extremely hot, though, and they fall in love! He’s also super rich and smart. This is a short movie.

There’s No Business

Lucy Liu plays: Honey, a recent divorcee who, in an attempt to re-engage with life, joins a community theater. Gotta have a hobby.

Lucy Liu’s meet-cute: When the antics of Dermot (Patrick Dempsey), the diva-ish director, causes the sudden departure of the theater’s entire staff, Honey, a former corporate headhunter, finds herself in charge and bumping heads with the director. But when the two must work together to pull off a fundraiser benefit, the temperature rises higher than the curtain.

Killing Eva

Lucy Liu plays: Sandra Noh, an actress playing an MI5 agent in a television crime dramedy called Killing Eva, opposite relative newcomer Jolie Comer (played by Anya Taylor-Joy).

Lucy Liu’s meet-cute: Their television show might be garnering critical praise and popularity, but these TV leads are catching feels! When Jolie invites Sandra to her trailer for some light seaweed snacks and chilled genmaicha, and to “rehearse,” it’s on.