Original Coverage & Source Attribution: movieweb.com
Crazy Rich Asians defied all odds, becoming the first major Hollywood studio film with an all-Asian lead cast in a contemporary setting since 1993’s The Joy Luck Club. It went on to earn Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, and ultimately won the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Comedy.
However, some may argue the film was less a comedy than an emotionally resonant family drama. Beneath its humor and opulent setting, Crazy Rich Asians captures a realistic family dynamic that feels universal, while also authentically highlighting Chinese culture in a way that audiences from all backgrounds could relate to. Now, HBO is bringing the beloved story back to the screen with a new Crazy Rich Asians drama series, which is slated to begin production in 2027.
Not only did Crazy Rich Asians dominate the box office, grossing over $239 million worldwide, but it also became a massive cultural phenomenon, introducing audiences to an incredibly stacked cast led by Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan, Michelle Yeoh, Awkwafina, and Ken Jeong. Having an Asian American director in Jon M. Chu at the helm also brought an added sense of authenticity to the story, particularly as the film balanced universal family dynamics with its celebration of Chinese culture.
None of this would have come to fruition without Kevin Kwan’s bestselling book trilogy of the same name, which has sold more than 5 million copies worldwide. Given the books’ enormous success, a movie adaptation seemed almost inevitable, but turning a beloved book into a successful movie is always a gamble. Fortunately, director Jon M. Chu took Kwan’s story to a whole new level, bringing it to life with stunning visuals, a brilliant cast, and lavish production design.
Since the film’s 2018 release, rumors have circulated about a potential Crazy Rich Asians TV series. Although a sequel film had been in development for years, the franchise is now taking a different direction with a television series. Now, Variety has confirmed that those rumors are becoming a reality. Just days after Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery closed, the new series was announced, with the story set to pick up right after the events of the film and four familiar faces returning. Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh and Ronny Chieng will reprise their roles from the 2018 movie as series regulars in the upcoming drama. Co-writer of the original film, Adele Lim, is just as excited to reunite the Crazy Rich family.
“It’s a ‘Crazy Rich’ family reunion! This series is the sequel we’ve been waiting for, but instead of just one movie, we get eight episodes to delve into the characters and worlds of Kevin Kwan’s brilliant books,” Lim said.
She will serve as showrunner and executive producer on the upcoming series. Lim added, “Getting to work with the original creative team with the support and vision of HBO and Warner Bros. Television has been a dream. Our writers room is humming and we can’t wait to share what we’ve come up with.” Chu is also returning, though in a different capacity this time. The film’s director will serve as an executive producer alongside Kwan, as well as Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson, who produced the original movie and will reprise those roles behind the scenes. With so much of the original creative team returning, the series is shaping up to be a family affair both on and off screen.
Kwan echoed Lim’s excitement, saying, “I am thrilled that the ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ family is getting back together thanks to HBO and Warner Bros. Television. Our incredible fans around the world have been patiently waiting for this, and it will be worth the wait! Getting to see my stories and characters come to life with the breathing room of an HBO series is a dream come true, and I am so excited to experience the magic that Adele, Jon, Nina, Brad, our amazing writers and iconic cast will create.” There will certainly be more updates to follow as the series takes shape, but one thing is already clear: the excitement from the cast and crew is contagious.
- Release Date
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August 15, 2018
- Runtime
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121 minutes
