Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.thepostathens.com
In 2013, “Crazy Rich Asians” by Kevin Kwan was published, the first in a three-book series. “China Rich Girlfriend” and “Rich People Problems” came later, and the series was a hit. After the success, an idea sparked that brought viewers a great movie in 2018 based on the first book.
Constance Wu, Henry Golding and Michelle Yeoh starred in the movie as a loving couple and a very protective, rich mother. The movie was nominated for two Golden Globe awards and three NAACP Image Awards, among others. Yeoh also won an Oscar five years after this movie came out.
Now, this incredibly decorated cast will return to make an eight-episode HBO TV drama with one-hour episodes. Since the series had three books, and the movie ended with room for a sequel, director Jon M. Chu has been itching for a sequel.
“Eight years ago, ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ changed my life, and I got to make it with the most creative and hilarious group of people I’ve ever known. Since then, this cast has become movie stars, superheroes, arena-filling performers and even an Oscar winner, so bringing everyone back together feels like coming home,” Chu said.
Warner Bros. Television is co-producing the series, and they are very excited to be a part of it.
“From a bestselling novel to a blockbuster film and now television, ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ has solidified its place as one of the most beloved stories in popular culture,” Channing Dungey, Chairman at Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks, said.
The show picks up right after the movie ended, with Wu’s character Rachel and Golding’s Nick getting engaged with the blessing of Yeoh’s Eleanor. The show will follow the couple as they navigate their new life. Nick and Rachel are a great couple in the series, but the movie shows Rachel struggling with the rich politics and circumstances that prove to make for fun storylines.
It will likely pull from Kwan’s other two novels. Adele Lim, co-writer of the film, is the showrunner and executive producer alongside Kwan, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson and Chu. It is safe to say that the series will be very similar to the movie.
Along with the stars, Ronnie Chieng will return to his role as Nick’s billionaire cousin. Harry Shum Jr., who played Charlie Wu, is not confirmed to return, commenting a few years ago about the potential that they will be working on going in another direction.
Gemma Chan, who played Astrid, an extremely valuable character in the story, is also not confirmed to return. The actress has been busy since 2018, starring in not one but two Marvel movies. While she may be busy with her schedule, it may be good for the story if she returned to her character.
A 30-second teaser was released announcing the new show. The teaser pulls from clips of the original movie, so viewers do not get to see anything from the new show just yet.
The show has not started filming, but production is set to start in 2027.
Right now, fans are getting excited, as are the cast and crew. Audiences may have to wonder why this project took so long to get into production, given the love people have for the series. It is hard to say what the series will look like until they are filming, but there is a good chance that it will be very similar to the movie viewers all know and love.
