"Crazy Rich Asians" is turning into a series with its original stars

Eight years after the release of the movie “Crazy Rich Asians,” which represented a qualitative shift in the representation of Asians in Hollywood, it will be turned into a television series shown on the HBO Max platform, according to what the platform announced through its official social media accounts. The new series will feature the original film's stars: Michelle Yeoh, Constance Wu, and Henry Golding, playing the same roles they previously played in the film.

“They're not just rich, they're crazy rich,” HBO Max wrote on its Instagram account, noting that production of the series will begin in 2027. When it was released in theaters in 2018, this romantic comedy was described as a landmark moment in promoting inclusivity in Hollywood, as it included the first all-Asian cast in a major Hollywood film in more than two decades.

The film was a huge success at the box office, earning more than $230 million worldwide, and received widespread critical acclaim. For many Asians, the film has become a source of cultural pride, shining a rare spotlight on the diversity, influence and growing presence of this community.

Cho, via the Stories feature on his Instagram account: “Eight years ago, the movie (Crazy Rich Asians) changed my life. It was amazing to see audiences making this movie a part of their lives, from nights out playing Mahjong, to making it their favorite movie to watch on flights.

Finally, I'll be able to answer the question I've been asked almost every day for the past eight years: When will we see Part 2? "Crazy Rich Asians" is based on the novel by Kevin Kwan, and tells the story of Rachel Chu (played by Constance Wu), a New York economics professor who suddenly finds herself in a world of extreme wealth and extravagance thanks to her lover, "Nicholas Young" (played by Henry Golding).

Nick, the heir to one of the richest families in Singapore, takes Rachel with him to his home country to attend his best friend's wedding, where she must win over his domineering mother, Eleanor (played by Michelle Yeoh). During her journey, she meets his eccentric family and friends; Some of them help her, while others seek to hinder their romantic relationship.

The film's cast includes a group of actors, including Ken Jeong, Awkwafina, Ronnie Cheng, and Gemma Chan. HBO Max stated in a post that Cheng is expected to return to play the character of “Edison (Eddie) Cheng,” Nick’s cousin from Hong Kong who is obsessed with social status.

Adele Lim, who co-wrote the 2018 film, expressed her excitement in an Instagram post, saying, “We will finally be able to make the sequel the world has been asking for, but instead of just another movie, we will be delivering eight episodes of crazy rich magic.” Lim and Cho may have additional materials to develop the new series; Kwan's novel "Crazy Rich Asians" was published in 2013, followed by "China Rich Girlfriend" two years later, and "Rich People Problems" in 2017. However, it is not yet clear whether the series will include events or material from these sequels.

"Crazy Rich Asians" was released at a time when audiences were demanding better representation of minorities and Hollywood was facing accusations of "whitewashing," that is, assigning white actors to the roles of non-white characters. Cho, who later directed the films “In the Heights” and “Wicked,” had previously spoken to Ufoq News about the influence of these discussions on his work.

“I was definitely moved...to see people standing up for their rights for the first time, finding each other and coming together to discuss issues that we all knew existed, but didn't feel like anyone cared enough to turn into a public issue,” he said in a 2021 interview.

He added: "I realized that I was present in those rooms where I was told: (You cannot choose this or that actor to play the role of the romantic hero), because the work needed to (achieve international success)." Jeong, who played Papa Goh, an eccentric, nouveau riche Singaporean businessman in the movie "Crazy Rich Asians," told Ofoq News in 2018 that he was "overwhelmed" with feelings of gratitude for the love the film received.

“It has exceeded all our expectations,” Jeong said. “It was a very emotional experience for the entire crew. I am very grateful to them. It proves that the time has come.”