Eight years after the box-office hit Crazy Rich Asians brought a predominantly Asian cast to Hollywood, star Constance Wu revealed on Oct. 23 that the upcoming HBO sequel series is filming in New York City and features a script praised by the cast as very funny.
Constance Wu Returns as Rachel Chu in the Eight-Episode HBO Series
Fans waiting for a follow-up to the 2018 romantic comedy can finally look forward to an expanded adaptation. HBO gave the series an official green light earlier this month, ordering eight episodes that draw from the wider literary world of Kevin Kwan’s bestselling trilogy, as Yahoo reported. The production brings back key members of the original ensemble.
Constance Wu is set to reprise her role as Rachel Chu. She will be joined by Henry Golding returning as Nick Young and Ronny Chieng as Eddie Chang, while Michelle Yeoh is scheduled to recur as Eleanor Sung-Young.
I can tell you that we’re all excited to be coming back.
Constance Wu, via Today
Adele Lim Leads the Writers’ Room After Years of Development
The journey from the 2018 film to a television sequel has taken nearly a decade.
Director Jon M. Chu, Nina Jacobson, and Brad Simpson spent roughly two years developing the series before HBO granted the green light.
We’re in great hands because Adele is show-running and writing, and she did the original, and she’s just so smart and good and talented that I feel just great with her sort of at the helm.
Constance Wu, via Today
Production Timeline and Box Office Legacy Set the Stage
The original feature film left a massive footprint when it premiered, grossing $239 million worldwide at the box office and establishing a watershed moment for on-screen representation with its all-Asian cast. Director Jon M. Chu acknowledged the heavy expectations surrounding the franchise in Her Campus, stating that he wanted the follow-up to be worthy of what Crazy Rich Asians (2018) was.
Production on the eight-episode drama is slated to begin next year, with filming centered in New York City. While an exact premiere date remains unconfirmed by HBO, the cast has already reviewed initial scripts and confirmed their return for the upcoming series.