Silicon Valley‘s Jimmy O. Yang will join the cast of Crazy Rich Asians.
Crazy Rich Asians is based on Kevin Kwan’s New York Times best-selling novel of the same name and will feature an all-Asian cast. Directed by Jon M Chu, the film centres on the lives of wealthy Chinese families living in Singapore.
The story follows Rachel Chu (Wu), an American-born Chinese economics professor who travels to Singapore for her boyfriend’s best friend’s wedding. It quickly becomes apparent that her boyfriend Nick and his family are incredibly wealthy. Rachel soon realises that Nick may just be the most desirable bachelor in Asia and that every other single woman in his social class is jealous of her and wants to bring her down.
As reported by Deadline, Yang will join the all-Asian cast including Gemma Chan, Michelle Yeoh, Constance Wu, Sonoya Mizuno, Chris Pang, Awkwafina and Henry Golding.
Speaking to Resonate at HBO’s first Asian Pacific American Visionaries short film competition at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Yang discussed the importance of Asian actors inspiring each other.
“A lot of [Asian filmmakers] didn’t think filmmaking was a viable career, that’s why these brilliant guys didn’t think they could do it until they saw films such as Better Luck Tomorrow and Joy Luck Club,” said Yang. “Those things really give them the confidence to say ‘oh if other Asians can do it then we can do it too’. Hopefully through [LAAPFF] we can do it too and inspire more of that.”
Yang encourages the wider Asian community to be active in supporting diversity in the industry. “Through everyones actions and lobbying, it will inspire more conversations, which will lead to more roles and more diverse actors to represent the true demographic of America.”
“If you want to see more Asian actors go out and do it! If you want to be an Asian filmmaker, go out and make a short film!”
