There could even be a trilogy
The sequel to Crazy Rich Asians is already in the works.
Crazy Rich Asians has not even been out for a week yet but plans for a sequel are already in the works according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Although the sequel has not yet been greenlighted by the studio, Warner Bros is moving forward with the development and the reunion of the first film’s original team.
Crazy Rich Asians beat previous estimates and topped the US box office during its opening weekend, earning $34m.
Producers Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson and John Penotti as well as screenwriters Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim are among those expected to return.
Kevin Kwan, who wrote the book that the film was based on, wrote Crazy Rich Asians as part of a trilogy. 2015’s China Rich Girlfriend and 2017’s Rich People Problems followed on from the original story. Warner Bros has the option to complete the series on screen.
“We have a plan with Kevin for the next two films,” says Simpson.
Director Jon M Chu teased a possible sequel at the end of Crazy Rich Asians with a mid-credits scene. Characters played by Gemma Chan, Harry Shum Jr, Chris Pang, Sonoya Mizuno and Pierre Png are expected to be built upon in the next film.
“The idea is to tell the story in the next movie,” Chu said, adding that Shum’s appearance in the film was intended to be a cameo. “I made a promise to Harry, so I’m going to do it.”
Fiona Xie, Remy Hii and Jimmy O Yang’s characters all have major plotlines in the second book too.
Speaking about Xie, Chu said, “we needed to hire somebody who can really act, because in time she becomes much more significant. I think she’s scared that we’re never going to make that one, but we are. I’ll make it happen.”
After the immediate success of the original Henry Golding, Constance Wu and Michelle Yeoh will also most likely negotiating bigger deals for the sequel.
“I hope there’s something in the future,” said Golding. “It would be so much fun to get everybody back together, back to sweaty old Singapore.”
In related news, Chu’s letter to Coldplay convincing them to allow the use of ‘Yellow’ in the film recently surfaced online.