Movie fans spent eight years wondering whether Hollywood would ever deliver a follow-up to Crazy Rich Asians. The answer has arrived, but it is heading to television rather than the local multiplex.
HBO has given a full series order to a one-hour drama continuation of the 2018 smash hit, locking down original stars Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Ronny Chieng, and Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh to reprise their roles.
Wu, Golding, and Chieng return as series regulars, while Yeoh joins the eight-episode order in a recurring capacity. Production officially kicks off in 2027.
The project marks the first major original series pickup for HBO following the completed corporate merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery under Skydance.
From The Big Screen To Prestige Television
The original 2018 romantic comedy directed by Jon M. Chu earned over $239 million at the global box office against a modest $30 million budget, becoming the highest-earning studio rom-com in North America in nearly a decade.
While Warner Bros. spent years developing theatrical sequels based on author Kevin Kwan’s subsequent novels China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems, pay disputes and busy production schedules repeatedly stalled progress.
Now, original screenwriter Adele Lim takes the reins as showrunner and executive producer, pivoting the franchise from theatrical light comedy to an episodic hour-long drama.
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“It’s a ‘Crazy Rich’ family reunion,” Lim said in an official statement. “This series is the sequel we’ve been waiting for, but instead of just one movie, we get eight episodes to delve into the characters and worlds of Kevin Kwan’s brilliant books. Getting to work with the original creative team with the support and vision of HBO and Warner Bros. Television has been a dream. Our writers room is humming and we can’t wait to share what we’ve come up with.”
Kwan, who executive produces alongside Lim and Chu, welcomed the expanded canvas.
“I am thrilled that the ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ family is getting back together thanks to HBO and Warner Bros. Television,” Kwan stated. “Our incredible fans around the world have been patiently waiting for this, and it will be worth the wait! Getting to see my stories and characters come to life with the breathing room of an HBO series is a dream come true.”
Returning Home To Singapore
The series order reunites original film producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson of Color Force alongside SK Global Entertainment’s Chloe Dan and Jeannine Tang.
Director Jon M. Chu, who executive produces while completing work on his Wicked film series, celebrated the reunion with a nod to the film’s memorable dialogue.
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“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,” Chu said. “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. Finally, I get to answer the question I’ve been asked almost every day for eight years: ‘When are we getting the sequel?’ Well… bok bok bitch, we’re back.”
Producers Jacobson and Simpson added that the story begins immediately where moviegoers left off: “We couldn’t be happier to bring this extraordinary gang back together for a series that picks up where the movie left off. As producers, the most common question we get is ‘When do we get more ‘Crazy Rich Asians?’ and we are so glad to finally have the answer.”
With filming scheduled for 2027, HBO plans to air the eight-episode drama series worldwide across its cable networks and streaming platforms.
