The cast of 'Crazy Rich Asians along with author Keven Kwan and director Jon M. Chu.
The log-awaited movie sequel to Crazy Rich Asians is moving forward.
It has been four years since the critically acclaimed movie busted opened the eyes of Hollywood studios. The groundbreaking movie featured an all-Asian and Asian American cast proving that a white hero is not necessary for a film to succeed at the box office and among critics.
Director Jon M. Chu will return to helm the sequels, which he said earlier that he would shoot the second and third book at the same time.
Based on the second book of the trilogy, "China Rich Girlfriend," will bring back Constance Wu and Henry Golding whose relationship was the centerpiece of the first film.
The second book also examines on the romantic entanglements of Astrid Leong, played by Gemma Chan.
One of the reasons for the long delay was a pay dispute wherein writer Adele Lim was reportedly earning one-tenth the salary of fellow writer Peter Chiarelli. Chiarelli offered to cut his pay in order to make the pay more equitable but Lim turned down the offer, which she called "generous."
Still miffed that the Warners didn't offer to resolve the pay disparity, even after Chu and cast members wrote in support of Lim's situation, Lim left the project and went on to write the screenplay for the animated Raya and the Last Dragon.
Finally, Anna Wang was brought in to replace Chiarelli and Lim. It will be Wang's first effort on a major feature-length film.
With the delay caused by the pay dispute, the actors went on to other projects. The first task by Chu will be to find a time when the in-demand cast members Golding, Chu, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan and others will be available to film the second and third books, "Rich China Girlfriend" and "Rich People's Problems," written by Kevin Kwan.
With the success of Crazy Rich Asians, a slew of films with Asian American leads and themes were greenlighted by Hollywood Studios, many of them starring the cast of the movie.
Roles for the cast came rolling in. In the interim, Golding was particularly busy with leading roles in Last Christmas, The Gentlemen, Snake Eyes, Monsoon, and G.I. Joe.
Awkwafina starred in Shang Chi: The Legend of the 10 Rings, The Farewell, Oceans Eight, Raya and the Last Dragon, Jumanji: the Next Level and a TV sitcom, Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens.
Constance Wu, Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan, Ken Jeong, Sonoya Mmizuno, Jimmy O. Yang, Harry Sum Jr., Ronny Chieng, and Nico Santos also kept busy with their numerous projects.
No date has been set for filming or a general release of the sequel has been announced.
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and tips, from an AAPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.
Filipina American Vanessa Hudgens stars, and stars, and stars in the Princess Switch movies on Netflix. In case you're wondering, only the smiling one on the right is Filipina American.
It’s that time of year and Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders need Christmas movies more than ever as relief from the hate and pandemic.
What with all the negativity that could affect the mental health of Asian Americans: anti-Asian hate incidents occurring around the nation, a mutating pandemic that keeps thwarting our scientists' best efforts (no thanks to the anti-vaxxers), a stubborn U.S. Senate who can't seem to overcome its partisanship depriving Americans of President's Biden's historic Build Back Better plan that could transform our society by helping the middle-class survive decades of corporate America's greed.
Who can blame anybody for wanting a little escapism? We can use some light fare offered by the seasonal holiday-themed movies that flood our entertainment platforms this time of year to take our minds off the events that could dampen our spirits.
Most of the offerings are romantic comedies, except for Harold and Kumar, which I included because of the stereotype-busting nature of its lead characters played by John Cho and Kai Penn.
Maybe you're a student home for the holidays or you're visiting family. It's cold outside and there's a fire in the fireplace and its time to curl up on the couch. You've earned it. So we've listed some of the movies that might appeal to Asian Americans and Pacific Islander audience who want to see casts that look like them.
It's Christmas so its time for Vanessa Hudgens appearing on Netflix. The three Princess Switch movies start as a variation of the "Prince and the Pauper" but throw in mistaken identities and love interests and its all harmless but enjoyable fun. During the course of the trilogy, one of the three reveals her Philippines heritage. In the third film of the franchise, a third look-alike appears giving us more Vanessa. The Princess Switch trilogy offers a healthy dose of charming, light-hearted, twin-swap fun and is delightful viewing for any hopeless romantic. The three movies are Available for streaming on Netflix.
Love Hard
Love Hard is a modern-day take on the Cyrano de Bergerac story, but instead of whispering sweet nothings to the would-be Lothario, it's a case of online catfishing. The film's outcome is predictable after the first five minutes but you can't help but root for the character played by Jimmy Yang (Crazy Rich Asians, Silicon Valley). The rom-com stars Nina Dobrev (Vampire Diaries) as Natalie, Jimmy O. Yang as Josh, the guy who catfished her, and Darren Barnet (Never Have I Ever) as Tag, who Natalie thinks is her dream match. Also features Harry Shum Jr. and Charles Melton. The 2021 film can be streamed on Netflix.
Nina Dobrev must choose between two Asian American guys in 'Love Hard.'
Last Christmas
the movie debuted in 2019 after Henry Golding shattered the Asian male stereotype in Crazy Rich Asians with his sexy, charming, leading-man handsome portrayal of the film's Nick Young. After that movie, it was easy for casting agents to cast him in similar roles. In Last Christmas, he plays the handsome, equally-charming leading man again in this romantic boy-meets-girl film inspired by George Michael's hit "Last Christmas." Playing opposite Golden is Game of Thrones' Emilia Clarke, who portrays Kate, a frustrated Londoner who works as an elf in a year-round Christmas shop. It also stars Michelle Yeoh. The chemistry between the two attractive actors definitely works. Golden's role is not race-specific, but ... hell, his Asian features are clear to see.
The Christmas Bow
The Hallmark film debuted in 2020 and stars Lucia Macarelli. The Korean American is a professional violinist who acts, not an actress who plays the instrument. She plays Kate, a promising musician whose lifelong dream of playing in the Rocky Mountain Philharmonic is put on hold by an accident. Reconnecting with Patrick, an old family friend, and his young cousin Gavin (Kenneth Cummins, “The Road Home for Christmas”), while recovering at home during the Christmas holiday, she finds love in someone who believes in her.
A Sugar & Spice Holiday
The predominantly Asian cast includes Jacky Lai, who plays Suzie, a rising young architect, returns to her small hometown in Maine for Christmas, where her Chinese American family runs the local lobster bar. Following the death of her grandmother, who was a star baker in their community, Suzie is guilted into following in her footsteps by entering the local gingerbread house competition. Everybody's favorite AAPI father Tzi Ma plays Suzie's dad and Lillian Lim plays the mother. Love interest is Billy, played by Tony Giroux, whose grandparents are from China. Lots of culturally specific references and moments in the Lifetime production.
'Sugar and Spice' could allude to the Asian touches to this movie like this Chinese American holiday feast.
Holly & Ivy
Holly & Ivy follows Nina, a woman who finds out her fatal illness has returned, and she won’t be able to care for her adoptive kids. Her neighbor, Janel Parrish plays her neighbor Melody and offers to take the kids – Holly (Sadie Coleman) and Ivy (Piper Rubio) – to stay at her home. Handsome contractor Adam, played by Jeremy Jordan is the love interest but it is the strong performances by Chinese American actress Parrish and Nichols help convey the close friendship between the two women. Add the engaging portrayals by the two kids and before you know it, you'll find yourself emotionally invested in the character-driven Hallmark movie. Available on Apple TV or Amazon Prime.
Chinese American actress Janel Parrish stars in 'Holly & Ivy'
A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas
Tired of rom-coms and want a little zaniness for the holidays?A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas is a 2011 American buddystonercomedy film directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson and written by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg. The sequel to Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008), it is the third installment Harold & Kumar franchise, and stars John Cho, Kal Penn, and Neil Patrick Harris. The film follows estranged friends Harold Lee (Cho) and Kumar Patel (Penn) as they reunite to hunt for a Christmas tree. The characters created by Cho and Penn shatter the Asian nerd model minority stereotype, which I applaud heartily. The Harold and Kumar franchise launched the careers of three actors (including Neil Patrick Harris) who eventually become big stars. Join the irreverence on HBO Max and Prime.
John Cho, center and Kal Penn, right, are the central figures in this zany Christmas film.
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective, follow me on Twitter @DioknoEd.
Olivia Munn, left, and Henry Golding, center join host Ken Jeong in the MTV celebration.
With Ken Jeong set to host, MTV's AANHPI Heritage Month celebration announced more celebrities joining the star-studded television event.
MTV's "See Us Unite for Change" event just announced a massive expansion to their roster. With additions of Olivia Munn, Henry Golding, the Black Eyed Peas, Steven Yeun, Mike Shinoda and Sesame Street's Elmo and Alan. Additional presenters also include Chloe Bennet, Cheryl Burke, Tim Chantarangsu, James Hong, Alan Kim, Michelle Kwan, Lisa Ling and Jeremy Lin. the celebration is set to kick off on May 21st at 8 p.m. ET/PT and will include performances from Jhene Aiko, Saweetie, and Sting.
"To truly shift perceptions on a larger scale, we must come together to take a stand against discrimination, slander and violence in all of its forms, utilizing every platform and tool that we have access to," said See Us Unite campaign Executive Producer Sheila Lirio Marcelo.
"But anti-Asian hate has had a long history in this country, and to truly shift perceptions on a larger scale, we must come together to take a stand against discrimination, slander and violence in all of its forms, utilizing every platform and tool that we have access to."
"Ultimately, our culture is our greatest asset in our effort to change hearts and minds," she added.
Featuring music, comedy performances, short films, and inspirational speakers, the event will spotlight notable Asian American Pacific Islander contributions to art and media and education.
Asian American public figures and those working to combat violence against the AAPI community will also speak. Other speakers include Amanda Ngoc Nguyen, Ai-Jen Poo, Prof. Karthick Ramakrishnan and John C. Yang.
The Asian American Foundation partnered with the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, The Henry Luce Foundation and the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation to fund the event.
The goal of the event, which is a partnership between MTV Entertainment Studios and the Ford and MacArthur foundations, is to help educate its viewers about the powerful impact the AAPI community has had on American culture and help garner support against the hate and discrimination that continues to afflict the AAPI community in the wake of the pandemic, and beyond.
News of the celebration emerged amidst these ongoing acts of violence against the AAPI community. "We are outraged and deeply saddened by the escalation of hate crimes against AAPI communities and stand with them in the fight against xenophobia and bigotry," said MTV President Chris McCarthy. "Hate against one of us is hate against all of us and by working together on a global scale, we can help end this senseless violence."
"Despite these difficult times for our community, the formation of TAAF and their bold work on the See Us Unite campaign represent the best of what can emerge when we share a collective resolve for change," said actor Daniel Dae Kim, who is also on the TAAF board of directors. "They're both great signs for our future."
See Us Unite for Change will air Friday, May 21 at 8 PM EDT on MTV, Comedy Central, VH1, BET, and Nickelodeon. Click here for more information.
Henry Golding stars in the pensive 'Monsoon' where he travels to Vietnam.
Busy Henry Golding has hardly had time to breathe since he broke out into stardom with 2018's Crazy Rich Asians. The handsome Malaysian Brit is once again playing the romantic leading man in Monsoon, which should have its general release later this year. In this movie, Golding is cast against type, as a gay man in a quest for his roots and identity. Golding portrays lead character Kit as he returns his parents' ashes to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) in Vietnam for the first time since he was 6-years old when his family originally fled the country in the aftermath of the Vietnam-American war. Struggling to make sense of himself in a city he's no longer familiar with, he embarks on a personal journey across the country that opens up the possibility for friendship, love, and happiness, says the synopsis. Monsoon is both written and directed by Cambodian-British filmmaker Hong Khaou, director of the film. The film originally premiered at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival last year. and is supposed to premiere in the United Kingdom on May 1 but may be delayed because of the impact of the coronavirus. The US release will be sometime later this year.
Since Crazy Rich Asians, Golding has been cast in A Simple Favor opposite Flake Lively and Anna Kendrick, the romantic comedy Last Christmas with Emilia Clarke, spy thriller The Gentleman where he is the bad guy, and actioner G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes, where he plays the title character in the third installment of the franchise. which is due to be released in October of this year.
The suave Golding has also been named frequently as a possible candidate to succeed Daniel Craig as James Bond after Craig retires from the lucrative franchise after three movies. In addition, the second and third movies of the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy is supposed to be filmed in 2021.
Left to right: Always be My Maybe, The Farewell and The Terror: Infamy.
This is the fourth and last installment of a four-part series: 2019 Review
The ripples of the big splash caused by 2018's Asian August is still being felt in Hollywood. It’s hard to tell if this is a temporary phase or a permanent direction but AAPI actors, directors and other creatives are making the most of Hollywood’s discovery of Asian talent sitting right under its nose. (Editor's Note: Read headline with more than a hint of sarcasm.) The crazy success of Asian led movies Crazy Rich Asians, To All the Boys I Ever Loved and Searching made Hollywood sit up and take notice of the diverse audience and Asian talent sitting right under tis nose. An argument could be made that if not for the success of Asian August paved the way for the 2019 movies such as Ali Wong's and Randall Park's Always Be My Maybe, Mindy Kaling's Late Night, Stuber with Kumail Nanjiani and Dave Bautista, The Sun is Also A Star with Charles Melton as the romantic lead, and the Lulu Wang-directed and critically acclaimed The Farewell, which featured an all-Asian cast including CRA star Awkwafina. Other cast members cashed in the hit status of Crazy Rich Asian with new roles: Henry Golding starred in thriller A Simple Favor and the romcom Last Christmas, Michelle Yeoh got a recurring role in Star Trek spinoff Star Trek: Discovery and joined Golding in Last Christmas, Gemma Chan got a small role in Captain Marvel and Bess of Harwick. They were supported by movies by established stars: Aquaman starring Jason Momoa, Keanu Reeves starred in John Wick 3 and Dwayne Johnson was busy in 2019 with three flicks, Hobbs & Shaw,Fighting With My Family,Jumanji: The Next Level. From Great Britain came the sleeper hits, Yesterday, starring Himesh Patel and Blinded by the Light with Viveik Kalra.
Filipino American actor Darren Criss at the SAG awards.
Television breakthroughs On the small screen there were more Asian American faces on traditional and streaming networks in what feels to be a Golden Age in Hollywood (and Canada) for AAPI actors.
Filipino American actor Darren Criss followed up his 2018 Emmy for acting with 2019's Golden Globe, SAG award and a Critics Choice award for his amazing portrayal of mass killer Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace. Asian Canadian Sandra Oh won Best Actress for a Golden Globe and Critic's Choice for her role in the BBC's Killing Eve, becoming the first actor of Asian heritage to win in that category. Kim's Convenience and Fresh Off the Boat are centered around Asian American families and the issues they face adjusting to North American culture. AMC's The Terror: Infamy brought the horror of the Japanese Americans internment camps during WWII into American living rooms while at the same time, scaring the bejeebers out of viewers. A new television series, Warrior, was introduced last year which mostly takes place in mid-1800s San Francisco's Chinatown starring a largely Asian cast. Historical racial attitudes meet Chinese martial arts made for entertaining fare. Lilly Singh debuted as the first Asian American host of A Little Late with Lilly, a late night talk show on NBC.
Hasan Minhaj in 'Patriot Act.'
Hasan Minhaj launched his hour-long weekly comedy show, Patriot Act, on Netflix. The streaming network also featured comedy specials from several other comedians, including Jo Koy, Ali Wong and Ronny Chieng. Other AAPI actors were included in shows with ensemble casts such as Grey's Anatomy, The Good Doctor, Legends of Tomorrow, 9-1-1, Silicon Valley and Hawaii Five-O and a dozen other shows. Despite the increased presence of AAPI actors in television and movies, their numbers are still lagging considering the hundreds of projects being produced and under development, according to annual diversity reports from USC and UCLA. The presence of AAPI actors in entertainment is a form of "soft power" in helping form a picture of what an "American" looks like by giving US viewers and audiences -- in a nonthreatening way -- a different perspective as they become familiar with AAPI issues and accustomed to Asian and Pacific Islander images. To make sure this "Golden Age" is more than a passing trend, some artists have taking to producing products themselves rather than waiting for roles to audition for. CRA stars Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan and Awkwafina have all started their own production companies. “I know what I want, and that’s to tell stories that make (an) impact on people, to tell good stories,” Awkwafina tells Variety. “That’s what I have control over.” 2019 REVIEW Part 1:AAPI political visibility explodes on nat'l scene Part 2:Affirmative action debate exposes schism in Asian American community Part 3: Trump immigration policies shake up, wake up AAPI communities
UPDATED Jan. 4 11 a.m for clarity, fix typos & to include additional art. Oh hell! Post was rewritten to make it better.
Time Magazine's top 100 list, Time 100 Next, that spotlights 100 rising stars who are shaping the future of business, entertainment, sports, politics, science, health and more includes 21 people of Asian descent from actress Awkwafina to 23-year old physicist Yuen Cao.
Among the Asian Americans named in the Time 100 Next list are actress Awkwafina of The Farewell, Bowen Yang of Saturday Night Live and Chanel Miller, a woman who went public about being sexually assaulted on the Stanford campus.
About Awkwafina, Sandra Oh wrote “I cannot express how pleased I am to see her meteoric rise. I’m not surprised because she is a complete original. There are so many things I can point to: Her timing. Her beautiful, melancholic face. And her unforgettable voice.”
Bowen Yang has been described as a potential breakout star on SNL. UPROXX wrote “he’s managed to accomplish some nearly impossible feats in his short time in front of the camera. He’s given us polished impersonations of world leaders and presidential candidates, he’s perfectly encapsulated the kind of woke bro who aspires to be a SoulCycle instructor, and he’s introduced us to China’s “Trade Daddy.”
Chanel Miller has been praised for her courage for coming forward publicly about being sexually assaulted on the Stanford campus. Known only as Emily Doe during the trial of Brock Turner, her book "Know My Name" has been her coming out. Goodreads says with her book, she “reclaims her identity to tell her story of trauma, transcendence, and the power of words… But her struggles with isolation and shame during the aftermath and the trial reveal the oppression victims face in even the best-case scenarios.”
Amanda Nguyen is a survivor of rape who has turned her horrendous experience into a force for positive change. The group she founded, Rise, has passed 25 state and federal laws, protecting DNA evidence gathered from rape kits that have been credited with numerous prosecutions. She is also a 2018 Nobel Prize nominee.
Vijay Gupta uses his musical talents to help the homeless. He quit the Los Angeles Philharmonic where he worked as a violinist to teach music at homeless shelters and prisons. He is also a MacArthur Genius Fellow.
Varshini Prakash serves as executive director of the Sunrise Movement. Washington Governor Jay Inslee called her and her organization “some of the greatest sources for hope in our fight against the climate crisis.”
Alyssa Liu is a rising star in the ice skating world. At age 13, she became the youngest US Women’s Figure Skating champion in the world. Michelle Kwan said her quad lux “is pushing the technical envelope, and there’s no slowing down.”
Edward Leung was arrested last year and even though he's in jail, the 28-year-oldhas become the spiritual leader of the Hong Kong's months-long unrest. He coined the protestor's favorite chant, “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times.”
Dutee Chand in July became the first Indian sprinter to win the 100-m at the World University Games. This year, she became the first openly gay athlete in India. Her next goal is the 2020 Olympics.
Roya Rahmani is Afghanistan's first female envoy to the U.S. in 2018. Her ambassadorial appointment was also a message to the Taliban, of which she says, "are not our representatives.” Ending the war “should be decided by the people who are most affected by this process.”
Shinjiro Koizumi, Japan's current Environmental Minister, is only 28-years old but he's poised to become the country's next Prime Minister when Shinzo Abe steps down.
Nite Yun is a Cambodian American “changing America’s relationship to Cambodia, one exquisite dish at a time,” said Samin Nosrat, a chef, author and host of Netflix’s Salt Fat Acid Heat. Her restaurant in Oakland, CA, Nyum Bai, has quickly made a name for itself a year after opening.
Blackpink is K-po'ss next big thing.
Blackpink became the first K-pop girl group to perform at Coachella. While BTS is better known, the four-woman group has 31-million fiercely loyal social media followers. The group’s goal, they say, is to make music that helps listeners gain “confidence and boldness.”
Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit's year-old Future Forward Party gained 17% of Thailand's Parliament. The billionaire scion of a car-parts empire has energized young Thais who are eagar to loosen the grip of the country's military rulers.
Mei Mei Hu is working on a cure for Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases. Her company United Neuroscience is working on a vaccine to help the immune system produce antibodies to fight off these degenerative diseases.
Henry Golding catapulted onto the world stage with Crazy Rich Asians. He is now attained leading man status, especially noteworthy for Asian males. Michelle Yeoh calls him the perfect son.
Lilly Singh has turned her YouTube fame into her own show on NBC’s late night line up. As Jimmy Fallon wrote, ” You don’t rack up millions of fans all over the world without being someone people can relate to.”
Yuen Cao, a 23-year old physicist, investigating what happens when two layers of graphene—a crystalline form of carbon, each just one atom thick—are laid atop each other. He discovered that if you twist the sheet, it forms great insulation. Twist it another way, it becomes an electricity superconductor with zero resistance.
Varun Sivaram, an energy innovator, he is chief technology officer of ReNew Power, India’s largest renewable-energy company, where he works to accelerate the expansion of renewables in a country critical to global efforts to stem climate change.
Kotchakorn Voraakhom, a landscape architect who designed Bangkok's first public park in a decade which is capable of absorbing one-million gallons of water to help control the flooding that inundates the city every year. She is in the process of designing a larger park that will include Asia's largest green roof
Jayathma Wickramanayake, a Sri Lankan, was appointed the United Nations’ Envoy on Youth in 2017—and the U.N. announced Youth 2030, a strategy to involve young people in U.N. initiatives and strengthen the organization’s focus on their needs, including sustainable development and economic empowerment. “
Emilia Clarke, left, and Henry Golding in 'Last Christmas.'
Henry Golding, who has been in demand since his breakout role in Crazy Rich Asians has returned to the romantic comedy genre with Last Christmas, which had its general release last week. Reviews have been mixed but one thing everyone agrees with is that Golding can be charming as hell. The Malaysian actor has been compared to Cary Grant. Finally, Clarke gets to play an almost normal contemporary person and her smile lights up the screen. Her role is a drastic departure from the stern Mother of Dragons in Game of Thrones, the role that catapulted her to stardom.
The highly anticipated film has good bones, directed by Paul Feig (Bridesmaid, A Simple Favor), a script written by Emma Thompson and features Michelle Yeoh. A new genre should be called "British Comedy with Witty Dialogue," that the Brits seem to be so good at (Four Weddings & A Funeral, Love Actually, Bridget Jones). If you love romantic comedies, especially the British variety, or you secretly long for a movie without exploding special effects and CGI effects, this might be the tonic for you this holiday season.
Gemma Chan and Awkwafina (above) were among the Asians and AAPI celebrities who attended the star-studded 2019 Met Gala held in New York Monday night. Other models and stars who glimmered and glowed at the annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art included Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Mindy Kaling, Lana Condor, Eva Chen, Darren Criss and more. Click to "E" online for more photos.
Filipina American cast in the return of Star Trek's Jean Luc- Picard
Isa Briones, daughter of Jon Jon Briones (The Assassination of Gianni Versace), will be The Asian in the upcoming Star Trek series which brings back Patrick Stewart as Star Trek: Next Generation's Jean-Luc Picard.
Starting with the original Star Trek, which included the iconic Mr. Sulul, as portrayed by George Takei, each Star Trek series have tried to have a diverse cast, which included the one Asian character.
There's not much detail about the character that Isa Briones will play but it could be a career-defining role with the immense following the franchise has developed over the last 50 years. Everything about the series is under tight wraps. All we know is that the story will pick up Picard 20 years after the last episode of Star Trek: Next Generation. Actor and singer Isa Briones just wrapped the First National Touring Company of Hamilton. Her most recent credits include FX’s American Crime Story: Versace and Next to Normal (East West Players), for which she won an L.A. Ovation Award. The new series will be aired on CBS- All Access, where Star Trek: Discovery is housed. Marvel seeking gay Asian for 'The Eternals,' Marvel's new set of heroes
Marvel is reportingly wants an openly gay Asian male to be the lead male role in The Eternals," a race of "good" heroes with superpowers saving the universe from their evil counterparts, fittingly called The Despicaples.
The current frontrunner for the role is Conrad Ricamora, who is best known for playing Oliver on ABC’s How to Get Away with Murder. The addition of a queer person of color to the cast is exciting, as is the studio’s interest in casting an out actor for the role.
Train To Busan star Ma Dong-Seok has joined the ranks of the film. The Wrap is reporting that the actor will have his first American role in the Marvel film but no word on exactly who the actor will be playing. He will be joining actress Angelina Jolie—surprised it took her this long to jump on the Marvel train—and Kumail Nanjaini.
Michelle Yeoh in Star Trek: Discovery, the first Asian captain in the franchise.
Michelle Yeoh, the new queen of science fiction?
Michelle Yeoh has been cast in the upcoming James Cameron Avatar 2. She will be playing a scientist, Dr. Karina Mogue, according to The Wrap.
Is it time we dub Yeoh as the new queen of science fiction? The Malaysian actress has been busy since her role in the box office success, Crazy Rich Asians. She toplined CBS’ Star Trek: Discovery and her character Captain Philippa Georgiou will have it’s own yet-untitled spinoff show on CBS All Access.
Past credits include Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Tomorrow Never Dies, and Memoirs of a Geisha. She also has upcoming roles in Paul Feig’s Last Christmas and Joe Carnahans Boss Level as seen on her IMDB.
Avatar 2 will hit theaters Dec. 18, 2020, the newest addition to the five part franchise.
Power duo of Mindy Kaling and Priyanka Chopra to star in rom-com
After a bidding war, Universal has won the rights to a currently untitled upcoming comedy starring Mindy Kaling and Priyanka Chopra, Deadline reports.
Not much about the wedding comedy has been released besides it being described as a combination of My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Crazy Rich Asians, Variety reports.
Chopra will produce for Purple Pebble Pictures, Kaling for Kaling International, and Goor will produce with Howard Klein for 3 Arts Entertainment. Nina Anand Aujla and Heather Morris will executive produce.
BD Wong cast as villain in The Flash
AMC's The Flash has cast B.D. Wong as the voice of one of the season’s new villains, Godspeed, Comicbook.com reports. Wong’s voice made its first appearance on Tuesday night’s episode. His name appeared in the opening credits.
According to Comicbook.com, Godspeed has the ability to separate speedsters from their speed force. This makes him a particularly dangerous villain for the show’s protagonist Barry Allen (The Flash). The character was first introduced in 2016 DC comics.
Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding star in Last Christmas.
And lastly ... Last Christmas will premiere Nov. 8 in time for the holidays Nov. 8 has been announced for the premiere off the much-anticipated movie Last Christmas starring two of the hottest actors today, Mother of Dragons Emlia Clarke and Crazy Rich Asians hunk Henry Golding. The romantic movie will debut on Nov. 15, just in time for prime-time for movies. Based on George Michael's hit, one of his last songs before his death on Christmas Day, 2017. The film will also star Michelle Yeoh and Emma Thompson, who also cowrote the script. In the movie, Kate (Clarke) lives in London, a bundle of bad decisions accompanied by the jangle of bells on her shoes, another irritating consequence from her job as an elf in a year-round Christmas shop. Tom (Golding) seems too good to be true when he walks into her life and starts to see through so many of Kate’s barriers. In an Instagram post from Malaysian-born Golding, he wrote, "Mark my words, this one is going to be special." Golden, the male romantic lead in Crazy Rich Asians, is also rumored to be the new James Bond. Clarke is currently starring in the final season of Game of Thrones as Daenerys Targaryen, or better known as the Queen Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lady of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, Lady of Dragonstone, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, the Unburnt, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons. AsAm News contributed to these reports.
Ready for romance? Is it too early to start looking forward to next Christmas? Henry Golding released a peek at Last Christmas, a romantic comedy he plays a lead in opposite Game of Thrones' Emilia Clarke. He writes that Last Christmas is "going to be special." Golding is a hot commodity right now with the wild success of Crazy Rich Asians. Everybody wants him for their romantic lead. The boyish charm he exudes and good looks has led to comparisons to Hollywood's leading men such as Cary Grant or Clark Gable. "Mark my words, this one is going to be special ..." Golding wrote on Instagram. "First official look at Kate and Tom from @lastchristmasthemovie. November could not come any sooner!!"
According to The Daily Mail, the film — which takes its name from Wham!'s iconic holiday single — centers around Clarke's character, Kate, who works as an elf in a Christmas shop. Noting that Kate is "not quite fully formed as an adult," Clarke told the outlet that her character, "hasn’t got her act together, she’s just lost ... (Kate is) this hopeless young lady carrying her belongings in a wheelie bag. She’s always on her phone, always on Tinder, always getting drunk."
"He's out of sync with the modern world," Golding tells the Mail about his character. "I think he sees (Kate) as a bit of a lost soul and tries to bring her out of herself." "It’s first and foremost a love story set in 2016, against a backdrop of Brexit and Trump," director Paul Feig said about the plot of Last Christmas. "And a chance to go against so much intolerance and see what a melting pot London, and the world, is."
Written by Emma Thompson, the rom-com also stars Golding's Crazy Rich Asians costar Michelle Yeoh. Universal Pictures says in the film's logline: "As London transforms into the most wonderful time of the year, nothing should work for these two. But sometimes, you gotta let the snow fall where it may, you gotta listen to your heart ... and you gotta have faith."
Henry Golding shared the first look at the Universal Pictures film Last Christmas, co-starring Emilia Clarke. Directed by Paul Feig, from a script by Bryony Kimmings and Emma Thompson, the British romantic comedy also stars actresses Rebecca Root, Thompson and Michelle Yeoh.
"Mark my words, this one is going to be special..." Golding wrote on Instagram. "First official look at Kate and Tom from @lastchristmasthemovie. November could not come any sooner!!"
Slated for a Nov. 15 release, Last Christmas takes its name from the Wham! hit of the same name. "I'd met with George Michael. He was concerned about the homeless, which is a large part of this story," Thompson told The Daily Mail. "We spoke a lot about life and death, and there's a lot of that in this film as well." The movie will not be a glossy musical like Mamma Mia! or dramatic like the biopic Bohemian Rhapsody: "It's inspired by the songs and inspired by him."
Set in 2016, against the backdrop of Brexit and Donald Trump being elected President of the United States, the director said the film is "first and foremost a love story"—one that provides "a chance to go against so much intolerance and see what a melting pot London, and the world, is."
Clarke, whose character works as an elf in a Christmas shop, is "not quite fully formed as an adult," the actress admitted. "She hasn't got her act together." In fact, until Kate meets Tom (Golding)—who's her polar opposite—she's "always on her phone, always on Tinder, always getting drunk." As for Tom? "He's out of sync with the modern world," Golding explained to The Daily Mail. "I think he sees [Kate] as a bit of a lost soul and tries to bring her out of herself."
Ready for romance? As Universal Pictures says in the film's logline: "As London transforms into the most wonderful time of the year, nothing should work for these two. But sometimes, you gotta let the snow fall where it may, you gotta listen to your heart...and you gotta have faith."
Clarke, Feig, Golding and Yeoh recently held a contest via Omaze in support of RAICES. The winner, who will be named on or around Jan. 25, will meet the stars on the film's set in London.
I THINK that headline is what's known as clickbait. My apologies. No, that isn't me on the GQ magazine cover. If you don't know the actor by now-- let me introduce you to Henry Golding. He's only been acting for a year or so. But ... in the context of Asian American, or Filipino American, or Southeast Asian American cultural history, the image is pretty damn close. Those eyes, those lips, that nose, that skin color, that hair (when I had hair) ! Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm nowhere near as handsome the breakout star of Crazy Rich Asians, but Golding landing on the GQ cover, arguably the fashion arbitrator for men (so it claims) is good enough for me say he (kinda) looks like me. He's the first Asian man the editors of the men's fashion magazine to be granted the cover. “When Crazy Rich Asians hit theaters this summer, Hollywood held its breath waiting for the box office results, but anyone who knew anything about ... well, anything, could’ve predicted it’d be the smash it was,” wrote GQ. “Beyond its success — and what a success it was — it minted Henry Golding as one of the industry’s must-hire new actors, and for good reason: He’s handsome, he’s suave, and that accent. A nation swooned, and GQ did too.” Except for an occasional Bruce Lee on the cover of the esoteric Black Belt magazine, growing up in the U.S., I hardly ever saw someone who looks like me on U.S. magazines, movie posters or on the silver screen. When it came to role models, I had to search long and hard to find them because the standards of beauty, power and being outstanding were so overwhelmingly Eurocentric. Editors, who were also white abd who make those media decisions, couldn't bring themselves to not cater to what they thought their readership wanted to see. Hopefully, this isn't a one-shot event. Hopefully, other Asian men will be the cover images in more magazines; hopefully there will be other actors, sports heroes,;entertainers, politicians doctors, lawyers, social activists who will overcome those ingreained biases. What happens when people who look like you are practically invisible in society? I think you know. Questions of self-worth, self-loathing, identity can sometimes overcome you, crippling you into adulthood. In the big scheme of life, Golding's accomplishment isn't going to cure cancer, stop war, bring harmony to the world, but we shouldn't downplay what it means, too. With Golding's breakthrough, I can imagine some Asian American kid, won't have to wait so long to see someone who looks like him or her on a magazine cover. That kid might think that he's (or she) is part of this country, that his brown skin, almond eyes and full lips are attractive enough to get on a cover. That kid might say, "Hey, he looks like me." _______________________________________________________________________________
