When “Crazy Rich Asians” debuted on the big screen, it garnered acclaim for discussing issues like representation and diversity and embodying the usual fun-loving content that a good rom-com should have.
The film starred Constance Wu as Rachel Chu, alongside co-star Henry Golding as Nicholas “Nick” Young, Rachel’s boyfriend. Together, the duo delivered an enthralling performance as the film’s lead actors.
Since its premiere in 2018, viewers have been clamoring for a follow-up to flick. In line with this, showrunners at Warner Bros. have touted the possibility of a sequel. However, they are yet to cross the t’s and dot the i’s. Golding has now revealed that he is interested in featuring in a sequel and can’t wait to get started on its production.
Henry Golding Says The Showrunners Are Still Working On The Details
The 35-year-old actor revealed some details about the upcoming production in a recent interview with E! News.
“I always bug [director Jon M. Chu] about it, and he tells him the same thing every time: They’re trying to figure out the writing,” he said. “I know they’re working on it, but hopefully sooner than later.”
While the showrunners are still figuring out the details of the sequel, the pandemic, which started in 2020, also slowed down any quick decision-making to push out the next installment of the rom-com. Most possible movie locations, including the film’s vital production set in Singapore, could not be utilized due to restrictions in international travel.
Given the advent of the vaccine and other booster shots, things have started returning to normal as closed movie locations are opening worldwide. For this reason, Golding was keen to express his desire to return to where it all started.
“[I] can’t wait to get back to Singapore,” he said.
‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Box Office Success
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“Crazy Rich Asians” surpassed its budget of $30million in its first weekend, going on to gross $237 million at the global box office throughout its run in the theaters. The film garnered multiple accolades from the box office, including a Golden Globe Awards nomination for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical.
It also won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture and garnered four Choice Awards nominations winning one for Best Comedy.
It is safe to assume that Golding’s desire to return in a sequel spawns from the first film’s success. “Crazy Rich Asians” helped boost his Hollywood ratings, earning him a feature in Guy Ritchie’s crime film “The Gentlemen” and a titular role in the spinoff of the G.I Joe franchise “Snake Eyes.”
‘Crazy Rich Asians Two’
Exec producer Nina Jacobson had told Deadline in 2018 that the audience reception would determine the possibility of a sequel. “Let the audience ask for the sequel,” Jacobson said to the outlet before the premiere. “We’d love to make one, but not unless the audience asks for it, and hopefully they will this weekend.”
The film was received rapturously by viewers at its premiere in theaters worldwide. As such, the showrunners Warner Bros. began planning a sequel after the first weekend to follow up on its success.
According to Deadline, the narrative will continue with Kevin Kwan’s novel trilogy as its source. Screenwriters Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim were assigned the scripting role, although the latter allegedly departed the project in 2019 over a wage inequality disagreement with the showrunners.
‘Crazy Rich Asians Two’ Storyline
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In line with the second novel of Kevin Kwan’s trilogy, the sequel to “Crazy Rich Asians Two” has been dubbed “China Rich Girlfriend.” Luckily for the writers, scripting the sequel won’t be too much of a hassle given that Kwan’s book details the road map they should follow.
However, a possible issue might lie in how to merge the multiple storylines in the book ranging from Chu’s discovery of her father and her long-lost family to the evolving relationship between Astrid (Gemma Chan) and Charlie Wu (Harry Shum Jr.), as well as a storyline centered on actress Kitty Pong (Fiona Xie), who quits Alistair (Remy Hii) for Bernard Tai (Jimmy O. Yang).
While filming of the sequel has taken a long hiatus, fans expect most of the cast of “Crazy Rich Asians” to reprise their roles when the film premieres at a future date.
