HBO Greenlights 'Crazy Rich Asians' Series with Original Cast
HBO has ordered an eight-episode series adaptation of 'Crazy Rich Asians,' featuring the original film's cast and creative team. The project, which had been in development since 2025, is the first series greenlit for HBO following its merger with Paramount into Skydance. Filming is scheduled to begin in 2027.
Key points
- HBO and Warner Bros. Television have ordered an eight-episode hourlong drama series based on Kevin Kwan's novels.
- Constance Wu, Henry Golding, and Ronny Chieng will reprise their roles, with Michelle Yeoh returning as a recurring character.
- Adele Lim, co-writer of the 2018 film, will serve as showrunner and executive producer via her company 100 Tigers.
- Director Jon M. Chu and author Kevin Kwan are returning as executive producers, alongside Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson.
- Production is set to begin in 2027, following the official merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery under Skydance.
Background
The 2018 film 'Crazy Rich Asians' grossed nearly $240 million globally, becoming the highest-grossing romantic comedy of the 2010s. A feature film sequel based on the novel 'China Rich Girlfriend' was previously in development but stalled due to pay disputes and scheduling conflicts. The series had been in development at HBO Max since early 2025 before the recent corporate merger.
How outlets are covering it
The Hollywood Reporter emphasizes the series as the first major pickup for HBO post-merger, highlighting the combined subscriber base of HBO and Paramount+. TheWrap focuses on the return of the original creative team and the shift from a film sequel to a series format, noting the expanded runtime allows for deeper character exploration. Yahoo Entertainment frames the news as a surprise pivot from a movie sequel to a TV series, highlighting the returning cast.
Why it matters
This greenlight marks a significant milestone for the newly formed Skydance media empire, demonstrating its ability to move forward with major pre-merger projects. It also signals a continued appetite for high-profile adaptations of Asian-led narratives in premium television, following the success of the original film.
What to watch
Production is scheduled to begin in 2027. The series is expected to delve into the characters and worlds of Kevin Kwan's books, expanding on the story beyond the scope of a single film.
- ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Series Greenlit at HBO With Film’s Stars, Creative Team Returning The Hollywood Reporter
- ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ HBO Series Sets Cast: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Ronny Chieng Returning Variety
- ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ TV Sequel Series in the Works with Original Cast People.com
- Crazy Rich Asians 2 Trailer Reveals Sequel Movie Is Actually a TV Show, Returning Cast Revealed Yahoo
- ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ HBO Series Greenlit With Original Cast Returning TheWrap
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