Crazy Rich Asians to become a TV series

'Bok bok bitch, we’re back'

HBO is to turn Crazy Rich Asians into a TV series.

Comic Ronny Chieng will be reprising his film role in the show, as will Constance Wu and Henry Golding – with Michelle Yeoh in a recurring role.

Based on the bestselling books by Kevin Kwan, the series will pick up after the events of the film that became the highest-grossing Hollywood studio romcom at the North American box office in nearly a decade.

Adele Lim, co-writer of the movie, will be showrunner. She said: ‘It’s a Crazy Rich family reunion! 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.

‘Our writers’ room is humming and we can’t wait to share what we’ve come up with.’

Kwan added: ‘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.’

The film’s director, Jon M Chu, is among the executive producers of the new hour-long episodes.

He said: ‘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. 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.

‘It’s been incredible watching audiences make this movie part of their lives, from mahjong nights to becoming the ultimate airplane movie, and I can’t wait to share what comes next. 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.’