"Crazy Rich Asians" Is Officially Returning as a TV Series

Eight years after Crazy Rich Asians had audiences dreaming of lavish Singaporean weddings, the rest of the story is finally getting another round. This time, Rachel Chu and Nick Young are headed to the small screen, with familiar faces from the 2018 film set to return for an HBO series.

For anyone who remembers Rachel Chu’s introduction to Singapore’s ultra-wealthy elite, the story is picking up with a familiar creative team. According to Variety, Constance Wu, Henry Golding, and Ronny Chieng will reprise their roles as series regulars, while Michelle Yeoh will return in a recurring role. Adele Lim, who co-wrote the original film, is set to serve as showrunner and executive producer.

The series draws from Kevin Kwan’s bestselling novels, beginning with the 2013 book of the same name. The story follows Rachel, an American-born Chinese economics professor who travels to Singapore with her boyfriend, Nick Young, only to discover that his family belongs to one of Asia’s wealthiest dynasties. Her introduction to Nick’s world comes with extravagant estates, high-society expectations, and the disapproval of his formidable mother, Eleanor Young, played by Michelle in the film.

The 2018 adaptation, directed by Jon M. Chu, became a box-office success, earning more than $239 million worldwide against a reported $30 million production budget. 

Adele acknowledged the anticipation surrounding the new series in a statement reported by Variety. “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,” she said.

Kevin also welcomed the opportunity to revisit the characters through a longer format. According to the same news outlet, the author said he was thrilled that the Crazy Rich Asians family was reuniting, adding, “Our incredible fans around the world have been patiently waiting for this, and it will be worth the wait!”

The series also brings Jon back as an executive producer, alongside Adele, Kevin, and Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson of Color Force, the production company behind the film. Reflecting on the reunion, Jon told Variety that the cast’s careers had grown considerably since the movie’s release, making the prospect of working together again feel 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,” the director said.

A second film had long been anticipated, with potential adaptations of Kevin’s subsequent novels, China Rich Girlfriend (2015) and Rich People Problems (2017), previously in development. Neither has made it to the screen so far, and the HBO series now offers another way to continue the story across eight episodes.

There are also familiar faces fans may be hoping to see again. Awkwafina, who played Rachel’s outspoken best friend Peik Lin Goh, has not been announced as part of the series. Gemma Chan and Harry Shum Jr., who portrayed Astrid Leong and Charlie Wu, respectively, have likewise yet to be confirmed. Their characters’ romance was a major subplot in the books, and Deadline reported in 2022 that a separate spin-off centered on Astrid and Charlie was in early development.

Production on the HBO series is expected to begin in 2027, according to the network’s official announcement. A premiere date has yet to be announced, with more details to look forward to as the project develops.