We’re officially returning to the world of Crazy Rich Asians — just maybe not in the way we originally thought. While there is, allegedly, still a sequel film in the works to the 2018 blockbuster romantic comedy (as far as we know!), Max has confirmed that a series, from co-writer Adele Lim and director Jon M. Chu, is well underway at the streamer.
The news was reported by Variety, confirming rumors that began circulating back in 2024, after the 2022 reports of a sequel following Gemma Chan and Harry Shum Jr.’s characters (Astrid and Charlie, respectively) failed to immediately materialize. This may be due in part to co-writer (alongside Peter Chiarelli) Adele Lim departing Jon M. Chu’s intended adaptations of the subsequent Kevin Kwan novels, China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems, because of a pay dispute that she described as racist and sexist. But now, with Lim back on board to show-run and executive produce this series alongside Chu as EP, it feels safe to say that we might actually get a return to the world we all fell in love with in 2018.

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Jon M. Chu And Adele Lim Have Been Busy Since ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Debuted

It’s been a busy couple of years for both Chu and Lim. The monumental success of Crazy Rich Asians, with fans and critics alike, has made both creatives quite popular in Hollywood these past few years. Since 2018, Chu has gone on to direct the big-screen adaptations of two major Broadway musicals: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In The Heights in 2021, and this year’s (and next year’s) wildly successful Wicked, which is up for several awards at this year’s Oscars. He’s also in various stages of development or pre-production on the Play-Doh film, a Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat adaptation, and the cinematic take on Britney Spears’ memoir, The Woman In Me.
As for Lim, the popular screenwriter-turned-director in her own right, wrote the script for Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon, and also directed the raucous 2023 comedy Joy Ride (from a story idea that was also her own). She’s also slated to direct the highly anticipated third Princess Diaries film, which Anne Hathaway confirmed was in development/pre-production last year. This makes Lim and Chu a certified powerhouse; a dynamic duo whose instincts we trust implicitly. Which means if the world of Crazy Rich Asians needs to become a television series rather than another movie, so be it! We trust their vision above all else, and hope that Max will do the same.
There is currently no word about plot specifics or if any characters from the film will return and/or be played by the actors from the original movie. But with Lim and Chu returning, we’d be shocked if others didn’t follow suit. Crazy Rich Asians starred Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan, Lisa Lu, Awkwafina, and Ken Jeong. The film also featured a murderer’s row of talented Asian actors and comedians in smaller parts, including Harry Shum Jr., Jimmy O. Yang, Ronny Chieng, Nico Santos, Sonoya Mizuno, and more.
Source:
Variety