A genre-hopping original series is coming to streaming platform Disney+, which will surely be beloved by the Asian region. Titled “American Born Chinese,” it is produced by 20th Television and premieres on May 24.
Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang, American Born Chinese tells the story of Jin Wang, an average teenager juggling his high school social life with his home life. When he meets a new foreign student on the first day of the school year, even more worlds collide as Jin is unwittingly entangled in a battle of Chinese mythological gods.
The coming-of-age adventure features an international all-star cast, including Academy Award and Golden Globe winners Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”), Ben Wang (“Chang Can Dunk”), two-time International Emmy Award nominee Yeo Yann Yann (“Wet Season”), Chin Han (“Mortal Kombat”), Daniel Wu (“Reminiscence”), former Taekwondo champion Jimmy Liu and Sydney Taylor (“Just Add Magic”). Academy Award nominee Stephanie Hsu (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) guest stars.
Emmy Award-winning writer/producer Kelvin Yu (“Bob’s Burgers,” “Central Park”) serves as executive producer and showrunner. Destin Daniel Cretton (Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” “Short Term 12”) is series director and executive producer, alongside Melvin Mar and Jake Kasdan (both of “Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.,” “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” and “Jumanji: The Next Level”), Erin O’Malley (“Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.”), Asher Goldstein (“Short Term 12,” “Just Mercy”) and Gene Luen Yang.
American Born Chinese previewed two episodes at the South by Southwest festival in early March to rave reviews.
Of the actors’ performances, the website AsAm News Rafael Motomayor of SlashFilms, “Jim Liu is the indisputable breakout star of the first two episodes that were shown at SXSW. Wei-Chen is full of confidence — he is funny and cool, and he can kick all sorts of ass.”
The Hollywood Reporter likewise noted, “American Born Chinese is wildly entertaining and touching.”
Source : Manilatimes