Adele Lim is stepping into the director’s chair. The “Raya and the Last Dragon” and “Crazy Rich Asians” scribe is set to make her directorial debut with an R-rated comedy for Lionsgate and Point Grey Pictures. Variety broke the news.
Currently untitled, the pic is expected to go into production this fall and will star Tony and Grammy-nominated actress Ashley Park, whose recent credits include “Girls5Eva” and “Emily in Paris.” The project “follows four Asian American women as they travel through Asia in search of one of their birth mothers. Along the way, their experience becomes one of bonding, friendship, belonging, and no-holds-barred wild debauchery that reveals the universal truth of what it means to know and love who you are.”
“Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens’” Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and Teresa Hsiao are writing the script from a story by Chevapravatdumrong, Hsiao, and Lim.
“This journey began with me, Cherry, and Teresa – my friends and comedy writing heroes – wanting to tell a story with characters who look like us, about women who are messy and thirsty, but have so much heart,” said Lim. “Point Grey and Lionsgate have been incredible allies and partners from day one, and I am thrilled to be making my directing debut with them on a story that’s so special to me.”
Chevapravatdumrong and Hsiao added, “We wrote a movie that we would’ve wanted to see growing up – featuring strong, smart, funny, and yes, raunchy women – and we’re super excited to work with Point Grey and Lionsgate to share this story with the world.”
Lim’s TV writing credits include “Private Practice” and “One Tree Hill.”
“Crazy Rich Asians” grossed more than $238 million at the worldwide box office. “On the heels of the movie, there is hope that there will be many more Asian Americans and people of color creators who are out there and it will motivate people who have the power to greenlight projects and give those projects a chance,” Lim said in a 2018 interview.
Park received a Tony nom for her portrayal of Gretchen Wieners in the “Mean Girls” Broadway musical.
