Randall Park and Daniel Dae Kim greet Henry Golding at debut of Crazy Rich Asians. Photo by Tom Sorensen via Flickr Creative Commons
Daniel Dae Kim and Randall Park are partnering with Amazon studios to bring a new Asian American movie into the film industry. The two friends will release a heist-film that will co-star both actors and include a predominantly Asian American cast.
The rise in Asian and Asian American-led films within the last few years continues to increase AAPI community representation in mainstream media. Notable movies that contribute to this representation are Crazy Rich Asians, Parasite, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, The Farewell, Always Be My Maybe, and more. The live-action movie Mulan will also be released next month.
In the rom-com Always Be My Maybe, Kim and Park played the two love interests of co-star Ali Wong. Based in the Bay Area in CA, this Netflix original was viewed over 32 million times within two months, reported Deadline.
Kim told Deadline that the bidding war for the film between other studios and streaming services was heated, but encouraging.
“There is an appetite to see this kind of a movie with an Asian American cast and that is a really promising sign of the times,” Kim said.
Both Korean American actors and John Cheng, Head of Development at production house 3AD, came up with the idea of the new heist-film. Screenwriter Young Il Kim will also play a key role in the production.
The film, which does not have an official name yet, will focus mainly on the reunion of a group of high school friends.
Kim and Park’s partnership is intentionally inclusive to the AAPI community not only to curate a lasting project together, but to represent their own cultural heritage.
“We want to be inclusive and we feel like there’s a story here to be told. It’s super exciting…Randall and I have wanted to do something together for a while,” Kim told Deadline. “This is just a great reason to bring together talented actors who have been friends for a really long time and really have fun on a project that, with any luck, will be able to make an impact.”
Cheng, Kim, and Park will produce the film under the 3AD banner, reported Deadline.
Kim founded 3AD Production Company in 2014 to create media content that voices stories of communities who are “traditionally underrepresented,” according their website.
“I think it has nods to Ocean’s 11, The Full Monty as well as Better Luck Tomorrow. It’s a story that kind of highlights community, friendship, unity in a very familiar genre that people I think will enjoy,” Kim said.
There is no expected release date of the untitled film yet, but Kim and Park told Deadline they’re both eager to share a story that is rooted in friendship, pride, and community.
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Slug: Daniel Dae Kim Randall Park and John Cheng partner to create an Asian American-led heist film with Young Il Kim and Amazon
Photo via Flickr Creative Commons by Tom Sorensen