The Academy Awards have long had a reputation for making uninspired choices when picking winners. But, last night, Everything Everywhere All at Once, the mad-hatter and emotional multiverse movie from directing duo The Daniels, swept up and, alongside winning Best Picture and Best Director, the film’s historically overlooked actors — Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan — won Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor respectively. Michelle was the first Asian Best Actress winner ever; Ke was the first Asian to win Best Supporting Actor in 38 years. Now, the duo are joining forces again with their on-screen daughter, Stephanie Hsu, in a new Disney+ series, American Born Chinese.
Based on the popular comic book series of the same name, American Born Chinese is a coming-of-age TV show that’s set to lure in those keen to see an Everything Everywhere All at Once reunion. But what’s it about? When will it be released? And who, exactly, are the EEAAO troupe playing this time around?
Here’s everything we know.
What’s American Born Chinese about?
The show follows Jin Wang, an American high-schooler struggling to reckon with his Chinese-American identity. When he returns from summer vacation and meets Wei-Chen, a new foreign exchange student, life takes an unexpected turn and soon he’s fighting gods and princesses. Expect lots of multiverse-esque time-hopping and Chinese mythology.
Who do Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan play in American Born Chinese?
Many of the characters in American Born Chinese have names that differ from their characters’ in the original comic book. Michelle Yeoh plays Guanyin, whose secretly the Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion, while Ke Huy Quan plays Freddy Wong. The film captures these characters both in modern and historical contexts, which may explain why some of their parts seem elusive (in stills and trailers, we see Michelle sitting at a diner table and in classic mythological regalia). Stephanie Hsu will have a brief guest appearance.
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Who else is in the cast of American Born Chinese?
The show is led by Ben Wang, who plays Jin, while Jim Liu plays Wei-Chen, his sidekick. Elsewhere, Daniel Wu is playing Sun Wukong and Hacks star Poppy Liu will be playing Princess Iron Fan. What’s more, there’s another EEAAOer in the mix: grandad James Hong, who plays the Jade Emperor.
Is there a trailer?
Yes! A trailer dropped, rather appropriately, during the Oscars telecast.
When is American Born Chinese streaming?
American Born Chinese will stream on Disney+ from 24 May.