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Adele Lim makes directorial debut with actress Ashley Park to ‘platform so much AAPI magic’

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    The writer behind “Crazy Rich Asians” film adaptation, Adele Lim, is making her directorial debut with a Lionsgate comedy starring actress Ashley Park.

    About the movie: Adele Lim, the “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Raya and the Last Dragon” writer, is directing a comedic film in collaboration with Lionsgate and Point Grey Pictures, according to Variety

    • The R-rated movie will star Tony and Grammy-nominated actress Park, known for “Emily in Paris” and “Girls 5Eva.” Shooting will begin in the fall.
    • The plot follows four Asian American women traveling through Asia to look for one of their biological mothers through a journey 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” writer Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and co-creator Teresa Hsiao will be writing the script alongside Lim. 
    • The trio will be producing with Point Grey’s Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver and Josh Fagen. Lionsgate’s Meredith Wieck and Chisom Ude will oversee the project. 

    Telling the story:  Lim stated that she is “thrilled” to be making her directing debut in a film that is “so special” to her. She announced her debut on Twitter and on Instagram, saying she’s going to “platform so much AAPI magic.”

    • The journey began with Lim, Chevapravatdumrong and Hsiao “wanting to tell a story with characters who look like us, about women who are messy and thirsty, but have so much heart.” 
    • “Adele is a singular talent, and alongside writers Cherry and Teresa, she will bring the world a film that has unbelievably memorable comedy, lush cinema, and a sneaky emotional punch. And we’re thrilled to have Ashley, who is poised for stardom, aboard as the first of our four friends,” said Lionsgate President Erin Westerman. 
    • Chevapravatdumrong and Hsiao added that they wrote a movie they “wanted to see growing up- featuring strong, smart, funny, and yes, raunchy women.” 

    Background info: The Malaysian-born screenwriter has written for and produced several popular titles including “One Tree Hill,” “Private Practice,” “Reign,” “Lethal Weapon,” “Dynasty,” “Life on Mars” and “Missing.” 

    • Lim has been nominated for the Humanitas Prize, Image Awards (NAACP) and the Legionnaires of Laughter Legacy Awards for her work on “Crazy Rich Asians.” She was also a Writers Guild of America nominee for “Life on Mars,” according to IMDb
    • Park has starred on the Broadway stage for productions such as “Mean Girls,” “The King and I” and “Mamma Mia,” according to Harper’s Baazar
    • She was nominated for a Tony award for her role in “Mean Girls” as Gretchen Wieners in addition to Drama League, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Chita Rivera Awards nominations.
    • Park was also a nominee for the Critics Choice Awards and MTV Movie & TV Awards for her role as Mindy on “Emily in Paris.” 

    Featured Image via Movie Roar, Ashley Park

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