“Eternals” and “Nomadland” director Chloé Zhao is set to oversee the development of a limited series based on the murder of Vincent Chin.
Adapting a tragedy: Film production company Participant has tapped the Oscar-winning filmmaker to serve as executive producer for the upcoming TV show, reported Deadline.
- The series is being developed under an exclusive agreement with the Chin Estate and activist Helen Zia, who was appointed by Chin’s mother as the estate’s executor before she died in 2002.
- “I was deeply moved by Helen’s personal connection to Vincent’s story as well as her incredibly insightful and nuanced perspective on this difficult yet inspiring story,” Zhao was quoted as saying. “I’m very honored to join the team and to embark on this journey together.”
- Zia commended Zhao, who she believes “has the vision and sensitivity to unpack the complexities of racism, hate, violence and injustice.”
- The rights advocate herself is part of the series’ creative team and will be working with producers Vicangelo Bulluck and Paula Madison and Director of Programs for the Center for Asian American Media Donald Young.
- First announced in June, the show will be the only authorized adaptation of Chin’s story. The production team has yet to reveal its target release date for the show.
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What the series is about: The project will cover the lynching of the Chinese American engineer and the landmark civil rights case that followed, as NextShark previously reported.
- In 1982, Chin was assaulted and murdered by two white men in Michigan during a time of heightened anti-Japanese sentiment due to labor shortages across the automotive industry.
- Autoworkers Ronald Ebens and Michael Nitz reportedly mistook Chin for Japanese, while he was celebrating his bachelor party with friends at a local bar, before chasing and attacking him in the parking lot.
- The killers were apprehended at the scene but received only three years probation and a $3,780 fine after pleading guilty to manslaughter.
- Considered to be one of the most critical moments in recent Asian American history, many believe the incident encapsulates modern-day anti-Asian violence in the U.S.
Earlier this year, the star-studded podcast series “Hold Still, Vincent” was removed shortly after it received backlash when it was revealed that Zia and Chin’s family members were not consulted during the show’s development.
Featured Image via IGN (left), American Citizens of Justice (right)
