A little more than a year after starring as Ali Wong’s love interests in Netflix’s “Always Be My Maybe,” Daniel Dae Kim and Randall Park are teaming up again for an Asian American-led heist movie at Amazon Studios.
The untitled project, based on the script of Young Il Kim (“Billions,” “Rodham” and “Seoul Girls”), will reportedly focus on high school friends who reunite “in a nod to the classic, fun ensemble heist films.”
Kim and Park will bring together an ensemble predominantly composed of Asian American actors. Multiple studios and streamers reportedly engaged in a bidding war to win the pitch.
“It’s a story that kind of highlights community, friendship, unity in a very familiar genre that people I think will enjoy,” Kim told Deadline, adding that it has nods to films such as “Ocean’s 11,” “The Full Monty” and “Better Luck Tomorrow.” “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.”
In 2018, “Crazy Rich Asians” proved Hollywood how powerful an Asian ensemble can be. The success of subsequent films such as “Parasite,” “The Farewell,” “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” and “Always Be My Maybe” is also promising.
Kim and Park, who are friends, happen to love heist movies themselves. They hope that bringing together talented Asian American actors can make an impact.
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“We can’t wait to join with Young to tell this special story of friendship, pride and community. We’re also very grateful to Amazon for their exceptional enthusiasm and support,” the pair told Deadline.
Meanwhile, Young is tight-lipped about the film. “I can’t reveal details of the Asian Heist Project except that the production catering is gonna be awesome,” he wrote on Twitter.
Fellow Asian actors greeted the news with enthusiasm and support:
Feature Images via Daniel Dae Kim (left) and Randall Park (right)
