Kevin Kwan’s New Series ‘The Emperor of Malibu’ Casts Max Willems as Lead

March 28, 2019

After an extensive search, CBS has cast Max Willems as the lead in Kevin Kwan and Warner Bros TV’s pilot for “The Emperor of Malibu.”

Willems will play the role of Auggie, the son of a new Chinese billionaire who announces his engagement to Kate, his college girlfriend and an American woman with “old money.”

Willems, who recently starred in Amazon’s YA pilot “College,” joins Ken Jeong and Deborah S. Craig, who will play his parents.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, sources claim that Kwan wrote the role of Auggie while thinking of Harry Shum Jr., whose role in the “Crazy Rich Asians” sequel is highly anticipated.

The comedy, which Kwan conceived years ago, draws on a similar East-meets-West theme as “Crazy Rich Asians.” Auggie, an environmental lawyer with a degree from Stanford, is terrified of his parents’ reaction to his engagement.

It is said that his family, who hails from Shanghai with “new money,” will “descend upon the couple to win their son back and test drive the American dream.”

“The Emperor of Malibu” is written by Kwan and David Sangalli, directed by Andy Ackerman and showrun by Michelle Nader and Christina Lee, according to Deadline.

Kwan, Sangalli, Nader and Lee will executive-produce along with Danielle Stokdyk.

Featured Images via Instagram / @maxwillemsofficial

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