Disney+ Announces ‘American Born Chinese’ Cast
by Erik Amaya
Michelle Yeoh is among the names announced for the upcoming series based on the Gene Luen Yang graphic novel.
The comic book centers on Jin Wang, an “average teenager juggling his high school social life with his immigrant home life.” But with the arrival of a new, foreign student, Jin becomes entangled in a battle of “Chinese mythological gods.” Ben Wang stars as Jin. Yeo Yann Yann and Chin Han will appear as his mother, Christine, and father, Simon, respectively. Jim Liu plays the new student, Wei-Chen, while Yeoh plays his’s “unassuming auntie” who helps the recent immigrant hide his true identity as the Buddhist bodhisattva of Compassion. The series will also feature Daniel Wu as Sun Wukong, the legendary Monkey King; Ke Huy Quan as fictional sit-com character Freddy Wong; and Sydney Taylor as Amelia, Jin’s classmate and crush.
Writers/executive producers Kelvin Yu and Charles Yu — and executive producers Melvin Mar, Jake Kasdan and Asher Goldstein — are also attached. Yang will also serve as an executive producer with Kelvin Yu serving as showrunner. Destin Daniel Cretton is also on board as a director and executive producer.
In statement last October, Yang said, “I feel so lucky to be working with this team. Melvin Mar is a man with a vision, and I’m deeply grateful that he took this project under his wing. Kelvin Yu is a phenomenal talent. His script brings to television everything I wanted to get across in my book. And Destin Cretton … who in America isn’t a fan of Destin Cretton right now? I can’t wait for him to bring his signature blend of action and heart to the show. When I was in high school, I was such a big Disney fan that I had at least one Mickey Mouse item on me at all times: a wallet, a watch, a belt buckle, a t-shirt, something. Being a part of Disney+ is a dream come true.”
With a cast assembled, production will likely begin soon — but it is still unclear when the program will make its way to Disney+.
