Crazy Rich Asians made a very impressive debut last weekend, opening to $25 million and finishing with a grand total of $36 million if you count the five-day total after it officially opened on Wednesday. The rom-com captivated the world with its fantastic performances from Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Awkwafina, and Michelle Yeoh. And now it looks like a sequel is in order.

According to new reports, the creative forces that helped put the first movie together are getting back together for a sequel titled China Rich Girlfriend — both of which are adaptations of author Kevin Kwan‘s books of the same name. More on the story below. Minor spoilers will follow.

The Hollywood Reporter says Warner Bros. has not officially greenlit the sequel, as it is standard procedure to hold off on such news concerning a new franchise. But this is welcomed news to fans of both the books and the film, and another huge step forward in bringing more Asian representation to mainstream films.

While an official announcement has yet to be made, WB is making the necessary moves in bringing back the creative forces that made all of this possible. This includes director Jon M. Chu, producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson, John Penotti, and screenwriters Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim.

Chu’s previous credits include Step Up, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, and Jem and the Holograms. However, it could be a while before we actually get to see China Rich Girlfriend, as Chu is currently developing a big screen adaptation of Lin Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights, which is scheduled to hit theaters June 26, 2020.

Crazy Rich Asians, which was made on a $30 million budget, managed to recoup everything in one weekend alone, not including the cost of marketing. With the film exceeding expectations, there was no doubt that a sequel would be in order.

Here’s where the spoilers kick in.

During the mid-credits scene, we see that Rachel (Wu) and Nick’s (Golding) engagement party is in full swing. Astrid (Gemma Chan), who has just left her husband who had an affair with another woman, exchanges a brief look with another man (Harry Shum Jr.), before looking away and smiling. That tease opened the door to the possibility of a sequel, where audiences would explore Astrid’s second chance at love. Chu had this to say about the cameo, “I made a promise to Harry, so I’m going to do it.”

The sequel will also explore Rachel’s search for her biological father in China. However, there may be a slight caveat at China’s government lessening the perception of the country’s high-class elite. Crazy Rich Asians has also yet to be released in China, and the 2013 novel that it is based on was only released in the country this year.

There are other subplots that need to be addressed in the sequel as well. One of them being Kitty (Fiona Xie), brassy actress who left Alistair (Remy Hii) for Bernard Tai (Jimmy O. Yang). Her role is significant in the sequel. Chu said she was worried that they were never going to make a sequel, however, he assured her that he would “make it happen.”

Golding, Wu, and Yeoh also have options for a sequel, and would likely negotiate for bigger deals thanks in part to the film’s success.

We’ll keep you up to date on this sequel as soon as more developments come in.

[Source: THR]