A first look at the upcoming Disney+ original seriesAmerican Born Chinesedropped today at the D23 Expo. Production just wrapped for the exciting series based on the popular genre-hopping graphic novel of the same name byGene Luen Yang.
American Born Chinesetells the story of Jin Wang (Ben Wang), an average teenager struggling to juggle his high school social circle with his home life. Things get more complicated when he meets a new student on the first day of the school year. As worlds collide, Jin finds himself unwittingly entangled in a battle among Chinese mythological gods. TheAmerican Born Chinesefeaturettestarts by placing viewers in an awkward car ride with Jin’s mother, Christine Wang (Yeo Yann Yann), who asks him if he is wearing clean underwear before evolving into clips jam packed with engaging action sequences juxtaposed with the life of a typical teenager. In an interview included in the featurette, Wang goes on to explain thatAmerican Born Chinese“explores culture and identity through the lens of adolescence.”
In addition to Wang and Yann, theAmerican Born Chinesecast includesChin Hanas Simon Wang,Ke Huy Quanas Freddy Wong,Jimmy Liuas Wei-Chen andSydney Tayloras Amelia. Recent announcements confirmed that bothPoppy LiuandStephanie Hsuwill be a part of the series, as well.Daniel WuandMichelle Yeohalso join the cast as Sun Wukong “The Monkey King” and Guanyin, respectively. Yeoh, who is also featured in the featurette, goes on to describe the upcoming series as filled with fun and magic as well as “badass action.”
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Serving as executive producer and showrunner forAmerican Born Chineseis the Emmy award-winning writer-producerKelvin Yu, best known for his work onBob’s BurgersandCentral Park. Yu mentions that the series will have several characters that viewers may recognize from popular Chinese movies.
Destin Daniel Cretton, director of the new Disney+ series, has hits like Marvel’sShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten RingsandShort Term 12under his belt. Cretton is also serving as an executive producer alongsideMelvin MarandJake Kasdan, who previously worked together on Disney+’sDoogie Kamealoha, M.D.,Jumanji: Welcome to the JungleandJumanji: The Next Level. Yang is also executive producing in addition toErin O’Malley(Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.)andAsher Goldstein(Short Term 12). The upcoming series is produced by 20th Television, part of Disney Television Studios.
The premiere date has yet to be announced forAmerican Born Chinese, but tune in to Collider for any future updates. Don’t forget to check out the In Production Featurette clip forAmerican Born Chinesebelow.
