“American Born Chinese” Drops First-look Featurette

Announced at the start of the year, upcoming Disney+ series American Born Chinese by Destin Daniel Cretton, director of first Asian-led Marvel standalone Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, has dropped its first footage!

Twist on Mythical Characters
With Journey to the West <西遊記> mentioned as one of the film’s sources of inspiration, filming began in February. A behind-the-scenes featurette of the live-action adaptation offered its first footage and a glimpse of its characters including actress Michelle Yeoh (楊紫瓊) as the virtuous Guan Yin (觀音), and Daniel Wu (吳彥祖) who plays classic Chinese mythical character Sun Wukong (孫悟空), or Monkey King.

Presenting in a head of combed back hair, Daniel Wu’s blue and gold outfit instead of the distinctive red-and-yellow of the monkey god hints to the series putting a bold twist on the classic character. Meanwhile, Michelle’s Guanyin wears a lotus-patterned headgear and light-colored robe, in keeping with traditional impressions of the saintly goddess of mercy, though the actress’s kungfu pose on the movie’s official poster hints at a departure from the serene and detached Guan Yin – raising viewer expectations for an unorthodox “Kungfu Guanyin”.

A Coming-of-Age Story

Daniel’s good friend, pianist Lang Lang (朗郎) later shared a beaming photo of a mid-autumn meal gathering with Daniel and his wife Lisa S.

Based on a graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang, the genre-hopping action comedy centers on everyday teen Jin Wang (played by Ben Wang) who juggles high school and immigrant home life, but is “unwittingly entangled in a battle of Chinese mythological gods”.

Its star-studded international cast also includes Chin Han (秦汉), Ke Huy Quan, Jim Liu, Syndey Taylor and Yeo Yann Yann (楊雁雁).

Watch “American Born Chinese” Behind-the-Scenes Trailer:

Source: HK.On.CC