We’re always here to feed your Crazy Rich Asians craze, so here are a few news bites to enjoy as the film opens this week in Singapore and Malaysia.
#1 Kevin Kwan is wanted in Singapore
‘Wanted’ as in, he-could-be-arrested wanted. The Crazy Rich Asians author was born in Singapore but left to the US when he was 11. When he turned 18, like any other male Singaporean citizen, he was required by law to undergo two years of national service. He skipped it, and has since tried to renounce his citizenship. His application was denied because he hadn’t served NS. Singapore’s Ministry of Defense said that he faces a fine of up to SGD 10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to three years. Conveniently, the author was not in Singapore for the recent premiere event.
#2 Crazy Rich Asians was a box office success
It earned USD 35.3 million in its five-day opening, surpassing early estimates and its USD 30 million budget. It is also the first film in the romantic comedy genre to open to over USD 20 million in three years (the last was Trainwreck, starring Amy Schumer). Are we pleased, or are we pleased?
#3 More Crazy Rich Asians!
It’s not officially in production yet, but director Jon M. Chu is planning to return for the Crazy Rich Asians sequel, supposedly named China Rich Girlfriend, if they stick to the book title. No spoilers, but the end of the first film strongly hints at a sequel – we can only hope they follow up with it.
Read also: The real-life Malaysian and Singaporean locations in Crazy Rich Asians
#4 Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch for 2018
Henry Golding and Gemma Chan are on this year’s 10 Actors to Watch list by Variety, which has previously tapped now-huge names like Viola Davis, Brie Larson, Lupita Nyong’o and Octavia Spencer. This year’s honorees include Black Panther star Letitia Wright and Deadpool’s Zazie Beetz.
Read also: 11 reasons Henry Golding is the hero we need
#5 Henry Golding played with kittens
“They’re so distracting and cute!” The real perks of the job, right there.
#6 It’s a mini Constance Wu!
What it really is: Blogger Ha Truong made her a daughter Olivia a frothy blue dress identical to the Marchesa one Constance Wu wears in the movie. Olivia also shut down a few Asian stereotypes while she was at it.
#7 You can probably guess who scored in this Singlish test
After all, two of the movie’s biggest stars are Malaysian (same same, right?).
#8 Jon M. Chu convinced Coldplay to let the movie feature the song Yellow
Minor spoilers ahead. Concerned that their hit song Yellow would stir controversy (because the word ‘yellow’ has been used as a racial slur against East Asians), Coldplay initially said no to Jon’s request to use the song in the final scene of the movie. The director then wrote them a letter, explaining why Yellow would be so important for Crazy Rich Asians. Coldplay said yes within 24 hours, the song was performed in Mandarin by 19-year-old Katherine Ho (a former contestant on The Voice), and oh here come the goosebumps. Read Jon’s letter below.
Read also: How to live the Crazy Rich Asians life
