Jimmy O. Yang to star in ‘Interior Chinatown’ series directed by Taika Watiti for Hulu
By William Yuk
Hulu has ordered a miniseries adaptation of the novel “Interior Chinatown” to be directed by Taika Waititi and starring Jimmy O. Yang.
Yang will play Willis Wu, a background character in a police procedural with aspirations of landing the most respectable leading role that he thinks he can attain, “Kung Fu Guy.” When he witnesses a major crime, Wu suddenly is thrust into the spotlight and begins to uncover Chinatown’s vast criminal network.
The novel was praised for its use of dark humor and meta-commentary on Asian stereotypes in Hollywood, winning the 2020 National Book Award.
Waititi, who is set to direct the show’s pilot episode and serve as an executive producer, is no stranger to the book-to-screen adaptation process. In 2019, Waititi wrote and directed the satirical period piece dramady “Jojo Rabbit,” an adaptation of Christine Leuen’s 2008 book “Caging Skies” that won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Yang’s most recent work includes his role as Jian-Yang in HBO’s “Silicon Valley” and a supporting role in the 2018 ensemble film “Crazy Rich Asians.” He has also found success in standup comedy, having released a comedy special on Amazon Prime Video in 2020 titled “Good Deal.”
In recent years, Hulu’s book-to-television adaptations have received critical acclaim, including the Emmy Award-winning series “Dopesick.”
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