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4.24.2012

justin lin to direct screen adaptation of david henry hwang's chinglish

According to Deadline.com, none other than director Justin Lin has acquired the screen rights for David Henry Hwang's critically-acclaimed comic play Chinglish: Justin Lin Revs Screen Adapation Of David Henry Hwang Play 'Chinglish.'

Justin Lin will direct and produce the screen adaptation of Hwang's extremely un-Fast Five-like stage play of crossed cultures. To knowledge, Chinglish does not feature any high-speed chases, car chases or explosions... but hey, we all know adaptations can be tricky:
Hwang will write the script and will co-produce with Bobbi Thompson. The play, a romantic comedy with a timely, political spin, opened at Chicago's Goodman Theatre en route to Broadway. An international tour beginning at Berkeley Repertory Theatre starts this fall. "As soon as I saw Chinglish on Broadway, I began to envision this smart and insightful cross-cultural comedy as a film,” Lin said. "I'm excited about working with David to bring this very timely story to the screen." Lin's Barnstorm has a first-look deal with Universal, and the studio will get first crack at this.
I never got around to seeing Chinglish, and while it sounds like a far cry from the Fast movies, I have confidence that Justin Lin can handle it with right kind of sensitivity. But he is very busy man -- when will he have time to actually make it?

Over at YOMYOMF, here's David Henry Hwang's own take on the Chinglish stage-to-screen adaptation: The 'Chinglihs' Journal: A New Chapter.