Jon M. Chu in talks to direct adaptation of Crazy Rich Asians

Jon M. Chu is looking to explore the lifestyles of the rich and crazy. The Now You See Me 2 and Jem and the Holograms filmmaker is in negotiations to direct the big-screen adaptation of Kevin Kwan’s satirical novel Crazy Rich Asians, EW has confirmed.

Published in 2013, Kwan’s book tells the story of an American-born Chinese woman who travels to Singapore to meet her boyfriend’s super-wealthy family; once there, she encounters jaw-dropping opulence and snobbery. The book is the first in a trilogy, along with 2015’s China Rich Girlfriend and the forthcoming Rich People Problems, due in 2017.

News of Chu’s potential involvement comes at a moment when the dearth of Asian and Asian-American characters and stories in Hollywood has become a hotly debated issue. In the past year, movies such as Aloha, The Martian, Doctor Strange, and Ghost in the Shell have all been criticized for whitewashing or erasing characters of Asian descent.

Responding to reports about his presumptive directing gig, Chu wrote on Twitter that he is looking to “shake things up a bit,” and that the movie would feature “amazing Asian actors in every single role.”

Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, and John Penotti are producing the Crazy Rich Asians adaptation.

The Hollywood Reporter first reported the news about Chu.