The sequel is on hold because the team wants a story that lives up to the original’s massive success, but development was stalled by a key writer’s exit, the director’s other commitments, and a strategic shift toward an HBO series.
- The original set a record‑breaking bar, making a follow‑up risky.
- Co‑screenwriter Adele Lim left in 2019, causing script delays.
- Director Jon Chu is busy with *Wicked* and other projects.
- Warner Bros. is developing an HBO limited series instead of a film.
- No official green‑light for a theatrical sequel yet.
- All models note the high bar set by the original film as a major delay factor.
- Every source mentions Adele Lim’s departure in 2019 disrupting development.
- The director’s other commitments (e.g., Wicked) are consistently cited as a scheduling issue.
- There is unanimous agreement that the franchise is shifting toward an HBO series instead of a theatrical sequel.
- Some models describe Lim’s exit as a pay‑disparity dispute, while others simply label it “personal reasons” or “creative differences.”
- A few responses hint at pandemic‑related delays, which is not reflected in the majority of sources.
Why There’s No Crazy Rich Asians Film Sequel (Yet)
1. The pressure of a historic hit
The 2018 movie was a cultural phenomenon and a box‑office triumph, grossing over $237 million worldwide. Director John M Chu repeatedly said “the bar is high for all of us” 1, and star Michelle Yeoh echoed that the original’s “stunning success … makes it even more difficult to top” 7. This pressure forces the team to wait for a script they feel can match or exceed the first film.
2. Creative disruption: Adele Lim’s departure
Initial sequel work stalled in 2019 when co‑screenwriter Adele Lim left the project. Reports link her exit to a pay‑equity dispute—she was paid less than her white male co‑writer 3—which forced a rewrite and delayed development.
3. Director Jon Chu’s competing priorities
Chu has not rushed the sequel. He is currently occupied with the Wicked film adaptation and related Broadway work 5, and has publicly stated he is “not rushing” the Crazy Rich Asians follow‑up 5. His schedule limits the time he can devote to the sequel.
4. A strategic shift to television
Warner Bros. announced in April 2024 that a sequel will be adapted as an HBO Max limited series based on Kevin Kwan’s second novel China Rich Girlfriend 4. The series has scripts ready and is waiting for a green‑light, effectively diverting creative resources from a theatrical sequel 4.
5. Current status
- Scripts exist for both a film and a TV continuation, but no official green‑light for a movie has been given 4.
- Cast members such as Henry Golding have confirmed the sequel is “in the works,” though they have not specified the format 8.
- Fans continue to await a cinematic sequel, but the studio’s public focus is now on the HBO series 6.
Bottom line
The sequel isn’t cancelled; it’s simply delayed while the creators search for a story that can live up to the original, resolve the fallout from a key writer’s exit, and balance the director’s other high‑profile projects. In the meantime, the franchise is expanding on television rather than returning to theaters.