HBO has given a green light to one-hour original drama series Crazy Rich Asians, a follow-up to the blockbuster film that became the highest-grossing Hollywood studio romantic comedy at the North American box office in nearly a decade. Best on Kevin Kwan’s bestling books, the series, which has been in development at HBO for about two years, hails from the film’s co-writer, Adele Lim, director Jon M. Chu, Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson.

Constance Wu stars along with Henry Golding, Emmy winner Ronny Chieng, with Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh recurring.

“We are so excited that Adele and the team behind the history-making film are bringing the next chapter of this story to life,” said Casey Bloys, Co-Chair and Chief Content Officer, Skydance Direct-To-Consumer. “Constance, Henry, Ronny, and Michelle are global superstars, and we know the passionate fans of the film and megahit novels can’t wait to see more. We’re glad to be in partnership with this talented producing team and cast.”

The Crazy Rich Asians television series is executive produced by Lim via her production company 100 Tigers; Chu via his production company Electric Somewhere; Kwan, Jacobson and Simpson via their production company Color Force, which developed and produced the film; Chloe Dan and Jeannine Tang for SK Global Entertainment, which co-financed the film; Emmy winner Naia Cucukov Richards via Lim’s 100 Tigers; and Emmy nominee Rose Lam. The series is co-produced by HBO and Warner Bros. Television.

“From a bestselling novel to a blockbuster film and now television, Crazy Rich Asians has solidified its place as one of the most beloved stories in popular culture,” added Channing Dungey, Chairman, Warner Bros. Television Group and US Networks. Kevin Kwan created an irresistible world filled with the perfect blend of glitz, humor, and heart, and the talented Adele Lim returns to adapt this renowned tale for a new television audience. We are equally thrilled to welcome Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Ronny Chieng, and Michelle Yeoh back to reprise their iconic roles. We can’t wait to bring this series to life with our partners at HBO.

MORE TO COME

EXCLUSIVE: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga duo Alyla Browne and Elsa Pataky are among the ensemble cast for Australian feature Chiquita, which has started production in Byron Bay, Australia.

Set against the world of endurance horse riding, the movie is described as “an uplifting family adventure about two outsiders; a rebellious teenage girl and a mistreated rescue horse who form an unlikely bond at a pivotal moment in their lives.”

Australian distributor Umbrella will release the film in the 2027 summer school holiday corridor.

Written and directed by Kiah Roache-Turner, based on a story by Mark Morrissey, the feature is produced by Blake Northfield and Michelle Krumm for Bronte Studios and Mark Morrissey for First Option Pictures.

Also starring are Michael Caton (The Castle), Stephen Peacocke (The Newsreader), Martin Sacks (Blue Heelers) and rising Australian actor Aswan Reid (The New Boy).

Major production investment comes from Screen Australia, in association with Screen NSW. International sales are being handled by Essential Film Group. Additional financing comes from Obsidian Creek Capital.

Director of photography is Jonathan Baker; first assistant director is Jamie Crooks, while production designer is Tylah Pratt, and costume designer Tracey Rose. Hair and makeup designer is Nele Pandis, and editor Gabriella Muir. Sandra Tahmasby Baxter serves as Head of Production for Bronte Studios.

““What I love about Chiquita is that underneath this big, cinematic adventure is a really simple relationship between a girl and a horse,” said Roache-Turner. “They’re both outsiders, they’re both pretty wild, and neither of them has much interest in doing what they’re told. Somehow they find each other. That gives us the heart of the movie, and then we get to surround it with galloping horses, endurance racing and these huge Australian landscapes. It’s a proper big screen family film with real scale.”

“From the beginning, we saw Chiquita as an Australian story with the ability to travel,” added Northfield and Krumm. “It has all the ingredients of a great family adventure with an extraordinary young protagonist, humour, heart, horses and a spectacular landscape but underneath that is a deeply relatable story about grief, family and finding where you belong. With this cast, Kiah’s vision and Essential Film Group taking the film to the international market, we’re incredibly excited about the audience this film can reach.”

JB Perrette has moved quickly to put together the executives that will report to him at Skydance.

Perrette, who is Co-Chair & Chief Business Officer, Skydance TV and Co-Chair & Chief Business Officer, Skydance Direct-To-Consumer, oversees global distribution, advertising sales, content sales, DTC strategy, marketing and business operations across Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery’s new owner.

Deadline understands that Perrette has signed a new contract, like a number of David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz’s top team. It’s not clear how long Perrette has signed up for, but his colleagues Casey Bloys, who he worked closely with at WBD, signed a five-year deal earlier this month.

He has gotten straight to work; earlier today, he named three executives to oversee content sales, advertising and distribution for him.

David Decker has been named President, Content Sales, coming ahead of the Mipcom international TV market, Jay Askinasi is Chief Revenue Officer, Advertising and Ray Hopkins is President, Distribution.

Decker’s appointment has also led to the first executive from this group to depart following the merger; Kevin MacLellan, who was President of International and Global Content Distribution at Paramount, is exiting, as a result.

Insiders told Deadline that it was important for the divisions that bring in revenue to Skydance to get their houses in order sooner rather than later, compared to the content divisions that are still working out personnel decisions.

Perrette is an interesting case; he was previously CEO and President of Global Streaming and Games for Warner Bros. Discovery and one of David Zaslav’s key lieutenants. But over the last few years, he has built up a key partnership with Bloys as the pair oversaw the growth of the HBO Max streaming service, Bloys on the content side, and Perrette on the business side. He will also now work closely with George Cheeks, who is Co-Chair and Chief Content Officer, Skydance TV.