There’s one more reason for buzz to build around the new Disney+ show American Born Chinese: Prabal Gurung and Phillip Lim are teaming up to help create costumes for the series. The multiple award-winning and uber popular designers, who are friends and stars of their own graphic novel (“House of Slay”), will collaborate with costume designer Joy Cretton for looks worn by characters played by Michelle Yeoh and Daniel Wu.
As Deadline reports, American Born Chinese, based on the graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang, tells the story of Jin Wang, an average teenager juggling his high school social life with his home life. When he meets a new foreign student on the first day of the school year, even more worlds collide as Jin is unwittingly entangled in a battle of Chinese mythological gods. The genre-hopping action-comedy explores identity, culture, and family.
“Prabal and Phillip are both incredibly talented artists who have made their mark in the fashion world, and we are delighted and honored that they were willing to join our creative team at American Born Chinese,” said executive producer Melvin Mar. “We are very proud of this unique series and its thoughtful portrayal of the Chinese-American experience, and we continue to seek partnerships with prolific Asian-American talent both in front of and behind the camera.”
The series stars Yeoh as Guanyin, Ben Wang as Jin Wang, Yeo Yann Yann as Christine Wang, Chin Han as Simon Wang, Daniel Wu as Sun Wukong, Ke Huy Quan as Freddy Wong, Jim Liu as Wei-Chen and Sydney Taylor as Amelia.
Written and executive produced by Bob’s Burgers exec producer Kelvin Yu and his brother, Charles Yu (Westworld), the series is executive produced by Mar, Jake Kasdan (Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.). Asher Goldstein (Just Mercy), Erin O’Malley (Doogie Kamealoha, M.D), Destin Daniel Cretton (Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) and Gene Luen Yang are also executive producers. Kelvin Yu also serves as showrunner.
Produced by 20th Television for Disney Branded Television, American Born Chinese is currently in production in Los Angeles.
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