ASIAN AMERICANS TAKE THE LEAD IN SUMMER BLOCKBUSTERS

Asian Americans are taking the lead and heating up the big screen in this summer’s most highly anticipated films including John Cho, Constance Wu, Keanu Reeves, Steven Yeun, Awkwafina, and Mindy Kaling. Mark your calendars and check out the following films they’ll be starring in the months ahead! You may even recognize a few names and faces from official film selections at the San Diego Asian Film Festival.CRAZY RICH ASIANSStarring Constance Wu and Henry Golding (August 15, 2018)[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ-YX-5bAs0[/embed]Crazy Rich Asians, directed by Jon M. Chu (Jem and the Holograms, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, In The Heights), is a BIG deal! It’s the first major studio film starring an all Asian/Asian American cast since Joy Luck Club, which was released 25 years ago!The cast includes Constance Wu (SDAFF 2017 The Feels, Fresh Off The Boat), newcomer Henry Golding, Gemma Chan (Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them), Lisa Lu (The Joy Luck Club), Awkwafina (Ocean’s 8), Ken Jeong (SDAFF 2016 Advantageous, TheHangover), and Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon).This contemporary romantic comedy, based on a global bestseller by Kevin Kwan, follows native New Yorker Rachel Chu (Wu) to Singapore to meet her boyfriend’s family.SEARCHINGStarring John Cho (August 24, 2018)[embed]https://youtu.be/3Ro9ebQxEOY[/embed]Directed by Aneesh Chaganty, Searching is a unique edge of your seat thriller starring John Cho (SDAFF 2017 Columbus). The film is shot from the point-of-view of smartphones and computer screens.After his 16-year-old daughter goes missing, David Kim (Cho) becomes a desperate father who breaks into her laptop to look for clues to find her.Searching premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.REPLICASStarring Keanu Reeves (August 17)[embed]https://youtu.be/JAHKQPBKSZ8[/embed]Keanu Reeves returns to the silver screen as the lead in the science fiction thriller Replicas.Will Foster (Reeves) is a scientist who becomes obsessed with bringing back his family members who died in a traffic accident.Replicas premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.SORRY TO BOTHER YOUFeaturing Steven Yeun (July 6, 2018)[embed]https://youtu.be/enH3xA4mYcY[/embed]Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead, Burning, Okja) lends his acting talent in a supporting role as “Squeeze” in Sorry To Bother You, directed by Boots Riley and starring Lakeith Stanfield (Atlanta, Get Out, Selma) and Tessa Thompson (Thor: Ragnorak).In an alternate present-day version of Oakland, telemarketer Cassius Green (Stanfield) discovers a magical key to professional success, propelling him into a macabre universe.Sorry to Bother You premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and screened at South by Southwest earlier this year.JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOMFeaturing B.D. Wong (Now Playing)[embed]https://youtu.be/WsNNAth7Cik[/embed]B.D. Wong reprises his role as “Dr. Henry Wu” in the summer blockbuster sequel Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom with Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, directed by J.A. Bayona.When the island’s dormant volcano begins roaring to life, Owen (Pratt) and Claire (Howard) mount a campaign to rescue the remaining dinosaurs from this extinction-level event.OCEAN’S 8Featuring Awkwafina and Mindy Kaling (Now Playing)[embed]https://youtu.be/MFWF9dU5Zc0[/embed]Pickpocketer Constance, played by Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians), and jeweler Amita, played by Mindy Kaling (A Wrinkle inTime, The Mindy Kaling Show), are recruited to an all-female crew by Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) to attempt an impossible heist at New York City’s yearly Met Gala. The film is directed by Gary Ross.DEADPOOL 2Featuring Julian Dennison and Shiori Kutsana (Now Playing)[embed]https://youtu.be/D86RtevtfrA[/embed]Julian Dennison makes his debut into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Russell Collins, an unstable and troubled teenage mutant self-named Fire Fist. It becomes Deadpool’s (Ryan Reynolds) mission to prevent Russell from killing his first victim and save the future from a psychotic serial killer.Dennison is best known for his role as Ricky Baker in Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016), the highest-grossing New Zealand film in history, directed by Taika Waititi (SDAFF Spring Showcase 2011 Boy and Thor: Ragnorak). Shiori Kutsuna (SDAFF 2017 Opening Night Film Oh, Lucy) also joins the franchise as Yukio, a mutant and part of the X-Men.