From Charlie Chan to Crazy Rich Asians, the complex history of Asian Americans in Hollywood movies
Hollywood has put a century of what today we call ‘whitewashing’ behind it to put out a first feature with actors of Asian descent in all the main roles. How Bruce Lee, Wayne Wang, Ang Lee and Dwayne Johnson helped get us there
Months before Crazy Rich Asians premiered, the film was already being celebrated for being a rare Hollywood studio film in which all the main actors are of Asian descent. Adapted from Kevin Kwan’s bestselling book, the glitzy romantic comedy stars Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Awkwafina and Michelle Yeoh.
But director Jon Chu has said that his goal is for Crazy Rich Asians to be not just a landmark film, but to start a movement for greater Asian American representation in Hollywood.
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It’s a daunting task, especially considering that Asian Americans (and Pacific Islanders, who are often included to create the broader category “Asian Pacific American”) embody a vast array of cultural, religious, linguistic and economic backgrounds.
But there has also been much to admire. Here’s a timeline of some of the milestones and setbacks that have led up to Crazy Rich Asians.
1918: Sessue Hayakawa creates a film studio