‘The Joy Luck Club’ Sequel is In progress With Amy Tan and Ron Bass Penning; Hyde Park and Jeff Kleeman Producing

Almost 30 years after The Joy Luck Club changed Asian and Asian American representation in cinema, a sequel is being developed with writer Amy Tan and Oscar-winning screenwriter Ron Bass going on from the former’s bestselling novel.

Likewise producing are Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park Entertainment Group and The Judge producer Jeff Kleeman.

The original leading cast are in talks to return to their roles, presently the mothers and grandmothers of their families. The Wayne Wang-directed film was a breakout role for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and The Mandalorian actress Ming-Na Wen and furthermore featured Tamlyn Tomita, Rosalind Chao, and Lisa Lu.

The Joy Luck Club, released in 1993, tells the multigenerational saga of Chinese and Chinese-American mothers and daughters, whose histories, stories and lives interweave as they navigate life. The original Disney Touchstone theatrical prepared the way for such Asian-led films as Crazy Rich Asians and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Joy Luck Club was executive produced by Oliver Stone and netted near $33M at the domestic box office.

Hyde Park

In the sequel, the mothers become grandmothers and the daughters become mothers by their own doing, presenting a new generation investigating their own relationships with culture, legacy, love, womanhood and identity.

“We are excited to be teaming with Hyde Park and Jeff Kleeman in bringing to life the next generation of these four families so close to our hearts,” said Tan and Bass.

Amritraj has been a force in Hollywood, promoting both the building of film and cultural bridges between the East and West, and the making of different, inclusive and socially relevant content.

“I am thrilled to work with Amy, Ron and Jeff to bring this special film to the screen,” he said. “Now more than ever it is important to share authentic stories about the Asian-American experience, and we believe this film will speak to wide audiences with its narrative rooted in humanity and connection.”

The film will be produced by Amritraj and Priya Amritraj for Hyde Park Entertainment, close by Tan, Bass and Kleeman.

Hyde Park’s current slate incorporates The Man Who Lived Underground, in association with Khalabo Ink Society and Paramount Pictures; the New York Times No. 1 Bestseller The Light We Lost directed by Mimi Leder with Apple; Ashe, the biopic of tennis icon and activist Arthur Ashe, written by Academy Award winner Kevin Willmott with Warner Music Group; Proxy, directed by Kornél Mundruczó. Hyde Park Asia’s record includes the best-selling novel Paradise Towers in partnership with India’s leading film producer Zoya Akhtar, and writer Suketu Mehta’s Pulitzer Prize-finalist novel Maximum City from writer-director Anurag Kashyap.

Bass, who won an Original Screenplay Oscar for Rain Man, is represented by CAA and The Gotham Group; Tan is represented by Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency; Hyde Park is represented by Felker Toczek Suddleson.