Eternals star Gemma Chan has been cast in the lead role in the biopic of Anna May Wong, Hollywood's first Chinese American movie star.
Chan is teaming up with producer Nina Yang Bongiovi to develop a biopic of Wong with Working Title Films.
The script will be written by David Henry Hwang (who was the first Asian American playwright to win a Tony for M. Butterfly in 1988). It's being adapted from Graham Russell Gao Hodges' 2012 biography Anna May Wong: From Laundryman's Daughter to Hollywood Legend.
Wong's niece Anna Wong will serve as a consultant on the film.
Speaking about the project, Chan said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter: "Anna May Wong was a trailblazer, an icon and a woman ahead of her time.
"Her talent and her exploration of her art both in and outside of the US was groundbreaking – and the challenges and prejudice she faced in the early 20th century as an actress speak directly to the conversations and the world we are navigating today."
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Anna Wong added: "I'm delighted that I'll get to build on my aunt's legacy with Gemma and Nina, who are Asian leaders in the forefront of storytelling.
"Anna May Wong's presence in American and worldwide cinema was the first of its kind, and her representation continues to resonate today. She is the embodiment of inspiration for artists of colour."
Born in Los Angeles in 1905, Anna May Wong appeared in 60 films between 1919 and 1960, beginning with silent movies.
She found success in titles such as The Thief of Bagdad (1924), Piccadilly (1929) and Shanghai Express (1932).
However, due to the discrimination she faced in Hollywood, limitations were placed on Wong's career, despite her talent and popularity.
Most notably, MGM refused to consider her for the role of Chinese character O-Lan in The Good Earth, instead casting white German actress Luise Rainer.
Last year, Chan opened up about Asian representation in the movie industry, after working with filmmaker Chloe Zhao on Eternals.
Speaking to Vogue, Chan discussed the lack of adequate Asian representation in film and explained how she would love to keep the door open for other Asian talent.
"That's something I feel in my bones. I want a rising tide to lift all boats," Chan said.
"It's only a fairly recent thing that Asian females have been able to be the protagonists of stories."
Eternals is now streaming on Disney+.
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Reporter, Digital Spy
Stephanie is a freelance news writer, who previously covered WWE and AEW for Digital Spy.
After graduating with a degree in history from Queen Mary University, London, she studied journalism at Birkbeck University.
Outside of her work at Digital Spy, she writes about pop culture, with a special focus towards Irish media and how it intersects with politics.
You can read more of her work on her Substack page.
