Tony winner David Henry Hwang is writing the screenplay, adapted from Graham Russell Gao Hodges’ biography of the cinematic pioneer.

Hollywood’s first Chinese American movie star is finally getting the spotlight, a century after her heyday.

Gemma Chan and producer Nina Yang Bongiovi are teaming with Working Title Films to develop a biopic of Anna May Wong, the golden age icon whose career brought her international recognition even as she continued to face opportunity limitations in the industry and other forms of prejudice and discrimination.

The Eternals and Crazy Rich Asians star (whose 2021 Met Gala look, seen above, was an homage to Wong) will portray the legend and also executive produce. Yang Bongiovi, whose Significant Productions was most recently behind Passing, will produce alongside Working Title co-chairs Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner. Working Title’s recent releases include Joe Wright’s period romance Cyrano starring Peter Dinklage and Channel 4 and Peacock’s Muslim punk-rock series We Are Lady Parts.

“Anna May Wong was a trailblazer, an icon and a woman ahead of her time,” said Chan in a statement. “Her talent and her exploration of her art both in and outside of the U.S. 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.”

David Henry Hwang, the first Asian American playwright to win a Tony (in 1988 for M. Butterfly), is penning the screenplay, adapted from Graham Russell Gao Hodges’ 2012 biography, Anna May Wong: From Laundryman’s Daughter to Hollywood Legend. Wong’s niece Anna Wong is serving as a consultant on the film.
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