The cast of “The Wedding Banquet” had a fantastic time filming the modern remake of the iconic 1993 dramedy by Ang Lee — with the exception of Joan Chen and writer-director Andrew Ahn.
Kelly Marie Tran, Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, and “Our Song” actor Han Gi-chan portray the main characters: Yang plays Chris, a gay man whose boyfriend, Min (Han), agrees to marry their lesbian friend, Angela (Tran), for a green card in exchange for in vitro fertilization treatment. When their traditional families overseas learn about this arrangement, a grand wedding banquet is hastily organized, and Chris takes on a significant role in planning this elaborate ruse.
“These four kids, I was so envious of them. They were always having fun,” Chen shared at TheWrap’s Sundance Studio presented by World of Hyatt.
“You just wanted the gummies!” Yang joked, revealing that CBD gummies were available on set, just not for Chen.
“There was a person who would bring us snacks, and one day he brought gummies. I said, ‘Oh, I would like to have some of that.’ He said, ‘Oh no, no, Joan, this is not for you.’ After two minutes, I heard giggling and laughter from the four of them. They all had those infused gummies. They were really enjoying themselves,” Chen remembered.
“In many ways, I was jealous of the cast having fun while I was busy setting up the next shot,” Ahn added. “I was stressed!”
Read on for more insights from TheWrap’s conversation with Ahn and the cast. Watch the full interview in the video above.
Andrew, what’s the origin story of this project? How did it begin?
Andrew Ahn: It actually began here at Sundance, where our producer, Anita Gou, asked me, “Would you want to reimagine ‘The Wedding Banquet’ for modern times?”
The original 1993 film is one of my all-time favorites. I watched it when I was eight years old. It was the first gay film I’d ever seen, and the representation of a gay Asian American character was groundbreaking for my young, developing understanding of my identity.
Initially, I hesitated to make it because it holds a special place in cinema history. However, I realized that so much has changed for the gay community since 1993. In the U.S. now, we can get married, so why stage a fake straight wedding if we can get gay married? As a millennial, I often think about the burden of choice and the question of whether we want to get married now that we have the option. That became a compelling seed for the story.
Bowen, with your “SNL” schedule, you must be selective about the films you choose. What drew you to this project?
Bowen Yang: My past collaborations with Andrew certainly played a role. The narrative arc about the implications of marriage, particularly the interaction between gay male and lesbian perspectives, intrigued me: straight marriage doesn’t even fall within that overlap. It’s a beautiful theme to explore.
Kelly Marie Tran: My first response to reading the script was that it beautifully depicts the concept of found and chosen family, and I felt a strong connection to many of the characters. I’m genuinely grateful that Andrew and co-writer James Schamus crafted this remarkable story. It truly moved me emotionally.
It seems that beyond the comedy, you aimed to emphasize the dramatic and emotional elements of the story.
A.A.: These incredible actors skillfully balance both comedy and drama. I had discussions with each of them before filming and sensed their generous spirits, which I deeply appreciate as a director. I knew they would create great chemistry together. The film ultimately revolves around, as Kelly mentioned, the idea of chosen family, so I wanted that feeling to permeate the entire process.
Joan Chen: Watching the movie brought me to tears. Their relationships feel so sincere.
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