After already delivering a smash hit set in the continent for the studio in 2018, Jon M. Chu and Warner Bros. are reuniting and prepared to dive into a different region of culture as the Crazy Rich Asians helmer has signed on to direct The Great Chinese Art Heist, according to Deadline.
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Based on the GQ article of the same name by Alex W. Palmer, the story explores a slew of museum art robberies that occurred in Europe where Chinese antiquities were stolen, namely items from the country’s old Summer Palace raided by French soldiers in 1860 and though the thieves’ identities remained unknown, the works of art continually returned to their home country. The article explored the possibilities that the Chinese government were behind the art theft or a coordinated effort on some part to reclaim the Chinese art and why the museums have remained quiet about the robberies since their occurrences while also posing quandaries of who gets to own history and culture.
Sources report that Chu is eager about the project and is looking to get it going quickly, with he and the studio currently on the hunt for a writer to adapt Palmer’s article for the screen. Chu will also produce the project alongside Electric Somewhere partner Lance Johnson and Conde Nast Entertainment’s Geneva Waserman.
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Chu first began working with WB on the adaptation of the Kevin Kwan romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians, which grossed over $238.5 million at the global box office and was nominated for Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy and Best Actress in the same category for star Constance Wu, and recently partnered with them for the adaptation of Quiara Alegría Hudes and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In The Heights, which is set to hit theaters and HBO Max simultaneously on June 18.
(Photo Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
