On the heels of making his episodic directorial debut with the Fresh Off the Boat series finale, Randall Park is ready to step back behind the camera for his feature debut with an adaptation of Adrian Tomine’s acclaimed graphic novel Shortcomings for Roadside Attractions and Imminent Collision.
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Adapted by Tomine, who is also set to executive produce the project, the story follows a trio of young Bay Area urbanites––Ben Tanaka, Miko Hayashi, and Alice Kim––as they navigate a range of interpersonal relationships, traversing the country in search of the ideal connection. In cafes, bars, and bedrooms, their stories collide and intertwine with naked candor and razor-sharp humor. The groundbreaking graphic novel is considered an iconic work of contemporary Asian American fiction and stands as a poignant and hilariously irreverent examination of racial politics, sexual mores, and pop culture.
“I am such a huge fan of Adrian’s work, and I’m very excited to team with him and Roadside Attractions on this updated, modern take of Shortcomings,” Park said in a statement. “In these characters, I see versions of Asian Americans in my own life – the ones I love and the ones I just kind of tolerate.”
Click here to purchase Tomine’s acclaimed graphic novel!
In addition to directing, Park is set to produce the film via his Imminent Collision production label alongside partners Hieu Ho and Michael Golamco, Roadside Attractions’ Co-Presidents Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff, Senior Vice President Jennifer Berman and Creative Executive Ryan Paine, who brought the package to the studio.
“With his adaptation of Shortcomings, Adrian has proven himself not only a brilliant cartoonist but also a talented screenwriter,” Berman said in a statement. “When Randall came to us with a true artist’s vision for telling this story cinematically, everything clicked into place. We are honored to work with this stellar creative team to help bring this hilariously poignant story to screen.”
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Tomine has been developing the project with Roadside, Imminent and Park have been developing the project for some time together and are gearing up to bring it to potential buyers in the coming weeks.
“Shortcomings is a book that’s very close to my heart, and I have long resisted the idea of any adaptation that didn’t feel true to the style and spirit of the material,” Tomine said in a statement. “Randall, Roadside Attractions and Imminent Collision immediately impressed me with their passion, insight, and vision for this film. They have been invaluable partners in the process of translating Shortcomings both to the screen as well as to the current time, and I’m honored to be a part of this collaboration.”
(Photo Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
