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Gemma Chan Teases Hope for an Astrid Return in HBO’s ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Series

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When HBO revealed its ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ series last week, fans quickly noticed one glaring absence. The 8-episode, one-hour drama will pick up after the events of the 2018 film, with Constance Wu, Henry Golding and Ronny Chieng returning as series regulars and Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh set to recur as Eleanor Young.

Gemma Chan, who played Nick’s impossibly stylish cousin Astrid Leong, was not named in the announcement. Neither was Harry Shum Jr., who played Astrid’s former fiancé Charlie Wu, leaving viewers to wonder whether one of the film’s most beloved storylines would be left behind.

Now Chan has offered fans a glimmer of hope. Speaking on the red carpet at the BFI London Film Festival, the actress said she loves ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ and the people involved, adding that Astrid holds a special place in her heart and that she hopes to return.

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She stopped short of confirming anything, though. Chan made clear she couldn’t say any more for the time being, which only fueled more speculation about what the producers have planned.

Chan’s character was one of the film’s breakout figures, with her designer wardrobe and composure masking a far more complicated personal life. Her marriage was pushed to the brink by an insecure, cheating husband, giving the glamorous world of the film some of its emotional weight.

Astrid’s story was also set to take center stage in a sequel. Director Jon M. Chu previously said a second film would focus on the relationship between the newly single Astrid and Charlie Wu, building on a short mid-credits scene between the pair.

The omission has sparked a vocal online campaign for Chan’s return. Some fans have gone as far as predicting the series will flop without her, arguing that a reunion without Astrid would feel incomplete.

Consequence pointed out several possibilities, including deals that are still in motion, potential recasting, or a series focused primarily on Rachel and Nick’s next chapter. Awkwafina, who played Peik Lin, is also not yet confirmed.

The new series comes after years of stalled attempts to continue the story on the big screen. Efforts to adapt Kevin Kwan’s follow-up novels, ‘China Rich Girlfriend’ and ‘Rich People Problems’, into theatrical sequels were repeatedly derailed by pay disputes and packed schedules.

The project was originally set up at HBO Max, which opened a development room in early 2025, before moving to HBO proper. In 2025, Golding revealed that showrunner Adele Lim had visited him and Chan in London to discuss where the story was heading.

Lim, who co-wrote the original film, serves as showrunner and executive producer through her company 100 Tigers. Chu and Kwan are also executive producers, along with Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson of Color Force, which developed and produced the film.

Production is slated to begin in 2027, and no premiere date has been announced yet. The film itself grossed over $230 million worldwide and was hailed as a landmark moment for Asian representation in Hollywood.

In Kwan’s second novel, Astrid has a major storyline of her own involving Charlie Wu. If the series follows the books closely, it would be hard to imagine telling that story without her. For now, Chan’s comments suggest the door is very much open. Whether her return is being saved for a later announcement remains to be seen, but fans will certainly be watching closely for the next casting update.

Do you think HBO’s Crazy Rich Asians series can succeed without Gemma Chan returning as Astrid?

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