I want to try out a new type of movie quiz this week. Rather than answering questions or solving clues, for this one, we're asking you to put each actor's movies in order. Don't worry, it's just four movies per actor, but it might be challenging, depending on how good you are at remembering when films came out.

I tried not to get too tricky with the actors or their movies, so hopefully even a casual movie fan will have fun with this one. I think the earliest titles referenced go back to the '80s and '90s, and they should be films that most movie fans will know well. Without any further ado, let's get to it!

Some actors excel in dramas, others in action flicks; but there are also others whose best work happens to be in some of the best romantic comedies of all time. Nothing against Hugh Grant, Meg Ryan, or Colin Firth’s more dramatic or action-oriented work, but let’s be real for a second and admit that Four Weddings and a Funeral, When Harry Met Sally, and Bridget Jones’s Diary, as well as their other work in the genre, is why they’re so beloved.

That said, here are 32 actors whose best roles are rom-coms…

Hugh Grant

With movies like Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually, and Bridget Jones’s Diary to his name (and many, many more), it’s no wonder Hugh Grant’s name comes up rather frequently when discussing the best rom-coms ever made. Sure, his work in Paddington 2 and Remains of the Day is great, but the man knows how to anchor a romantic comedy with that signature charm and wit.

Renée Zellweger

Sure, Renée Zellweger won her two Oscars in dramas – Cold Mountain and Judy – but that doesn’t mean those were her best roles. Again, they were both great, but don’t hold a candle to her work as the titular character in Bridget Jones’s Diary or her star-making performance in Jerry Maguire. More than 20 years after first playing those iconic characters, Zellweger’s work is still received with heaps of praise.

Julia Roberts

One of the queens of the ‘90s rom-com, Julia Roberts bookended the final decade of the 20th century with legendary performances in Pretty Woman and Notting Hill. Those roles, which should be revisited annually if we’re being honest, helped pave the way for Roberts’ stellar career.

Meg Ryan

It’s impossible to put together a list of Meg Ryan’s best movies and not include the likes of When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and You’ve Got Mail, to name a few. The rom-com mainstay, who shared the screen with Tom Hanks, Billy Crystal, and Kevin Kline over the years, has given us unforgettable moments and more beloved characters than just about anyone.

Cameron Diaz

My Best Friend’s Wedding, There’s Something About Mary, The Holiday, The Sweetest Thing, and countless other romantic comedies made Cameron Diaz one of the biggest stars of the past 30 years. The actress has shown off her more dramatic roles in everything from Any Given Sunday and Being John Malkovich, but her performances in those rom-coms can’t be touched.

Drew Barrymore

Long before Drew Barrymore became one of the premier names in the world of daytime talk shows, she held it down in the rom-com circuit. Fever Pitch, Never Been Kissed, 50 First Dates, and The Wedding Singer are just some of Barrymore’s best romantic comedies. And while she does have a killer scene in the opening minutes of Scream, these are her most memorable performances.

Colin Firth

As much as we love watching Colin Firth play Mr. Darcy in Pride & Prejudice, his more modern take on the character in Bridget Jones’s Diary is the stuff of legend. Firth, a tremendous dramatic actor in his own right, has been a staple of the romantic comedy over the years thanks in part to those Bridget Jones movies, Mamma Mia!, and Love Actually. However, don’t let this take away from the greatness of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or The King’s Speech.

Billy Crystal

When Harry Met Sally is one of the first movies to come to mind whenever the topic of hilarious Billy Crystal movies comes up. Filled with some of the funniest lines (and others filled with heartbreak and emotion), Crystal’s work in the rom-com genre is absolutely fantastic, be it movies like America’s Sweethearts or Forget Paris. And The Princess Bride sort of counts, right?

Cary Grant

Few Hollywood leading men have a resume as great as Cary Grant, an actor who appeared in dozens of romantic comedies over the years. Charade, The Philadelphia Story, Holiday, and so many others have long cemented Grant’s place in the annuls of rom-com history, and those hilarious and heartfelt performances are still cherished many years after his death.

Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin was the king of the silent film and an actor who could do anything from drama to slapstick to romantic comedy better than just about every single one of his contemporaries. Chaplin’s 1931 rom-com, City Lights, helped define the genre and has been a benchmark for nearly 100 years.

Nia Long

Nia Long has so many great movies to her name, including Friday, Boyz n the Hood, Big Momma’s House, and Soul Food. This also includes some all-time great romantic comedies from the ‘90s like Love Jones, The Best Man, and Hav Plenty. Though her name doesn’t come up as much as it should, Long is still in a league of her own.

Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton won an Oscar for her titular in Woody Allen’s Annie Hall, but the talented actress has several other iconic rom-coms to her name. Something’s Gotta Give, Manhattan, The Family Stone, and Baby Boom all show off the incredible skill and nuance of this once-in-a-generation actress. And this is coming from someone who thinks The Godfather is one of the top five movies of all time.

Audrey Hepburn

Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Charade, Sabrina, Roman Holiday, and My Fair Lady are all some of the funniest movies of the 20th century, and all happen to feature the unmatched talent of Audrey Hepburn in iconic roles. The late actress had a great number of dramatic roles over the years, but her charm and charisma seen in these rom-coms made her one of the all-time greats.

Constance Wu

Constance Wu has all kinds of great film and TV roles on her resume, but for some, she’ll always be remembered for her portrayal of Rachel Chu in Crazy Rich Asians. The massively popular romantic comedy about a Chinese-American NYU professor learning her boyfriend is a member of the richest and most powerful family in Singapore still hits more than a half-decade after its release.

Richard Gere

Though Richard Gere has killed it in dramas like An Officer and a Gentleman and musicals like Chicago, those performances don’t hold a candle to, at least culturally, to his role as Edward Lewis in Pretty Woman. Gere and co-star Julia Roberts would rekindle that spark less than a decade later with another great rom-com, Runaway Bride.

Reese Witherspoon

The Importance of Being Earnest, Sweeet Home Alabama, and Legally Blonde all allowed Reese Witherspoon to show off comedic skills in romantic comedies, and those roles remain some of her best. Sure, she won an Oscar for Walk the Line, but there’s no touching Elle Woods.

Henry Golding

Henry Golding had already had some success by the time he was cast as the uber-wealthy Nick Young in Crazy Rich Asians, but his performance in the 2018 romantic comedy sent him to the next level. He’s found success in movies like The Gentlemen and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare since then, but his rom-com performance is still his best.

Eva Mendes

Eva Mendes has long killed it in comedies, romance movies, and romantic comedies. Take Hitch for example. The 2005 rom-com starring Will Smith as a professional “date doctor” who meets his match in Mendes’ character was so much fun and allowed the actress to show off all of her skills in a fun and meaningful way.

Sandra Bullock

While You Were Sleeping, Hope Floats, The Proposal, and Two Weeks Notice are just a few of Sandra Bullock’s all-time great romantic comedies. The Academy Award-winning actress has long been one of the best to attempt the genre, and she’ll have a long-lasting legacy because of those strong, vulnerable, and incredibly relatable characters.

Michael Ealy

Over the years, Michael Ealy has put together a crazy good filmography, one that is filled with medical dramas and thrillers, action flicks and comedies, etc. But let’s not forget all the great work he’s done in the world of romantic comedies. Kissing Jessica Stein, Think Like a Man, and About Last Night have all shown what the talented actor is working with.

Adam Sandler

Though not the prototypical romantic lead, there are so many great Adam Sandler rom-coms out there. From The Wedding Singer to Punch-Drunk Love and 50 First Dates to Spanglish there’s so much variety and fun to be had with his stellar filmography.

Jennifer Garner

13 Going on 30, anyone? Jennifer Garner became one of the queens of the rom-com with the release of her 2004 comedy about a young girl who is transformed into a 30-year-old magazine editor and undergoes a massive transformation (both physically and emotionally). She’s also appeared in other great comedies of the era like Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and Love, Simon, to name a few.

Woody Allen

Woody Allen’s monologue in the opening minutes of Manhattan is honestly one of the best cinematic moments of the ‘70s and features some of Allen’s best writing. That’s saying something considering the writer-director-actor has been a part of so many great rom-coms over the years. Annie Hall, Midnight in Paris, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and Hannah and her Sisters have made us laugh, cry, and feel everything in between over the past 50-plus years.

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway’s name doesn’t come up in the rom-com discussion as much as it should, which is a shame considering the Oscar-winning actress has killed it in movies like The Princess Diaries, Ella Enchanted, Love & Other Drugs, and so many others. Yeah, she was great in Interstellar and Les Misérables, but there’s no denying her performances in these romantic comedies.

Morris Chestnut

Okay, Morris Chestnut was AMAZING in Boyz n the Hood with his portrayal of Ricky Baker, but the man has become a legend in the rom-com game over the past few decades. Two Can Play That Game, The Best Man, The Brothers, The Perfect Holiday, Breakin’ All the Rules are all classics, thanks in no small part to Chestnut’s performances.

Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams’ career has been full of swirling tales of romance like The Notebook, The Vow, and Disobedience, but some of her best work has been in romantic comedies. Wedding Crashers and Midnight in Paris quickly come to mind, but her best performance can be found in About Time, an incredibly emotional and hilarious story of love, loss, and second chances.

John Cusack

Look at the best John Cusack movies and you’ll see iconic rom-coms like High Fidelity, Say Anything, Serendipity, Better Off Dead, and America’s Sweethearts. The vulnerability and likeability of the Hollywood star have made those movies, and the beloved characters he plays in each of them, such gems over the years.

Kate Hudson

Kate Hudson is amazing when it comes to roles in romantic comedies, and few could come close to her batting average in the early-to-mid 2000s. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, My Best Friend’s Girl, Something Borrowed, and A Little Bit of Heaven all come to mind in this regard.

Taye Diggs

Taye Diggs has done it all, but he’s excelled tremendously in the rom-com world. Movies like The Wood, The Best Man, Brown Sugar, and How Stella Got Her Groove Back have shown just how charming and funny the classically trained actor can be.

Ben Stiller

Though an unlikely leading man in the realm of romantic comedies, Ben Still has long excelled in the genre. Over the years, we’ve had sensational comedies like There’s Something About Mary, Along Came Polly, Keeping the Faith, and even Reality Bites that have allowed the comedian-actor-writer-director to show off what he’s working with, and it’s been great all along.

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston will always be remembered for her portrayal of Rachel Green on Friends, but let’s not forget that she has also been a longtime staple of the romantic comedy genre. The Break-up, Wanderlust, Just Go With It, The Switch, Rumor Has It, and several others have been perfect movies for Aniston to show off her skills.

Patrick Dempsey

From Can’t Buy Me Love to Made of Honor and everything in between, Patrick Dempsey has been a tour de force in the world of romantic comedies. He’s done great work on TV and in big-screen dramas over the years, but he particularly excels in the rom-com genre.

Moms always deserve more credit than they get, and that goes for the wonderful matriarchs who have graced our television screens over the years. Characters like Carol Brady and Clair Huxtable are names that easily come to mind when thinking about the best TV moms, but there are so many more that deserve to be mentioned.

Sometimes mothers make mistakes despite trying their best. Others show their love in more unconventional ways, and some just seem to always get outshined by other members of their family. For one reason or another, below are some fantastic TV moms who never got enough credit.

Ruth Fisher (Six Feet Under)

Ruth Fisher’s whole life changed when her husband was killed in a car accident in the Six Feet Under series premiere. Not only was she tasked with continuing to run her family’s funeral home business, and come to terms with her own guilt, loneliness and identity, she had to help guide her grown children through their own grief. Ruth (Frances Conroy) wasn’t perfect — no issue on the HBO drama was black-and-white — but there was no question that she had put her children’s needs first for her whole life. 

Beth Pearson (This Is Us) 

When your mother-in-law is the indomitable Rebecca Pearson, it’s pretty easy to get overshadowed as a mom, and that’s precisely why Beth Pearson (Susan Kelechi Watson) on This Is Us never got enough credit. Her husband Randall was definitely a good partner, but Beth was the real MVP of the parenting dynamic duo, often able to anticipate her family’s emotions and sniff out any scheming going on with their three daughters. She even became a mother figure to many more by opening her own dance studio. 

Sarah Braverman (Parenthood) 

Parenthood gave viewers plenty of different family dynamics to dissect, and Kristina Braverman was tough to beat as a mother, going so far as to open up a charter school for children with special needs. So it's no wonder that her sister-in-law, former wild child Sarah Braverman (Lauren Graham), was never given much credit. Sarah struggled to raise Amber and Drew as a single mother, and boy did they not make it easy on her. She may not have always had all the answers, but she loved her kids first, and in the end they figured it out together. 

Rainbow Johnson (black-ish) 

Rainbow Johnson (Tracee Ellis Johnson) on black-ish deserves all the flowers, serving as the model of a successful working mom. Rainbow juggled being a doctor and raising five children, whom she respected as individuals. She put their problems ahead of her own to make sure they had a better life than she did as a kid. 

Lorelai Gilmore (Gilmore Girls) 

Lorelai Gilmore’s daughter Rory could always count on her mom for a snappy joke or pop culture reference, but Lorelai (Lauren Graham) certainly didn’t have it easy. Her relationship with her own parents was strained after getting pregnant at just 16 years old, making it all the more impressive when she made a life for her and Rory in Stars Hollow. She struggled at times to be patient with her own daughter’s mistakes, but she wasn’t too proud to accept her parents’ help when it benefited Rory. 

Marge Simpson (The Simpsons) 

Would the Simpson family even survive without Marge? Easily the most underappreciated of the family of five, Marge never got any help from Homer over the decades, as she raised three extremely different and never-aging children. In fact, Homer was more of a fourth child in that equation, and still Marge loved her husband and her kids. I don’t think there’s a person in the world who could blame her for the occasional frustrated grunt. 

Michonne (The Walking Dead) 

Despite her own trauma of losing a child in the walker outbreak, The Walking Dead’s Michonne (Danai Gurira) adopted Carl and Judith as her own (before going on have her own child with Rick Grimes), and she never hesitated to put her own life at risk to save them. 

Penelope Alvarez (One Day at a Time) 

Despite being a war veteran struggling with her own PTSD and depression, Penelope Alvarez (Justina Machado) was always able to give her children the attention they needed on One Day at a Time. She made the time, even while working as a nurse and living with her traditional Cuban mother. 

Morticia Addams (The Addams Family) 

Morticia Addams (portrayed in the 1964 sitcom The Addams Family by Carolyn Jones) was the epitome of unconventional, but was there ever a TV mom who encouraged her children to be themselves more than her? Never bending to the expectations and societal norms of those around her, Morticia was always loyal to and protective of her family, if not a bit macabre. 

Jane Villanueva (Jane the Virgin) 

Talk about life taking you in unexpected directions! Gina Rodriguez’s Jane Villanueva on Jane the Virgin had her own matriarchs to thank for being able to figure things out when she got pregnant by accidental artificial insemination. Such grace in the most unique of situations. 

Claire Dunphy (Modern Family) 

Nobody said you had to have everything together in order to be a good mom. Claire Dunphy (Julie Bowen) of Modern Family often struggled with how to approach the myriad hurdles of her blended and extended family, but fans found her relatable, and she deserved a lot more credit than she got. 

Gemma Teller Morrow (Sons of Anarchy) 

The characters in the world of Sons of Anarchy all knew one thing: Don’t mess with Gemma Teller Morrow (Katey Sagal) or her family, including any of the members of SAMCRO. Gemma was willing to kill or die for her son Jax, and boy did she prove it.  

Laurel Park (The Summer I Turned Pretty) 

Often the less-fun mom in comparison to her BFF Susannah, Laurel Park (Jackie Chung) was undoubtedly more responsible of the two in the book-to-screen adaptation of The Summer I Turned Pretty. Even when grief drove her and Susannah’s kids to make some pretty bad decisions, she handled the teens with understanding and grace. 

Skyler White (Breaking Bad) 

Boy did people give Skyler White (Anna Gunn) grief during Breaking Bad’s run on AMC. Sure, she was complicit in some of Walter White’s money laundering, but it’s not like she was left with much of a choice. Always doing what she thought was best for her family, she was fiercely protective of her kids — even when that meant standing up to her husband when he was at his most dangerous. 

Peggy Bundy (Married… With Children) 

Peggy Bundy (Katey Sagal) had a lot of qualities you might not look for in a good TV mom on Married… with Children. She was lazy, obsessed with the television and didn’t exactly set the best example for the kids. She still deserves more credit than she gets, though, because she was unapologetically herself and nurturing in her own way. 

Roseanne Conner (Roseanne) 

Roseanne Conner (Roseanne Barr) wasn’t perfect on her self-titled sitcom, but what family is? Her and Dan’s struggles to make ends meet while still wanting more for their kids was what made her relatable to so many. Her blunt and brutal honesty was what made her so funny.  

Chilli Heeler (Bluey) 

Chilli, better known as “Mum” to the Bluey viewing audience, definitely doesn’t get as much credit in the fun department as Bluey and Bingo’s dad Bandit, but somebody’s got to remember to pack the goggles, towels and sunscreen for a day at the pool, right? Chilli takes care of a lot of the “boring” stuff, which apparently is not just a thing for human moms. 

Harriette Winslow (Family Matters)  

Harriette Winslow (played by Jo Marie Payton until the middle of the final season) may not get brought up in the “Best TV Moms” conversation all that often, but she definitely should. If for no other reason, she kept her patience with Family Matters fan favorite Steve Urkel a lot longer than many would have. 

Linda Belcher (Bob’s Burgers) 

Sometimes when it comes to moms and their eccentric families, it’s hard to understand how they fit in. That’s not the case with Linda Belcher on Bob’s Burgers, who may be the matriarch, but she’s as big a mess as any of them, and I mean that in the best way. Linda is wild and funny while still being incredibly loving and supportive. 

Jean Weir (Freaks and Geeks) 

Helping your children navigate their formative years is not an easy task, and Jean Weir (Becky Ann Baker) on Freaks and Geeks definitely had her work cut out for her with her polar-opposite kiddos Lindsay and Sam. While her efforts were hit-and-miss, she wanted to connect with them so badly, and you just had to appreciate her goofy, sometimes-overbearing personality. 

Rebecca Donaldson Katsopolis (Full House) 

Of course Rebecca Donaldson (aka “Aunt Becky”) would go on to have twins with “Uncle Jesse” Katsopolis, but Lori Loughlin’s character on Full House was earning mom points years before that, as she gave motherly advice to Michelle, Stephanie and especially DJ after their own mom’s passing. The importance of her role to them can’t be overstated. 

Jessica Huang (Fresh Off The Boat) 

Jessica Huang (Constance Wu) may be the queen to her kids’ pawns in the chess game of life, but the high expectations the Fresh Off the Boat matriarch set for her children just showed how much she believed in them. She was firm but devoted, and sometimes we forget those tough moms have just as much love to give. 

Carol Foster-Lambert (Step By Step) 

Anybody who successfully blends families the way the Fosters and Lamberts did on Step by Step deserves some major mom snaps, especially given the spectrum of personalities Carol Foster-Lambert’s children and stepchildren exhibited. There were growing pains, of course, but it couldn’t have worked without the endless love and support of Suzanne Somers’ character. 

Jane Chapman (Big Little Lies) 

Given the trauma that Jane Chapman endured on Big Little Lies, there’s no wondering why she’s slow to trust people, or why she’s so protective of her son Ziggy. Never as perky or interesting or seemingly perfect as the other moms around her, her strength to survive and provide for Ziggy shouldn’t go unheralded. 

Kitty Forman (That ‘70s Show) 

We all know that one mom who unofficially adopts all of her kids’ friends as her own, and on That ‘70s Show, it was Eric and Laurie’s mother Kitty Forman (Debra Jo Rupp). It speaks volumes that everybody always felt at home there, despite her husband Red’s eternally grouchy disposition. She may not get enough credit as a great TV mom, but she’s unrivaled in infectious laughter. 

Carmela Soprano (The Sopranos) 

All moms have a lot on their plates, and let's face it: Parenting is just plain hard. So Edie Falco's Carmela Soprano on The Sopranos probably deserves some extra credit for also being married to a mob boss. Even if she didn't deserve it, I'd give it to her anyway.

Annie Marks (Good Girls) 

Good Girls shows just how far moms will go when they’re desperate to provide for their children. Mae Whitman played young single mother Annie Marks, but despite Annie's dangerous lifestyle, she prioritized her child and was a beacon of support during an emotional coming out story. 

Christy Jolene Plunkett (Mom) 

A special shoutout to the moms who are figuring it out after not having a particularly good role model themselves. This was the case for Christy (Anna Faris) on Mom, who always did her best as she faced her own struggles with sobriety and the complex relationship with her mom Bonnie. 

Amy Sosa (Superstore) 

Amy Sosa’s kids may not have been the central focus of Superstore, but America Ferrera’s character gave a voice to many mothers out there through her storyline about having to return to work after 48 hours because the store didn’t offer maternity leave. 

Cindy Walsh (Beverly Hills, 90210) 

Good role models seemed to be severely lacking on Beverly Hills 90210, so that should have made Cindy Walsh (Carol Potter) stand out more as one of TV’s greatest moms. She kept Brandon and Brenda grounded, while providing support as needed to their friends. Cindy put her own pain aside, only rarely showing that she, too, had struggled with the move from Minnesota to the sunny West Coast. 

Samantha Stephens (Bewitched) 

It can’t be easy being a witch living in a non-magical world, but that’s the reality Elizabeth Montgomery’s Samantha Stephens was faced with on Bewitched. Both of her and Darrin’s children also had the nose-twitching powers, and while it’s debatable whether those abilities were best kept under wraps or not, it’s obvious that Samantha just wanted to keep her husband happy and do what was best for the kids. 

Sam Fox (Better Things) 

Loosely based on Pamela Adlon’s own life as a single mom of three daughters, Better Things’ Sam Fox was the perfect combination of protective but not overbearing. She was willing to lay down the law, but the lines of communication were always open for honest conversations about real — and sometimes tough — issues. 

Nora Walker (Brothers & Sisters) 

Nora Walker (Sally Field) isn't often mentioned in the same sentence as TV mom icons like June Cleaver or Clair Huxtable, but she should be. In the wake of her cheating husband's death, Nora didn't have just her own problems to deal with, but she took on those of her grown children as well. In addition to being graceful, honest and loving through all the ups and downs, Nora knew how to keep the wine flowing too.

This is really just a handful of TV moms who don't get enough credit, because if we're being honest, can we ever really show too much appreciation for the women who doled out life lessons from the television screen? I didn't think so. 

It often feels like rom-coms are a dime a dozen, but the truth is that the best romantic comedies are ones built on several things. Fans of the genre enjoy snappy dialogue, inventive and/or realistic complications for the central couple, a swoon-worthy love story, and, of course, main characters portrayed by actors who have more than enough on-screen chemistry to make all of those pieces come together. 

What’s great about romantic comedies is that we’ve gotten more than enough couples like this over the past two plus decades, but some of them have either only partnered one time (which, granted, may be because their pairing is still relatively new), or haven’t been in a film together for many years now. So, let’s take a look at the (mostly) rom-com partners that we really think should make another movie together!

Meg Ryan And Tom Hanks

This duo probably feels like a no-brainer to you, and, well, it should! Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks have memorably joined forces for two rom-com hits, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail, plus the 1990 cult favorite romantic comedy, Joe Versus the Volcano, so there’s no reason for them not to really round things out with a fourth film. I’d be down for a second chance romance where they learn to love again, wouldn’t you?

Diane Keaton And Keanu Reeves 

Yes, yes… Already I’m cheating here, but only a tiny bit. While the magnetic on-screen coupling of Diane Keaton and Keanu Reeves wasn’t the main focus of Something’s Gotta Give, I have spent the past 20 years wishing they were. So, let's get these adorably crazy kids back together! They could play any kind of couple (bickering marrieds who are clearly still hot for each other, two folks who shouldn’t get together but can’t help themselves, etc.) and I’d be in the theater on opening night.

Lana Condor And Noah Centineo

Honestly, there might not be a cuter couple on this list. The dreamy teen romance movie pairing of Lana Condor and Noah Centineo was, obviously, gifted to everyone with a Netflix subscription in the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy, and there’s a reason that so many people fell head over heels for them. These two sorta sparkle together on screen, and I’d love to see them reunite in a romance (or any comedy) that’s got more of an adult edge to it.

Alison Brie And Jason Sudeikis

We all adore it when a rom-com gives us something different, and 2015’s Sleeping with Other People does just that with its story of friends who openly acknowledge their sexual tension, but purposely avoid doing anything about it so as to not screw up what they have. Alison Brie and Ted Lasso cast lead Jason Sudeikis are amazing as the friends in question, and I’d love to see them bring their casual, but still sexy, chemistry to another film. 

Jenny Slate And Jake Lacy

A true pleasure of watching Obvious Child was seeing the relationship between Jenny Slate and Jake Lacy’s characters develop as she has trouble revealing that she’s getting an abortion several weeks after their one-night stand. They work great as a duo with a clear attraction that’s impeded by a secret, and we’d really appreciate it if we could watch him warm her butter and make her tea in a movie that sees them as fully coupled characters.

Constance Wu And Henry Golding

I cannot tell a lie; some of the reason for Constance Wu and Henry Golding making the list is simply because we are all dying for the Crazy Rich Asians sequel we’ve been promised for several years now. While we wait, I’m hoping we can at least get those two into another fun rom-com where he can bring his posh, suave energy to meet her adorably spunky, girl-next-door verve.

Emma Stone And Ryan Gosling

What’s not to love about Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, especially when they star opposite each other in a romantic story? They were sweet, sexy, bantery, and slightly goofy together in Crazy, Stupid, Love, then had all of that with more emotional depth in La La Land, and also had the same chemistry in Gangster Squad, but with an added veneer of danger. It’s been a rough few years; the world needs more of their exact thing, OK?

Kate Hudson And Matthew McConaughey

I know, I know! Matthew McConaughey doesn’t make rom-coms anymore, but that’s honestly no reason why he can’t re-team with Kate Hudson, 20 years after they first hit the screen together in How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days. The engaging push-and-pull of their romance in that film can easily be translated to, say, a movie where each is portraying a lawyer on the opposite side of a big murder case. There! Someone make that movie!

Queen Latifah And Common

Just Wright might not be the first movie you think of when it comes to Queen Latifah or romantic comedies, but it’s hard to deny that watching her play off of Common as they slowly go from not-quite-enemies to lovers was a genuine treat. Now all we need is the right vehicle for them so their individual easygoing charm can show us how well-matched they are on screen.

Jennifer Garner And Mark Ruffalo

There’s a reason that 13 Going On 30 is still so popular almost two decades later. That reason is Jennifer Garner’s joyful, weirdo energy as a teen suddenly transplanted to her adult life, sure, but it’s also how Mark Ruffalo calmly reconnects with the childhood friend he’d long ago lost touch with. They're just sweet together, OK? We saw them in The Adam Project. We need more!

Sandra Bullock And Channing Tatum

The luminous and hilarious pairing of Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum was definitely not on my rom-com bingo card, but damn, it was a joy to behold once we got it. In The Lost City, they were perfect as a starchy and grieving romance novelist and her incredibly sweet but somewhat dim cover model who get caught in a life-or-death situation in the jungle, and all I can hope for is that we someday have a sequel to enjoy.

Billy Eichner And Luke Macfarlane

If an opposites attract energy is your thing, there’s no way for you not to enjoy the pairing of Billy Eichner and Luke Macfarlane. The Bros stars only just met up on screen in 2022, but we’d love to see them reunite in a rom-com that switches Eichner’s intense characterization and Macfarlane’s laid-back vibe around for additional laughs.

Meg Ryan And Hugh Jackman

Kate & Leopold is the rare romance where Meg Ryan’s character is less than sweet for much of the film, but watching her early ‘00s driven career woman begin to soften with the attentions of Hugh Jackman’s fancy man from the 1870s was a delight. Now if we can just get them to play off of one another when both are from the modern day, all will be right in the world.

Anne Hathaway And Chris Pine

We all know that The Princess Diaries 2 is so beloved that fans have wanted to bring the cast back for the now in development third movie for nearly 20 years, and part of that was because of the sweet, (sorta) slow burn love story between Anne Hathaway and Chris Pine’s characters. While everyone would love to see them as a long-married couple in a sequel, we’d also take them as, oh, I don’t know, bickering co-workers who can’t deny their attraction, so let’s stop stalling and get this coupling back on the big screen!

Julia Roberts And Hugh Grant

Look, I know that Hugh Grant is fully in his slimy villain era right now and is hilariously against even attempting rom-coms again. But! I think that makes the potential of this Notting Hill pairing coming back together even more appealing. Let him play a con-man who tricks Julia Roberts into falling in love, only to steal all her money and force her to track him down with a hilarious vengeance. I’d buy a ticket for that, OK?

Jennifer Lopez And George Clooney

Sure, sure. I’m cheating this entry a bit because, technically, Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney didn't star in a traditional rom-com together, but who among us can deny that they were HOT in Out of Sight? No one, that’s who! I say we get these two into a proper romantic comedy, but maybe one that’s not another Lopez wedding movie, just to switch things up.

Sanaa Lathan And Omar Epps 

Yes, this is another, more direct, fudging of this article’s concept, because Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps were a romantic drama pairing in Love & Basketball… but they were SO GOOD TOGETHER. Watching them play out a long-term path to eventual happiness was extremely satisfying, but maybe this time we can use that chemistry of theirs for a couple that has more good times than stressful ones.

Cristin Milioti And Andy Samberg

The chances that Cristin Milioti and Andy Samberg will strike time loop movie gold again after Palm Springs is incredibly unlikely, and we wouldn’t want them to try. Instead, why not let these two portray criminals on the run for separate crimes who accidentally cross paths and fall in love while they’re on the lam? They can give us that same adorably wacky enthusiasm that we all loved the first time around that way!

Kristen Stewart And Aubrey Plaza

If you saw Happiest Season, then you saw the undeniable spark between Kristen Stewart and Aubrey Plaza as their characters (Who weren’t even dating!) dealt with a lot of toxicity during Christmastime. They managed to genuinely bond (and look great doing it) over their similar relationship trauma, so I say we go ahead and give these two an even bubblier romantic comedy where they can actually freakin’ end up as a couple! 

Gemma Chan And Harry Shum Jr. 

Obviously, we didn’t get a real romance between the characters played by Gemma Chan and Harry Shum Jr. in Crazy Rich Asians, but the movie sure did set up the promise of fulfilling the epic love story that was a part of Kevin Kwan’s novel trilogy. Fans got a very brief scene of them looking all cute and dreamy with each other and dancing during the mid-credits scene, so hear me now: WE NEED THAT ASTRID AND CHARLIE SPINOFF, ASAP!

Issa Rae And Kumail Nanjiani

It may be hard to cast two people who have perfect romantic chemistry, but it could be even harder to find a duo who can portray the first glorious blush of falling in love, that same couple once they’ve begun to fall apart, and then play them as they start to get closer… because they’re on the run after being accused of murder. Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani are those people, and we’ve been wanting them back on screen since The Lovebirds to do something just as crazy and rom-commy again.

Reese Witherspoon And Josh Lucas

If you’re looking for a bickering duo who are hot together no matter what, that’s Sweet Home Alabama’s Reese Witherspoon and Josh Lucas, for sure. I’m sure they’d be great doing anything on screen, but also doubt anyone would mind if they paired for a story that would let them fight (and fight through) their attraction until they finally admit their feelings for each other.

Rachel McAdams And Domhnall Gleeson

You know what’s coming, right? After being apart for a decade, it’s About Time that Rachel McAdams and Domhnall Gleeson join forces again to bring fans another lovey dovey couple, and we don’t even care what the set up is!

Sarah Hyland And Tyler James Williams

Never has it been more enjoyable to watch a woman who’s not sure about the whole marriage thing date a man who’s very much ready for a long-term commitment than in The Wedding Year, and that was because of the well-matched chemistry/comedic energy of Sarah Hyland and Tyler James Williams. I think these two would be fantastic in an action/adventure rom-com like The Lost City!

Kristen Bell And Dustin Milligan 

Though Kristen Bell and Dustin Milligan starred in The People We Hate at the Wedding, which was more of a straight ahead comedy, they had a definite romantic comedy storyline and played off of each other beautifully. I’m imagining a cinematic rematch for them that involves both of their characters being messy and a bit angry this time, and I think they’ll be a delight to watch once again.

Vivian Oparah And David Jonsson

Even though Vivian Oparah and David Jonsson are a very new rom-com pairing, as their starring vehicle, Rye Lane, debuted in early 2023, there’s no doubting the fizzy joy one gets from watching their characters meet cute and end up slowly becoming attracted to each other over the course of one eventful day. These two can do anything together next, but I don’t think anyone would mind a sequel where we get to see this romance progress!

If nothing else, while we wait to see if these rom-com partners get back together on the big screen, we can all at least go back and enjoy the amazing films they’ve already given us!

The first thing you need in my opinion to make a great rom-com is a pair of actors with great chemistry. If the leads don’t vibe, the audience won’t jive. The common denominator among all the best rom-coms of all time is a couple of actors who have fantastic chemistry and complement each other beautifully. So, with Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey’s iconic rom-com, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days celebrating its 20th anniversary, and with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, and lots of rom-coms on the 2023 movie schedule, we thought we’d look back at some legendary acting duos who really need to make another romantic comedy together. 

Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey 

Talk about a duo that just oozes charm and chemistry. Both Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey are two of the most charismatic, charming and outgoing actors working right now, in my opinion, and it felt inevitable that they’d end up in a rom-com together. I think McConaughey said it best in a live stream on Hudson’s Instagram, when he described their personalities and chemistry in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days like this:

Hudson then said they are both “free” and “spontaneous” souls which allowed them to play on set back in 2003, and they really found their funny and electric chemistry. So, I’m so happy McConaughey took the role after an interaction with a psychic, because it’s hard to imagine anyone other than the two of them playing Ben and Andie.

Considering it’s been 20 whole years since How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, I think we’re due for two of the most charismatic characters in Hollywood to “play” together again as the actors put it. 

Stream How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days with a Paramount+ subscription. 

Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell  

In my humble opinion, Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell are the Millenial versions of Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. They are both uber-charismatic, extremely funny, and have mad chemistry. Lightning really struck with their Netflix rom-com Set It Up as the two actors played assistants trying to, as the title implies, set their bosses up so they didn’t have to work so much. 

Seeing as the director of Set It Up already has a sequel in mind, Deutch and Powell have remained good friends, and both their careers have flourished because of movies like Not Okay and Top Gun: Maverick, respectively, I think it’s time we see them re-team for another rom-com. Maybe this time they could be the bosses.

Stream Set it Up with a Netflix subscription. 

Joel Kim Booster and Conrad Ricamora  

One of the best under-the-radar movies from 2022 was Fire Island, and Noah and Will quickly became one of my favorite rom-com couples. It’s the classic case of opposites attract. With Joel Kim Booster’s extroverted and sassy character and Conrad Ricamora’s quieter yet equally sarcastic love interest, they made for a great match on screen. 

Fire Island was a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, and Kim Booster and Ricamora played a great parallel to Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, and it would be amazing to see the two together again. Maybe it could be another modern adaptation of a classic work, a la 10 Things I Hate About You. Or maybe it could be an original story that capitalizes on their comedic timing and wholesome chemistry. 

Stream Fire Island with a Hulu subscription. 

Anne Hathaway and Chris Pine 

Now, Anne Hathaway has some iconic rom-coms and some magnificent screen partners, but nothing comes close to the absolutely legendary pairing of her and Chris Pine in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. Growing up with this movie, and watching these two actors go from enemies to lovers was incredible, and set a high bar for all other rom-com pairings moving forward. I mean nothing tops that fountain scene.

Luckily, there is a Princess Daires 3 in the works, however, it’s unclear who will be involved. Hopefully, we’ll get to see Hathaway and Pine together again, because it’s been almost 20 years since they've been on screen together. I think it's time for another Royal Engagement, if you will, from these two powerhouses.

Stream Princess Diaries 2 with a Disney+ subscription.  

Noah Centineo and Lana Condor 

I was a sophomore in college when To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before came out, and let me tell you, it was a mega-hit among us Zillenials, and remains one of my favorite recent rom-coms. The reason this movie is so good is mostly because of how fantastic Noah Centineo and Lana Condor are together. 

The two shined as Lara Jean and Peter, and led the To All The Boys cast fantastically. Now, the two have taken on other roles, and their stars have grown significantly. Now that it’s been a few years since this rom-com trilogy ended I think it’s time the adorable pair picked up another project together. They’re funny and have so much chemistry people actually thought they were dating, however, they decided to keep things platonic, and they seem to have a blast working with each other. So, bring on another rom-com!

Stream To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before with a Netflix subscription. 

Henry Golding and Constance Wu 

Crazy Rich Asians proved to be a crazy rich hit in 2018. And while the entire ensemble was incredible, Henry Golding and Constance Wu were at the heart of the story, and they were perfect together. While the two are set to reprise their roles in a sequel as Rachel and Nick, it’s unclear when that will happen, so it would be great to see them in another movie together. 

What was interesting about Crazy Rich Asians, is when we meet Golding and Wus’ characters they are already in a long-term relationship. They worked so well, that I didn’t doubt Nick and Rachels' relationship for a second. I think it’d be fun to see the two play out a new relationship in another movie, however, I’m also hoping they reunite for Crazy Rich Asians 2 sooner rather than later. 

Stream Crazy Rich Asians with an HBO Max subscription. 

Jude Law And Cameron Diaz

There’s nothing cozier to me during the Christmas season than sitting down, putting on The Holiday, and watching Cameron Diaz and Jude Law fall in love. Kate Winslet and Jack Black’s relationship is oh, so wholesome. However, the big stars of the show are Diaz and Law, whose chemistry jumps off the screen, and their relationship feels like a warm hug.

While our dreams were dashed of ever seeing a sequel to The Holiday, when Kate Winslet turned the rumors down, a girl can dream. And I think it’s about time we see Diaz and Law in another comforting rom-com together. 

Stream The Holiday on Showtime, or rent/buy it on Amazon.

These are just a few pairs of actors who I’d love to see together on screen again. From early aught classics, to more recent pairings that have already made their mark, there are so many couples I’d love to see together again. And hopefully, someday all my dreams will come true.

Mild spoilers below for the early episodes of Velma. 

Almost as if it was the result of a masked villain’s terror-fueled antics, HBO Max’s latest meddling foray into adult animation, the Scooby-Doo-less prequel Velma, has been subject to some wildly negative critical reviews, viewer reactions, social media commentary, and other forms of brutal lambasting. And not even the same ignorance-based criticisms (at least entirely) that came out when it was revealed Velma’s central character would be an Indian teen voiced by Mindy Kaling, but rather some astute and fairly on-point judgment calls. Almost offensively too self-aware? Yep. Too grossly horny to balance out its sex positivity? Yep. Boasting an overeagerness to treat Scooby-Doo history as snarkily as possible? For the most part. But it’s not necessarily the avoid-at-all-costs trainwreck that it’s being perceived as.

Even in today’s plague of pop culture oversaturation, it’s pretty hard for any piece of entertainment to get released that is inarguably 100% absent of value, and the same goes for Velma. As such, here are five things that are still worth highlighting and celebrating about the NSFW series.  

The Entire Cast's Voice-Acting Skills

For all the complaints aimed at Velma’s content and characters, far fewer are criticisms aimed directly at the performances of the star-studded cast. The core Mystery Inc. characters are voiced with aplomb by the aforementioned Mindy Kaling as Velma; It’s Always Sunny’s Glenn Howerton as the infantile Fred; Veep vet Sam Richardson as the race-swapped proto-Shaggy, Norville; and Crazy Rich Asians’ Constance Wu as Daphne. Beyond those talents, Velma boasts a wide variety of talented co-stars in Nicole Byer (Nailed It), stand-up comedians Fortune Feimster and Russell Peters, Melissa Fumero (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Sarayu Blue (Never Have I Ever), Yvonne Orji (Insecure), Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws), Jane Lynch (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) and Office Space co-stars Stephen Root and Gary Cole. That’s not even an exhaustive list, either, as Scooby-Doo’s voice himself Frank Welker is also in the mix.

Velma's Horror-Tinged Animation Looks Pretty Awesome

I don't so much dig the concept of Velma sporadically hallucinating whenever mystery-solving is addressed — not only for being similar to Wednesday, since I don't really like her "vision" power either. But those hallucinations are admittedly where Velma's animation is at its best, and it achieves a semblance of the legitimately creepy visuals occasionally conjured up by Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? and the many different spinoffs over the years. But even outside of those segments, Velma has quite a few macabre and vivid moments that would serve as excellent posters for a horror fan's walls. 

The Jokes That AREN'T Overly Meta Or About Sex And Drugs Are Funny

All the fan goodwill that accompanied Velma's first LGBTQ+ storyline in the 2022 feature Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo! has largely been lost within Velma's sloppy sheets, but most of the time when the show opts for situational humor, or jokes born out of complete randomness, it can indeed inspire audible snorts and chortles. I really don't need Norville's character development being split between lackluster weed references and lusting over Velma, but I could spend all day listening to Sam Richardson generally musing about whatever weirdness is happening. This show is also a veritable buffet for anyone who particularly enjoys self-deprecating humor, though I’ll admit that it does get a bit too needlessly hateful with these beloved characters. 

Daphne's Moms Are The Best

Even though I already put a spotlight on the voice cast at large, it's worth doubling down to celebrate Jane Lynch and Wanda Sykes for voicing arguably Velma's best characters, Donna and Linda. The pair serve as Daphne's moms, as well as bumbling police officers, and they fit squarely into the sillier side of things, where just pronouncing a word a certain way can spark giggles. Perhaps my appreciation is tied also to the fact that, at least for the first batch of episodes, Donna and Linda's relationship to each other and to Daphne isn't endlessly mined for trite lesbian jokes and mixed race gags that would have seemed inevitable based on a lot of the other humor.

Velma's Aesthetic Callbacks To Scooby-Doo Lore

As indicated above, Velma can often be its own worst enemy when referencing well-established Scooby-Doo elements and lore, as it wields the heaviest of tools to hammer things home. Which inevitably adds more enjoyment to the fan service-y details that don't scream at viewers to acknowledge them. Such as posters and other imagery of classic villains and monster costumes. (Those specific details, as seen above, also warrant an interesting thought experiment about what those images are actually depicting within this universe.) Other bits, such as the screennames above, serve as references to Scrappy-Doo, obviously, but also to Scooby-Doo co-creator Joe Ruby (who also served as the name sake for the titular Great Dane's sister Ruby), and to The Hex Girls rock band that first appeared in Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost before later showing up in various other projects. References like those are a lot more fun to think about when viewers aren't being bludgeoned with them.

So while you won't find me going to bat in saying Velma was absolutely worth everyone's efforts, I also don't think the seemingly endless hatred pointed in its direction is warranted, either. As it goes with most shows, those who don't like it don't need to watch it, with the comfort of assuming HBO Max might have blindly cancelled it anyway.

Velma streams new episodes each Thursday for everyone with HBO Max subscriptions, with two episodes dropping each week. Head to our 2023 TV premiere schedule to see what new and returning shows are dropping that hopefully won’t turn the Internet into an upside-down dumpster fire.

SPOILERS are ahead for the first two episodes of Velma, now streaming with an HBO Max subscription. Tread lightly if you don’t want the early mysteries of the series revealed. 

Scooby-Doo has been a mainstay on television ever since CBS premiered its first series back in 1969 with the same ingredients in place: a group of four teenagers, a Great Dane named Scooby-Doo and their trusty The Mystery Machine solving supernatural mysteries. Over more than fifty years, the Scooby-Doo franchise has remained one of the most popular TV cartoon series of all time and found many iterations, from the live-action Scooby-Doo movies, to numerous animated films and TV shows. The latest from the property, HBO Max’s Velma, from producer and star Mindy Kaling, is looking to be the most controversial yet due to the many ways it updates the classic Scooby-Doo gang. 

When the series starring an Indian Velma premiered last week, critics and audiences alike slammed the show for changing the identities of many of the characters. The reaction isn’t surprising given Velma totally recontextualizes them for a contemporary and adult audience. Having tuned into Velma after being a longtime fan of the franchise, I totally see why many will stop in their tracks of all the changes here. But, rather than moving Velma right to the doghouse, I want to talk through how exactly the series is seeking to revise the classic Scooby-Doo gang. 

Mindy Kaling’s South Asian Velma Has Depth And Mystery

When executive producer and the new voice of Velma, Mindy Kaling, previously spoke to the decision to change the Scooby-Doo character’s race, The Office star shared that they felt that the character was “not necessarily tied to her whiteness.” Additionally, Kaling felt she could personally identify so much with Velma, so they decided to make her Indian like her for the series. Velma feels like a completely new version of the character, who doesn’t hold the same innocent “jinkies!” just-lost-her-glasses at all times presentation of previous iterations, though does embody her to essence to a degree. Rather, it seems the writers were going for a more realistic depiction of who a Velma would be in 2023, with a new backstory and all. 

Although Kaling’s Velma doesn't have the same sweet charm of the original character for sure, she does have an increasingly interesting backstory as the show unfolds that we've not seen from the teen detective before. As we learn early in the show, she’s been long haunted by her mother leaving her and her father when she was a child and how it’s connected with her love for solving mysteries. At the moment, she’s too traumatized by her abandonment issues to go into mystery mode, but as the season presents a tantalizing one for her to dig into, it looks like she’ll have to face her fears and embrace her character’s destiny. 

Velma Is A Super Raunchy Adult Animation Series 

Another difference between Velma and the Scooby-Doo we know is through the fact that it is no longer an all-ages affair. The property has been rated G for decades, except for the R-rated James Gunn movie that never came to be, but this HBO Max series imagines it as a purely adult animation property that very much is walking right past its family-friendly roots in fun and cheeky ways. And yes, that’s the slippery slope for Velma since casual audiences clicking on the series might assume it's adhering to its typical branding, along with the assumption that animation is typically for kids. 

Though, the case I’ll make here is this is for the curious who don’t mind seeing the book thrown out to see these characters conceptualized in entirely different ways. What if Scooby-Doo had debuted today without its half a century of nostalgia for an adult audience? To determine whether that is your cup of tea, the question you have to ask yourself is if you can laugh at these characters in this reimagining or are they too precious to you to be desanitized?  

The Series Reimagines How The Scooby-Doo Gang Came Together 

Noticeably absent from Velma is Scooby-Doo himself, but as it’s made apparent in the intro episodes for the HBO Max series, it will explore how Velma, Daphne, Shaggy and Fred come together and perhaps become a mystery-solving team. We’ve seen prequel type stories for the Scooby-Doo gang before, but this one uses its modern and adult spin to craft how the four unlikely crew become entangled together through this lens. 

The first season revolves around a string of brutal killings at their high school where popular girls are found dead with their brains removed from their bodies. Velma becomes the first suspect of the case before Fred gets accused and prosecuted for it early in the season. Through the prosecution, Velma characterizes Fred as a privileged teen who can’t do anything himself whereas Shaggy is a Black man who is super into snacks and secretly in love with Velma, but not at all the stoner he is famously thought of to be. It certainly feels like Velma knows the history that comes with each character and is playing with our expectations to shock and play for laughs along with coming up with a bigger central story as to how the gang comes together. Oh, and as for Daphne… 

Jinkies, We Might Get Velma And Daphne’s Love Story 

In Velma, Velma and Daphne are childhood friends who have grown apart as they grew up due to them fitting into different social circles in high school. Whereas Velma is an outcast, Daphne is a popular girl, which makes perfect sense. Played by Constance Wu, Velma establishes Daphne as Asian American who secretly sells drugs to other students to raise money to find her biological parents. This is when things click between Velma and Daphne again. Between Velma’s own abandonment issues regarding her mother and Daphne’s own obsession about her family secrets, a flirtation forms. 

Velma has long been a lesbian icon among fans and recently got a queer storyline in a recent animated Scooby-Doo movie for the first time. And those fans have particularly often shipped Velma with Daphne. Two episodes in, Velma looks to be very much leading toward telling a love story between the two Scooby-Doo characters not unlike the raunchy animated Harley Quinn series has done for Harley and Poison Ivy. 

There you have it! That’s the scoop on how Velma updates the classic franchise. While I agree with some early criticism of it definitely not honoring the spirit of the source material, color me curious regarding how its twisted humor will continue to rethink the classic franchise just cause, including by having a more inclusive cast of characters. We can always go back to good ‘ole Scooby-Doo when we want to and here's hoping the characters how we know and love them continue to exist in new forms as well.

There seemed to be plenty of reasons to be excited for Mindy Kaling’s Scooby-Doo spinoff, Velma. For one thing, the writer/actor/producer has proven herself over the years, with creations including The Mindy Project, Never Have I Ever and The Sex Life of College Girls. The series also boasts a stellar supporting cast of Sam Richardson, Constance Wu and Glenn Howerton to round out the Mystery Inc. gang, and the titular character was finally getting queer storyline. With the release of the first two episodes on HBO Max, however, Velma is getting slammed by fans and critics alike, with accusations of a childhood favorite being ruined.

A lot of changes were made to the characters so many of us grew up watching for Velma, with one of the more perplexing decisions being to remove Scooby-Doo altogether. Kaling said she faced backlash when it was announced she would voice Velma, but much of the criticism surrounding the series’ release centered around the beloved characters’ personalities being unrecognizable, rather than the changes in their race. Rotten Tomatoes user Jess B was apparently thrown off by the whole thing, commenting: 

That viewer was one of many on Rotten Tomatoes to question why developer Charlie Grandy didn’t just create an original animation, rather than make such drastic changes to existing IP. The series had compiled an audience score of just 8% on the review-aggregation site as of this writing, and the viewers didn’t hold back when it came to sharing their opinions. More of the comments read: 

• I don't care about the race changes, but they're not the same characters... at all. There's not an ounce of reverence for the source material. It's got as much to do with scooby doo as the Clue board game does. This show isn't for scooby doo fans. – Kyle S
• I saw the clips so I tried to watch some of the first episode. Too awful for a hate watch. Why was this even made? Did the people in it not realize it was so awful? Very confusing. – Sean O 
• I grew up with the orginal Scooby-do, but it appears the writers never did. – Rikwin d
• Think of the worst thing you have ever seen or can remember (from your entire life). This is like that, but with someone constantly slapping you in the face and shouting laugh now, laugh now, laugh now. – Steve P
• A Scooby-Doo show without scooby-doo. It's exactly what I expected. Terrible. – Cabbage

It wasn’t just the fans that took issue with Velma, but the critics did too. And while the critical score was a much higher 50% on Rotten Tomatoes, the reviews weren’t exactly complimentary. Joshua Alston of Variety emphasized it’s not the change to the characters’ race or the LGBTQ+ storylines that are the issue. Rather he calls the characters “unpleasant” and questions how this belongs in the Scooby-Doo universe, saying: 

Angie Han of THR says that while Velma clearly has affection for the classic character, it’s snarky to a fault, and the abundance of meta humor gets in the way of its heart. Some of the humor doesn’t hit as intended either, as the critic notes: 

The first two episodes of Velma are available for streaming now with an HBO Max subscription, with Episodes 3 and 4 coming on Thursday, January 19. Be sure to check out our 2023 TV schedule to see what other premieres are coming soon to TV and streaming. 

We’ve seen a lot of great, funny musicals and an astronomical number of family-friendly movies based on classic children’s books in recent years, and starting this weekend we have another title that fits into both of those categories. Lyle, Lyle Crocodile, the new live-action-CGI hybrid movie based on Bernard Waber’s 1965 book of the same name, is one of the big fall movies coming out in the latter part of 2022, and it brings with it a great story set in New York City and a cast of characters that includes breakout stars, Academy Award winners, and one of the Stranger Things Season 4 all-stars.

If you’ve watched the new movie featuring Shawn Mendes as that lovable reptile with a passion for song and dance, or are at least planning on catching it with the family, you’ll probably be wondering where you’ve seen (and heard) the Lyle, Lyle Crocodile cast before. Well, we’re about to break it all down now…

Lyle (Shawn Mendes)

The star of the show, and the singer-turned-actor taking on the role of the titular singing and dancing reptile in Lyle, Lyle Crocodile, is singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes.

Surprisingly enough, Mendes’ spot at the top of the cast is a first for popular musician, as he has never appeared in theatrical release. His previous film credits include a direct-to-video animated movie called Metegol in 2013 and two concert documentaries — Shawn Mendes: In Wonder and Shawn Mendes: Live in Concert — and both were released by Netflix. Throughout his career, Mendes has appeared on the small screen quite a bit, though all but one TV credit (a small role on an episode of The 100) consisted of musical performances on Saturday Night Live and programs like The Voice and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

To date, Mendes has released four studio albums (all but one have gone at least platinum), multiple live albums, and several EPs and singles dating back to his debut with Handwritten in April 2015.

Winslow Fegley (Josh Primm)

Josh Primm, the young boy who discovers there is a crocodile living in his family’s New York City apartment, is played by Winslow Fegley in Lyle, Lyle Crocodile.

If you liked 8-Bit Christmas after watching the surprisingly heartfelt 2021 holiday movie, then you’ll definitely recognize Fegley from his portrayal of Jake Doyle (Neil Patrick Harris portrayed the older version of the character). Prior to landing a role in the HBO Max original movie, Fegley appeared in titles like Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made, Come Play, and Nightbooks. His TV credits include Teachers, Fast Layne, and a 2019 episode of The Good Doctor.

Constance Wu (Mrs. Primm)

Taking on the role of Mrs. Primm in the Lyle, Lyle Crocodile cast is Constance Wu, who can be seen dancing, singing, painting, and cooking up some incredible recipes in the movie’s trailer on YouTube.

Wu, who cut her teeth appearing on shows like EastSiders, One Life to Live, and Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, came to prominence with her portrayal of Jessica Huang on the ABC sitcom, Fresh Off the Boat, where she appeared alongside Randall Park, Hudson Yang, and the rest of the ensemble cast for a total of five seasons. 

Near the end of her run on the series, Wu landed what is perhaps her biggest role yet: Rachel Chu in the incredibly successful Crazy Rich Asians in 2018. In the wake of the worldwide phenomenon that was Jon M. Chu’s landmark romantic comedy, Wu landed roles in movies like Next Gen, Wish Dragon, and Hustlers, alongside Jennifer Lopez. In 2022, Wu showed up on The Terminal List with Chris Pratt, Taylor Kitsch, and Riley Keough.

Scoot McNairy (Mr. Primm)

Next up is Scoot McNairy, who shows up on the Lyle, Lyle Crocodile cast as Mr. Primm, who along with his wife and son, come to terms and learn some valuable lessons from the saltwater reptile living in their attic.

Throughout his career on the silver screen, McNairy has given tremendous performances in low-budget sci-fi thrillers like Monsters, Academy Award-winning dramas like Argo and 12 Years a Slave, and various other film projects like Gone Girl, Frank, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, to name just a few. He even showed up in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

McNairy’s TV presence kicked off in the early 2000s with roles on Good Girls Don’t…, Six Feet Under, and How I Met Your Mother, and has gone on to memorable performances on everything from Halt and Catch Fire to Narcos: Mexico and True Detective to The Comey Rule.

Javier Bardem (Hector P. Valenti)

Taking on the role of Hector P. Valenti, the charismatic showman who has raised and trained Lyle from a young age, is Academy Award-winning actor Javier Bardem, who could very well be the best Bond villain of all time.

Over the years, Bardem has appeared in one great movie after another, including Skyfall, Biutiful, Everybody Knows, Before Night Falls, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona. However, he will forever be remembered from his cold, methodical, and iconic portrayal of the emotionless contract killer, Anton Chigurh, in the Coen Brothers’ No Country for Old Men. The 2007 adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s novel of the same name earned four Oscars, including Best Picture for the Coens and Best Actor for Bardem.

Recently, Bardem has given commanding performances in epic sci-fi movies like Dune and character-driven biographical dramas like Being the Ricardos. He is set to portray King Triton in Disney’s upcoming The Little Mermaid live-action adaptation.

Brett Gelman (Mr. Grumps)

And then there is Brett Gelman, who serves as the noisy neighbor archetype with his portrayal of Mr. Grumps in the Lyle, Lyle Crocodile cast.

Gelman has become one of the most recognizable faces in show business in recent years thanks in part to his portrayal of fan-favorite Murray Bauman on Stranger Things, but his career goes back more than decade before his arrival in Hawkins. Over the years, he’s appeared on shows like Fleabag, Love, Married, Kroll Show, The League, Bored to Death, and countless other comedies. 

During that same stretch of time, Gelman landed roles in movies like The Other Guys, 30 Minutes or Less, Arlo the Alligator Boy, and Without Remorse.

Lyle, Lyle Crocodile is currently playing at a theater near you, but don’t forget to check out the 2022 movie schedule for all the latest on everything else coming out later this year.

Many of us are familiar with Lyle, the friendly crocodile who lived with the Primm family in the house on East 88th Street, but we’ve certainly never seen him portrayed as we will when Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile hits theaters on October 7. Pop singer Shawn Mendes stars as the voice of the titular reptile. Based on that bit of casting, you can glean that this children’s story has been turned into a full-blown musical for the big screen, with original music from Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (The Greatest Showman, Dear Evan Hanson and La La Land). Critics have had the chance to screen the movie ahead of its release, so let’s see what they think.

Alongside Shawn Mendes’ pipes, the live-action stars of Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile include Winslow Fegley, Oscar winner Javier Bardem, Constance Wu, Scoot McNairy and Stranger Things standout Brett Gelman. Let’s see what critics are saying, starting with CinemaBlend’s review of Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. Our own Sarah El-Mahmoud rates the movie 2 stars out of 5, saying that while Bardem delivers, the rest of the movie is “all melody and no pizzazz.” She says: 

Robert Abele of The Wrap agrees with the above assessment about Javier Bardem being a standout in a movie that otherwise just feels like an attempt to cash in on Paddington’s success. The review says: 

Jude Dry of IndieWire says this adaptation of a beloved children’s book proves that nothing is safe or sacred in Hollywood. The critic gives Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile a grade of B-, saying: 

Chase Hutchinson of Collider grades the movie a C+, also noting that it lacks the magic needed to make a memorable or nostalgic experience: 

Frank Scheck of THR, however, says kids are likely to enjoy the “undeniably adorable” crocodile, even if audiences are likely to forget the original music before they’ve even left the theater. He says: 

While the critics don’t seem to think this movie meets the expectations set by similar nostalgia grabs like Paddington and other iconic children's movies, aspects including Shawn Mendes’ singing voice and Javier Bardem’s performance were positive takeaways from Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. If you’d like to accompany the younger members of your family to this musical affair, you can do so starting Friday, October 7. Also be sure to check out our 2022 Movie Release Schedule to see what else is hitting theaters soon. 

It’s now been four summers since Crazy Rich Asians hit theaters and swept the box office off its feet as a rare romantic comedy that could make bank. Not too soon after its success, it was announced that Kevin Kwan’s entire trilogy would be seen on the big screen. Well… where is it? The franchise’s star Constance Wu has shared a couple updates at least.

Constance Wu played the movie’s leading lady, Rachel Chu, a New York University economics professor who finds love in Nick Young (played by Henry Golding), but is then placed in the middle of an awkward crossfire when she travels with him home to Singapore for a wedding. Here’s what Wu shared about what’s going on with Crazy Rich Asians 2: 

Wu was speaking to ScreenRant about her new series The Terminal List, which she stars in with Chris Pratt, and it was during that conversation that actress broke a long silence about the next Crazy Rich Asians movie. As she shared, there’s some movement on the rom-com sequel, with filming on the producers' minds. Plus, she shared a cute nugget about being great friends with Awkwafina, who played Rachel’s best friend Goh Peik Lin in the 2018 movie. 

After Crazy Rich Asians, there are two more novels that star Rachel and Nick: China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems. Back in 2018, it was announced that the sequels would be filmed back-to-back in 2020, but then 2020 must have happened. Plus, there’s the fact that just about every member of the Crazy Rich Asians cast has been busy getting even more famous since the release of the rom-com and going from project to project. 

The latest news we’ve heard about what’s next for Crazy Rich Asians prior to Wu’s words is that there was a shakeup in the writer’s room, with newcomer writer Amy Wang now penning the script. The change came after there was a pay dispute between one of the scribes of the first movie for the sequels. Adele Lim, who wrote the first movie alongside Peter Chiarelli, decided to exit the projects due to being offered significantly less money than her male co-writer. 

Right now, we’re also not sure if Jon M. Chu will still direct the movie either, considering the director has been in pre-production on the two Wicked movies he’ll helm. We’ll keep you updated on the Crazy Rich Asians sequels as we learn more about them. Until then, you can check out Constance Wu in The Terminal List, now streaming with an Amazon Prime subscription. 

Chris Pratt’s new Amazon Prime show, The Terminal List, is (in part) an action-packed conspiracy thriller that pushed him to his limits as a performer. With any good attempt to foil a shadowy plot concealed behind closed doors, there’s naturally going to be a procedural element to such an undertaking. And that’s where J.D. Pardo and Constance Wu’s characters come into play, along with their own unique set of skills. 

During one of their scenes together, Pardo was blown away by Wu’s ability to learn a huge change in dialogue so quickly. Responding in kind, Wu credited her time on Fresh Off the Boat as giving her the skills to pull off that very feat. Put together, those comments give viewers of this action-mystery show even more of an appreciation for what went into its very making. 

Speaking with both Pardo and Wu during their press rounds for The Terminal List, I asked them a question about nailing the realism of their roles, which were adapted from author Jack Carr’s suspense novel. When it came to the answer to that query, JD Pardo took time to share a story about how Constance Wu blew him away with her ability to roll with the dialogue driven punches. Here’s how that exchange played out, as Pardo and Wu spoke with CinemaBlend:  

"JD Pardo: I remember we were doing this scene, and I think they switched lines with you. Like right on the day, they gave you this whole other page that you had to do. And in my head I’m thinking like, ‘Oh, this might take a bit.’ I don’t know how anyone does that.

Constance Wu: Nah. Just do it.

Pardo: She did one take and then she’s like ‘Ok, let’s do it again.’ We went right back into it. She did this whole new page that day, and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s a pro. That’s how pros work.’ 

Wu: I mean, also working for like 120 episodes of network television. … When I was on Fresh Off The Boat, they were always throwing you new stuff. It’s just a muscle, you just get so used to it."

“Nah. Just do it.” That’s an attitude that, while sounding simple, is something that definitely fits into J.D. Pardo’s description of “pro behavior.” While playing on the more procedural side of The Terminal List, the characters of journalist/whistleblower Katie Buranek and FBI special agent Tony Layun are both figures as important as Chris Pratt’s James Reece. 

Throughout the eight episodes that make up the first season, it’s these three people who spearhead the actions designed to expose the significant plot sitting at the heart of the series. It’s the sort of thing that fans of shows like NCIS get to see on a weekly basis, only expanded into deadlier and more serious territory that feels like it overlaps with Jason Bourne’s exploits. You can see as much when you watch the trailer for the Prime Video series, which is included below:

That means experienced TV actors like Constance Wu are going to be expected to remember jargon and details to the complex mystery that’s unfolding. Then again, Wu and co-star J.D. Pardo are both experienced in this sort of behavior, as Pardo is also known for his central role as Ezekiel "EZ" Reyes on FX’s Mayans M.C.

Dedication is something that’s at the very heart of this passion project, particularly in the story of how Chris Pratt discovered Jack Carr’s book in the first place. Stories told by the entire cast and crew of The Terminal List on this press day confirmed as much, as everyone had their own piece of realism to nail down in the cohesive whole that makes up showrunner David DiGilio and executive producer Antoine Fuqua’s jobs.

What results is an intriguing dynamic between Katie and Tony that forms a piece of why the newly released series is such a compelling watch. As both actors continued to talk up their relationship as co-stars, Constance Wu and J.D. Pardo acknowledged that the mutual level of commitment only made their scenes together feel less like acting and more like natural interactions.

Another component that distinguishes successful procedural/conspiracy thrillers from those that are mere imitations, The Terminal List’s obsession with realism turns the efforts of its expert cast and crew into a series that’s hard not to outright binge. Should the remaining books be adapted into potential future seasons, those relationships are only going to grow stronger. 

With that in mind, Constance Wu (who would surely continue to draw from her work on Fresh Off the Boat) and J.D. Pardo’s interactions in particular have a potential to hit off the charts levels of intensity. Provided, of course, their characters survive the insidious machine they’re trying to dismantle. To find out the answer to that question, and many others, you’ll have to watch the show. As such, the action and investigations of The Terminal List await Amazon Prime subscribers, as the entire first season is currently available for streaming on that very platform. 

New York City is a city known for the arts, acting as a magnet to all who want to make it big in that business of show. That much is true in the upcoming movie Lyle Lyle Crocodile, as author Bernard Waber’s classic children’s book is now a live-action/CGI comedy. With the first trailer being released to the public, we’ve now been introduced to who could arguably be named the greatest crocodile showman, voiced by pop sensation Shawn Mendes.

To think, this story might not have gotten started if the Primm family (Constance Wu, Scoot McNairy, and Winslow Fegley) hadn't accidentally discovered young Lyle (Shawn Mendes) in their new apartment. Rented from eccentric entertainer Hector P. Valenti (Javier Bardem), Lyle Lyle Crocodile's main setting is ready to be used as a launching pad for a new star. Provided, of course, he can get humanity to believe his voice is more powerful than his bite. 

As if an all-star cast including Constance Wu, Scoot McNairy, Stranger Things’ stand-out Brett Gelman, and Javier Bardem wasn’t enough of a brag, Lyle Lyle Crocodile also features music co-written by The Greatest Showman team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. You can even hear their signature energy in the brief snippet that lets Shawn Mendes' Lyle break into a huge number. If you’ve already got a song in your heart because of this adorable reptile, now you know why.

With Sony’s latest family blockbuster acting as one of the big fall movies heading to theaters, it’s good to see Lyle Lyle Crocodile’s lead getting comfortable with his scales. It’s even more of a delight seeing the cast and their interactions with a CGI flight of fancy. There’s just something magical about watching Javier Bardem, the man behind one of the most effective Bond villains of all time, acting like a protective father to a singing crocodile. 

So far, we’ve only got a limited window into the world of Lyle Lyle Crocodile, but the picture is pretty clear. Aiming for the sort of family fun that Sony’s previously delivered via adaptations like Stuart Little and the Peter Rabbit series, families should take note of when the curtain is supposed to rise on Shawn Mendes’ Lyle. Though he may not have been cast as the potential prince in Sony's Cinderella adaptation for Prime Video, it seems that Mendes has indeed found his groove.

If Benj Pasek and Justin Paul could draw inspiration from Wolverine for The Greatest Showman and put out tunes like “The Greatest Show,” who knows what our green friend may have sparked in their collective minds? With a team like the one behind Lyle Lyle Crocodile, there’s nothing holding them back! Except, of course, the wait until the movie's actual theatrical release.

Audiences will see this film sing its way into theaters on October 7th. While we don’t know when the soundtrack will be available, we’re sure that kids and music lovers alike will be watching with anticipation, as the catchy nature of this music should easily catch on.  

There's no denying that Hustlers stole a lot of hearts and made a whole lot of cash when it premiered in theaters around the globe in September of last year. While it didn't receive any Oscar love, even though it received awards consideration from various other organizations, writer/director Lorene Scafaria's true story-based crime dramedy proved to be an entertaining and captivating feature. And it was aided nicely by its assured ensemble, which included strong performances from Constance Wu and particularly Jennifer Lopez, in what's been celebrated as one of her finest screen roles.

Now that it's been a little over a year since the acclaimed film swayed its way into theaters, what's the esteemed cast of Hustlers doing now? Let's take a look and see!

Constance Wu (Destiny)

As Destiny, the newcomer to Moves who flies under Ramona's wing, particularly during her criminal endeavors, Constance Wu has the central role in Hustlers. Prior to this performance, Wu was best known for playing the lead character in Crazy Rich Asians, for which she was Golden Globe-nominated, and for her long-standing roles in ABC's Fresh Off the Boat and EastSiders. Wu also lent her voice to Next Gen and The Lego Ninjago Movie. And she starred in Sound of My Voice, Parallels, and The Feels.

Next, Constance Wu voices a character to Wish Dragon, which is expected to come out sometime next year. She also stars in a dramedy titled Low Budget Ethnic Movie, which is directed, written, edited, produced, and starring Daniel Yoon. Wu is also soon set to be seen in I Was a Simple Man, and the rom-com, Mr. Malcolm's List, which she's also producing.

Jennifer Lopez (Ramona Vega)

In the memorable role of Romana Vega, the veteran stripper who shows Destiny the ropes and eventually introduces her to a life of crime, Jennifer Lopez gave arguably the performance of her career in Hustlers. So much so that she seemed like an Oscar frontrunner, and many folks were mad when she wasn't even nominated. Alas, while the Academy didn't recognize her work, she certainly had more-than-a-few admirers.

Both as a musician and actress, Jennifer Lopez has established a long-standing career. Particularly as an actress, Lopez is known for Anaconda, Out of Sight, Maid in Manhattan, Monster-in-Law, Shall We Dance?, Gigli, The Cell, The Boy Next Door, Enough, The Wedding Planner, U-Turn, and Selena. She's also known for TV shows like In Living Color, Shades of Blue, and American Idol.

Next, JLo produces and stars in the romantic comedy-musical, Marry Me, which hits theaters in May. Likewise, she'll star in and produce The Godmother and Shotgun Wedding, both of which are in pre-production. She's also the host of NBC's World of Dance, which recently aired its fourth season.

Lili Reinhart (Annabelle)

Playing the part of Annabelle, a new-to-the-game stripper with a queasy stomach, Lili Reinhart played a standout supporting role in Hustlers. Most notably, Lili Reinhart is known for her role as Betty Cooper on The CW's Riverdale. She also appeared on Fox's Surviving Jack, and in episodes of Law & Order: SVU, Scientastic!, and The Simpsons. Additionally, Reinhart's film roles include The Kings of Summer, Miss Stevens, Forever's End, Galveston, The Good Neighbor, Not Waving But Drowning, Lilith, and a cameo in 2019's Charlie's Angels reboot.

Outside of her ongoing role in Riverdale, Lili Reinhart was most recently seen in Amazon Prime's romantic drama, Chemical Hearts, in August. She was also an executive producer on the movie. Currently, she doesn't have any additional roles lined up yet.

Keke Palmer (Mercedes)

As Mercedes, another stripper who becomes part of Destiny and Ramona's money-stealing enterprise, Keke Palmer played one of the main roles in Hustlers. First finding fame through her award-winning starring role in Akeelah and the Bee, Palmer is also known for Barbershop 2: Back in Business, The Longshots, Madea's Family Reunion, Shrink, Joyful Noise, and Pimp. She also played the title character in Nickelodeon's True Jackson, VP, and she starred in Winx Club, Scream Queens, Berlin Station, and MTV's Scream. She also hosted Just Keke.

Most recently, Keke Palmer appeared in 2 Minutes of Fame. She also stars in Turnt Up with the Taylors. And she was one-third of GMA3: Strahan, Sara & Keke, which was canceled this year. Next, Palmer plays the title role in Alice, which is now filming. She's also set to lend her voice to the new series, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.

Julia Stiles (Elizabeth)

In the role of Elizabeth, a journalist following Destiny's turn into criminality that's seen throughout the film, Julia Stiles provided the connective tissue for Hustlers' rambunctious story thread. The actress is best known for her supporting role in the Bourne franchise, as well as her leading roles in Wicked, 10 Things I Hate About You, Down to You, The Prince and Me, O, and Save the Last Dance. Additionally, Stiles is known for Silver Linings Playbook, Mona Lisa Smile, 2006's The Omen, It's a Disaster, A Guy Thing, and A Little Trip to Heaven. She also appeared in the fifth season of Dexter.

Currently, Julia Stiles can be seen in the third season of Riviera, which she frontlines. She'll also star in The God Committee, which will arrive next year. Additionally, Stiles is currently filming Esther, also known as Orphan: First Kill, which is a prequel to 2009's Orphan.

Lizzo (Liz)

In her big-screen debut, Lizzo plays Liz, a fellow stripper at Moves, in Hustlers. As a chart-topping rapper-flutist, Lizzo has been raising her profile more and more throughout the years, and that includes a couple of acting roles along the way. In addition to this supporting turn, Lizzo provided a voice performance in 2019's UglyDolls.

As a musician, Lizzo has released three studio albums, 2013's Lizzobangers, 2016's Big Grrrl Small World, and 2019's Cuz I Love You, as well as 2016's EP, Coconut Oil. Her most well-known singles include "Good As Hell," "Truth Hurts," "Juice," and "Tempo." Earlier this year, Lizzo won three Grammys, including Best Urban Contemporary Album, for her latest studio album. Additionally, Lizzo was recognized as Time Magazine's Entertainer of the Year last year.

Next, Lizzo will be heard in the upcoming short film, Yeti! Yeti! She also recently signed a production deal with Amazon Studios. And she made a fun cameo in The Eric Andre Show Season 5.

Cardi B (Diamond)

While she has been making a name for herself as one of the hottest rappers in the business right now, Hustlers is Cardi B's official screen debut, as she doesn't have any other film or television credits to her name outside of music videos and talk show appearances. Every actor or actress needs to start their career somewhere, and Hustlers is a pretty damn good place to kick off your acting career. Even though she's surrounded by veteran talents and up-and-coming performers, Cardi B certainly holds her own here, proving to be a charismatic and dynamic screen performer. It definitely wouldn't be surprising if this movie launched a stable acting career in Cardi B's future.

Nevertheless, she's already doing exceptionally well in the music world, with a Grammy to her name and several other accolades to boot. That said, Cardi B is soon expected to be seen in F9.

Mercedes Ruehl (Mama)

As Mama, the club's den mother, Mercedes Ruehl played a watchful and mindful older maternal figure in Hustlers. A multi-award-winning actress with an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a Tony to her name, Ruehl is an incredibly accomplished actress who sadly doesn't get her full due today. Her most well-known performance is in The Fisher King, for which she won her Oscar. Her other notable screen credits include Big, Radio Days, Heartburn, Married to the Mob, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Last Action Hero, and Roseanna's Grave. Additionally, Ruehl appeared in episodes of Frasier, Law & Order, Entourage, Psych, Law & Order: SVU, Life in Pieces, NCIS, 2 Broke Girls, and The Mysteries of Laura. She also had a recurring role in Power.

Hustlers was Mercedes Ruehl's most recent film role. Additionally, the actress reprised her role as Judge Tessa Hudson in a 2019 episode of CBS's Bull.

Madeline Brewer (Dawn)

In the role of Dawn, a drug-addled hire whom Destiny finds unreliable, Madeline Brewer played a prominent role in Hustlers' second half. Most notably, the actress is known for her work in Netflix's Orange Is the New Black, Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale, and her leading role in the horror movie, Cam. Additionally, she appeared in Netflix's Hemlock Grove. Her other film credits include Flesh and Blood, Captive State, Braid, and Hedgehog. Brewer also appeared in Grimm, Black Mirror, The Deleted, and Stalker. Her other credits include the short films, Marie Celeste, from last year and this year's The One. Also, the actress played a prominent part in John Cameron Mitchell's musical podcast, Anthem: Homunculus.

Most recently, Madeline Brewer starred in Now Is Everything, which is currently in the film festival circuits, and the newest season of The Handmaid's Tale. Her upcoming films include The Ultimate Playlist of Noise and Separation.

Wai Ching Ho (Destiny’s Grandmother)

As Destiny's caring and concerning grandmother, Wai Ching Ho played a key emotional supporting role in Hustlers. Outside of this performance, viewers might know Wai Ching Ho best for playing Madame Gao in Netflix's Daredevil, Iron Fist, and The Defenders, respectively. Her other TV credits include Law & Order, One Life to Live, Fresh Off the Boat, New Amsterdam, Flight of the Conchords, Blue Bloods, Orange is the New Black, The Jim Gaffigan Show, and Law & Order: SVU. Additionally, Ho appeared in Cadillac Man, Robot Stories, Premium Rush, Tracers, Adventures of Power, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, and Set It Up.

Most recently, Wai Ching Ho appeared in an episode of Comedy Central's Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens. She also starred in Lucky Grandma, which came out virtually earlier this year. Next, she'll star in a pair of short films, klutz. and A Father's Son, as well as the dramedy, Joyful.

Trace Lysette (Tracey)

In the role of Tracey, a fellow stripper working at Moves, Trace Lysette plays a prominent part in Hustlers. Outside of this performance, Lysette is best known for her work on Amazon Prime's acclaimed drama series, Transparent. She also appeared in Blunt Talk, Pose, Law & Order: SVU, Drunk History, Midnight, Texas, David Makes Man, and Coffee House Chronicles: The Movie. Additionally, Lysette appeared in short films like 2015's Bloody Mary and 2017's Deadbeat, as well as the music videos for Maroon 5's "Girls Like You" and Cher's "SOS." The actress can be seen in the reality TV series, I Am Cait, and the reality competition series, RuPaul's Drag Race. She was also recently an interview subject in Netflix's documentary, Disclosure.

Most recently, Trace Lysette reprised her role as Shea in Transparent's musical series finale last year. Next, she'll star in Venus as a Boy and Monica.

Usher (Himself)

In the role he was born to play, Usher makes a starry cameo appearance in the middle of Hustlers. Though he's known primarily as a musician, he has kept a consistent acting career in both film and television, including leading man performances in In the Mix and Light It Up, as well as notable supporting turns in She's All That, The Faculty, Gepetto, Moesha, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, 7th Heaven, Soul Food, Texas Rangers, Killers, Scary Movie 5, Muppets Most Wanted, Hands of Stone, and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. He was also seen in various episodes of NBC's The Voice.

Earlier this year, Usher starred in Hulu's Bad Hair. Additionally, the actor-musician was seen in the drama, Burden, which premiered at Sundance in 2018 and got its formal theatrical release earlier this year. He also recently directed the music video for his single, "I Cry."

Did you love Hustlers? Who's your favorite character or cast member? Be sure to let us know in the comment section below!

Having lent her talents to screens both big and small, Constance Wu only continues to establish herself as a premier actress. Whether it's comedy, drama, or seemingly any genre in-between, Wu is taking Hollywood by storm. We should expect her to frontline a number of new, exciting projects in the near future. If you're a fan of the Golden Globe-nominated Crazy Rich Asians and Fresh Off the Boat actress, you'll probably want to know more about how Wu got her start and how she made it to where she is today. Here are just a few interesting facts worth knowing about the TV/film actress.

Both Of Her Parents Are Taiwan Immigrants

Born in Richmond, Virginia, Constance Wu is the daughter of two Taiwan immigrants. Growing up, Wu's father served as a biology and genetics professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, as the actress said in a New York Times profile. She was also one of four daughters living in a first-generation household. Additionally, when she talks about her grandparents, she notes that they were bamboo farmers who couldn't read or write. And, therefore, communication between them is unfortunately limited. Throughout her career, Wu continues to bring awareness to diversity and representation in Hollywood, and she has built her career on these foundational principles.

Constance Wu Considered Going To Columbia University's Grad School Program But Ended Up Moving To Los Angeles

Constance Wu first started performing local theater during her time at Douglas S. Freeman High School, located in Henrico County. It was during her teenage years that she also participated in a six-month program at the Lee Strasberg Theatre And Film Institute. From there, Wu studied at the State University of New York at Purchase's Conservatory of Theatre Arts and she graduated in 2005. But while Wu was on the path to success in the acting field, there was a period of time where she briefly put those ambitions aside in order to study psycholinguistics. She considered studying at Columbia University to gain her graduate degree, but then she decided to firmly commit to acting. Furthermore, following a devastating break-up, Wu moved from New York City to California, where she sought out her professional ambitions in earnest.

She Turned Down A Bruce Willis Movie In Order To Do The Sundance Screenwriters Lab

Normally, if you're an up-and-coming actress and you're provided a chance to star in a new Bruce Willis movie, you'd jump at the opportunity. It might not make you a household name, necessarily, but it's certainly good exposure and it puts you in a film with a semi-guaranteed audience, at least. Nevertheless, while Constance Wu was offered a role in one of the famous actor's movies (in which film of his, it's unclear), she turned it down to participate in the Sundance Screenwriters Lab alongside Yung Chang and Christopher Yogi. Through this educational experience, Wu learned how to direct and run a set. While this role was (probably) a decent-paying gig, this teaching experience — which she participated in for free — gave her an invaluable chance to meet and work with fellow Asian artists.

Constance Wu Was Included In Time's 100 Most Influential People In The World List In 2017

It should go without saying that it's a tremendous honor to be included in Time Magazine's annual 100 most influential people in the world list. The prestigious publication recognizes some of the greatest and most noteworthy people in a given year, and in 2017, Wu was celebrated as one of the most influential people in her chosen profession. As an outspoken advocate and a trendsetting actress, it's easy to see why Time took this chance to celebrate the film/TV actress for her continued achievements, and it only continued to balloon her profile as a rising talent. It would only be a few short months later, following this article's publication, when Wu starred in Crazy Rich Asians, thus further expanding her ever-growing movie career.

Constance Wu Initially Turned Down Crazy Rich Asians

Certainly, Crazy Rich Asians was a career-defining role for Constance Wu. It was a prominent lead performance that transformed her from a sitcom actress to a newly-minted movie star. This success continued with Hustlers the following year. We should expect to see even more leading roles from Wu in the near future, and she clearly has the talents to pull off these star-making parts. But there was once a point where Wu wasn't planning to accept the lead role in Crazy Rich Asians since it conflicted with Fresh Off The Boat. Even though she really wanted to take the part, Wu originally gave director Jon M. Chu a polite decline. While the actress was willing to make peace with the decision, she had second thoughts on the plane ride home. Eventually, Wu found a way to make it work.

The Crazy Rich Asians Star Is An Advocate For Libraries

Who doesn't love their local library? These public services are a wonderful place for eager readers to advance their minds, dive into new or classic literature, and explore the world around them through the flip of a page. These institutions are certainly among the very finest in our country's history, and Constance Wu agrees. She considers herself to be an advocate for libraries, and she has taken at least a few opportunities to speak out in order to encourage people to support and help fund their nearby libraries. The actress is reportedly a pretty voracious reader, and she is vocal about her desire to educate and inspire others on the importance of these buildings and the good services they do for local communities. It can be easy to take libraries for granted, so Wu uses her platform to raise support.

Constance Wu Is Set To Star In And Executive Produce Universal's Goodbye Vitamin

The future looks quite promising for Constance Wu. With her commitments to ABC's Fresh Off The Boat now concluded with this year's sixth and final season, Wu will continue making an impact in Hollywood as a movie star. That trend is set to continue with Goodbye Vitamin, based on the acclaimed novel of the same name by Rachel Khong. Adapted by Jennifer Yee McDevitt, the forthcoming film follows Ruth Young (Wu), who discovers that her father, a renowned history professor, has lost his job following an Alzheimer's diagnosis. Ruth decides to go back home and work with one of her father's former students to stage a fake class and help him continue teaching. In addition to playing the lead role, Wu will also serve as an executive producer on this new movie.

Are you a fan of Constance Wu? What are some other fun or interesting facts you know about the film/TV actress? Let us know in the comment section below!

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Based on the novel of the same name by Kevin Kwan, Crazy Rich Asians became one of the biggest movies of 2018. Both a critical and commercial hit, earning over $200 million worldwide and securing several award nominations, Jon M. Chu's film adaptation was the first major Hollywood movie since 1993's The Joy Luck Club to feature a majority cast of actors of Asian descent inside a modern setting, and it was certainly a well-received film. With plans to turn the film into a trilogy set in place for sometime in the near future, we'll return to these romantic cast of characters, played by Henry Golding, Constance Wu, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, and more, soon. But since its major success, many of the movie's stars have only continued to see their stars shine brighter. Let's take a look at what Crazy Rich Asians cast has been working since the film's release.

Constance Wu (Rachel Chu)

An actress who found her breakthrough role with ABC's Fresh Off the Boat, Crazy Rich Asians proved to be a major breakout for the actress, leading her to more career possibilities. Notably following her Golden Globe-nominated performance in that film, becoming only the fourth Asian woman to be nominated for that award, Wu was seen in the lead role in the acclaimed crime drama, Hustlers, which also starred Jennifer Lopez. Wu also played a voice-only role in the animated movie, Next Gen. Up next, Wu will be seen in the drama film, I Was A Simple Man, and she'll also lend her voice to Wish Dragon. She also recently appeared in the sixth and final season of the aforementioned Fresh Off the Boat, and it appears that she wasn't thrilled about the acclaimed show being renewed for that many seasons, as she made clear on Twitter.

Henry Golding (Nick Young)

A Malaysian-born English actor, model, and TV host, Henry Golding gained fame across the pond, notably as the host of BBC's The Travel Show, but he became an international success when he played the romantic lead in Crazy Rich Asians, which became his first professional acting credit. Since starring in this box office smash, Golding continues to gain more high-profile roles, notably in 2018's A Simple Favor and as the romantic lead in last year's Last Christmas, which also starred the actor's Crazy Rich Asians co-star, Michelle Yeoh. Most recently, Golding starred in Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen. Up next, the rising performer will play the title role in Snake Eyes, which is expected to be released later this year (or perhaps next year, at this point). Golding will also soon set to be seen in the romantic drama Monsoon, which will get its stateside release soon.

Michelle Yeoh (Eleanor Sung-Young)

A Malaysian actress who became famous in the 1990s through Hong Kong action films, then became an international success thanks to Tomorrow Never Dies and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Crazy Rich Asians was one of Yeoh's biggest hits in recent years as she played the part of Eleanor Sung-Young, Nick's domineering mother. Since the film's release, Yeoh has also been seen in Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy and, most recently, Last Christmas. Though the actress has most prominently appeared on Star Trek: Discovery on CBS All Access. Up next, Yeoh is set to appear in a number of new movies, including Boss Level, Gunpowder Milkshake, and Everything Everywhere All At Once, but the biggest role she has coming up is a part in the forthcoming Avatar sequels. Yeoh is also lending her voice to Minions: The Rise of Gru, which will come out next year.

Awkwafina (Peik Lin Goh)

Awkwafina was previously best known as a rapper, though the performer only continues her ascension as a high-profile actress. Certainly, 2018 proved to be a big year for the rising actress, starring in Crazy Rich Asians and Ocean's 8 in the same summer, while her second EP, In Fina We Trust, was also released. The comedy star proved herself tremendously as a dramatic actress through her outstanding performance in The Farewell, for which she won a Golden Globe. Unfortunately, Awkwafina was snubbed at the Oscars. Awkwafina was also seen in Jumanji: The Next Level, and she stars, produces and writes the Comedy Central series, Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens. Next, Awkwafina stars in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Breaking News in Yuba County, and she'll soon be heard in Raya and the Last Dragon and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run.

Gemma Chan (Astrid Young Teo)

Playing fashion icon and socialite Astrid Leong-Teo, Gemma Chan had a standout role in Crazy Rich Asians. The English actress has appeared in several movies and TV shows, including Humans, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Doctor Who, Transformers: The Last Knight, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, to name a few. Since Crazy Rich Asians, Chan has continued to build her resume. She appeared in Mary Queen of Scots, and she also starred in Captain Marvel. The actress also starred and co-wrote an episode of I Am and she provided her voice to BBC's Watership Down. Next, Chan will star in The Eternals and she also has a role in Steven Soderbergh's upcoming drama, Let Them All Talk, which hits HBO Max later this year.

Lisa Lu (Ah Ma)

A prolific, acclaimed actress with decades of experience to her name, Lisa Lu gave another strong performance in Crazy Rich Asians playing the part of Shang Su Yi, also known as Ah Ma. An actress/producer seen in The Last Emperor, Bonanza, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Joy Luck Club, and several other productions for both big and small screens, Lu is a celebrated actress with three Golden Horse Awards to her name from the 1970s. Since Crazy Rich Asians, Lu hasn't appeared in any other films or shows, though she did act in the short film Penzai. It's expected to be released soon.

Ken Jeong (Wye Mun Goh)

Best known for his work in Community and The Hangover trilogy, Ken Jeong is a dependable comedic talent, and he has stayed active in the past ten-plus years. One of Jeong's most noteworthy roles was Wye Mun Goh, the wealthy father of Peik Lin Goh (Awkwafina), in 2018's Crazy Rich Asians. Since then, the doctor-turned-comedian has starred in several movies and TV shows, including Lady and the Tramp, Fresh Off the Boat, Saving Zoe, Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween, and an Avengers: Endgame cameo. Additionally, Jeong provided voice roles in BoJack Horseman, Wonder Park, The Simpsons, and Bob's Burgers. He also had a Netflix special released in 2019 and he's currently seen as a panelist on The Masked Singer. Next, Jeong stars in My Spy, Boss Level, Tom & Jerry and more, including voice roles in Scoob!, The Emperor of Malibu, and Adventures in Wonder Park.

Sonoya Mizuno (Araminta Lee)

A Japanese-born British actress, ballet dancer, and model, Sonoya Mizuno has been seen in a variety of unique and exciting projects. In addition to her role in Crazy Rich Asians, where she played Araminta Lee, the bride-to-be and the heiress to a billion-dollar chain restaurant, Mizuno is best known for her work with writer-director Alex Garland. She has appeared in both of his directorial efforts, Ex Machina and Annihilation, and she was most recently seen in the lead role of Devs, his FX-Hulu mini-series, which premiered earlier this year. Additionally, in the fall of 2018, Mizuno starred in Netflix's mini-series, Maniac, where she played a prominent role. She was also recently seen in All About Nina and The Domestics. Next, Mizuno will star in the new HBO Max series, The Flight Attendant, alongside Kaley Cuoco.

Chris Pang (Colin Khoo)

As Colin Khoo, Araminta's fiancé and Nick's childhood best friend, Chris Pang played a prominent character in Crazy Rich Asians. An Australian actor-producer of Chinese descent, Pang was previously best known for 2010's Tomorrow, When the War Began before the 2018 romantic studio comedy. Since Crazy Rich Asians, Pang has been seen in last year's Charlie's Angels and Empty By Design, which he also produced. He was also recently cast in an untitled Amazon pilot from producer Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights, Parenthood). Pang is also soon set to be seen in the Sundance hit, Palm Springs, and he has a role in the upcoming sports movie, Underdogs Rising.

Jimmy O. Yang (Bernard Tai)

As the spoiled, party-loving former classmate of Colin Khoo and Nick Young, comedian Jimmy O. Yang gets a splashy, occasionally scene-stealing role in Crazy Rich Asians. Beyond this supporting role, Yang is best known for playing Jian-Yang in HBO's acclaimed Silicon Valley. That series wrapped its run after its sixth season aired late last year. Recently, Yang was seen in Like a Boss and Fantasy Island. He'll next star in Netflix's Space Force. He also appeared in The Simpsons and Fresh Off the Boat, which also stars Constance Wu, and he played a voice-only role in The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part. He'll next be seen in the lead role of The Opening Act, which also stars Ken Jeong, and he provides his voice to Wish Dragon. He also recently wrote a memoir titled How to American: An Immigrant's Guide to Disappointing Your Parents.

Who is your favorite Crazy Rich Asians star? Let us know in the comment section below.

When it was announced that ABC was finally pulling the plug on Fresh Off The Boat, a sizable number of people pointed a finger at Constance Wu. Trolls were out in full force, and even more rational folks may have wondered if the actress had something to do with its cancellation after her public outburst following a season renewal. Despite what others may think, ABC entertainment president Karey Burke has confirmed Wu had nothing to do with the network's decision to end the show.

Burke spoke to the media at the Television Critics Association winter press tour, and assured all in attendance the decision was not Wu's to make anyway. Instead, the ABC head said it was a mutual decision between two parties, and a feeling that Fresh Off The Boat had reached a natural conclusion.

Nearly a year since Constance Wu's online outburst, Karey Burke is maintaining that there are no hard feelings between the actress and the network. There's little reason to doubt Burke's words (via TVLine), as Fresh Off The Boat is primarily focused on Eddie. With Eddie graduating, there is a chance to bring the show to a natural end, which feels more important than ever before in an age where streaming becomes more relevant with each passing day. No one likes a show with an abrupt or rushed ending, and people may not binge it later knowing that that's how things end.

Of course, it remains to be seen whether or not this will silence those who think Constance Wu played a key role in the show's cancellation. One does have to wonder if it wasn't at least a factor discussed, considering that ABC has one of Hollywood's most-buzzed actresses on a sitcom that airs in the doldrums of Friday nights. Wu has had larger roles that she's thrived in and is likely getting offers for much bigger projects, which played a part in her outburst upon learning that Fresh Off The Boat had been renewed. There may be a day where people forget about this controversy, though it all still feels fresh enough for Karey Burke to be addressing it nearly a year later.

Related: All The TV Shows That Are Cancelled And Ending In 2020

Fresh Off The Boat returns to ABC Friday, January 17. Stick with CinemaBlend for more on the series ahead of its final episodes, and for a look at what's happening with other shows and movies.

It didn't take long after the news broke that Fresh Off The Boat was being cancelled for the trolls to come out. Even those who hadn't watched the ABC comedy were at least vaguely familiar with the recent controversy, in which star Constance Wu publicly went off on social media after learning of the show's previous renewal.

Constance Wu hasn't been on social media since the news broke, so some on Twitter went ahead and speculated on how she felt. As one may expect, many were assuming the Hustlers star was thrilled that her time on the series was finally reaching an end.

Is it a little rude to assume Constance Wu is upset about Fresh Off The Boat's cancellation? Perhaps, though it's worth noting it probably wouldn't be happening had she not dropped an f-bomb when it was renewed and told her followers she was "literally crying" because of the news.

Constance Wu later took to social media to explain that she loved Fresh Off The Boat, but its renewal meant she would not be able to do another project she was passionate about. Now that the show is coming to an end, some fans are thinking she's more than thrilled to finally be free from its grasp.

Again, no one actually knows Constance Wu's true feelings, though it wouldn't be surprising given her rise in fame. Wu had two movies she starred in (Crazy Rich Asians, Hustlers) do well at the box office, so one would think her demand in Hollywood is high.

The success Constance Wu has had in Hollywood paired with her reaction to that one renewal of Fresh Off The Boat has led some in the public to believe she's a diva. It's mainly why takes are floating around implying the cast and crew have issues dealing with her or that she's the major reason for the comedy's success.

Those are just a few of the numerous takes poking fun at the actress, which may be why she's shied away from social media as of late. After all, the easiest way to escape random online abuse is to get off the internet.

There is some good news for Constance Wu, and it's that she does have some people defending her amidst all the memes. Others are just sick of the jokes and simply don't want the near constant joking to overshadow the legacy Fresh Off The Boat created.

It's not necessarily a huge defense of Constance Wu, but it is more a reminder to fans she's just as responsible for this iconic show as anyone else. Sure she had a moment where she wanted it all to be over, but that shouldn't instantly negate any sad feelings or emotional connection she may still have to Fresh Off The Boat.

There's also folks that just want to send good vibes, regardless of how Constance Wu feels. After all, there probably are some people legitimately excited to see her schedule clear, and didn't care all that much about Fresh Off The Boat.

The trolls far outweigh the supporters in this instance, and while the internet seems really down on Constance Wu right now, life will go on. Pretty soon the world will be tweeting about some drama regarding the launch of Disney+ or maybe some shocking villain casting in The Batman, and life will continue. Provided Wu doesn't have another high-profile incident where she appears to bash a project she's involved in, the masses will move on.

Fresh Off The Boat's Spinoff Just Got Good News At ABC

Fresh Off The Boat airs Fridays on ABC at 8:30 p.m. ET. Stick with CinemaBlend for more on the series as it heads towards a conclusion, and for more updates happening in the world of movies and television.

Who doesn’t love a good crime story? There have been so many great cinematic tales of thievery and bad behavior that the genre has become one of the most pervasive and popular around. Of course, the drawback is that anyone who wants to try and add their mark to this particular lexicon needs to bring something new to the table if they hope to stand out.

By the looks of it, you’d think that writer/director Lorene Scafaria’s Hustlers might not be the film to do that — utilizing formula paired with what could feel like stock female empowerment material. That initial impression, however, is off-base. With powerhouse performances, and a unique spin on familiar storytelling, this film is a fun, albeit flawed, exercise in transforming the old into something new.

Hustlers takes its story from a true scandal, centering on Ramona (Jennifer Lopez) and Dorothy a.k.a. Destiny (Constance Wu), two strippers who are joined at the hip in a sort of mother/daughter relationship after meeting as colleagues at the same New York City club. While they are able to live the high life by feeding the desires of their wealthy clientele through their seduction techniques, the financial crash of 2008 results in the disappearance of all the Wall Street brokers that lavished them with tips galore. The result is serious economic hardship, leading them to create some bold ideas to recover their former lifestyles.

One big scheme, laced with drugs. alcohol, and exploitation, is all it takes to put Ramona, Dorothy, and their family of co-workers into the lap of luxury. But as with anything, the good times can only last so long.

You can see the DNA of films like Goodfellas and The Wolf of Wall Street in every frame of Hustlers, as Lorene Scafaria takes this sprawling, non-linear narrative and shapes it with an inspired sense for music and narration reminiscent of how Martin Scorsese would attack such a tale. That’s not really a bad thing, though it does set up audiences to compare Scafaria’s film and those of the Scorsese's filmography.

What certainly helps Hustlers is that it feels like a very welcome updated take on that kind of storytelling. Yes, it has beats that feel derivative, but the characters that Lorene Scafaria explores with her interpretation of the familiar formula are vastly different. Ramona and Dorothy are people who, instead of acting purely from a place of greed, are clearly trying to fill emotional voids in their lives.

That difference is where Hustlers truly shines, as Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu wring that material for what it’s worth and make Ramona and Dorothy pop as charismatic protagonists. It’s a particularly spectacular return to form for Lopez, who not only brings her A-game to Ramona’s multi-faceted personality, but also is met with a script that really uses her to the fullest potential.

This leaves Wu to not only step up her game, but also to match those levels of brilliance that Lopez injects into Hustlers. The result is the most interesting non-literal dance captured on the screen, as the entire film sees both performers interacting with such ease and expertise that they captivate both their marks and movie-goers.

Truth be told, the entire roster of Hustlers’ acting lineup leave everything out on the field, and it’s a blessing. However, this also leads to the biggest problem the film has when it comes to working the Scorsese formula: it isn’t a long enough movie to truly capitalize on the rhythm with which this sort of story typically operates.

After watching Hustlers, I have to believe that there’s a cut longer than the one that’s going to theaters — which clocks in at an hour and 49 minutes. The build-up feels a bit too slow when compared to the resolution, and ultimately the film ends with a back half that rushes along just a little too quickly. Characters are introduced in a quick fashion, and work their way into the fabric of the film effectively enough. Yet besides Ramona and Dorothy, no one else really gets a chance to shine and be built as a fuller character just because of how the story moves. This is a film that boasts an ensemble featuring Lizzo, Cardi B, Keke Palmer, and Lili Reinhart, and you're left wanting a lot more of their presence.

There’s some missteps in Hustlers’ execution, but they aren’t killers. If anything, they just make you want more of the movie. Leaving the theater, I wanted more details as to how the business of strippers works, and a little more of the day in and day out of Ramona and Dorothy’s pre- and post-scam lives.

Lorene Scafaria takes a lot of bold moves updating a tried-and-true storytelling model, and is mostly successful, but there is also a desire to get more from the story — which feels slim in the grand scope.Still, the upside here is that whether you’re a fan of Scafaria’s impressive career thus far, or you're a newcomer, you’ll still be on board once you’ve dusted the glitter of Hustlers from your eyes.

Last summer, Crazy Rich Asians became the first blockbuster rom-com in about a decade. It has since launched massive careers for its breakout Asian stars, whose various actors are set to continue in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, become an iconic G.I. Joe and voice in Disney films moving forward. Following its monumental success, there are two planned sequels in the works for Crazy Rich Asians based on the books China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems, but one major setback may be stalling the sequel's development.

Crazy Rich Asians writing team Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim were originally set to pen the scripts for the rest of the trilogy based on Kevin Kwan’s best-selling novels. However, new reports indicate Lim left the project last fall due to what was reportedly an unequal pay dispute. Allegedly, while Chiarelli was offered between $800,000 to $1 million, Lim’s was only extended to $110,000-plus.

Warner Bros. explained the pay disparity was industry-standard established based on the experience of the two writers. Peter Chiarelli previously wrote the $317 million-grossing The Proposal for the studio and the story for Now You See Me 2. Crazy Rich Asians was Adele Lim’s first feature film script, though she’s written for 12 different television shows dating back to 2002.

Adele Lim told THR she believes herself and other women/people of color are regularly brought on board to projects to serve as the “soy sauce” to pepper in cultural details on a screenplay instead of contributing to the meat of the story. After she walked away, the studio searched for another writer of Asian heritage to replace her for five months before approaching her again in February with an offer closer to Peter Chiarelli’s who agreed to split his pay with her.

The writer decided to stand her ground and passed agin. Now she has moved on with Walt Disney Animation, where she will be the sole writer on the studio’s upcoming film Raya and the Last Dragon coming to theaters in November 2020 and starring Crazy Rich Asians’ Awkwafina.

Adele Lim or not, it was going to be awhile before audiences would see a Crazy Rich Asians sequel. Jon M. Chu is currently working on his adaptation of In the Heights musical coming in June 2020 before returning to the rom-com franchise. In addition, he has now taken Lim’s place as writer with Peter Chiarelli on the two sequels which are in its early stages over at Warner Bros.

The cast’s newfound starpower is another reason the Crazy Rich Asians sequels could take longer to hit the big screen. Constance Wu regularly shoots Fresh Off the Boat, with maybe a summer for other projects. Awkwafina is stacked up with movie roles for the next couple years. Gemma Chan is joining the Eternals, perhaps with more time cut out for Marvel on the way and Henry Golding is getting ready to lead Snake Eyes.

Coordinating all the breakout actors together for their reunion in the sequels could push back shooting further. However, Chu doesn’t seem worried about the setbacks. In his words:

After the success of Crazy Rich Asians, the filmmakers certainly want to deliver a similar quality for the sequels! At the earliest, the ensemble cast will be back shooting by the end of 2020. Good news is Crazy Rich Asians 2 & 3 will likely have closer release dates between one another since they are being shot back-to-back.

As 2019’s summer season reaches an end, we may remember it as a moment when moviegoers couldn’t get enough of live-action remakes and superhero genre epics. But when looking in restrospect to last summer’s movie offerings, Crazy Rich Asians was the standout movie of the season that turned some tides for Hollywood with its massive box office and critical success. It brought about a new wave for the romantic comedy genre and proved there’s an eager audience centered on Asian-American stories. Just look at how well the Crazy Rich Asians’ cast is doing, nabbing big-time roles after their breakout success!

Crazy Rich Asians had a stacked cast of Asian-American actors – the first major Hollywood film to do so since 1993's The Joy Luck Club. The comedy featured some well known talents such as Michelle Yeoh and Ken Jeong, but more notably introduced the world to quite a few newcomers who clearly have bright futures in the business looking at where they are just one year after Crazy Rich Asians, between their impressive co-stars and upcoming franchise roles. Check them out:

Constance Wu (Rachel Chu)

Fresh Off the Boat’s Constance Wu lead 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians as New York economics professor Rachel Chu, who journeys to Singapore with her boyfriend Nick Young for a wedding only to find out he belongs to an incredibly rich, celebrity-status family. Before starring in the summer success, Wu already had four seasons on the aforementioned ABC sitcom under her belt. The actress had been pursuing the business for over 10 years, and with Fresh Off the Boat being her only starring role at the time, Crazy Rich Asians allowed her to snag the spotlight in a movie.

One year after the August release of Crazy Rich Asians, Constance Wu is gearing up for a starring role in the upcoming crime dramedy Hustlers alongside Jennifer Lopez, Julia Stiles, Keke Palmer, Lili Reinhart, Cardi B and Lizzo. The September release tells the true story of a crew of former strippers who decide to take advantage of their Wall Street clients. Wu holds the top-billing for Hustlers as a single mother named Destiny who creates the master plan with her fellow dancers.

The actress did have a very public outburst a few months ago when she took to social media to express her anguish over losing out on another opportunity following the renewal of Fresh Off the Boat. Slate has called the incident a unique win for representation Hollywood. Finally, an Asian-American “Diva” to call their own! ABC has assured fans there is no beef with the actress. She’s also scored roles in Sony Animation’s Wish Dragon and Low Budget Ethnic Movie.

Henry Golding (Nick Young)

When Henry Golding was cast in Crazy Rich Asians, he didn’t have a single acting credit. He’d been hosting BBC World News’ The Travel Show, which was just the source that got him invited to audition for the rom-com. When he debuted as Nick Young in the August flick, he became a Hollywood heartthrob overnight and has since gained massive fame (a transition he admits he’s wrestled with). In his breakout role, he plays Rachel’s boyfriend with a family part of the Singapore elite.

After also starring in A Simple Favor alongside Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick for his second movie, Golding has an impressive line-up to continue his acting career. This holiday season he’ll play leading man to Game of Thrones’ Emilia Clarke in another rom-com, titled Last Christmas. At the top of 2020, the Crazy Rich Asians actor will also be in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentleman. The action film also stars Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Colin Farrell and Hugh Grant and will follow a British drug lord selling off his empire to Oklahoma billionaires.

Henry Golding is also making moves into blockbuster franchises with his recent casting as the lead in G.I. Joe spinoff, Snake Eyes. He’ll play the fan-favorite ninja warrior in the Robert Schwentke (director of Red)-helmed flick. The actor has also recently been in public conversation about taking on the role of Namor in the MCU (maybe as the villain in Black Panther 2?) Who knows if it will happen, but the fact that Golding has made it as far as being fan-casted in a Marvel role within a year of his success is crazy!

Gemma Chan (Astrid Young Teo)

Of the Crazy Rich Asians’ breakout cast, 37-year-old Gemma Chan had the most lengthy career before joining in on the summer hit. Fans of AMC’s Humans series were familiar with her and she’d found supporting roles in Fantastic Beasts and Transformers. The Jon M. Chu-directed book adaptation was her largest movie role to date and has propelled her into Hollywood star status. Chan played Nick’s sister Astrid, who is dealing with her husband’s affair throughout the movie.

Since then, she played the blue-skinned Minn-Erva in March’s Captain Marvel. She may have a larger role in the MCU too, since she’s rumored to have involvement in the upcoming Phase Four film The Eternals. It’s unclear whether she’ll be reprising her Starforce role or playing a brand new character, but get it, girl! The actress has also just been cast in Steven Soderbergh’s latest project, titled Let them All Talk. She’ll be acting alongside none-other-than Meryl Streep for the under-wraps role. That cast also includes Lucas Hedges and Candice Bergen.

Chan will also be getting a promotion of sorts for the planned Crazy Rich Asian sequels. Astrid’s continuing story will reportedly play a larger role in the next film in development as her relationship with Harry Shum Jr’s Charlie Wu (shown in a cameo at the end) will be further explored, following the events of the books.

Awkwafina (Peik Lin Goh)

The true breakout of the Crazy Rich Asians cast is Awkwafina, of course. The 31-year-old has quickly become one of Hollywood’s trendiest talents since her scene-stealing role as Rachel’s hilarious best friend Peik Lin in the 2018 summer movie. Before that role lit up the big screen, she appeared earlier in 2018 in Ocean’s Eight and had gained popularity for her YouTube channel. Once she uttered the iconic words “bok, bok, bitch,” he life was never the same.

Awkwafina recently wowed critics for her performance in Lulu Wang’s drama The Farewell, which has a 99% Rotten Tomatoes score and could receive Oscars attention. She’s also done voice acting for The Angry Birds Movie 2, Netflix’s upcoming The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, 2020’s The SpongeBob Movie: It's a Wonderful Sponge and will reportedly play Scuttle in Disney’s live-action Little Mermaid.

Awkwafina also has a role in Jumanji: The Next Level coming this December, alongside The Rock, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Danny DeVito and Danny Glover. Then she is joining the MCU in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Oh, and she’ll also star with Meryl Streep in Netflix musical Prom! Plus, she's creating her own television show for Comedy Central called Awkwafina, based on her experiences living in Queens. She’s literally doing it all!

The Crazy Rich Asians cast members are becoming actual realizations of the movie title that propelled them into stardom with all the projects they have on the way!! Considering each of their careers have exponentially grown since the rom-com dazzled audiences, it's clear the movie left an impression on Hollywood and made way for more Asian lead roles in the mainstream.

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What are friends for? Whether they be best buddies, or in the case of Hustlers co-stars Constance Wu and Cardi B, valued co-workers, there’s always something that they can do to make life just a little easier. In the scenario we’re about to lay down, that “something” is tips on how to give a good lap dance.

Who says you can’t learn something new and exciting in Hollywood? In a recent interview, the Crazy Rich Asians star told a short, but incredibly funny story about how her fellow Hustlers star decided to show her the ropes:

As a former stripper herself, Cardi B is the expert tier teacher/ringer that the cast of Hustlers definitely needs, as it’s primed to tell the true story about how a group of women fleeced men in positions of high finance. Naturally, everyone from musical sensation Lizzo to Riverdale’s Lili Reinhart needs to look like they can act the part, so everyone needed some professional lessons, as well as the potential for some pointers from their recording artist colleague.

Constance Wu’s on-set lessons weren’t the extent of her education in stripping, as she also told EW that in addition to Cardi B’s informal tutelage, there were also pole-dancing classes that were given on the weekends. So her prep for the showstopping dances featured in Hustlers also included a classroom curriculum that saw her building her skills outside of when the cameras were rolling.

As if that wasn’t enough of a variety of professional stripping teachers, Jennifer Lopez’s role as the experienced veteran of the stripping scene, Ramona, required she take what could be considered A.P. classes in stripping and movement. This meant that J. Lo had to work with Johanna Sapakie, a choreographer and Cirque Du Soleil aerialist, which puts to rest any and all claims casual moviegoers may have about how much effort she, Constance Wu, and Cardi B put into their on screen professions. If that doesn’t do it, then perhaps the insanely perfect shape Lopez has gotten into for Hustlers will silence all remaining critics. Abs like that hold up in court, folks.

Hustlers is one of the first big movies to head our way in the fall movie season, with writer/director Lorene Scafaria primed to return to the big screen with a story so outrageous, it just has to be true. Which only recalls a key rule of storytelling: the more convincing everything else is, the more likely your audience will be to buy the really outrageous stuff.

So thank you, Cardi B, on behalf of moviegoers everywhere who are ready to see Hustlers grab all the loot it can walk away with on September 13th. But don’t forget any of the other box office excitement that’s set to debut between now and then, especially when our 2019 release schedule is the perfect reminder of just what’s on the way.

Fresh Off The Boat is coming back to ABC this fall and Constance Wu will still be a star on the series when it makes its return. This might seem a bit surprising given the Crazy Rich Asians actress’ comments on social media earlier this year, but everyone involved seems ready to move forward and move on.

According to ABC President Karey Burke, who spoke candidly at ABC’s Summer TCA Press Tour Presentation, the network head said everyone has been taking the actress at her word following her outburst and subsequent apology. She noted:

Clearly, Karey Burke isn’t involved with the day-to-day on Fresh Off The Boat, but if the comments CinemaBlend heard at TCA this week are any indication, people have been willing to let bygones be bygones after the incident earlier this spring.

Following the success of Wu’s big screen project Crazy Rich Asians, it seemed clear the actress was getting excited about trying other new things when her ABC project Fresh Off The Boat was renewed. The move by ABC to renew was a surprise to Constance Wu at the time and she took to social media to seemingly express her frustration about ABC’s renewal, noting.

Constance Wu later deleted the post and took to social media to sort of apologize but more to clarify her intentions in regards to the above comment. At the time, she said she was not unhappy that Fresh Off The Boat had been renewed for Season 6, but that the move by the Disney-owned network had been a surprise to her and that she had already started to commit to a project she was really excited about, thus the post mentioned above.

She also said on social media around the time of the initially tweet:

Karey Burke says the show, its cast and crew are all moving on and moving forward into Season 6 and mentioned there’s nothing “other than enthusiasm” for heading back to work.

On the bright side, Constance Wu is becoming a bigger name in Hollywood thanks to her success in CRA, and still working on Fresh Off The Boat as it continues its run shouldn’t diminish that. Melissa McCarthy, for example, stuck around on TV while she went to star in movies. As Crazy Rich Asians 2, China Rich Girlfriend, has already been greenlighted (albeit we may not get it for a while), Constance Wu’s future on the big screen is still very bright.

This should theoretically be one of those situations where you can have your cake and eat it too, although undoubtedly there will be scheduling conflicts sometimes while working in both mediums.

You can catch the Fresh Off The Boat cast all back in action when the ABC comedy returns to the schedule on Friday, September 27 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

For a lot of people, "Jennifer Lawrence stars as a stripper" is probably enough of a description of a movie to get people to notice, and while there's plenty of attractive women spinning on poles in the first trailer for the new movies Hustlers, there's also a bit more going on. The film follows a group of co-workers who are dealing with economic hardships, and using their one advantage to get what they need, and maybe punish a few people they deem worthy of punishment. Check out the new trailer below.

Hustlers tells the story a group of strippers with a large clientele around Wall Street. The film takes place following the economic collapse and the women all find themselves struggling to get by, supporting families on meager incomes, while those of Wall St. continue to succeed, even after having caused the economic catastrophe that has put them in such dire straights.

The women then hatch a plot that they see as getting a measure of revenge, but one that also greatly enhances their own wealth. They get the customer at the strip club incredibly drunk and then run up his credit card and pocket the profit. The assumption, quite rightly being, that the men can both afford the hit, and if they suspect that they were taken advantage of, they likely won't say anything in order to avoid admitting what they were up to.

If it feels like something like this could actually happen, it did. The film is based on a New York Magazine article entitled "The Hustlers at Scores" which told the real life story of the women involved in the scam.

Hustlers has a solid cast consisting of Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu as two of the women stealing the money. Cardi B. only has a brief appearance in the trailer, though one assumes she'll play a significant role in the final product. Julia Stiles also appears, a phrase that should be used to describe more movies than it does, apparently as a shrink that one of the characters is seeing who learns the whole story. I can see the doctor's office as a framing device to set up the story.

While the movie may be about strippers, the trailer isn't selling itself solely on sex appeal, though there's clearly plenty of that.

Hustlers may not look like the sort of film that's going to blow up the box office, but that's what's actually sort of refreshing about it. This is clearly a smaller film with a smaller budget but it's the sort of drama that almost certainly has an audience out there somewhere, it just needs to find it. So much of Hollywood is focused on hitting home runs, making massive movies that require massive returns to be successful, it's nice to see a smaller film even trying to succeed.

Hustlers hits theaters in September.

UPDATE: A day after her controversial posts, Constance Wu returned to Twitter with a full statement of explanation, saying she was upset about the Fresh Off the Boat renewal but only because it meant she couldn't be part of another project. She proceeded to praise the ABC show's cast and crew:

Original post:

A lot of shows were cancelled yesterday, but ABC's Fresh Off the Boat was not one of them. Instead, the comedy was renewed for Season 6. Usually when a TV show is renewed, it's GOOD news to the cast and crew. Not for Constance Wu, or at least that's how it seemed. The actress who plays Jessica Huang had very surprising reactions to the cancellation, and later deleted some posts and tried to argue her tweets weren't in reference to the show.

Here's the first tweet, which is still up on Constance Wu's account:

This "fucking hell" one is also still active:

However, what's gone is any direct connection between her social media and Fresh Off the Boat. But the internet saves everything -- including her "Dislike" comment on an Instagram post about Fresh Off the Boat being renewed, and her response to a fan who congratulated her on the renewal; he tweeted that it was "Great news" and she replied "No it's not."

Those were pretty direct responses to the ABC show's renewal, so it was surprising when Constance Wu returned to Twitter to defend herself and tell fans to stop assuming they knew what she was writing about. Fans broke out what the Crazy Rich Asians star had posted to remind her the receipts were still out there:

Constance Wu continued to defend her tweet about being upset and crying, saying fans were just assuming it was about Fresh Off the Boat:

Ultimately, Constance Wu explained the tweets by arguing it was a case of unfortunate timing with the renewal of the show -- without mentioning her own comments on renewal-specific posts:

You can imagine her agent, publicist, manager, or someone connected to Fresh Off the Boat contacted her after the initial posts to ask her what she was doing. Even if she hates being on the show -- and there could be valid reasons for her frustration that we don't know! -- it comes across as disrespectful to the entire cast and crew to be so negative about the show continuing. Especially when she doesn't go into detail about what's going on, and deflects afterward as if she wasn't really commenting about the renewal when it's clear in at least two cases she was.

If she's unhappy with something on set or the production of the show, it would be better to either explain it all to the public or just handle it all behind-the-scenes with The Powers That Be. This halfway tease-and-retract stuff just makes her look bad.

Constance Wu's Crazy Rich Asians co-star Gemma Chan also got her name dragged into this when she reportedly "liked" a tweet criticizing Wu. That "like" is not active at this point, but it added fuel to the fire.

Constance Wu is a movie star now after Crazy Rich Asians. On top of that, there are posts like the Slate article from last fall arguing that "Fresh Off The Boat Has A Jessica Problem" with the show losing sight of what made her character great. Maybe Wu agreed with that and has frustrations about how her character is depicted on the show. That would be nothing new for a TV star. But her posts after the show's renewal brought out old references from past stars like David Caruso and Katherine Heigl who spoke out like this and were sent to actor jail.

So the first day on set for Fresh Off the Boat Season 6 may be pretty awkward, unless Constance Wu can find her way out of the contract. Or maybe she can successfully spin this as just a bad day and she's really excited to return. But if she wants out, why not let her out? They could recast Jessica or write out the character as TV has done countless times before. Meanwhile, Crazy Rich Asians has two sequels in the works filming in 2020.

The Star Wars universe isn't going anywhere, with Episode IX, two original television shows from the upcoming streaming service Disney+, Rian Johnson's planned new trilogy and the film series from Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss all on the way. However, you can rule out Crazy Rich Asians lead Constance Wu among the long line of actors eager to sign themselves up for a role for a chance to wield a lightsaber and rock space buns. Here's what Wu said:

It looks like the Force isn't with Constance Wu! It's not that the actress doesn't love the Star Wars franchise, she just doesn't want to tied to a long contract movie deal. She was asked by Rogue One's Jyn Erso herself during an episode of Variety's Actors on Actors starring Wu and Felicity Jones.

Before Star Wars fans write off Constance Wu, she did give some understandable reasons why she wouldn't be instantly attracted to working on a Star Wars film. She has been doing a lot of the same as Jessica Huang on ABC's comedy series Fresh Off the Boat for five seasons and is ready to regularly challenge herself with a mixture of roles.

Felicity Jones' Star Wars experience was an exception to the norm of the franchise, as Rogue One was a standalone film that pretty much hits the self-destruct button for potential sequels as the film closes. In the Variety interview, Jones expressed to Constance Wu about how she would love to play the part again and have the stability Wu has found on Fresh Off the Boat.

Constance Wu then back-tracked a bit, thinking back to her massive press junket for this summer's massive hit Crazy Rich Asians. Wu loved coming back to a familiar set of Fresh Off the Boat and appreciates the comfort of it.

She likely already has a franchise on her hands, since Crazy Rich Asians was the highest-grossing rom-com since 2009's The Proposal, just received two Golden Globe nominations (including a nod for Constance Wu for Best Actress in a Comedy) and has two sequels in the works for the characters based on novels by Kevin Kwan.

Crazy Rich Asians has been confirmed for a sequel, but it looks like Wu just hasn't gotten the official call yet, and director Jon M. Chu has In the Heights lined up to work on in 2019 first.

As far as Star Wars is concerned, pretty much anything is possible considering the franchises plans to go backwards and forwards in the timeline in their film and television show endeavors. Constance Wu could certainly find a short-lived role if she wanted to, and I think she would be a great fit for the franchise.

While Felicity Jones' chances of returning to Rogue One seem initially dim, her costar Diego Luna, who played Cassian Andor is getting a Disney+ series of his own, which precedes the Star Wars prequel even further. Maybe there's hope for Jyn Erso too?

A Crazy Rich Asians sequel has already been greenlighted, much to the delight of fans. However, if you were hoping for the movies sooner rather than later, your hopes may be dashed. Constance Wu, who starred in the first installation and would be back for China Rich Girlfriend, revealed it may be longer for the new movie to come together than we initially thought. In a recent interview, Wu said:

Constance Wu revealed that Jon M. Chu definitely does want to come back for round 2 after directing the first movie, which makes sense, considering the cultural impact that Crazy Rich Asians had. We previously learned that he, along with Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim, would be collaborating on China Rich Girlfriend. We also knew that In The Heights would be coming up, but it wasn't clear that it would take most of 2019 for that to come together. Which means China Rich Girlfriend might not even really get off the ground until 2020, depending on how timelines work out.

Per Wu's comments at Vulture Festival (via Deadline), China Rich Girlfriend may or may not follow the second book in Kevin Kwan's popular series, but she also mentions she's not super in the know about the creative process. We did previously learn that Astrid would be in the second movie more significantly than she was in the first movie.

This actually totally makes sense, considering Astrid gets plenty of time on the page in the books and is a character that is a big deal outside of the Nick and Rachel relationship that took up a good portion of the first flick. If she's the focal point, however, I wonder if we'll get to see a lot of the stuff about Rachel and her dad.

As for In The Heights, the movie based on Lin-Manuel Miranda's popular and award-winning musical, was dealing with some trouble for a while. The project had been set up at The Weinstein Company, which then went through bankruptcy. A few months ago, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Quiara Alegría Hudes and more nabbed the rights back. Regardless, it's still taking a while for the flick to move forward.

In turn, it wasn't always a shoe-in that Crazy Rich Asians would be a big box office success. It was a nice win for Warner Bros., I'm sure, but it's not as if the studio went ahead and greenlighted a sequel before seeing how the first flick did.

All in all, everything should work out. Musical fans should be happy to finally be getting In The Heights and fans of Crazy Rich Asians should be happy to get a sequel from the same director. Good vibes all around. The issue will be in the waiting.

As soon as China Rich Girlfriend starts moving forward, we'll be sure to let you know, of course. Plus, be sure to check out all the fun and diverse films coming out next year with our full schedule. On the bright side, the Blu-ray for the first movie will be out tomorrow, so you can be sure to relive your favorite moments, plus a few extras.

From "Inconceivable!", "As If!" to "You go, Glen Coco!", one of the marks of a good romantic comedy is a line that is so unique and memorable, that it becomes a universally recognized phrase. It's been a while since a new rom-com has had this kind of impact, but that's all changed with Crazy Rich Asians. The massively popular new comedy became a box office hit, receiving rave reviews from audiences and critics alike. The new hit also delivered a potentially iconic phrase of its own, "Bok, Bok Bitch!" It was one of the movie's most hilarious line, and it turns out it was improvised by Constance Wu. Here's what she said about it:

During an interview with Huffington Post, leading ladies Constance Wu and Awkwafina revealed that their memorable exchange in the movie was the product really getting into character. Thanks to director Jon M. Chu, the line made it into Crazy Rich Asians. In the moment, which was featured in the trailer, the best friends are talking about how Rachel should go about dealing with her boyfriend's mother, who is giving her a hard time. Rachel (played by Wu) compares it to playing a game of chicken, with the mother thinking she's going to swerve. Peik Lin (Awkwafina) starts to interject, telling her she needs to "roll up" when Rachel interrupts suddenly with "and be like Bok, Bok, Bitch."

Although Constance Wu came up with the line, without the trust of director Jon M. Chu to let the ensemble cast to go off script on occasion, the line would have never been created. In the interview, Awkwafina explained that she's tried to improvise on other movie sets before, and was told to "just do it off the book," Considering Crazy Rich Asians is a movie filled with many talented comedic talents, it definitely benefitted from this collaborative approach that allowed the cast to loosen up, therefore having the opportunity to show their own comedic styles in the film.

As Crazy Rich Asians enters its second week in theaters, it is expected to continue to earn big. The romantic comedy has been abuzz this summer as it features the first Asian-led cast in quite some time and has already been confirmed for a sequel. As more audiences flock to see the film, don't be surprised if you get a slightly aggressive "Bok, Bok Bitch" handed to you if the phrase catches on.

While romantic comedies have frequently been a sustainable crowd-pleaser, if Crazy Rich Asians makes it big at the box office, it will be an outlier in its genre and prove to Hollywood that there is a considerable audience rooting for Asian-American-centered stories. Before the movie hit theaters on August 15, Fresh off the Boat's Constance Wu, who stars in the film, penned a letter on Twitter explaining why its release is such a milestone for her as an actress and the Asian-American community. Just like how Fresh off the Boat was a one in a million opportunity for her to tell a story of an Asian-American family on network television, a first in over 20 years, so is Crazy Rich Asians. In her words:

This is a big moment for the industry, Constance Wu and the Crazy Rich Asians' cast and crew overall. In her sincere tweet, Wu also explained that before nabbing a leading role as the hilarious Jessica Huang on Fresh off the Boat, she was barely scraping by as an actress, working primarily as a waitress for 10 years. She had no idea she would be here, being not only offered one, but two opportunities that are making history for Asian representation in Hollywood. Directed by Jon M. Chu, Crazy Rich Asians, which is based on the same-named novel, has New Yorker Rachel Chu traveling to Singapore with her boyfriend, played by Henry Golding, to visit his incredibly affluent family. In the letter, Wu said Chu described the project as "a movement" instead of a movie because of the great strides it has in store for the Asian-Americans with its wide release. Putting Crazy Rich Asians on the big screen was so important to Chu and book author Kevin Kwan that they passed a massive offer from Netflix to allow it time in theaters.

In recent years, inclusion in Hollywood has been hot on everyone lips, but there is still a lot of work to be done, including with Asian-American talent. Just last month, Sandra Oh became the first Asian-American woman to be nominated for an Emmy for Leading Actress in a Drama. In her letter, Constance Wu cited a quote from director Ava DuVernay regarding the shortage of voices for people of color in Hollywood, to which she says, "What do I do, keep knocking on that door or build your own house?" Wu built on this idea with a call to action for the Asian-American community. In her words:

The box office success of Crazy Rich Asians when it is releases on August 15 is instrumental for it to make history. Considering that the Asian-American community has been waiting for Hollywood to release a movie like this for over 20 years, it will be interesting to see how Crazy Rich Asians does commercially.