Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, and Kelly Marie Tran are teaming up for a fresh and humorous wedding-themed comedy.
On Tuesday, Jan. 28, Bleecker Street unveiled the first trailer for The Wedding Banquet, a reimagining of Ang Lee’s 1993 romantic comedy of the same name.
In the film, Saturday Night Live star Yang, 34, plays Chris, whose Korean boyfriend Min (Han Gi-Chan) proposes to their roommate Angela (Star Wars alum Tran, 36) in a bid to secure his stay in the U.S.
The trio, along with Angela’s partner Lee (Oscar-nominee Gladstone, 38), soon find their carefully laid plans unraveling when Min’s grandmother unexpectedly travels from Korea, assuming she is attending a grand wedding, unaware of Min’s true circumstances.
According to the official synopsis, “Angela and her partner Lee have struggled with unsuccessful IVF treatments but lack the financial means for another attempt.
Meanwhile, their friend Min, the closeted heir to a multinational corporate empire, has access to substantial family wealth but faces an expiring student visa.”
“After Chris, who is hesitant about commitment, turns down Min’s proposal, Min instead offers Angela a green card marriage in exchange for funding Lee’s IVF treatment.
However, their discreet elopement is thrown into chaos when Min’s skeptical grandmother arrives unannounced, insisting on an extravagant wedding celebration.”
The film also features Joan Chen and Youn Yuh-jung, the latter being the first Korean actress to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Minari in 2021.
Directed by Andrew Ahn, known for helming the 2022 comedy Fire Island and episodes of Bridgerton‘s third season, The Wedding Banquet had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 27.
During a post-screening Q&A, Yang revealed that the cast watched the Showtime reality series Couples Therapy to analyze relationship dynamics while preparing for the film.
“It accelerated our bonding, bringing us together in a way that went beyond even what Andrew provided as a director,” Yang explained.
The Wedding Banquet is set to hit theaters on April 18.
