In the 90s when Michelle Yeoh was cast as the Bond Girl in Tomorrow Never Dies, she tried to setup a reinterpretation of Charlie Chan with Chow Yun Fat as Chan that would've updated the character as a more suave and "cool" detective. While it ultimately didn't get made, I think with her presence in the forefront of audiences' minds she should try again with her team on EEAaO and I think Ke Huy Quan would be a good choice to play Chan especially since we've seen a revival of sleuth characters with the Knives Out films, Branagh's Poirot series, and the recent success of Poker Face.

Comments

Negative_Gravitas t1_jeafj8h wrote on March 30, 2023 at 4:17 PM

#2,489,756

that could be cool, but I'd like to see a movie featuring Chang Apana--the guy Charlie Chan was based on.

IonicBreezeMachine OP t1_jeaftnk wrote on March 30, 2023 at 4:18 PM

#2,489,829

Replying to Negative_Gravitas (#2,489,756)

Huh, I'd never heard of him until now. Thanks for pointing me in his direction.

Negative_Gravitas t1_jeag583 wrote on March 30, 2023 at 4:21 PM

#2,489,895

Replying to IonicBreezeMachine (#2,489,829)

You bet. Cheers! And to be clear, I would still watch the hell out of Chow Yun Fat as Charlie Chan.

Kiethblacklion t1_jeaigmc wrote on March 30, 2023 at 4:35 PM

#2,490,466

Ke as Charlie Chan would certainly be interesting. Although, any time I hear of Charlie Chan, I immediately think of the parody of that character, Harry Hoo from Get Smart.

ReddiTrawler2021 t1_jeamf6j wrote on March 30, 2023 at 5:01 PM

#2,491,514

All I know of Charlie Chan is his Amazing Clan cartoon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8dweVMviBQ

But I had no issues with the character, and I would have no problem with him making a new appearance in today's times, especially with the Shang-Chi/Everything Everywhere crew handling him.

IonicBreezeMachine OP t1_jean75x wrote on March 30, 2023 at 5:06 PM

#2,491,695

Replying to Kiethblacklion (#2,490,466)

Always nice to see a fellow connoisseur of Get Smart.

Kiethblacklion t1_jeanz97 wrote on March 30, 2023 at 5:11 PM

#2,491,871

Replying to IonicBreezeMachine (#2,491,695)

Nick at Nite introduced me to Get Smart back in the 90s. I was a fan of Inspector Gadget so it was a surprise to me when I saw the first episode and recognized Don Adam's voice. Get Smart also introduced me to the comedic styles of Mel Brooks (which I am a big fan of)

ZacPensol t1_jearj8x wrote on March 30, 2023 at 5:33 PM

#2,492,667

I remember a short spell of liking the old Charlie Chan movies when I'd catch them on TV as a kid, and somewhat had my interest more recently reinvigorated after reading the graphic novel, 'The Good Asian', which I believe was inspired in-part by those Chan stories.

Obviously there are some problems with the character's portrayal in those older films, but at his heart I think the character is really unique and has some great potential. Would love to see a modern adaptation with the character, and with Yeoh's star burning brighter than ever hopefully she can get somewhere with her ideas.

cthd33 t1_jebb85w wrote on March 30, 2023 at 7:39 PM

#2,497,450

This reminds me of the story that James Hong recently told about how he was fired from the set of a Charlie Chan movie -

https://www.avclub.com/james-hong-the-new-adventures-of-charlie-chan-fired-1850193936

polybiusbabe t1_jecd285 wrote on March 30, 2023 at 11:52 PM

#2,506,642

Replying to ZacPensol (#2,492,667)

did you enjoy the good asian? i've been thinking about picking it up, as i am interested in noir, especially with historical context & social commentary.

ItsMeTK t1_jecnump wrote on March 31, 2023 at 1:13 AM

#2,509,551

I’d be up for a Charlie Chan reboot. The mystery genre is making a resurgence.

ZorroMeansFox t1_jecohbz wrote on March 31, 2023 at 1:18 AM

#2,509,747

That could be Number One, son! (Nudge nudge, wink wink.)

ZacPensol t1_jed10k3 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 2:57 AM

#2,513,294

Replying to polybiusbabe (#2,506,642)

I'm only half-way through it so far (read the first volume and only recently picked up the second) but I have enjoyed it. Like you it appealed to me for its noir style, but also serving as kind of a slice of lesser-known real history.