Justin Lin to Direct Film Version of David Henry Hwang's Play 'Chinglish'

Director-producer Justin Lin has acquired film rights to David Henry Hwang‘s stage play Chinglish. He’ll direct and produce the movie adaptation for his Barnstorm Pictures, which has a first-look deal at Universal.

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A comedy about an American businessman in China, Hwang’s play debuted at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre in 2011 before moving to Broadway later that year. An international tour begins at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in the fall. Hwang will write the film adaptation’s screenplay and co-produce with Bobbi Thompson.

Lin, who directed the three most recent installments in Universal’s The Fast and the Furious franchise, is prepping Fast & Furious 6, which is set for release on May 24, 2013.

"As soon as I saw Chinglish on Broadway, I began to envision this smart and insightful cross-cultural comedy as a film," Lin said. "I'm excited about working with David to bring this very timely story to the screen."

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Said Hwang, "I've loved Justin's work ever since he burst on the scene with Better Luck Tomorrow, and it feels very right to be collaborating with him on the movie version of my play.”

CAA is repping the package as well as Lin and Barnstorm, who are also repped by Cinetic Media and Sloss Eckhouse Law.  Hwang is represented for theater by Paradigm and Loeb & Loeb.