Lionsgate Television has optioned the R.F. Kuang novel “Yellowface” with plans to develop it as a scripted series, Variety has learned exclusively.
Karyn Kusama is onboard to direct and executive produce the potential series. Captivate Entertainment, known for the Jason Bourne film franchise, and Constance Wu and Justine Suzanne Jones of Tempo Wubato Productions are also set to produce, with Ben Smith of Captivate executive producing. Adam Docksey, vice president of development at Captivate, is helping to oversee the project for the company. No writer is currently attached.
The official logline states, “After watching friend and literary rival Athena Liu die in a freak accident, June Hayward steals the only copy of Athena’s just-finished masterpiece, passing off the experimental novel about Chinese laborers during WWI as her own. Newly styled as ‘Juniper Song,’ June rides high until the escalating consequences of her con threaten to crash down around her.”
“Yellowface” was originally published in May 2023. The novel debuted on the New York Times bestsellers list and remained on the list for seven weeks. The book also won the 2023 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fiction and was named a Time 100 Must-Read Book of 2023 among several other accolades. Kuang’s other novels include “The Poppy War” trilogy and “Babel.”
She is repped by Independent Artist Group on behalf of Hannah Bowman at Liza Dawson Associates.
Kusama is known for directing features like “Destroyer,” “The Invitation,” “Jennifer’s Body,” and “Girlfight.” She has helmed episodes of several hit TV shows, including Showtime’s “Yellowjackets, for which she earned an Emmy nomination for outstanding directing for a drama series. Her other TV credits include “The L Word,” “Halt and Catch Fire,” “Billions,” “The Man in the High Castle,” and “Dead Ringers.”
She is repped by WME, Black Bear, and Felker Toczek.
Wu and Jones launched Tempo Wubato Productions to develop and produce films, scripted series and live theater. Wu is known for her roles in films like “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Hustlers,” as well as for shows like “Fresh Off the Boat” and “The Terminal List,” with the latter show currently prepping its second season.
Wu is repped by CAA, Principal Entertainment LA, and Hansen Jacobson.
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