AWKWAFINA SOARS
Her TV Show + Marvel Universe Debut
Awkwafina, the rapper/comedian/actress/writer/producer truly arrived in the summer of 2018 with her roles as the pickpocket Constance in the female-led heist comedy spinoff Ocean’s 8 (holding her own against Cate Blanchett and Sandra Bullock), and as the scene stealing Goh Peik Lin in the romcom Crazy Rich Asians.
Before acting (and going viral on YouTube), Awkafina had been rapping since age 13: dropping the solo hip-hop album Yellow Ranger, collaborating with comedian Margaret Cho, and profiled in the Tribeca Film Festival selected 2016 documentary Bad Rap.
Following her meteoric rise to fame in film and television, she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for her role as Billi, in 2019’s The Farewell.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has jostled around the releases of many of Awkafina’s projects, let’s take a look at some of her upcoming film and television titles.
Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens
Awkwafina writes, produces and stars in this television series for Comedy Central. The first season saw Nora leaning on her family as journeys through her 20s in Flushing, Queens.
The second season is expected to drop sometime this summer on Comedy Central —after which it will be available for streaming on HBOMax.
Many of the first season cast will be returning, including Lori Tan Chinn (of Netflix’s Orange Is The New Black) as Nora’s grandmother, and BD Wong (of USA’s Mr. Robot, and 1998’s Mulan) as Wally, Nora’s father.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
A superhero film from director Destin Daniel Cretton (who helmed Just Mercy, and Short Term 12), it is part of Phase Four of the Marvel cinematic universe. Cretton chose to work with The Matrix cinematographer Bill Pope to give this film a distinct style.
Simu Liu (of CBS’s Kim’s Convenience) stars as the martial arts and kung fu master Shang-Chi. This is the first time that an Asian actor will lead a Marvel franchise film.
As Shang-Chi’s friend Katy, Awkwafina steps into a character who she describes as “relatable.”
Marvel has been trying to adapt this project since as far back as the 1980s —with Brandon Lee then rumored for the lead role.
Filming paused in March 2020 due to the pandemic, but picked up again by late summer. And currently the project is in post-production.
The Little Mermaid
This is a live action adaptation of the 1989 animated classic of the same name, based on the Hans Christen Anderson fairy tale.
Awkafina will be providing the voice for the seagull Scuttle, replacing comedian Buddy Hackett who voiced the dim-witted but endearing bird in the original film and it’s 2000 sequel.
Under the direction of Rob Marshall (of Chicago, and Mary Poppins Returns), the ensemble also includes Halle Bailey as Ariel, Melissa McCarthy as the villainous Ursula, Javier Bardem as “OG Zaddy” King Triton, and Hamilton’s Daveed Diggs as the voice of Sebastian.
The remake will feature new songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Filming was supposed to begin in the United Kingdom last April, 2020, but was delayed until January, 2021. Accordingly, the release date is still very much TBD.
Swan Song
A drama film with a sci-fi twist, it will be released through Apple TV+. Awkafina will portray Kate.
Director Benjamin Cleary (an Oscar winner for his short film Stutterer) will oversee the film, whose ensemble is led by double-Oscar winning actor Mahershala Ali, and includes co-stars Glenn Close and Naomie Harris (of Moonlight, and Moneypenny in the most recent trio of James Bond films.)
Filming concluded in February, 2021, and this project is currently in post-production
The Bad Guys
This is not a film adaptation of the Billie Eilish song, nor a spin-off of the 2016 Shane Black directed neo-noir The Nice Guys.
Based on children’s book series of the same name by Aaron Blabey, this computer animated heist comedy is under the direction of Pierre Perifel (an animator on the Kung Fu Panda franchise).
Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Shark, and Ms. Tarantula are plotting the ultimate heist. It has not been confirmed which anthropomorphized CGI animal has been assigned Awkwafina’s voice talents.
Although the film was originally supposed to be released in September 2021, it was recently pushed to an April 15, 2022 release date.
