The successful premiere screening of Lulu Wang’s new series gives audiences a fresh perspective into the rich world of Expats.
On Sunday, January 21, Amazon MGM Studios in partnership with The Asian American Foundation hosted a red carpet and premiere screening of Prime Video’s new limited drama series Expats at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Guests were treated to a pre-screening of the 97-minute long penultimate episode “Central” followed by a reception featuring a toast by TAAF board member Sheila Lirio Marcelo.
The six-episode limited series is an adaptation of author Janet Y. K. Lee’s bestselling 2016 novel, The Expatriates. Set against the vibrant and tumultuous tapestry of 2014 Hong Kong, Expats centers on three American women — Margaret (Nicole Kidman), Hilary (Sarayu Blue), and Mercy (Ji-young Yoo) — whose lives intersect after a sudden family tragedy.
The project came to life when Nicole Kidman approached director Lulu Wang to direct the series. Through this tale of grief, guilt, and identity, audiences witness the nuanced ways in which each woman’s identity, relationship dynamics, and inner scars evolve after such unimaginable loss.
When asked about working with such a multicultural cast of women, Kidman marveled that they were “exquisite in the show and I’m so happy to have them be celebrated, discovered, loved, and enjoyed.”
Jack Huston, Brian Tee, Lulu Wang, Jennifer Salke, Nicole Kidman, Sarayu Blue, Ji-young Yoo, Ruby Ruiz and Amelyn Pardenilla attends the New York Premiere Screening for Amazon MGM Studios “EXPATS”
Event attendees included Expats Executive Producer/Creator/Director/Writer Lulu Wang, Executive Producer and star Nicole Kidman, Producer/Writer/Author Janice Y.K. Lee, as well as cast members, Ji-young Yoo, Sarayu Blue, Brian Tee, Jack Huston, Ruby Ruiz, Amelyn Pardenilla, Tiana Gowen, Bodhi del Rosario, and Connor James. Expats Executive Producers Daniele Melia, Stan Wlodkowski, Theresa Park, Alice Bell, and Per Saari were also in attendance along with various special guests.
Everyone experiences tragedy and hardship and these situations that happen in your life so differently and I think each character experiences their own journey. But in that sense, I feel like there’s so many different ways to experience it on so many different levels, not just through my character […] and that’s what makes the show so beautiful because there’s so many different experiences […] and audiences that come in can feel the humanity of it all. – Brian Tee
New York, NY – 1/21/24 – Cast EXPATS attends the New York Premiere Screening for Amazon MGM Studios “EXPATS” -After Party
Watch Expats on Amazon Prime video, premiering this Friday, January 26.