Jon M. Chu

Jon M. Chu is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter, distinguished for directing movies like the two-part film adaptation of the stage musical "Wicked," "Crazy Rich Asians," "Step Up 2: The Streets," "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never," and "G.I. Joe: Retaliation."

Chu directed "Crazy Rich Asians" in 2018, which was the first film by a major Hollywood studio to feature a majority cast of Asian descent in a modern setting since "The Joy Luck Club" in 1993. The film was the highest-grossing over its opening weekend, earned over $35M at the US box office during its first five days, and garnered a 93% certified fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes. Within a week of the film's release, Variety reported that a sequel was already in development by Warner Bros., with Chu set to direct. Chu's upcoming projects include directing the two-part film adaptation of the Broadway musical "Wicked" for Universal Pictures, an adaptation of Dr. Seuss' "Oh, The Places You'll Go!" and an animated film based on the children's modeling compound Play-Doh.

Chu, an alumnus of the University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television, holds a BFA in Film & Television Production. His exemplary work has earned him several awards, including the Princess Grace Award, the Kodak Student Filmmaker Award, the Dore Schary Award presented by the Anti-Defamation League, the Jack Nicholson directing award, and recognition as an honoree for the IFP/West program Project: Involve. Chu is a member of the dance crew AC/DC or Adam/Chu Dance crew. His father, Lawrence Chu, is a well-known chef, and his parents own Chef Chu's, a popular restaurant in Los Altos, California.