The Wedding Bankel’s Joan Chen rejected the original movie 32 years ago (exclusive)

Joan Chendecades tense cinemas contains memorable roles in Oscar-winning epic The last emperorThe Cult TV Series Twin tops and the recently released ROM-COM The wedding banquet.

Her stage-stalking performance in the latter comes 32 years after she had to reject in the role of the original film from 1993, directed by the future Oscar winner Ang Lee.

“I had just arrived in California and Ang Lee had a graduation from NYU. I was fresh from the boat,” says Chen, 64, People about his first meeting with Lee, 70.

At that time, the actress was a budding movie star in China who wanted crossover to the US market.

“It was a big, big house with a large garden with a large pool, and people who jumped in and out,” she says. “There were other people around, and Ang Lee was extremely serious. He was the only one that was serious.”

During their meeting Chen agreed to start in The wedding banquetA movie Lee had a cowrite he would also direct and produce. In 1993 it was just his second feature film and first released in the United States. Chen would play a Chinese immigrant who marries a completed Taiwanese man who lives in New York City to get his green card.

The role reasoned with Chen, who had just immigrated from China. “I loved the concept,” she remembers. “She (the character) wanted her green card. And you know, one year after that I did exactly the same thing and got my green card!”

But Chen did not stop playing the part due to budget and time issues. May Haka was eventually thrown like the young bride. At the same time, Chen moved to other roles, including director OlivestoneFilm 1993 Heaven and earth and lees erotic drama in 2007 Lust, caution.

One day Chen received an e-mail from James Schamus, Lee’s partner who had co-written The wedding banquet. “(He) said: ‘You know, we make a conversion of The wedding banquetAnd here is the script. Let me know if you want to be a part of it, says Chen.

“I love the new script,” she adds. “It’s very different, but it praises Ang Lee. Brandö). And so immediately I just said: ‘Yes, I want to be a part of it.’ ”

In the 2025 formation of the same name, released in April, Chen’s bride’s mother plays (Kelly Marie Tran), which instead of seeking a green card is to marry a rich gay man to continue finishing IVF treatments for his girlfriend (Lily Gladstone). Bowen yang and Pain Oscar winner Youn Yuh-Jung costs.

And while Ahn’s The wedding banquet Is a very modern interpretation, says Chen to be able to participate in a project that she promised to do more than 30 years ago is “a beautiful thing.”

“I felt that it has finally taken closing, the whole circle comes,” she adds. “It also made me think about the time. I’ve been here for a long time – and I’ve changed. Now I play the mother and what time is … But that’s all a happy thing.”

“As you get older – I don’t know if it’s the law on nature or physics – time goes on in any way faster,” she continues. “I’m glad I did it The wedding banquet. I have lived so long lives and I am still here. I’m still standing and I’m still as passionate. “