Crazy Rich Asians writer Kevin Kwan finds his lead for CBS' The Emperor of Malibu

The Hollywood Reporter

After an extensive search, Kwan's comedy pilot has tapped newcomer Max Willems to play the son of a Chinese tech billionaire (played by Ken Jeong) who upsets his family by getting engaged to an American woman.. When Kwan wrote his pilot script, he had Glee alum Harry Shum Jr. in mind for the lead role. But Shum recently joined ABC pilot Heart of Life after finishing on Shadowhunters. Willems has something in common with Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding -- they're both sons of a white father and an Asian mother. Willems was born in Bangkok, Thailand to a Dutch father and a Chinese/Thai mother and raised in Munich, Germany.