Film rights to Kevin Kwan’s Sex and Vanity secured by Sony and SK Global

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Sony Pictures and SK Global have snagged the film rights to "Crazy Rich Asians" author Kevin Kwan’s new novel "Sex and Vanity” after a heated bidding war, according to insiders close to the deal.

Published by Doubleday, the novel immediately arrived as a New York Times bestseller after hitting bookstore shelves on June 30. "Sex and Vanity" is Kwan's first novel since the release of his "Crazy Rich Asians" trilogy, which had been adapted into a groundbreaking box office behemoth earning $238+ million at the worldwide box office.

According to Penguin Random House's official description, "Sex and Vanity" tells a glittering tale of love and longing as a young woman finds herself torn between two worlds–the WASP establishment of her father's family and George Zao, a man she is desperately trying to avoid falling in love with.

On her very first morning on the jewel-like island of Capri, Lucie Churchill sets eyes on George Zao and she instantly can't stand him. She can't stand it when he gallantly offers to trade hotel rooms with her so that she can have the view of the Tyrrhenian Sea, she can't stand that he knows more about Curzio Malaparte than she does, and she really can't stand it when he kisses her in the darkness of the ancient ruins of a Roman villa and they are caught by her snobbish, disapproving cousin, Charlotte. "Your mother is Chinese so it's no surprise you'd be attracted to someone like him," Charlotte teases. Daughter of an American-born-Chinese mother and blue-blooded New York father, Lucie has always sublimated the Asian side of herself in favor of the white side, and she adamantly denies having feelings for George. But several years later, when George unexpectedly appears in East Hampton where Lucie is weekending with her new fiancé, Lucie finds herself drawn to George again. Soon, Lucy is spinning a web of deceit that involves her family, her fiancé, the co-op board of her Fifth Avenue apartment, and ultimately herself as she tries mightily to deny George entry into her world–and her heart. Moving between summer playgrounds of privilege, peppered with decadent food and extravagant fashion, Sex and Vanity is a truly modern love story, a daring homage to A Room with a View, and a brilliantly funny comedy of manners set between two cultures.

“I am overjoyed to be embarking on this cinematic adventure with Sony Pictures and SK Global. Sony Pictures has produced so many of my favorite films over the years, and I am thrilled by Sanford Panitch’s vision for this project. I’m also very excited to be working again with my great friend John Penotti, who responded immediately and passionately to the world I created in ‘Sex and Vanity’,” said Kwan.

Kwan and SK Global’s John Penotti will produce the film, with Jiao Chen overseeing the project for Sony Pictures.

“Seven years ago Kevin entrusted us (and our producing partners) with his ground-breaking ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ bestseller, and ever since working with him has been a creative dream,” Penotti said. “With ‘Sex and Vanity’ he’s once again created a work of magic, crafting a riveting story about love and identity. We instantly fell in love with its heart and humor and are thrilled to partner with him again, as well as with our collaborators at Sony Pictures. Sanford and the team love the book as much as we do, and we are all committed to bringing this story to a global audience.”

It sounds as if everything is coming up Milhouse for Kwan, who also has WB developing a CRAZY RICH ASIANS sequel in addition to his new book deal. With a film adaptation of "Sex and Vanity" in the bag, it stands to reason that Kwan will be responsible for some of Hollywood's most recent and celebrated projects hailing from the Asian culture. As a big fan of CRAZY RICH ASIANS, I look forward to seeing what this new project yields as well as how the public will embrace Kwan's new characters and story.