♪ (GRANDIOSE MUSIC PLAYS) ♪
Hi, I'm Tze Chun.
I am the creator-showrunner
of
One of the things we talked about a lot
when we were pitching the show
is just how unique the tone of
It's funny, it's scary, but it's also very heartfelt.
Hey.
(TIRES SCREECHING)
TZE CHUN:
who runs a curio and antique shop
where Gizmo is found.
And we asked the question,
you know, "How did those two meet,
and what adventures did they go on
before they came to America?"
♪ (TRADITIONAL CHINESE MUSIC PLAYS) ♪
Our show takes place in 1920s China.
We really wanted to be authentic to that time period,
and we have an incredible team of artists
and cultural advisers who have really
built this world and made that happen.
It starts in Shanghai, and it follows
that old Mr. Wing, when he was just
a ten-year-old boy named Sam.
He meets Gizmo, and he also meets
a French street thief named Elle.
And the three of them go on a journey through China
to return Gizmo to his ancestral home,
the Valley of Jade.
We've got an incredible cast for the show.
People like BD Wong, Ming-Na Wen, James Hong.
People that I always wanted to work with.
And there's also a bunch of incredible newcomers as well.
Sorry, but even a drop of human saliva
would dilute this medicine's effectiveness,
so just to be safe...
Yes, sir, boss.
Soon, we really will be working for you.
Fong is an incredible mother.
And she's very stern,
but she's also extremely loving and very protective.
Let go of our son!
And yet, at the same time,
a little bossy, I have to say.
Maybe, but I'm not taking any chances!
I play Han, who is the dad on this show.
Dad is actually very reserved about a lot of the hijinks
that the rest of the members of the family get into,
and has a way of falling into
kind of these emergency situations,
and finding himself completely in disbelief.
Do you have a first name?
-Uh-huh. Gizmo! -Gitchmo?
Gizmo!
Geezno. Geezmo?
Gizmo, still to this day, has diehard fans.
I fell in love with the little fur baby.
CHUN:
He can't help but fall in love with the humans around him,
and try to protect them.
I have a feeling there's gonna be a resurgence
of merchandising... (LAUGHS) ...with Gizmo.
And actually, I want to have a new one.
Uh-huh.
One of the fun things
about going back to the beginning of this friendship
is that we get to see the origin story of the Mogwai.
And we're also gonna delve into some of the mythology.
-There's the three rules.
CHUN:
Two.
CHUN:
And three, the most important.
Do not feed them after midnight.
I think I am a Mogwai, actually.
We'll also be expanding mythology with a fourth rule,
which you'll have to tune in to see.
(GROANS) Stupid magic!
So one of the things that was really important to us
was to make sure that it was a co-viewing show.
Something that the entire family can enjoy together.
I want to watch it with my kids.
I want to see their reaction,
and I kinda want to relive it with them.
There's a great satisfaction as a parent
when your kid likes that thing that you like.
MING-WA WEN:
It's not just about entertaining you.
There's a lot of lessons.
Knowing what's right and wrong,
whether to listen to those guidelines,
and consequences when you don't.
-(CLACKING ON DOOR) -Fong, Sam! Go!
-(PANTING, GRUNTING) -(MOGWAI GROWLS)
You do not understand.
You are not ready.
CHUN:
by Hollywood studios,
I always hoped that there would be the opportunity
to tell a story like this.
Also to crew up the show.
The actors, people behind the camera.
WEN:
it's still really important to be as authentic
to the characters,
and having them being voiced by Asian actors.
I think it just lends itself to its authenticity.
It is an important show, actually.
I took the job because I felt strongly
about the idea of Asian parents and their kids
being represented in the media.
(PANTING NERVOUSLY)
Even though it's set halfway around the world,
we really wanted to make sure
that fans of the original
could see this show and say,
"Oh, I remember the feeling
of watching