Today, Disney+ released a trailer for the Original Film Chang Can Dunk. Premiering Friday, March 10, the film follows Chang, a 16-year-old, Asian American high school student in the marching band who bets the school’s basketball star he can dunk by Homecoming. The wager leads the 5-foot-8 Chang on a quest to find the hops he needs to dunk in order to impress his crush, Kristy, and finally gain the attention and respect of his peers. But before he can rise up and truly throw one down, Chang will have to reexamine everything he knows about himself, his friendships, and his family.
Written and directed by Jingyi Shao, who makes his feature film debut, the inspiring coming-of-age sports comedy stars Bloom Li, Dexter Darden, Ben Wang, Zoe Renee, Chase Liefeld, and Mardy Ma.
Says Shao, “This movie is my love letter to basketball and about how it helped me better understand family, friendship, and the Asian American/immigrant experience; about growing up and taking responsibility even when the odds are against you; and about learning to believe in yourself and break through not only the barriers set by others but more importantly, the barriers set by yourself.”
Rajani and Waithe add, “We’re so proud of this film. Jingyi and the entire cast and crew have poured their hearts into telling a brilliant, nuanced coming-of-age story that we believe everyone will be able to relate to. Growing up, we all had our version of a ‘dunk’—a dream, some lofty goal—that we thought would change our lives for the better. Chang Can Dunk is about the pursuit of that dream, the desire to be seen, and the lessons we learn along the way. It’s inspiring, empowering, and full of humor and heart. We can’t wait for audiences to see it!”
The film’s producers are Rishi Rajani, Lena Waithe, and Brad Weston, with Pamela Thur serving as executive producer.
