PARAMOUNT+ ANNOUNCES 'LOVE IN TAIPEI', A NEW ORIGINAL FILM, TO PREMIERE THIS SUMMER

Based on the New York Times’ Best-Selling Novel

Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen, the Film Stars

Ashley Liao , Ross Butlerand Nico Hiraga

Directed by Arvin Chen and

Produced by ACE Entertainment

and 1 Productions Film

June 5, 2023 – Paramount+ today announced the acquisition of a new original film, LOVE IN TAIPEI, based on the New York Times’ best-selling novel Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen. In the novel, a young American woman is sent by her parents to a cultural immersion program in Taipei – inspired by an actual program attended by thousands of Chinese and Taiwanese diaspora youth – where she begins a new journey of self-discovery and romance. LOVE IN TAIPEI will premiere this summer exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and Canada, and will also be coming to the service in the UK, Australia, Latin America, Brazil, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and South Korea. Paramount Global Content Distribution will distribute the film, with additional territories to be announced.

LOVE IN TAIPEI will star Ashley Liao (Fresh Off The Boat, The Hunger Games: The Battle of Songbirds and Snakes) as Ever Wong, whose summer takes an unexpected turn when her parents surprise her with a trip to Taipei for a cultural immersion program. Ever is surprised to discover that she hasn’t signed up for homework and history lessons, but instead for a summer-long free-for-all the locals and other students call “Loveboat.” It quickly lives up to its name when Ever finds herself trying not to fall for two attractive but wildly different boys who are vying for her attention, while at the same time finding the courage to defy her parents’ high expectations and pursue her true passion: dancing. 

In addition to Ashley Liao, LOVE IN TAIPEI also stars Ross Butler (Shazam! Fury of the Gods, To All The Boys franchise) as Rick Woo, an infamous sports and scholastic prodigy; Nico Hiraga (Booksmart, Moxie) as Xavier Yeh, a free-spirited artist and heir to an international tech empire; Chelsea Zhang (Daybreak, Titans) as Ever’s friend Sophie, whom she meets at Loveboat; and Cindy Cheung (The Sinner, 13 Reasons Why) as Ever’s Aunt Shu.

LOVE IN TAIPEI is directed by Arvin Chen (Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?) and produced by Matt Kaplan for Ace Entertainment. The film, shot on location in Taipei, is based on the bestselling book Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen, who also serves as executive producer, with the screenplay by Charlie Oh and Mackenzie Dohr. Christopher Foss, Matthew Janzen, Max Siemers, Aubrey Bendix, Cheng-Chung Chang and Ross Butler also serve as executive producers. The production was headed by Ace Entertainment, which purchased the film rights to the novel, financed and oversaw production with 1 Productions Film. Lionsgate handled the film’s sale globally to Paramount+.

HarperCollins published the book series, which continues the journey with Loveboat Reunion and the upcoming Loveboat Forever.

#LoveInTaipei #ParamountPlusCa #AshleyLiao #RossButler #NicoHiraga #ArvinChen #Summer