Freeform and 20th Television’s pilot AZNBBGRL has a cast! The O.C.-set Vietnamese coming-of-age drama will be led by Cathy Bui, Lynn Kim Do, and Jazelle Villanueva and will feature Alejandro Akara, Quentin Nguyen-Duy, Audrey Huynh, and Cat Ly as series regulars.
The one-hour drama pilot comes from Natalie Chaidez (The Flight Attendant), Dinh Thai (Wu’Tang: An American Saga), and Melvin Mar (Fresh off the Boat). Kai Yu Wu (American Born Chinese) has been set as showrunner. AZNBBGRL is set in the Vietnamese community of Little Saigon in Southern California’s Orange County. The story follows three Asian American teenagers driven by a desire to break free from generational expectations and carve out their own place in the world. Together, these three very different women find escape and form a bond deeper than family when they become entangled with a street gang that offers them a way out.
AZNBBGRL is executive produced by Chaidez, Thai, Wu, and Melvin Mar as well as Jake Kasdan for The Detective Agency. Thai is also set to direct the pilot. The studio is 20th Television.
Read the character descriptions below.
Cathy Bui (All I Ever Wanted) will play Anh, a hard working girl focused on getting into a top college. However her dream is derailed when she and her best friend Jenny are forced into a scheme that leads them to a street gang.
Lynn Kim Do (FBI: Most Wanted) stars as outspoken Jenny, born to a well-off family, but constricted by her parent’s expectations. When a traumatic event leaves her emotionally scarred, Jenny enlists her best friend Anh in a dangerous plan.
Jazelle Villanueva portrays Dang-Dang, a ferocious young woman who can’t seem to escape her troubled past. Dang-Dang is initially at odds with Jenny, but forms a surprising and deep friendship with Jenny and Ahn.
Quentin Nguyen-Duy (Law & Order: SVU) will star as Richie, a rising member of a local street gang with musical aspirations. Anh and Jenny are surprised to learn Richie is their former classmate, who has transformed from a nerdy kid to a charming young man.
Alejandro Akara (Dark Harvest) plays Gabriel, Anh’s ex-boyfriend who’s still in love with her, but his parents’ overly conservative views pose complications.
Audrey Huynh will portray Bella, Jenny’s younger sister who presents a perfect front for her parents, but relaxes into the snarky teen she really is away from their eyes.
Cat Ly (Owl and the Sparrow) rounds out the cast as Ah-Yee (Anh’s aunt), a strong willed Chinese Vietnamese American restaurant owner who’s blindsided by an extortionist.
Cathy Bui is represented by Stride Management; Lynn Kim Do is represented by Malissa Young Mgmt and Skrzyniarz & Mallean; Jazelle Villanueva is represented by Stewart Talent and Silver Lining Entertainment; Quentin Nguyen-Duy is represented by Entertainment Lab and Meyers & Downs LLP; Alejandro Akara is represented by A3 Artists Agency and Jackson Entertainment Management; Audrey Huynh is represented by The Osbrink Agency and Goodman Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher; and Cat Ly is represented by AFA Prime Talent Media and Jackoway Austen.
