Awkwafina is attached to star in a new film telling the true story of the most successful female gambler in history, a project with the working title of “The Baccarat Machine” from SK Global, SKG’s co-CEOs John Penotti and Charlie Corwin announced Wednesday.
Awkwafina will play gambler Cheung Yin “Kelly” Sun and follow her unlikely partnership with legendary poker player Phil Ivey to beat some of the country’s major casinos at their own game.
“The Baccarat Machine” is inspired by Michael Kaplan’s article of the same name as published in Cigar Aficionado. It tells the true story of Kelly Sun, a young Chinese woman who turns a painstakingly developed talent and obsession for payback into beating the system at their own game. With major casinos conspiring to bar her from their properties, Sun partners with the international “King of Poker” Phil Ivey in order to take down the system through subterfuge, ingenuity and pure daring, resulting in one of the most ingenious legal gambling runs ever documented.
SK Global will finance and produce “The Baccarat Machine” along with Jeffrey Sharp of Sharp Independent Pictures. Andy Bellin is currently writing the script. Producers are in talks with potential directors and additional casting will be announced shortly.
“We can’t think of a better way to start this project than by announcing that our friend Awkwafina has come on board. She is uniquely equipped to bring Kelly to life onscreen and will infuse the role with genuine humor and humanity. Along with our partners at Sharp, we’re thrilled to bring this unbelievable story to the screen,” Penotti said in a statement.
Awkwafina recently won the Golden Globe for Best Lead Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her performance in “The Farewell.” She currently stars in Comedy Central’s “Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens,” which has been renewed for a second season. She also starred in “Jumanji: The Next Level” and is attached to star in a film based on the California punk rock scene that’s set up at Topic Studios.
Awkwafina is represented by UTA, Artists First, Kovert Creative, and Isaac Dunham of Shreck Rose.
81 Sundance Portraits From A to Z: Awkwafina to Zach Galifianakis (Exclusive Photos)
Awkwafina, "The Farewell"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Demi Moore, "Corporate Animals"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Ed Helms, "Corporate Animals"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Hilary Swank, "I Am Mother"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Clara Rugaard-Larsen, "I Am Mother"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Director Grant Sputore, "I Am Mother"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Director Sacha Jenkina and RZA, "Wu Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Peter Sarsgaard, "The Sound of Silence"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Tony Revolori, "The Sound of Silence"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Comedian Reggie Watts
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Zach Galifianakis, "The Sunlit Night"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Jenny Slate, "The Sunlit Night"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Storm Reid, "Relive"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
David Oyelowo, "Relive"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Director Jacob Estes, "Relive"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
John Lithgow, "The Tomorrow Man"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Blythe Danner, "The Tomorrow Man"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Director Noble Jones, "The Tomorrow Man"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Annette Bening, "The Report"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Jon Hamm, "The Report"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Maura Tierney, "The Report"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Director Scott Z. Burns, "The Report"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Danielle Brooks and director Chinonye Chukwu, "Clemency"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Alfre Woodard, "Clemency"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Naomi Watts, Tim Roth and Kelvin Harrison Jr., "Luce"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Jennifer Ehle, "The Wolf Hour"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Producer Cameron Crowe, "David Crosby: Remember My Name"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
David Crosby, "David Crosby: Remember My Name"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Director AJ Eaton, "David Crosby: Remember My Name"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Director Ryan White, "Dr. Ruth"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
"Troop Zero" directors Bert & Bertie and actress Mckenna Grace
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Director Alma Ha'rel, "Honey Boy"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Byron Byers, "Honey Boy"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Noah Jupe, "Honey Boy"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Clifton Collins, "Honey Boy"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Haley Joel Osment, director Joe Berlinger, Angela Sarafyan and Brandon Trost, "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Director Matt Tyrnauer, "Where's My Roy Cohn?"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Creator Richie Mehta, "Delhi Crime Story"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Aisling Franciosi, "The Nightingale"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Gina Torres, "Selah and the Spades"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Lovie Simone and Celeste O'Connor, "Selah and the Spades"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Jharrel Jerome, "Selah and the Spades"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Wendy McLendon-Covey, "Imaginary Order"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Max Burkholder, "Imaginary Order"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Director Debra Eisenstadt, "Imaginary Order"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Director Garret Price, "Love Antosha"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Jim Cummings, "Greener Grass"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Director Alice Waddington and Danielle Macdonald, "Paradise Hills"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Jim Gaffigan, "Light from Light"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Marin Ireland, "Light from Light"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Josh Wiggins, "Light from Light"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Director Penny Lane, "Hail Satan"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Alex Holmes and Tracy Edwards, "Maiden"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer, "The Great Hack"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Chris O'Dowd, "State of the Union"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Florence Pugh, "Fighting With My Family"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Lena Headey, "Fighting With My Family"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Jack Lowden, "Fighting With My Family"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
WWE Superstar Paige, also known as Saraya-Jade Bevis, "Fighting With My Family"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Nick Frost, "Fighting With My Family"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Writer-director Stephen Merchant, "Fighting With My Family"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Rachel Lear, "Knock Down the House"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Alia Shawkat, "Animals"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Holliday Grainger, "Animals"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Director Sophie Hyde, "Animals"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap
Director Stanley Nelson, "Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool"
