Filmmaker acquires rights to ‘Chinglish’

NEW YORK (AP) ― Plans are in the works to bring David Henry Hwang’s “Chinglish’’ to a movie screen.

The filmmaker Justin Lin, who has directed several of the “Fast and Furious’’ movies, announced Tuesday that he has acquired film rights to Hwang’s play about an East-meets-West collision.

“Chinglish’’ tells the story of a businessman from Ohio who goes to China to expand his business but struggles to be understood and falls in love with a Chinese woman.

Hwang, who won a Tony Award as writer of “M. Butterfly,’’ will write the “Chinglish’’ screenplay and is set to co-produce the film with Bobbi Thompson. Lin, who also has directed the film “Better Luck Tomorrow,’’ will direct and co-produce.

The play opened in October and played 109 total performances.