Kelly Marie Tran warmly invites you to a celebration of queer joy.

      (Image credit: Getty Images) Do you hear that? It’s the sound of wedding bells ringing! Wedding season is officially here, and it’s noticeable not just from the embossed invitations hitting our mailboxes or the stunning gowns showcased at New York Bridal Fashion Week last week, but also from the surge in wedding guest outfit compilations. We’re also seeing love on screen, as we're graciously invited to enjoy Andrew Ahn's delightful queer comedy, The Wedding Banquet. This modern retelling of Ang Lee's acclaimed 1993 film is set to be the romantic highlight of the season. Ahn’s version, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January, focuses on two gay couples, Angela (Kelly Marie Tran) and Lee (Lily Gladstone) as well as Min (Han Gi-chan) and Chris (Bowen Yang), who reside on the same property. We encounter both couples at a turning point in their relationships: Angela and Lee are attempting to conceive but facing challenges with unsuccessful IVF treatments, while Min is being summoned back to South Korea by his grandmother to manage the family business. To enable Min to remain in the U.S. with Chris while he chases his artistic aspirations, they devise an intricate plan: Min will marry Angela to appease his traditional family, and in return, he will support Angela and Lee financially for further IVF efforts. What could possibly go awry? As it turns out, quite a lot.

      For Tran (Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi and Raya and the Last Dragon), creating The Wedding Banquet was equally about forming a supportive environment and a chosen family offscreen as it was about presenting genuine queer experiences onscreen. The outcome is a perfect blend of humor and heart, making it an essential viewing experience. (Image credit: Getty Images)

      The Wedding Banquet is a remake of the 1993 Ang Lee film, which enjoyed considerable critical and commercial acclaim. What was your connection to the original film as you approached this project? I had seen it long ago when I was younger, but I didn’t remember much. However, I was well aware of Ang Lee’s work and was a fan. I actually rewatched it right before Sundance and was grateful I did because Andrew and [cowriter] James [Schamus] included some really clever references in our film—like the scene where Min and Angela are at the courthouse about to marry, and Min asks, "Do we need to switch spots?" and the clerk replies, "I don't care." In the original, he does ask the couple to switch spots. There are these charming nods that I appreciate, and the very last scene in the original is incredibly iconic, with the character raising his hands at the airport. Andrew mirrored that in the scene with Angela at the end when she raises her hands while yawning. There are thoughtful details that reflect Andrew and James' respect for the original, even as we took the story in a new direction and reimagined it.

      We love spotting Easter eggs! What discussions did you have with Ahn regarding his vision for this remake and how to modernize the story? Honestly, I don’t think we had extensive discussions on that matter because it was already inherent in the script. I feel that, for the most part, our experiences—mine and many of the crew’s—came from being queer people in today’s world. It was almost unnecessary for us to talk about it.

      In the script, depicting a lesbian couple navigating IVF is quite extraordinary. Personally, I don’t recall seeing it in any other film or show. We aimed to present that authentically, and there’s a moment in the scene where Lee is undergoing insemination, and Angela cheers her on as if it’s a sports event. That moment was inspired by one of my childhood best friends who was undergoing IVF at the time of filming The Wedding Banquet; her own journey wasn't going smoothly, but she sent me a video of her and her partner experiencing a similar situation, with her partner cheering her on enthusiastically. I showed that to Andrew, and he loved the idea. It was wonderful to incorporate real-life experiences into the film, and I hope we did it justice.

      Absolutely. Regarding IVF and motherhood, Angela's strained relationship with her mom significantly shapes her feelings about parenting and motherhood, leaving her conflicted. Did that storyline affect your own views on having children? That’s a complex question, but I will say I have a complicated relationship with the concept of having a child. I think it involves a lot of self-reflection and therapy regarding my upbringing, recognizing parts of myself that stem from that, and grappling with whether I want to pass that on to someone else. Additionally, we’re navigating such a daunting world right now. That being said, I believe children represent some of the greatest joys in life. Witnessing the world through a child’s eyes can be one of the most healing experiences for