Jabari Banks, Benedict Wong, and Callina Liang star in J.C. Lee’s directorial debut Bad Genius, an English-language remake of the 2017 Thai hit Chalard Games Goeng (Bad Genius). The film, a high-octane thriller, is slated for a U.S. release on October 11th, 2024. Watch the trailer below.
Bad Genius follows Lynn Kang, a genius scholarship student who turns her academic talents into a high-stakes cheating scheme to fund her college dreams. The remake offers a fresh take on the original, challenging the American education system while exploring themes of morality, inequity, and justice. The cast also includes Taylor Hickson, Sarah-Jane Redmond, Adam Beauchesne, and Tina Grant, with Liang taking center stage as Lynn.
The 2017 original, directed by Nattawut Poonpiriya, became Thailand’s highest-grossing film of the year, shattering box office records across Asia, including in China. The remake promises to retain the intense thrills and complex twists that captivated audiences globally.
Lee, known for his work on How to Get Away with Murder and The Morning Show, collaborated with Luce writer Julius Onah to reimagine the story for English-speaking audiences. Lee shared his excitement, stating, “I can’t wait to work with this fantastic, innovative group of artists to create something just as thrilling and fun as the original.”
Produced by Erik Feig, Jessica Switch, Patrick Wachsberger, and Ashley Stern, with Mallory Edens’ Little Ray Media financing, Bad Genius is expected to bring the same gripping energy to U.S. theaters, with top-tier international distribution also secured.