Jon M. Chu’s family is growing!
The Crazy rich Asians the director, 45, shared in an Instagram Stories post on Saturday, Nov. 9 — the same day the film premiered in Los Angeles Wicked — that he will miss the star-studded event due to the birth of his fifth baby, a girl, with wife Kristin Hodge.
“This movie has always moved in mysterious ways,” Chu wrote alongside a photo of a black-and-green friendship bracelet (which read “Defy Gravity”) sitting on a hospital room table.
“Today is the day I’ve been dreaming about for a long time. Two babies (a movie and a girl) at once and I really couldn’t be happier that I won’t be able to be at Wicked Premiere tonight with all of you,” he continued.
Chu’s IG Stories post.
Jon M. Chu/Instagram
Chu then wrote that he had a “change of plans” “around 4am this morning”, and that he and Hodge would finally welcome their fifth child. He jokingly added, “and no, we’re not going to name her Galphaba” in a nod Wicked.
“Sending all the love to our insanely talented cast and crew tonight,” he concluded his message. “They deserve it and send an extra welcome to my baby girl who is bursting her bubble and coming into our world any minute now. If she can have even a fraction of the courage my wife, @cynthiaerivo @arianagrande @michelleyeoh_official or @marissa_edob has then she too will defy one day gravity.”
In separate Instagram stories. Chu took a photo of his suit wrapped in a bag and joked: “Should I just wear a birthing suit?”
Chu’s second post in Stories.
Jon M. Chu/Instagram
Director Jon M. Chu is expecting baby no. 5 with wife Kristin Hodge, who is his third in the making Wicked: ‘Every day’
Chu and his wife are already parents to four children — daughters Willow, 7, and Ruby, 3, son Jonathan Heights, 5, and a child named Iggy, 20 months.
It’s in October In the Heights the director shares with Extra that he was expecting his fifth child with Hodge while being honored at the WSJ Magazine Innovator Awards.
“I just finished the movie, so I’m just letting everything go and just starting to enjoy it. I’ve got a new baby coming, so in my head, that’s what I’m focused on,” Chu told the outlet. “She could come any day. It will be a little girl.”
“I could leave tonight – you never know – so we have to get this thing going,” he said, adding that this is his “third child during Wicked.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
In 2021, Chu announced on Xu (formerly Twitter) that he was retiring from directing Disney+ Willow series after shifting production schedules amid the health crisis caused by COVID-19. He also revealed that his wife was expecting their third child that summer.
“I am heartbroken to inform you all that I unfortunately have to retire from directing Willow“, he wrote. “With the production schedule moving due to the continued quarantine in the UK and a new baby coming this summer (surprise!), the timing just won’t work for me and my family.”
“As you may know, Willow is one of my favorite movies since childhood, so I’m devastated that I won’t be able to work with some of my old and new heroes,” added Chu, naming the producers and writers involved in the series. “As a child who sees Willow for the first time in the ’80s, I’ll be looking forward to watching this magical new world unfold as a very enthusiastic fan. And boy, do they have an adventure in store for you! I can’t wait for you all to experience it soon.”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education