Bryson Chun Writes Musical for Meraki (Exclusive)

Exclusive: Native Hawaiian screenwriter Bryson Chun (Moana 2) was tapped to write the script for First and lastan upcoming live-action musical from Tara Sickmeier’s Tony-nominated and GLAAD Award-winning independent production company Meráki.

Inspired by true events, the story is set against the backdrop of an orchestrated coup led by Sanford B. Dole to overthrow the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1893. The historical musical drama follows Queen Liliuokalani as she fights to protect her homeland, while she is haunted by sinister premonitions from the spirit of her late brother, King Kalākaua.

Native Hawaiian filmmaker Jennifer Akana Sturla — a Sundance Native Fellow who holds a master’s degree in film production from USC and teaches story-telling at Chapman University — will produce the production alongside Sickmeyer (Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812).

Sickmeier told us, “Queen Liliuokalani’s story is one of courage, righteousness, music, and spirit. It’s time her truth was told by those who know her best, the Native Hawaiians. Meraki’s mission is to create from a place of authenticity, and we’re honored to collaborate with Bryson and our entire creative team to reclaim a chapter of history and present it through its correct lens.”

Chun added, “Writing a film about Queen Liliuokalani is an opportunity to help reclaim her story, not as a relic of the past, but as a living reminder of Hawaiian sovereignty and resilience. Her struggle and strength are as relevant to us today as they were to her people in her time.”

Bryson Chun, a 2021 CAPE Fellow who also participated in the 2016 Sundance Native Shorts Lab, with additional recognition from The Blacklist and the inaugural Indigenous Shortlist, is an emerging writer who most recently worked on Disney Animation’s Moana 2. He also wrote on the show Dougie Cameloha, MD. He is represented by Verve.