Viral Nation and Media Trifecta are developing an unscripted competition series based on Octagon Metatainment's "Rags 2 Richmond" franchise, which reimagines Asian male pageantry as a rags-to-riches contest. The project will be pitched to buyers at the Access Canada Summit, part of the Toronto Film Festival's newly launched market, marking the franchise's expansion from a viral microdrama into a multi-format entertainment property.

The series will see contestants compete across performance, style, talent and showmanship challenges, transforming their image before a live finale crowns a winner. The franchise, created by Jonathan Wong, Justina Shih and Simon Yin from their own experiences in Asian pageant circuits, drew over nine million Instagram views in its debut month as a vertical series and secured brand tie-ins with Air Canada and K-Swiss. It has since expanded into a feature film starring Wong alongside Eric Tsang, Nancy Sit, Shannon Kook and Jennifer Tong, which wrapped production in late 2025 and will also screen at the Toronto market.