Crazy Rich Asians writer Adele Lim quits over 10:1 pay gap

Crazy Rich Asians’ sequels have become mired in controversy after one of its writers quit over a massive pay gap to her colleague.

Not every Asian got crazy rich working on the movie that made $US238 million around the world.

Crazy Rich Asians co-screenwriter Adele Lim has quit the two upcoming sequels over a pay dispute, according toThe Hollywood Reporter.

The industry publication revealed Lim was being offered a writing fee that was significantly lower than her co-screenwriter Peter Chiarelli.

Lim declined to say what the figures were but sources told THR that Warner Bros’ starting offer to Lim was $US110,000 while Chiarelli was offered a fee in the range of $US800,000 to $US1 million.

Lim told THR: “Being evaluated that way can’t help but make you feel that is how they view my contributions.”

THR wrote Warner Bros had “explained” to Lim’s representatives the disparity in pay was due to her relative inexperience in film screenwriting, while Chiarelli had worked on two features previously.

Adele Lim will not be involved in the Crazy Rich Asians sequels Picture: David Livingston/Getty Images

Crazy Rich Asians was Lim’s first film credit, but she had previously written for TV shows including Lethal Weapon, Dynasty, Reign, Private Practice, Life Unexpected, Life on Mars, Las Vegas and One Tree Hill. Chiarelli’s credits included the screenplay for Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds rom-com The Proposal and a story credit on Now You See Me 2.

Lim has also written the screenplay for upcoming Disney animation Raya and the Last Dragon, which will feature the voice talent of Awkwafina.

Lim walked away from the Crazy Rich Asians sequels at the end of last year, though apparently she was approached again five months later with an improved offer from the producers — something closer to parity with Chiarelli but only because Chiarelli had reportedly offered to split his fee with her.

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Crazy Rich Asians collected box office earnings of $US238 million from a $US30 million budget

Lim passed on the offer and explained to THR, “Pete has been nothing but incredibly gracious, but what I make shouldn’t be dependent on the generosity of the white-guy writer. If I couldn’t get pay parity after CRA, I can’t imagine what it would be like for anyone else, given that the standard for how much you’re worth is having established quotes from previous movies, which women of colour have been (hired for).

“There’s no realistic way to achieve true equity that way.”

Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu, who is returning to direct both sequels, is now working on the screenplay with Chiarelli. Filming for the two movies isn’t expected to start before the end of 2020.

Director Jon M. Chu will now work on the screenplay for the sequels.

The pay gap between men and women in the industry has attracted a lot of attention, although most of the reports have been limited to on-screen stars.

Last year, it was revealed Mark Wahlberg was paid $US1.5 million to reshoot scenes for All the Money in the World while Michelle Williams was paid a daily per diem that amounted to less than $US1000 over the course of the reshoots.

Producers on Netflix series The Crown were forced to apologise to star Claire Foy when it was revealed that despite being the lead of the show, Foy was paid less than male co-star Matt Smith. After the furore, producers promised that “going forward, no one gets paid more than the Queen”.

The Crown producers were forced to apologise to Claire Foy after it emerged she was paid less than Matt Smith. Picture: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Crazy Rich Asians was one of the big box office successes of 2018, a flashpoint for representation of characters from culturally diverse backgrounds. Australia was the second most successful market for Crazy Rich Asians outside of North America, taking in $US17.3 million at the box office.

The two sequels, which will also be based on Kevin Kwan’s trilogy of books, were quickly greenlit.

The movie starred Constance Wu as Asian-American economics professor Rachel and Henry Golding as Nick, the scion of a megarich Singaporean family who she falls in love with. When the pair travel to his home for a wedding, Rachel has to contend with a different world and a disapproving potential mother-in-law (Michelle Yeoh).

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