Why did Adele Lim exit Crazy Rich Asians sequels?

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Adele Lim Exited Crazy Rich Asians Sequels Due to Significant Pay Disparity

Malaysian-born screenwriter Adele Lim departed from the planned sequels of Crazy Rich Asians because she was offered a substantially lower salary than her co-writer, Peter Chiarelli, for their work on the upcoming films. This pay gap led Lim to feel that her contributions were not valued equally, prompting her exit from the production.
Significant Difference in Compensation Offers

Sources indicate a considerable disparity in the initial offers made by Warner Bros for the sequel scripts. Peter Chiarelli's compensation was reportedly in the range of US$800,000 to US$1 million, while Adele Lim's starting offer was approximately US$110,000. This difference, despite Lim co-writing the first successful film, was a primary reason for her decision to leave.
Perceived Inequality in Industry Standards

Warner Bros cited industry-standard quoting practices, which are based on experience, as justification for the pay difference. The studio highlighted Chiarelli's extensive background in feature film writing, including the 2009 romantic comedy The Proposal, in contrast to Lim's primary experience in television series, with Crazy Rich Asians being her feature film debut. Lim, however, felt this evaluation method undervalued her narrative crafting contributions.
Concerns Over Representation and Equity

Lim expressed that women and people of colour are often hired for their cultural specificity rather than for their skills in narrative development, likening this to being hired as "soy sauce." She articulated that achieving pay equity should not rely on the generosity of a white male co-writer, as exemplified by Chiarelli's offer to split his fee. Lim voiced concern that if equitable pay could not be secured after the success of Crazy Rich Asians, it would set a difficult precedent for other women of colour in the industry.
Status of the Sequels

The sequels, based on Kevin Kwan's novels China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems, were slated to film back-to-back, with production anticipated to begin at the end of 2020. Director Jon M. Chu had intended to keep the creative team intact for these follow-up films, which aim to continue the narrative established in the first installment, a critical and commercial success that grossed US$238.5 million worldwide and garnered praise for its Asian representation.

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Why did Adele Lim exit Crazy Rich Asians sequels?

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