Kevin Kwan’s satirical rom-com novel sold over a million copies in more than 20 languages, and the studios promptly came calling. First, he sold the rights for $1, in exchange for the right to keep some control over the development process and keep Hollywood from whitewashing the Asians out of it. Then Netflix offered an eight-figure package that included complete artistic control for Kwan and director Jon Chu. They turned it down in favor of Warner Bros., just for the chance to get an all-Asian cast on the big screen in a major Hollywood production.