“Crazy Rich Asians” Director Jon M. Chu Reveals One Demand Star Michelle Yeoh Made — and His Dad Agreed!

The director also says Yeoh was the only actress considered for the role

Sometimes parents know best!

Michelle Yeoh was initially hesitant to star in Crazy Rich Asians, but once director Jon M. Chu got her on set, she had one clear demand — and his father agreed.

Chu, 44, writes in his new memoir Viewfinder that Yeoh, 61, was skeptical about playing Eleanor in the hit movie adaptation of the 2013 novel of the same name because she viewed the character as a "villain."

"If you want me to play the villain in this movie, I can’t do that," he recalls her saying.

The romantic comedy follows Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) as she joins her longtime boyfriend Nick (Henry Golding) at his friend’s wedding in Singapore. During their visit, she finds out that her partner comes from an affluent family with a large estate. Rachel strives for the approval of Nick’s loved ones and struggles to get it from his mom Eleanor — played by Yeoh.

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Chu calls the Everything Everywhere All at Once actress "the leader of the cast" and reveals that she was the only actor they considered for the role. He was eventually able to get Yeoh on board after they discussed the specific character and his ideas for the movie. "I found a new reason to believe she was the perfect person to play it: She reminded me so much of my parents," he writes.

Eleanor is introduced in the flashback opener of the movie, but Rachel comes to meet her at a welcome party that she throws for her son. The protective mother has a tense conversation with the young woman while commandeering the kitchen.

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Chu says that Eleanor’s behavior was inspired by his parents, who own the restaurant Chef Chu's in  Los Altos, Calif., writing, "Eleanor would stride around the room the way my dad did (and does), as if she were walking the deck of a pirate ship. She would put Rachel in her place the way I’d seen my mother put many, many people in their places: subtly but unequivocally."

However, Yeoh had one note for the scene: "You shouldn’t have MSG on this table."

As they rehearsed on set, the director recalls her stating that her character specifically "would not have MSG on this table." He notes that he didn’t know what the seasoning looked like, so he responded, "I think it’s okay. It’s way in the background."

But Yeoh was adamant, "No. Everyone will recognize that," and Chu moved it.

Before leaving the set, he asked Yeoh if he could take a photo of her. He then texted to his father who had the cutting response: "Why is there MSG on that table?"

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Viewfinder by Jon M. Chu is available for purchase now, wherever books are sold.

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