Late 2009. Three fancy executive types sit in a fancy executive-type office, trying to come up with the Next Great Movie Idea.

EXEC 1: You know what there aren’t enough of?

EXEC 2: Where – wait – in what – what context – what are we talking about? Like, endangered species, or –

EXEC 3: Bagel chips. In Chex Mix. Proven. I have the AP Statistics end of year project from 1989 to prove it.

EXEC 1: Or maybe romantic comedies?

EXEC 2: Oh, sure! That makes sense. Just sometimes it helps to begin a discussion with the discussion topic, but that could also be just a personal preference.

EXEC 3: But also bagel chips in Chex Mix. But also, go on, you’re right, I’m intrigued, I like where this is going …

EXEC 1: I mean, when was the last romantic comedy?

EXEC 2: Just this year? He’s Just Not That Into You, Confessions of a Shopaholic, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, The Proposal, The Ugly Truth …

EXEC 3: Can’t think of a single one. Ugh. Cinema is doomed!

EXEC 2: Wait, I actually just named …

EXEC 1: So I’m thinking, let’s break out of the box. Let’s make a romantic comedy. And get this – based on a BOOK. How many light, frothy, fun, romantic movies are based on books?

EXEC 2: Well, Bridget Jones’ Dairy and its sequel, The Devil Wears Prada, The Nanny Diaries, again with the Confessions of a Shopaholic …

EXEC 3: It’s simply not done!

EXEC 2: Are we not listening to me? Is that what’s happening?

EXEC 1: And then, here’s the real kicker, I thought to myself – who hasn’t done enough light, fun movies? Who needs to shift their image a little, say to the world, I can do a dramatic movie AND a comedic one?! Wait for it. Wait for it.

EXEC 3: I CAN’T WAIT ANY LONGER!

EXEC 2: Just please don’t say …

EXEC 1: Kate Hudson AND Ginnifer Goodwin.

EXEC 2: And you took the words right out of my mouth. Can I go now?

EXEC 3: What an amazing step this could be for both of their careers.

EXEC 2: Considering they are both pretty much associated cinematically PURELY with romantic comedies, I’m not sure this actually does much of anything for either of their careers. Are we caring about my opinion yet? Hello?

EXEC 1: I’m glad you guys like it. Because this book, Something Borrowed, it treads new territory. Girl likes boy. Boy likes girl. Boy and girl don’t know the other is interested, so boy dates someone else. But soon their feelings come out and boy and girl get together!

EXEC 2: So we are just pretending every other romantic comedy that’s ever existed hasn’t used that plot? I just want to make sure we’re all on the same page here.

EXEC 3: I feel like I’m witnessing history in the making. Cinema will never be the same.

EXEC 1: So what do you think guys? Should we greenlight this baby?

EXEC 2: Nope.

EXEC 3: YES.

EXEC 1: And did I mention we’re looking at the guy from the Melrose Place reboot for the male lead?

EXEC 2: Oh. Well, in that case.

EXEC 3: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!

And thus, Something Borrowed was born!