"Oh, and there's another piece of news," Helen Herman said. Like Matthew, she paid close attention to the changing dynamics in Hollywood. "According to my sources inside Disney, they are closely monitoring Marvel Comics and 'Iron Man.'"
Matthew immediately put down his teacup and asked, "Is Disney planning to acquire Marvel Comics?"
Helen Herman replied calmly, "At the very least, they're evaluating the possibility."
Although a novice in business, Matthew knew the basics: any major acquisition would undergo a lengthy evaluation process, lasting from several months to several years.
For transactions involving hundreds of millions of dollars, even in a typical American company, no single individual could make a decision easily. The current Walt Disney Company wasn't what it was in the '70s or '80s. After rapid development, its share structure and power dynamics were extremely complex. Especially with the precedent set by Michael Eisner, the CEO and the board chairman's powers were now somewhat restricted.
Matthew recalled clearly that the high-definition pirated copies of Marvel superhero movies he used to watch always started with the Disney castle, meaning Marvel had indeed been acquired by Disney.
Back then, countless netizens complained that Marvel superhero movies had turned into Disney children's films.
"Do you have any more concrete information?" Matthew asked.
"'Iron Man!'" Helen Herman said directly. "If 'Iron Man' succeeds, Disney will likely initiate the acquisition. If it fails, they might observe a bit longer."
Matthew sighed, "That smiling Mickey Mouse is quite bold."
Helen Herman reminded him, "You should pay more attention to this."
"I know," Matthew replied, aware of the agreement between him and Marvel Comics.
In general, Hollywood's major companies are quite contractual when dealing with key figures.
Of course, there's always a possibility of defaulting, so he would have his lawyer keep a close watch.
Walt Disney acquired ABC in the '90s, Pixar last year, and potentially Marvel in the future. George Lucas's "Star Wars" later also had the Disney castle intro. Coupled with Disney's existing businesses, it would likely become the largest giant in Hollywood.
Matthew thought it over and realized that Disney was truly formidable. From children's animation to teen idol dramas and movies, and later on to adult films, they excelled across the board.
When someone grows up watching Disney characters, they are bound to purchase related products. Disney's dominance is almost inevitable.
If everything went smoothly for Disney, the only thing that could stop them would probably be antitrust laws.
"This tea is nice," Helen Herman remarked, taking another sip. "Is it the one I gave you?"
Matthew leaned on the armrest of his wicker chair. "Yes, the one you brought from across the Pacific."
Helen Herman asked, "I went to the mainland and Xianggang a while ago and sent you the candidate list. Did you review it?"
"I did," Matthew replied. "You shortlisted Hu, Zhang, Wu, and Liu. Which one do you think is most suitable?"
Helen Herman thought for half a minute before answering, "Daniel Wu." Without waiting for Matthew to ask, she explained, "Although Daniel Wu mainly works in Xianggang now, he's an American-born Chinese, fluent in English, and very familiar with American car culture."
Matthew nodded slowly.
"Although you mentioned expanding into the other market in the future, our primary concern will always be the North American market," Helen Herman continued. "An actor like Daniel Wu will undoubtedly have broader acceptance in North America. Sharing a cultural background will also minimize unnecessary misunderstandings and issues."
Having been in Hollywood for some time, Matthew understood the importance of her words.
No matter what, the North American market was Hollywood's primary battleground.
The revenue share from North American ticket sales is higher, intellectual property rights are better protected, and the surrounding market is mature. No single market can compare in profitability.
Particularly the ancillary rights revenue is substantial.
The box office share across the Pacific is currently a meager 13%. Even with a future bilateral agreement under the WTO, it would only reach 25%.
As for ancillary rights income, that's practically a lost cause.
Having once been a fervent downloader of pirated movies himself, Matthew knew well that few would buy authentic products when cheaper knock-offs were readily available at a fraction of the price.
"One more thing," Helen Herman added, "Daniel Wu started practicing martial arts at the age of ten. He even founded a martial arts club at the University of Oregon and taught over twenty students. He has a natural advantage in action scenes."
"Practiced martial arts?" Matthew scratched his chin. "Did you have a face-to-face meeting with him?"
Helen Herman nodded. "I spoke with him and his agent. They are somewhat interested. After all, it's an opportunity to break into Hollywood. If successful, it would gain him international recognition. If not, it wouldn't significantly impact his career in Xianggang."
Matthew decisively said, "When the production team is set up, contact Daniel Wu and have him come to Los Angeles for an audition."
They talked for a while about other work matters. Before leaving, Helen Herman reminded Matthew, "Don't forget the Warner Bros. and Sky Dance Productions' joint celebration party this weekend."
Matthew tapped his forehead. "It's on my mind."
"300" had already concluded its North American run. Both the production and distribution companies were bound to reap substantial profits from the film, and a celebration party was inevitable.
After Helen Herman left, Matthew went out and headed to a bookstore in Beverly Hills' commercial center. He found the section with Edgar Rice Burroughs' novels and bought the entire "A Princess of Mars" series.
Back home, Matthew set aside time to read through "A Princess of Mars." Given its early publication, the style seemed dated, somewhat reminiscent of the "Star Wars" derivative novels he had read for practice, with a touch of space opera.
After reading through it, Matthew felt the plot seemed familiar.
The novel followed a rather clichéd RPG-style linear adventure structure, but considering its time, it was rich in imagination and had a grand world view. The exotic monster fighting and upgrading, plus marrying a beautiful princess, while not original, aligned with the classic themes of adventure fantasy novels.
The story was about John Carter, a Confederate soldier after the Civil War, who inexplicably found himself transported to Mars. On Mars, a highly advanced civilization existed, ruled by four-armed green Martians and red Martians who resembled humans and ruled the Helium Kingdom.
In the midst of chaos, Carter used his talents to perform heroic deeds and eventually married the beautiful princess, Dejah Thoris. He spent ten peaceful years there, but to save Mars from a sudden crisis, he bravely ventured to the scene of the incident...
After reading it again, Matthew confirmed the plot structure was indeed familiar, likely from somewhere, but he couldn't recall exactly.
After racking his brain, he finally found a clue. It seemed like an early 20th-century fantasy novel, but the imagination was quite limited and elementary, nothing compared to modern online novels he had read.
Feeling he had pinpointed the source of familiarity, Matthew didn't dwell on it. He believed many online novels followed a similar structure, often better than the dated simplicity of "A Princess of Mars."
After also reading "The Gods of Mars" and "The Warlord of Mars," he was even more convinced. This set of books was essentially a sci-fi skin over a classic hero's journey—becoming a hero, excelling in every aspect, achieving extraordinary feats, and winning the heart of a beautiful woman.
Much like the popular structure of online novels.
While Matthew was getting new suits from Armani for the "300" celebration party, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were heading to their manager's office.
After the poorly handled Jennifer Aniston crisis, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie fired their agent and declined CAA's invitation. Like Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese, who left CAA, they only employed a manager for comprehensive services.
Though laws distinguish between the roles of agents and managers, more stars were now using managers to completely replace agents.
"I did some digging."
In the car, Brad Pitt told Jolie, "Matthew Horner's agent is negotiating with Akiva Goldsman. The project is a major production with an investment of no less than $150 million, definitely a lead actor film."
Since the Oscars, Brad Pitt had hired private detectives and entertainment paparazzi to investigate Matthew Horner's current or upcoming projects.
Brad Pitt knew he urgently needed a successful project to change his current situation. The audience and Hollywood had short memories. A widely successful film would make past scandals fade, and with the right PR, they would eventually be forgotten.
But he also knew that Hollywood was a place that trampled on the fallen. If he botched a major production now, the media would not only ridicule him but also dredge up old scandals, making things even worse.
Thus, his next project had to avoid failure at all costs.
Although Matthew Horner's choices weren't guaranteed blockbusters, his track record suggested that they carried minimal risk.
_________________________
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!]
[w w w . p a t r e o n .com / INNIT]
[+50 PowerStones = +1 Chapter]