Chapter 868: Chapter 869: No Touching Models for Leo
[Chapter 869: No Touching Models for Leo]
Although Helena Christensen was a top Victoria's Secret model, she couldn't quite create a buzz at the Hollywood premiere of Con Air. The red carpet was a star-studded affair, but it seemed she was overshadowed by the presence of Leonardo DiCaprio.
After Titanic, Leo had skyrocketed from being the charming artsy kid into a major Hollywood superstar. Just looking at the scene, it was clear that the newly minted megastar was eager to chase after supermodels now.
As Leo and Helena walked hand in hand toward the crowd after posing for photos, Eric immediately felt a sinking feeling. There were thousands of blonde, leggy models in the industry. If Leo was dating someone else, Eric wouldn't mind, but when it involved a Victoria's Secret Angel, that was a different story. He had spent a whole year curating this group of beautiful women. Although he wouldn't treat them like his personal possessions, as a man, he subconsciously resisted the idea of his flowers being picked by someone else. And when that someone was named Leo, it felt even worse.
At that moment, Leo was only dating Helena, but it was obvious he wouldn't stop there. He would likely be going after other Victoria's Secret Angels as well. Of course, since Eric had seen it happening, he was determined to ensure it wouldn't continue.
As they approached, Helena's face lit up when she saw Eric. She walked over, opened her arms, and embraced him. "Oh, Eric, I'm so glad to see you tonight."
Eric hugged her back, smiling, "You look stunning tonight as well."
"Thank you," Helena nodded, and then she warmly greeted Drew, Jerry Bruckheimer, Simon West, and others.
As Leo watched his girlfriend effortlessly break away from him to go towards Eric, it was clear he was not pleased. He followed and greeted Eric's group, but his expression was noticeably indifferent.
Typically, Hollywood A-listers like Tom Cruise, Mel Gibson, or Harrison Ford were the kinds of stars that production companies sought to woo and charm. Leo's subtle arrogance now was probably a result of that recent attention from studio bigwigs.
Firefly had never coddled any Hollywood superstar and likely wouldn't start now.
After shaking hands with Leo, Eric turned to Helena and said, "Make sure you come find me at the party later. I have something to discuss with you."
While Eric's voice wasn't loud, everyone heard him clearly. Jerry Bruckheimer and Simon West exchanged confused glances, while Helena continued to smile and hold onto Eric's arm, making Leo's discontent more apparent.
Helena paused for a moment, glanced at Leo, then obediently nodded.
After Eric spoke, he didn't linger and turned to walk into the theater.
...
Following the bustling red carpet event, the premiere officially began. Inside the screening room, having seen the previews multiple times already, Eric and Jerry weren't focused on the screen, watching Cage and a group of prisoners face off. Jerry leaned in closer and asked, "Eric, how much do you think this film might make globally?"
"Haven't you seen the box office forecast from the distribution team?" Eric chuckled. "I tend to agree with them; over a hundred million in North America, about three hundred million worldwide."
Jerry suggested, "I just think that after Titanic, it should be able to do even better, right?"
"Jerry, Titanic was a total fluke. I can confidently say that films trying to replicate its success typically don't fare well."
Jerry shook his head. "Hey, you're being too definitive. What about you? Can't you do it?"
Eric smiled, "I'm not sure I can either. In reality, neither can you. We're essentially movie businessmen. We can guarantee our films achieve commercial success, but creating box office miracles like Jim is unlikely since we have to consider a lot of factors -- budget, costs, marketing, and so on. Jim only has to focus on the movie itself, so he can pour his heart and soul into creating a cinematic masterpiece."
Nodding thoughtfully, Jerry considered this.
Sitting next to Eric, Drew leaned in and asked, "So, Eric, how much do you think Paramount's Lion King 2 could earn at the box office?"
Eric shook his head. "Honestly, I have no idea. But Lion King 2 does have its disadvantages."
Drew chimed in enthusiastically, "Are you talking about marketing?"
"That's one important factor, but there's another point as well."
Drew tilted her head, struggling for an answer.
Jerry grinned and revealed, "I think it's about the costs, right?"
Eric nodded. "Yes, when Paramount signed the pay agreements with the traditional animators, they basically doubled their costs. Lion King 2's production took almost an extra year compared to last year's Pocahontas. Although Paramount hasn't disclosed the budget, we estimate it to be around $120 million. In contrast, our Finding Nemo had a production budget of just $90 million, and Blue Sky Studios' Ice Age was even lower at only $59 million, less than half of Lion King 2's costs. This means Lion King 2 would need about $360 million just to break even. Comparatively, our Finding Nemo's break-even point is $270 million, and Ice Age's is just $170 million."
Drew thought for a moment before saying, "The first Lion King had a worldwide box office of over $900 million, so reaching $360 million for the sequel shouldn't be that hard, right?"
"Of course, it shouldn't be too difficult. Even with our marketing team practically pinning it down, the influence of the first animated film can still help Paramount make a significant profit," Eric nodded. "But don't forget, Viacom bought Disney's animation division for $2.5 billion. Even if each animated film they produce after that can earn over $300 million in profit, they'd need to produce seven or eight films just to recoup that cost. Plus, I don't think 2D animation can maintain its popularity much longer, especially not with the rise of 3D animation."
Just like Blockbuster, the animation studio Eric sold to Viacom was destined to tank, and given that Firefly and News Corp's marketing efforts effectively boycotted Lion King 2, whispers of Viacom looking to acquire CBS had surfaced, another colossal misstep. Compared to Murdoch, Redstone's business acumen was severely lacking.
...
After the premiere and a press conference, most of the guests headed to a nearby hotel for the after-party. Eric and Drew had just walked into the ballroom when they were intercepted by Cage and Bridget Fonda.
As veterans of Hollywood, Eric thought the two made a perfect pair. Their chemistry in Ghost was evident. Although in recent years, Cage hadn't settled down with ex-wife Patricia Arquette, his friendship with Bridget hadn't shown signs of evolving into romance.
Occasionally bumping into each other over the years, Eric enjoyed teasing them about it.
Just as they found a spot to sit down in the banquet hall, Cage eagerly spoke up, "Eric, hasn't Firefly kicked off the Iron Man project? Why didn't I hear about it?"
Eric smiled while accepting the glass of red wine Drew handed him. "What news are you looking for?"
Cage straightened up. "Don't you think I'd be perfect as Tony Stark? I've always been a huge fan of Iron Man comics. Hey, Eric, if you hand me this role, we can negotiate the salary. I've heard about Marvel's cinematic plans, and I'd be willing to sign a long-term contract."
Eric didn't reply to Cage immediately but turned to Bridget Fonda. "So, Bridget, are you planning to play Pepper Potts too?"
"Ha, yes, I'm pretty interested in that role," Bridget smiled brightly.
"Well then, why don't you both get married tomorrow, and we can sign contracts afterward?"
Bridget replied mockingly, "Eric, you're meddling in other people's business again. Nick and I have always just been friends."
"Yeah, can you be serious for once?"
"Alright, alright," Eric raised his hands, turning back to Cage. "Nick, this isn't a simple decision. If you truly are suited for the role, I wouldn't hesitate. But honestly, you're better suited to play, well, that rugged wanderer type. I want Tony Stark to be a playboy, a bit wild, perhaps slightly neurotic and even a little deranged."
As soon as Eric finished, Drew began to 'shoot' comments in a playful manner, "Just like Eric, right?"
Since the Marvel executives hoped Eric would consider playing Iron Man, Drew had been all in on this, even proposing to play Pepper Potts herself, planning for Natasha's sisters to play Black Widow, saying they wouldn't even need to change names, and the two sisters could easily spawn some side stories about clones.
Eric found that the idea was nice but overly chaotic.
However, Cage and Bridget didn't seem to take Drew's comments solely as a joke. They looked surprised at Eric and asked, "Really?"
"Not really," Eric pinched Drew's rosy cheek. "They're just making a fuss to create a laugh."
Bridget, still alert, smiled and said, "Eric, I suddenly feel that you might just be perfect for this."
"Of course, I think so too," Eric replied with a chuckle, "but making it a reality is another matter. Now, back to movies: Nick, you must like other comics apart from Iron Man, right?"
"Absolutely, a lot! You know, my stage name is derived from the superhero Luke Cage."
"So, Iron Man is definitely off the table for you, but I think there's another character you'd be very interested in. Unfortunately, it might not happen for a while," Eric replied.
Cage seemed a bit disappointed but asked, "Oh, what character?"
Eric grinned and announced, "Ghost Rider."
In the original timeline, Cage starred in two Ghost Rider films, though neither was particularly successful. This certainly illustrated his affection for the comic series.
However, Ghost Rider was quite popular within the Marvel superhero roster, and with a bit of revamping, using the Marvel Cinematic Universe's popularity could lead to successful returns in the future.
As expected, Cage perked up again and exclaimed, "Wow, I'm definitely interested in that! No, I'd say I'm even more interested than in Tony Stark! Eric, since Firefly is kicking off both Spider-Man and Iron Man, why not make Ghost Rider at the same time? By the way, I'm also willing to sign a long-term deal."
"Because the Marvel film production schedule is phased. This series will be laid out in the second phase, probably about ten years down the road."
Eric's vision had the first phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe focused on Earth, leaning toward superheroes like Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, and the Hulk. However, from the second phase, the MCU would dive deeper into fantasy and cosmic themes. At that point, characters like Ghost Rider and Doctor Strange would hit the big screen alongside cosmic groups like the Guardians of the Galaxy and the Eternals.
Ten years was an undeniably long wait.
Cage clearly wasn't patient enough. He chatted with Eric a bit longer, urging him to alter some plans, but Eric was unlikely to acquiesce easily. Yet, regarding Bridget's interest in playing Pepper Potts, Eric promised to consider it carefully.
After several conversations, following the departure of Cage and Bridget, another tall figure clad in red approached.
*****
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