Chapter 23. Deadpool and "Sharknado"
New York, John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Lincoln sped down the road to Rhode Island. The phone rang. It was Warren on the line.
"Eric, I hear you're in New York."
"Yes, I'm already here, heading to Rhode Island. I have a meeting with Hasbro."
"I'm sure you'll manage to secure the rights to 'Transformers'."
"Hopefully, it goes smoothly, but I fear it won't be easy."
"You'll succeed. By the way, since you're not in Los Angeles, I'll report over the phone."
At A.K. Films, Bema Hardy hired a new assistant manager who is set to start working in the coming days.
The script for "Sharknado" is currently in development, expected to be completed within a week. It's an illogical and bad movie, so writing it isn't complicated. The screenwriter even set a condition: he wants to earn from it but doesn't want to disgrace himself, so his name shouldn't appear in the credits. He didn't want to be nailed to the pillar of shame.
Apart from the main character, all the actors have already been cast. Eric didn't know any of them; they were all unknowns, and their fees didn't exceed $100,000.
There are many such actors in both Hollywood and China. They enter the industry dreaming of becoming stars. After spending several or even ten years, they might play a few roles, but most remain in the background, never achieving success and eventually leaving the industry.
They lose their youth, waste their time, and gain no other professional skills, ending up with nothing.
For women, it's not as bad: if they're beautiful, they can find a partner and live a peaceful, though not wealthy, life.
But for men, it's tougher. In the end, they might only find work in semi-legal fields or become cashiers, insurance agents, or delivery drivers. While their peers have already started families, they are still working for peanuts.
When asked what they did before, they just smile sadly and advise young people not to enter show business, calling it a black hole.
"If you don't have a candidate for the lead role, I can suggest someone."
"His name is Ryan Reynolds. He started his career as a child actor and has been in the industry for many years, but he hasn't become a star yet. He's facing difficulties now, so try reaching out to him."
"Tell him that 'Sharknado' is a bad movie, but it has a unique twist. It could help him make a name for himself."
"Moreover, this is my project. If he performs well, MGM will consider him for new films first, and his fee might be higher."
Warren jotted down the name on a piece of paper:
"Ryan Reynolds. Got it. Since you're recommending him, everything should be fine. I'll contact the actors' guild now."
When the main role was mentioned, the name Deadpool suddenly popped into Eric's mind, and he immediately gave Warren the idea.
Ryan Reynolds and "Sharknado" – it seems they were truly made for each other.
Additionally, Ryan isn't at the peak of his popularity right now. Although he started his career early, luck hasn't favored him yet, and after more than ten years, he still hasn't become a star.
New York, John F. Kennedy International Airport.
A Lincoln sped down the road to Rhode Island. The phone rang. It was Warren on the line.
"Eric, I hear you're in New York."
"Yes, I'm already here, heading to Rhode Island. I have a meeting with Hasbro."
"I'm sure you'll manage to secure the rights to 'Transformers'."
"Hopefully, it goes smoothly, but I fear it won't be easy."
"You'll succeed. By the way, since you're not in Los Angeles, I'll report over the phone."
At A.K. Films, Bema Hardy hired a new assistant manager who is set to start working in the coming days.
The script for "Sharknado" is currently in development, expected to be completed within a week. It's an illogical and bad movie, so writing it isn't complicated. The screenwriter even set a condition: he wants to earn from it but doesn't want to disgrace himself, so his name shouldn't appear in the credits. He didn't want to be nailed to the pillar of shame.
Apart from the main character, all the actors have already been cast. Eric didn't know any of them; they were all unknowns, and their fees didn't exceed $100,000.
There are many such actors in both Hollywood and China. They enter the industry dreaming of becoming stars. After spending several or even ten years, they might play a few roles, but most remain in the background, never achieving success and eventually leaving the industry.
They lose their youth, waste their time, and gain no other professional skills, ending up with nothing.
For women, it's not as bad: if they're beautiful, they can find a partner and live a peaceful, though not wealthy, life.
But for men, it's tougher. In the end, they might only find work in semi-legal fields or become cashiers, insurance agents, or delivery drivers. While their peers have already started families, they are still working for peanuts.
When asked what they did before, they just smile sadly and advise young people not to enter show business, calling it a black hole.
"If you don't have a candidate for the lead role, I can suggest someone."
"His name is Ryan Reynolds. He started his career as a child actor and has been in the industry for many years, but he hasn't become a star yet. He's facing difficulties now, so try reaching out to him."
"Tell him that 'Sharknado' is a bad movie, but it has a unique twist. It could help him make a name for himself."
"Moreover, this is my project. If he performs well, MGM will consider him for new films first, and his fee might be higher."
Warren jotted down the name on a piece of paper:
"Ryan Reynolds. Got it. Since you're recommending him, everything should be fine. I'll contact the actors' guild now."
When the main role was mentioned, the name Deadpool suddenly popped into Eric's mind, and he immediately gave Warren the idea.
Ryan Reynolds and "Sharknado" – it seems they were truly made for each other.
Additionally, Ryan isn't at the peak of his popularity right now. Although he started his career early, luck hasn't favored him yet, and after more than ten years, he still hasn't become a star.
Eric remembered that Ryan had recently starred in a film, something by Lionsgate, called "Van Wilder: Party Liaison." This teen comedy didn't quite compare to "American Pie," so its box office performance was modest. After the movie's release, Ryan Reynolds became slightly more known, but his popularity remained mostly among teenagers. With the right approach and offers, it would be easy to pique his interest.
"By the way, regarding the director, I recommend Keenen Ivory Wayans. He directed 'Scary Movie,' and his style is perfect for such a project. Try to get him. If it doesn't work out, we'll find someone else."
"Understood, I've noted it."
"Boss, we've arrived."
At that moment, the car smoothly stopped in front of a large building. Chen Xing, who was sitting in the front seat, quickly got out of the car and opened the door. A middle-aged man in glasses accompanied by Wool was approaching them.
"Boss, this is Mr. Serge Hassenfeld, Chief Operating Officer of Hasbro," Wool quickly introduced.
"Very pleased to meet you, Mr. Hassenfeld!"
"Likewise, Mr. Cooper. You are currently the talk of Hollywood. A $2.8 billion deal – impressive, I've been wanting to meet you for a long time."
They exchanged smiles and pleasantries before entering the building.
It's worth noting that Wool organized everything quite swiftly. In just a few days, he established contact with Hasbro's leadership. Serge Hassenfeld is the current COO of Hasbro, the second-in-command after the CEO.
The CEO is Alan Hassenfeld, Serge's uncle.
According to Wool's information, Hasbro had long wanted to develop "Transformers," especially after the success of "Spider-Man." This web-slinging friendly neighbor brought Sony more than $3 billion in direct revenue, not to mention the massive indirect income. With such fantastic money-making potential, any company, including Hasbro, couldn't help but be envious. Hence, the negotiations moved quickly.
Without unnecessary formalities or tours, the parties went straight to the conference room. After discussing the details, they moved on to the most important issue.
"Mr. Hassenfeld, I hope you understand that we are very serious about this collaboration. We are confident that 'Transformers' have enormous market potential and will spark a global craze among movie lovers."
"I agree with you. 'Transformers' have a huge worldwide audience and have left an indelible mark on many people's childhood memories. But we do have some concerns about making the film."
"What exactly?"
"First of all, there's the issue of technology. Can modern digital technology meet the demands of shooting 'Transformers'? Poor quality will only harm the brand."
"Mr. Hassenfeld, this is also our main concern. This will be a big-budget special effects film. I can assure you that MGM's investment in special effects will be no less than $100 million, and this will be specified in the contract."
Upon hearing about the $100 million, Hassenfeld's eyes lit up. According to his information, the budget for "Spider-Man" was around $130 million, with about $70 million spent on special effects. If MGM really invests $100 million, the effect will be stunning.
Hassenfeld nodded with evident satisfaction, then raised the second important issue:
"We are also concerned about royalties. As you know, last year the animated series 'Transformers' showed good ratings, so we would like to increase the licensing fee by 20%."