The Greatest Showman#635 - Darkness Chencang

The past few weeks had been turbulent, filled with undercurrents and silent battles. Andy Rogers and Michael Forte were locked in a battle of wits, each backed by powerful entities—Creative Artists Agency on one side and Universal Pictures on the other.

Meanwhile, Vin Diesel continued to express goodwill in media interviews, emphasizing his excitement for the upcoming sequel. He fondly recalled the strong chemistry developed during the fifth film, subtly pressuring Renly and Paul to renew their contracts. Universal Pictures also amplified their sincerity, claiming that negotiations were actively underway and expressing their eagerness for Renly and Paul to return. Simultaneously, rumors regarding Luke Hobbs' expanded role in the franchise ran rampant.

Despite these reassurances, industry insiders suggested otherwise—negotiations had reached a deadlock. Public perception quickly shifted, painting Renly and Paul as greedy actors unwilling to compromise for the sake of the franchise. As whispers grew, the two found themselves subtly positioned as villains in the court of public opinion.

In stark contrast, Renly remained largely absent from the Hollywood scene. Immersed in the filming of Transcendence and later escaping to the Caribbean for a much-needed vacation, he seemed indifferent to the mounting pressure. Meanwhile, Paul Walker maintained his silence, further fueling speculation about discord within the Fast & Furious crew.

Additional reports emerged from the Fast Five set, alleging that Vin Diesel had actively undermined Renly, orchestrating behind-the-scenes conflicts that led to a reshuffle of the props department and even resulted in Renly sustaining an injury. These accusations, attributed to anonymous crew members, only served to deepen the divide.

While the negotiations with Universal stalled, Andy took a proactive approach. He aggressively pursued alternative projects for Renly, engaging in discussions with Warner Bros., Disney, Paramount, and Sony. Renly's established reputation for solid acting, strong screen presence, and significant commercial appeal made him a sought-after name. However, despite the initial enthusiasm, none of these discussions progressed beyond the exploratory phase. Whether a strategic maneuver or a sign of genuine hesitation, the lack of movement in these talks added another layer of intrigue to the standoff.

Universal, in turn, applied pressure through industry connections, leveraging its influence to ensure other productions remained cautious in their approach to Renly. With a long-term vision for the Fast & Furious franchise spanning three more films, they subtly discouraged studios from offering Renly conflicting projects, reinforcing their hold on him.

At the same time, Universal publicly claimed they had offered Renly a $4 million contract, with Luke Hobbs' rumored spinoff reaching $5 million. Notably, they omitted any mention of backend earnings or box office dividends. Their narrative was clear: they were offering a lucrative deal, and Renly's continued resistance was nothing more than greed.

This tactic wasn't just about Renly—it was a strategic move within Hollywood's larger framework. The major studios often worked together to cap actor salaries, preventing stars from gaining excessive leverage. By broadcasting their offer, Universal set a benchmark for other studios, further complicating Andy's negotiations.

From Vin Diesel to Michael Fordridge—and possibly even Universal's higher-ups like Ron Meyer—the company was united in its stance. They had no intention of granting Renly excessive bargaining power.

"Currently, there's no further news from Battleship, John Carter, Snow White and the Huntsman, or 21 Jump Street," Andy reported. He omitted the intricate details of the discussions, knowing Renly only needed the final assessment.

Renly raised an eyebrow. He wasn't surprised about most of these, but 21 Jump Street backing away entirely, without even a meeting, was unexpected. Personally, he enjoyed comedy and saw it as an exciting challenge.

However, it made sense. 21 Jump Street was a Sony-Columbia production, part of one of Hollywood's six major studios. With a budget of just $42 million, they couldn't afford a high salary, and Renly's commercial viability in comedy was still unproven. 50/50 hadn't been released yet, and studios weren't willing to take the risk.

First Horrible Bosses, now 21 Jump Street—Renly mused on the growing difficulty of breaking into the comedy genre. What had once been a passing thought was now turning into a determined goal.

Setting those thoughts aside, Andy's message was clear: Universal was employing both hard and soft tactics, tightening their grip while maintaining a rigid stance on contract negotiations.

"Is there any industry buzz about Universal reaching out to Dwayne Johnson or anyone else?" Renly asked, half-jokingly suggesting Universal's next move.

Andy smirked. "Actually, yes. So far, the names floating around are Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Scott Eastwood, and Chris Hemsworth."

Renly chuckled. "The irony is almost poetic."

A year ago, Fast Five had faced a similar dilemma with Dwayne Johnson. Negotiations stalled, and Johnson held firm. Andy had seized the opportunity, crafting a meticulous strategy to land Renly the role of Luke Hobbs—complete with box office dividends. Johnson, meanwhile, had moved on to The Expendables.

Now, history was repeating itself. The question was whether the problem lay with the actors or with Universal's handling of negotiations.

"So, what's our next move?" Renly asked, knowing Andy had already formulated a plan.

Andy, appreciating Renly's trust, feigned exasperation. "Could you at least pretend to be impressed? Give me a sense of accomplishment here."

Renly merely shrugged. Roy, seated nearby, stifled a chuckle, and even Andy couldn't help but grin.

"Alright," Andy said, cutting to the chase. "I just wrapped up a meeting and secured two potential projects from Warner Bros. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Combined with the other projects Roy has screened, we need to move fast. If we leverage this moment properly, we can push for a higher salary before Universal catches on."

Until now, Andy had intentionally kept negotiations with other studios in limbo. This lull had lulled Universal into believing his efforts were merely a bluff. But now, with time running out, it was time to strike first. If they played their cards right, Universal would be the one scrambling to adjust.

"No problem," Renly said, signaling his readiness.

Andy smiled, satisfied. He reached into his briefcase and pulled out two scripts.

The game was far from over.