The Greatest Showman #668 - Team Up

The atmosphere in the office was tense, almost suffocating. After a year, it felt like déjà vu—standing at the same fork in the road, facing a situation that mirrored the past. Would they fall into the same trap again? Dawn couldn't shake the worry gnawing at him. On one hand, he wanted to let go, but on the other, the fear of repeating old mistakes held him back.

"So..." Dawn broke the silence, his voice tinged with anxiety. He looked up at Jack, who was seated behind the desk. "Are we just going to give up like this?"

After a month of back-and-forth, Universal Pictures was still unwilling to compromise. To be honest, Renly held the upper hand this time, making it even more difficult for Dawn to extract what he wanted.

Jack didn't respond immediately. His mind was racing, his thoughts processing the situation. After a brief pause, he spoke, "If you want, we can lower the salary demand."

Last year, they had fought for a $3.5 million salary but failed. Joining The Expendables, Dawn wasn't even the third lead, and, at Sylvester Stallone's request, he had to lower his asking price to make it work. This year, they were pushing for the same $3.5 million, but Renly's overwhelming position made it unlikely. Would they repeat the same mistakes and lose out again?

The choice seemed stark: insist on $3.5 million and risk losing the opportunity, or lower the demand and secure the chance.

Dawn looked at Jack, momentarily speechless. His mind raced. If they reduced the salary, would it make him more competitive? But what did that mean for his future? Missing out on Fast & Furious would be a huge setback, especially for someone like him—a pure action star. Would he be able to make a real breakthrough after this? He couldn't decide.

Before Dawn could speak, the office door suddenly slammed open. Both he and Jack turned instinctively. A figure poked their head in, a strange expression on their face. "Andy Rogers is on the line," the assistant said urgently.

Andy Rogers?

Dawn's fists clenched involuntarily. If it weren't for Andy's interference, he would have joined Fast & Furious 5 last year for $3.5 million, and today, the $300 million in North America would have been his. And now, Andy had the audacity to call?

Jack was stunned as well. He and Andy were not friends—far from it. In fact, they were rivals. Why was Andy calling now? Was it to spy, to disrupt their plans? It didn't make sense. Renly was clearly in the lead, close to signing, so what was Andy's angle?

As a veteran agent, Jack knew what others might not: last year, Renly had capitalized on the situation, securing 0.5% of the Fast & Furious 5 box office bonus. While it wasn't much—about $1.5 million before taxes—it solidified Renly's status as a true box-office player. The thought of this made Jack's stomach churn.

"Jack?" The assistant's voice broke him from his thoughts. "Should I hang up? Or let him in?"

"Hang up, of course," Dawn muttered irritably. That was also Jack's first instinct. Andy was one of the top agents in Hollywood, shrewd and calculating. Hanging up seemed like the safest option, avoiding potential crises. But Jack knew that rejecting opportunities in Hollywood could also lead to stagnation.

"Come in," Jack gritted through his teeth. Before he could finish, Dawn stood abruptly, his eyes wide. Jack waved him off, clearly frustrated.

"I'm already starting to regret this. Don't disturb me, alright?" Jack took a deep breath, then another, and reluctantly pressed the speakerphone button. "Andy Rogers, I didn't expect to hear from you."

Jack tried to sound calm, but his voice betrayed his frustration. Dawn, meanwhile, paced back and forth, trying to control his growing agitation. Finally, he sat back down, forcing himself to stay composed.

"I have a proposal I want to discuss," Andy's voice came through, smooth and confident. "Dwayne Johnson, Luke Evans, and Jason Statham are teaming up for the Fast & Furious sequel. Renly's out. I'm sure the price is negotiable. Are you interested?"

The weight of Andy's words hit both Jack and Dawn. Luke Evans and Jason Statham were rising action stars, both signed with Creative Artists Agency and already seen as serious contenders in the action genre.

"Why?" Jack asked, his confusion evident. "Why would you tell us this?"

"If I said it was because I have a personal grudge with Michael Fordri, would you believe me?" Andy replied, half-truths hanging in the air. "It's not about why, it's about what you do with it. Aren't you curious?"

Jack glanced at Dwayne. Dawn, who had initially seemed uninterested, now looked less than pleased. As an athlete, he despised this kind of back-and-forth—especially when the person involved had wronged him before.

"I'm curious, but I'm also worried this is a trap," Jack admitted, his honesty masking a defensive strategy. Against someone like Andy, Jack had to tread carefully; bluffing would only expose his weaknesses.

"Hollywood is full of traps," Andy replied with a knowing tone. "But there's a difference between traps that ensnare you and traps that give you an opportunity. It's not complicated—Luke and Jason are with us, and Dawn will handle it on your end. Michael may or may not contact you, but whatever happens, don't lower your price too quickly."

Dawn and Jack exchanged glances. Lowering their price had already been on the table, but Andy's words stung. The mere mention of price cuts made them both uneasy.

"Two weeks," Andy continued. "In two weeks, everything will be clear. As for the pay—well, that depends on how you play it. Jason's asking price is $6 million."

Jason Statham, known for his roles in Fate Express, Rage, and Death Speeder, was a rising action star but not yet an A-lister. Six million was a lot for a supporting role, but too low for a leading man.

"And Renly?" Jack shot back, trying to gain the upper hand.

Andy remained unfazed. "Renly is not Jason."

The comparison made Jack's stomach twist. Could Renly's asking price be even higher? Just the thought of it made Jack uneasy. Dawn, asking for $3.5 million, seemed like a bargain in comparison, but Michael was still reluctant to let go. Clearly, Michael had been using Dawn as leverage to lower Renly's price. It was a calculated move.

"And what if you're using me to achieve your goals?" Jack asked, closing his eyes in frustration. He knew that if Renly needed to inflate his asking price, Creative Artists Agency had plenty of other actors to use. Dawn, while a bigger threat, had limits.

"Even if I am, you won't lose," Andy replied, his tone calm and unbothered. "You can talk it over with Dawn, but Michael's side should have news in a couple of days. Good luck."

With that, Andy hung up, leaving the office in an eerie silence. Jack stared at the phone, his mind racing. What was Andy's game? What was Creative Artists Agency really after?

"Jack?" Dwayne's voice pulled him back. "What do you think?"

Dawn, though still wary of Andy, was clearly confused. The conversation had thrown him off balance. He looked to Jack for guidance.

Jack's thoughts were scattered, but after a few moments of deep reflection, he spoke: "Let's wait and see. See how things play out."

It was a cautious move. The worst-case scenario was that they missed out on Fast & Furious again—but they had already been prepared to lower their demands. What more was there to fear? In the world of film production, agents had to work together. It was only when they united that they could push for higher wages for their clients. This was the bottom line.

But Andy had mentioned a price. What was the true cost? Andy hadn't said, and Jack had forgotten to ask what else Creative Artists Agency was hoping to gain.

Jack's head was full of questions. He needed to gather his thoughts. But before he could process any further, Michael Fordri made an unprecedented call.