The Greatest Showman #670 - Turning Against Each Other

In the "Fast and Furious 5" crew, many don't understand why Fan is targeting Renly so intensely. Is it just a personal grudge? Of course, that's where it starts, but there's more to it. At its core, it's about a deep sense of threat to his interests and status.

When Fan and Renly first met face-to-face in Telluride, Fan immediately felt the challenge. In Renly's presence, it was difficult for him to gain the upper hand; in fact, he found himself falling behind on multiple occasions. The threat Renly posed was greater than that of Dawn, and the rivalry between them was not just an aura mismatch—it was a gut instinct, a deep, dangerous intuition.

What followed were a series of small actions on set, which weren't just acts of revenge—they were tests, an attempt to suppress Renly. But every effort failed. Renly had already established himself on set, and his upward momentum seemed unstoppable. Fan realized that soon, he would lose his grip on power. All his influence, his status, everything he had, was slipping away.

Two sequels and a spinoff? Universal Pictures was out of its mind! Six million plus box office dividends—even in the fourth installment, that's a massive deal. So what's next? Renly was going to take over the "Fast and Furious" series. If even Paul stood by Renly, Fan's position would be in jeopardy—not just within the franchise, but in his entire career.

For Fan, the "Fast and Furious" series was more important than "Mission Impossible" was to Tom Cruise, "Pirates of the Caribbean" was to Johnny Depp, or "Iron Man" was to Robert Downey Jr.

Outside of the franchise, Fan's box office track record was nearly nonexistent. Since "Fantastic Daddy" in 2005, his career had stagnated. "Fast and Furious 4" was his lifeline. Without it, his status as a top-tier Hollywood actor would have crumbled, and he wouldn't even measure up to rising stars like Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson.

For Fan, this was about survival. He couldn't afford to compromise.

"I quit!" Fan slammed his hands on the table, his body bracing against it like a tiger descending from a mountain. His eyes were wide, veins bulging, as an intense aura of power rushed toward Neil and Michael.

There was no question that Fan had the upper hand in force. Together, Neil and Michael couldn't resist for more than three minutes. The tension in the room was palpable, teetering on the edge of explosion.

Suddenly, the office door burst open. Michael's assistant, unable to even enter properly, was shouting "Paul, Paul…" The door wobbled on its hinges, nearly torn apart from the force of Paul Walker's entrance.

Paul rushed in, his eyes scanning the scene. Before he could speak, he noticed the door was on the brink of falling, and in a flash, he grabbed it, his face a picture of awkwardness. He wasn't used to such forceful actions. He turned to Michael, giving an apologetic look.

This moment of hesitation disrupted the tense atmosphere. Fan's anger was trapped—unable to release, it sat in his chest, creating an excruciating discomfort.

Paul noticed this and turned to Fan. His anger flared up again. He had been waiting outside because, as an actor, he knew he wasn't qualified to join the meeting. But hearing Fan's roar from the other side of the wall ignited his fury. In the end, he couldn't hold back and stormed in.

"Are you crazy? Fan, tell me, are you crazy?" Paul's voice wasn't merely confrontational—it was a sincere shock. He couldn't believe that Fan would object so aggressively to Renly's continued involvement. "Neal's already agreed. What the hell are you doing? Why do you oppose it?"

Paul stood by the office door, his back stiff with anger, but beneath it all, there was an overwhelming sadness. "Fan, you're not like this. The issue is over. Renly didn't pursue it. Why do you keep provoking him? He's an actor who works hard to make our films better. Why can't you see that? I thought, even if we couldn't be friends, at least we wouldn't be enemies."

The disappointment in Paul's eyes hit Fan like a jolt, his anger rising to a breaking point. "He's my enemy. Don't be so naive! Look at his demands—eight million dollars and three percent of the box office revenue…"

"That's what he deserves!" Paul interjected sharply, not holding back. "Jesus, this isn't your money! It's not yours! Before any of that money lands in your pocket, you have no say in what anyone else gets for their work. Universal Pictures has no issue with it, the market has no issue with it. So why do you?"

"I'm the biggest contributor to the whole series!" Fan's teeth ground as he spoke, his chest heaving with rage. "This is my series! My success! Who is Renly? Just a guy who—if he hadn't betrayed—wouldn't even have the right to meet me face-to-face!"

"And me? Am I not qualified?" Paul's outrage was palpable, and his fists clenched so tightly his body trembled. "What about Jordana? Tyrese? Gal? I thought this was our series. This is us, together! We're a family!"

Paul looked at Fan in disbelief, his voice quivering. The air in the room thickened.

"Paul, not everything is about you!" Fan raised his voice, attempting to regain control. But Paul was undeterred. He stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Fan.

"So, everything is about you?" Paul's words cut deep, his gaze like a sharp blade. "I never knew this was just your work, not mine, not anyone else's."

Fan hesitated, then slammed the desk in frustration, clearly irritated. "Go away, Paul. You know that's not what I meant."

"Then what do you mean?" Paul's words came out in a low growl. The anger in him had shifted from heated frustration to cold intensity. "Tell me, what do you mean? Why did Neal agree to Renly, but you keep opposing it? Why did you say you'd quit if Renly joined?"

For the first time, Paul's fury was truly terrifying. The normally calm, composed actor was now a force to be reckoned with.

Fan's voice lowered, his words heavy with defiance. "You're too naïve! Renly's demands aren't just about salary and dividends. He wants power. He wants control of the crew, the producers' power! He's going to squeeze us out—kick me out of the series. He wants to make it his own. I'm holding on to what we've built, what we've worked for!"

"Shut up!" Paul shouted, his voice raw and forceful. But Fan wasn't done.

"You're my friend," Fan said. "But he's not. I can guarantee you more money—hell, I can get you fifteen million, no problem. We can all make this work. This is our franchise, Paul. Don't destroy our friendship over a stranger. If you're not happy, we'll work things out."

"Shut up!" Paul's voice cracked, but this time, the shout was more than just anger—it was heartbreak. The entire floor heard it. The people in the office had to stop what they were doing, eyes drawn to the scene unfolding before them.

But Paul didn't notice. His eyes were fixed on Fan in disbelief. He could hardly believe that the person he considered a family member was now reduced to bargaining over money. Fifteen million dollars—that's what it took for Fan to turn his back on everything they had. How absurd. How pitiful.

The anger in Paul's chest slowly shifted to cold realization. This was the world of vanity—this was what it meant.