The Greatest Showman #694 - One Trick

Fan could feel Neil's burning gaze, and in that moment, he was transported back to the condescending disdain he had felt when he first joined the ranks of "Fast & Furious 4" producers years ago. That sense of insignificance and helplessness was unmistakable. Fan knew that Neil was shifting the blame onto him.

First Michael, now Neil.

The expression on Neil's face clearly conveyed one thing: Apologize. Fan must apologize to Paul, save Paul, or else this disaster would never end.

Fan wanted to straighten his back and turn away, anger burning inside him. He wanted to tell Renly and Paul to leave, to let them go, but he knew he couldn't afford to. He needed Paul to stay. He needed Paul to hold the crew together, to persuade the rest of the cast to stay as well. Sometimes, power wasn't enough. Popular sentiment had to be considered.

Fan lowered his gaze, avoiding Neil's eyes. He knew he had lost.

Neil ignored Fan's silence and pressed on. "We need a replacement for Renly. We have to act fast. The damage can't be allowed to spread any further," Neil said, taking a deep breath. His smile barely masked a trace of bitterness. "The longer we wait, the steeper the price we pay."

The industry was rife with speculation about Renly's relationship with the "Fast & Furious" crew, particularly his ties with Fan.

The best course of action was to secure Renly's contract renewal quickly, to do so gracefully, even if it meant conceding some benefits. That way, they could stop the damage before it worsened, clear up the rumors, and position themselves on moral high ground—claiming that Renly's actions were simply a bid for a higher salary.

But Renly had shut the door decisively. He had no intention of continuing the negotiations.

Now, they could try to spin it—that Renly was only after more money—but they had to find a replacement fast, before the truth came out. Every day they delayed made their position weaker. Either they'd end up paying more for a new actor, or they'd take another huge risk like last year's failed gamble with Renly. In either case, the risk for Fast and Furious 6 was sky-high.

Neil had to admit, Renly's final move was ruthless, leaving the entire crew in limbo. But Neil understood Renly's real motive—Paul Walker. He knew that Fan's ambition and arrogance were growing dangerously, and Paul was the only one who could temper Fan's rise.

Even though Renly had set a trap, Neil couldn't just let things fall apart. He had to push both Fan and Michael into the mess as well.

"What do you mean, the longer we wait, the greater the cost?" Michael asked, frowning, clearly confused.

Neil shot Michael a look of pity, sighing inwardly.

Jack Wallace, on the other hand, was completely stunned. Andy Rogers had pulled off a dazzling move in the shadows, concealed by the surrounding news, while Renly had made a decisive exit, abandoning everything without hesitation, showcasing the poise and calm of a true superstar.

In hindsight, Jack realized how naive he had been when he fought for Dawn's 3.5 million salary. It now seemed like child's play. Andy had not acted alone; an entire creative agency had supported him. That was why top-tier talent agents saw these innovative agencies as the ultimate challenge. The levels were worlds apart.

But Jack still didn't understand why Andy had needed Dawn's cooperation in the first place.

So far, all Andy had done was reject Michael's offer. But there were plenty of suitable action stars in Hollywood beyond Dawn. If Michael wanted to divert his attention or leverage Renly, there were many other options. Dawn was just one actor who had turned down "Fast & Furious"—not all of Hollywood's action stars had done the same.

Jack couldn't grasp the bigger picture, and it felt both suffocating and thrilling. Suddenly, the office door opened, and the assistant's head popped in, whispering, "Neil-H-Moretz's call is on line four."

Jack froze for a moment, then put the newspaper aside. "Okay, bring it in," he said, his eyes still on the headline, which read: Renly Hall confirmed for 'Killing Samsara', his first commercial film lead. He picked up the phone, trying to keep his voice steady, "Jack Wallace here."

The news had barely sunk in when Universal Pictures made a major announcement. The sixth and seventh "Fast & Furious" films had finalized Paul Walker's contract renewal. The deal was a blockbuster, elevating Paul to co-producer status alongside Fan, ensuring the two main heroes of the franchise would continue to headline the series.

Industry whispers suggested that Paul's deal for the sequels included a $15 million salary, 7% of the box office take, and producer credits.

This deal put Paul on equal footing with Fan, though Fan's box office share was slightly higher at 8%. If Fast & Furious 6 earned around $300 million at the North American box office, Paul's pre-tax salary would be a staggering $36 million.

Clearly, after Renly's exit, the crew had shown real commitment to keeping one of the key players in the franchise. More importantly, the rumors about a shift toward Fan-centric storylines were quashed. The sequel would maintain balance between Paul and Fan, reinforcing their friendship.

Paul's signing marked the first time his career had earned him producer status, though it remained to be seen whether he'd have a hand in the film's actual creation. Regardless, this was a clear signal of the film's continued success and a win for the franchise.

Before the media firestorm over the first announcement could even cool, Universal dropped two more bombshells.

Fast & Furious 6 had secured a deal with Dwayne Johnson, confirming his appearance in at least one of the films. The specific role was still under wraps, but it was expected to be significant. Dwayne mentioned missing Renly, but expressed excitement about working with Fan and Paul.

Additionally, the crew had finalized a deal with Luke Evans, though his role remained unclear. Evans was eager to play the villain, ideally the ultimate antagonist, a role that promised to be thrilling.

Even though the full details of these deals were still unknown, it was clear that the franchise was on the rise, unaffected by Renly's departure. The addition of Dwayne and Luke, as well as ongoing negotiations with Jason Statham, showed that Fast & Furious 6 was poised for greatness.

On the surface, the crew seemed to be moving forward with a new chapter, building excitement for the future. But those in the know understood that things were far from simple.

Dwayne's $5.5 million contract marked his official entry into the ranks of A-list stars. In the future, his salary for leading roles would start at $8 million, with $10 million becoming a likely possibility.

Luke Evans, with a contract worth $3 million, had made a huge leap in his career. Before this, his highest salary had been just $100,000 for No One Survived—a project that had yet to be released.

Both actors had received significant pay increases, signaling their ascension in Hollywood. However, it was clear that the crew's decision to pass on Renly and replace him with fresh faces was a risky one. The Fast & Furious franchise had built its fanbase through the consistent presence of its core actors, and by throwing that foundation away, Universal had jeopardized its long-term stability.

But on the surface, the show must go on, and the future of the Fast & Furious franchise seemed as promising as ever.