The Greatest Showman - Chapter 1393
Wasn't Vin Diesel supposed to be the one fuming? After all, he was the one left battered and beaten, right?
Meanwhile, Renly Hall had returned triumphantly from the Cannes Film Festival, his momentum unstoppable. His influence in the industry was undeniable. Whether or not he achieved EGOT status with the Tony Award, his prestige remained untarnished.
Of course, not everyone was a fan of Renly. In Hollywood, opposition was inevitable, and Harvey Weinstein was among his most prominent adversaries. However, few dared to challenge Renly directly, for he was not one to engage in petty conflicts.
Now, with Diesel attempting to take on Renly, the number of allies willing to back him was dwindling fast.
Perhaps Diesel could align with Harvey, but what did he have to offer? Weinstein was a seasoned strategist who operated solely on self-interest. If Diesel couldn't present a strong enough incentive, even an anti-Renly alliance wouldn't be enough to sway him.
And Diesel? He had nothing.
Faced with this predicament, Christian and the Endeavour Elite Agency were locked in endless meetings, desperately searching for a way out.
As Diesel's agency, it was their duty to protect his interests—even when he insisted on digging himself deeper into trouble. If they failed to support him now, it would send a negative message to other clients and peers in the industry. They had no choice but to grit their teeth and find a solution.
Christian had already proposed a compromise: Diesel could step back, and Disney could make amends by offering him another project. Perhaps a sequel to The Pacifier, or Disney could even acquire the XXX franchise to launch a new series.
There were always alternatives. Always another way forward.
But Diesel refused to back down.
For too long, Christian had held his tongue, but now even he had reached his breaking point.
Diesel, meanwhile, was seething—anger, frustration, and humiliation swirling within him. His breath came in short bursts, his pupils contracted, his entire body tensed like a predator ready to strike.
"Are you saying this is all my fault? Is my understanding flawed? Huh?" Diesel ground his teeth, his voice dripping with venom. "Did you forget? Or are you just choosing to ignore reality?"
He didn't wait for an answer. "Remember? On the set in Rio de Janeiro, when I first clashed with Renly? Andy Rogers flew in personally to humiliate me! And you? You dismissed it. Said it was nothing. A mere mosquito, easily swatted. But now? Now you're telling me Renly and I aren't even on the same level? That I should've never provoked him?"
Christian flinched slightly. Diesel's words struck a nerve.
It was true—he had underestimated Renly. Everyone had. No one expected the situation to spiral like this.
But Christian refused to back down. "And whose fault is that? Think, Vin! Who started this? Who kept poking the bear? Who ruined everything? I warned you, but did you listen? Now, the entire Fast & Furious crew is against you. Who do you think has been keeping Universal on your side? Who has been negotiating with Ron Meyer for you?"
"Not you!" Diesel shot back without hesitation. "Seven years! Seven damn years! Tell me—besides Fast & Furious, what have I got? Tell me! The only thing I have is Riddick 3, and that's because of my name, my reputation! Not yours! Not anyone else's!"
His voice grew louder, his frustration mounting. "And now? Now I've even lost my shot at Marvel—to that nobody Paul Walker! Paul Walker! Are you kidding me? How could I lose to Paul Walker?! Goddamn it!"
He was spiraling, ranting uncontrollably. "I want a Marvel role. I don't care which one! Give me any superhero—Aquaman? Batman? Spider-Man? Superman? Anything! I don't care! Just make it happen!"
Christian, however, had suddenly gone quiet. Watching Diesel unravel, a realization dawned upon him.
In seven years, Diesel had achieved nothing outside of Fast & Furious. Sure, Riddick 3 was set for release, but the previous installment had flopped. No one had high hopes for this one.
And Diesel's industry value? It was stagnating. Missing out on Guardians of the Galaxy had been a devastating blow.
Thinking quickly, Christian muttered under his breath, "Those are all DC characters."
"What?" Diesel blinked, momentarily thrown off.
"I mean..." Christian began to explain, but Diesel cut him off.
"I know what you said!" Diesel's voice erupted in rage, his lungs ready to burst. "And you think that matters right now?! Marvel, DC—I don't give a damn! I need a superhero role! If you can't make it happen, you're fired!"
Christian simply shook his head. "You're insane."
Vin Diesel as a superhero?
Of course, they had considered it before. But his look, his presence—none of it fit. That's why they had to settle for Groot, a supporting role. If Diesel had real leading-man potential, they wouldn't have ended up here in the first place.
"Yes, I'm insane!" Diesel shouted. "That's why I believed in you! That's why I stayed with you all these years! And what has it gotten me? Ten years wasted! Nothing!"
He was losing it, his movements erratic. "And now? Now you'll abandon me too, right? Just like the rest of them! You'll run to that— that—snake Renly, kiss his feet, beg for his favor! Well, I won't let that happen!"
"I'm not a fool!"
He swung his fist dangerously close to Christian's face. "We're done! You're fired!"
The declaration echoed in the room.
"And don't bother sending anyone else from the agency. I won't sign with you. This is over! We've suffered each other long enough!"
Christian scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. "You think you can just walk away? If it weren't for us, Fast & Furious wouldn't have made it past the fourth movie. If it weren't for us, you'd still be a nobody."
"And now, what? You think you don't need us anymore? First, you pushed away your co-stars, now your crew, and now us? You think you can fire me? You don't have that power. Before we agree to let you go, you're just a washed-up has-been. We can bury you!"
Diesel's eyes burned with fury. "Then try me."
The tension was suffocating.
The battle lines had been drawn.