The Greatest Showman - Chapter #1418: Cut Off the Trouble

"John, you... you can't do this! We've already agreed, you can't do this!" Melissa finally found her voice, repeating the same words over and over again, panic breaking through as she slowly fell apart.

It's not fair.

That was a fact, but it was also reality.

John ignored Melissa and instead turned his attention to Renly, casting a questioning glance as if asking: Should they approach the situation more directly, or is it better to keep things more confidential if this is a breaking news story?

Renly, with a sideways glance at the distraught Melissa, smiled lightly and answered casually, "I plan to return to the Fast & Furious series, but clearly, there are still obstacles. Let's see how things unfold."

This plan was the brainchild of Andy Rogers.

On one hand, it served as a warning to Vin Diesel. After the Guardians of the Galaxy incident, there was concern that Diesel might take his frustrations out on Paul Walker or Jason Statham. Now, Renly had openly admitted that he was behind the incident. What's the problem? Let the rumors spread.

On the other hand, it was a subtle message to Universal Studios. The focus shouldn't be solely on Fast & Furious, but rather the potential restart of the Jurassic Park series. Renly had extended an olive branch, hoping that Ron Mayer would adjust his approach and take the first step toward serious negotiations.

Andy had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to signal the right moment. Little did he know, that moment had arrived, and Renly had handled it with finesse. Through the paparazzi, the message was already making the rounds—no one would question its authenticity; the timing was perfect.

John's eyes widened in disbelief.

John didn't understand the strategic game at play between Steven Spielberg, Ron Mayer, and Renly Hall. He wasn't aware of the Jurassic Park angle, but he quickly grasped the key point: obstruction? What obstacle? Vin Diesel's name immediately sprang to mind.

Things were getting interesting.

Clearly, Diesel didn't want Renly to return to the series, and Renly had just stated that Diesel was the only barrier. Combined with the recent negative media surrounding the Fast & Furious franchise, the situation was ripe with drama.

To add context, John's excitement was grounded in background details.

On May 24, Fast & Furious 6 and The Hangover 3 premiered on the same day. Despite Renly's absence, Fast & Furious 6 was still one of the most talked-about films of the year, with a lively red carpet event. However, the box office results were disappointing.

The opening weekend of Fast & Furious 6 brought in $97 million—just $2 million more than the previous film. Industry insiders had expected between $120 million and $140 million, so the numbers fell short of expectations. The following weekend saw a dramatic 64% drop in box office earnings, making only $35 million. Within two weeks, it had grossed $171 million, which was already behind Fast & Furious 5.

Despite still earning a substantial amount, Fast & Furious 6 was on track to fall short of the previous film's success, and Universal was starting to worry. The appeal of the series was starting to decline. What should they do? Was the franchise's long-term potential starting to fade?

It was under these circumstances that Renly dropped the bombshell news, and John could already predict the uproar it would cause.

"Wow," John exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement. "What if the media asks you?"

The news couldn't just remain as a rumor—eventually, the media would reach out for confirmation.

"I won't confirm it, but I won't deny it either," Renly said with a smile. The goal was bigger than just Fast & Furious and Jurassic Park; it was about securing a stronger position against the six major film studios. All Renly had to do was remain silent, leaving everything else to Andy.

John snapped his fingers. "That's it! That's enough!"

Excited, John paced around, then suddenly stopped. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a memory card, and with a dramatic flair, broke it before tossing it into the nearby sewer.

No need for words—the gesture spoke volumes. Compared to Melissa's clumsy tactics, this was far more subtle and effective.

"God! Oh, God!" Melissa covered her mouth in disbelief, falling apart. She screamed frantically, "No! No! No!"

John ignored Melissa's reaction, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. "Sorry for the trouble today. Do you need my help? Should we use public opinion to guide things and kick her off the set?"

"Thanks for the offer, but I don't think it's necessary," Renly replied with a smile.

John was persistent, trying again to offer his help. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure," Renly affirmed.

Disappointment washed over John as he realized his efforts weren't needed. He muttered a final apology. "I'm sorry for today's incident. It won't happen again."

Renly simply nodded with a smile.

John turned to leave, but then paused, as if considering one last attempt. He turned back to Renly, still eager to help. But Renly just smiled at him silently, causing John to swallow his words and, embarrassed, wave and walk away.

John believed Joey was right—Renly was a good man.

If Renly knew what John was thinking, he would have laughed.

Renly hadn't planned to kick Melissa off the set, not because he was a "good guy," but because he understood the bigger picture.

Firing Melissa immediately could disrupt the filming of Boom Drummer. Moreover, Melissa might claim she was fired unjustly, turning herself into a martyr. Renly didn't want to give her that satisfaction.

If Melissa stayed, Renly could deal with her more subtly. Her role wasn't essential—just a few small scenes to shoot. Once filming was over, Renly could quietly ensure her career faced challenges, all without her ever realizing it was Renly's doing.

Renly wasn't afraid to make tough decisions, but he preferred to do so in a way that avoided unnecessary conflict.

John was wrong: Renly wasn't a "good guy." He never had been.