Chapter 169: The Bet (2)

[Chapter 169: The Bet (2)]

Robert Downey Jr. furrowed his brow; this bet sounded promising. Kiefer Sutherland perked up, asking, "Can it be any unreleased movie?"

"It has to be films releasing this year," Link replied.

"Great!"

Kiefer leaned in close, whispering, "We could bet on Tom Cruise's new movie, The Firm. The test screening went exceptionally well -- 43 distributors, producers, and critics rated it above 90, with a positive review rate over 95%. It's expected to gross over $200 million in North America. There's no way Link's new film will reach that. We have a good chance of winning this bet."

Robert shook his head, saying, "Ten million's too much; I don't have that kind of money."

Even though he was a leading star with paychecks in the millions, his daily expenses were exorbitant -- drugs, booze, and a few bad investments had left him without even a million in cash, let alone ten.

Kiefer lowered his voice, "We could invite Richard and Dustin to join in. If we win, we not only make a fortune but also get back at Link, a win-win."

Robert thought it over and nodded, "Link, are you sure any film will do?"

"Of course, I have confidence in my movie."

"Hmph! We'll accept your proposal, but we need to think about which movie to bet on. We'll get back to you in three days."

"Whenever you like."

...

Link continued chatting with Nicolas Cage and a few others.

"Are you really going to gamble, Link?" Nicolas asked.

"Just having a bit of fun; shooting movies every day can get boring," Link laughed.

"But betting ten million -- aren't you worried about losing?" Keanu Reeves chimed in.

Johnny Depp interjected, "Link is worth hundreds of millions; ten million is pocket change for him."

"You rich guys will go to any length for a thrill," Keanu marveled.

Link shook his head. He was confident in betting against other films with Final Destination because he felt he had the upper hand. Winning this bet would not only provide him some pocket money but also teach Robert and his crew a lesson, killing two birds with one stone.

"What are you guys talking about?" Monica Bellucci and Keanu's girlfriend approached with drinks in hand.

"Just discussing a big business deal," Link replied with a grin.

...

Meanwhile, after leaving the bar, Robert immediately called Richard Gere and Dustin Hoffman to discuss betting against Link, offering a staggering ten million dollars. He wondered whether it was a legitimate opportunity.

Richard was intrigued and agreed, but he insisted they do their homework before taking the plunge.

He promptly contacted Tom Cruise and producer Scott Rudin to gather insights about The Firm.

...

The Firm was a Paramount film adapted from John Grisham's best-selling novel, The Firm. Filming had started in November last year and wrapped up in March, with a production budget of $42 million.

Scott Rudin, a Hollywood powerhouse, produced the film. Sidney Pollack directed; he had been nominated for the Oscar for Best Director three times and won Best Picture and Best Director in 1986 for Out of Africa.

The screenplay was crafted by three notable names: best-selling author John Grisham, renowned director and writer Robert Towne, and acclaimed screenwriter David Mamet.

The leading man was superstar Tom Cruise, with legendary actor Gene Hackman in a supporting role. Gene had received multiple Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor and won the Academy Award this March for Unforgiven.

There were also two notable actresses: Jeanne Tripplehorn, who had gained fame from last year's Basic Instinct, and Holly Hunter, who won the Oscar for Best Actress in March for The Piano.

Additionally, the film featured a strong ensemble cast including Ed Harris, Wilford Brimley, and Hal Holbrook -- each seasoned actors known for their remarkable performances.

This film represented a quintessential Hollywood commercial venture, combining a top producer, a popular star, a talented director, and a mix of established supporting actors -- complete with an inspirational storyline.

With such a lineup, it was nearly impossible to lose money.

...

Upon hearing that they planned to bet on The Firm's box office against Link's new movie, Tom expressed interest. After inquiring about the stakes and odds, he offered to contribute $2 million to the pot.

Richard happily agreed.

After touching base with Tom and others, Richard felt confident about The Firm. They engaged various contacts to reach those who attended the Final Destination test screening to gain insider information.

Twenty-two individuals attended the internal screening for Final Destination, with a favorable reception below 80%. The projected box office revenue was around $60 million.

In contrast, The Firm boasted a 95% approval rate, expected to pull in over $120 million. Based on these insights, they felt assured about winning this bet -- it would be like easy money.

"Let me call Link and inform him that we accept the bet," Robert said excitedly.

"Hold on, if we're betting, why not go bigger? Link is worth hundreds of millions; losing won't ruin him," Richard suggested with a smirk.

"Bet larger?" Robert asked, sounding daunted.

"You want to up the ante?" Richard responded.

"But we don't have that much cash," Robert and Kiefer protested.

"Richard, we should take it easy; a little fun is fine, but don't stake too much," Cindy Crawford advised.

"Don't worry about it," Richard waved her off, chuckling. "We don't have the money, but the bank does. After we win against Link, we'll pay the bank back. A quick turnaround and we'll make millions. Enough to fund several films. Plus, we'll get the word out and bring in more investors. This time, we'll make sure Link ends up broke."

Richard slammed his fist on the table emphatically. After being outmaneuvered by Link at the party for Bram Stoker's Dracula and facing humiliation during The Blair Witch Project, he felt the need for revenge. His new film, Sommersby, was overshadowed by Link's latest release, a disappointment that weighed heavily on his mind.

He had to come out ahead this time.

"Loan betting?" Kiefer said hesitantly. Although he enjoyed some thrills, gambling wasn't one of them. "If we lose... I know the odds are good, but if we lose, we could take quite a hit."

"Trust me, we won't lose," Richard replied confidently. "It's not just that his new movie has a much lower approval rate than The Firm; remember, we have CAA behind us. The major studios won't let Link's film succeed. This time, if we have the guts to go for it, we'll beat Link. I'm betting $8 million."

*****

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