[Chapter 197: Buy Back Iron Man?]
In the afternoon, at a cafe in Santa Monica, Daniel met with Peter Berg. Peter Berg was 39 years old, with a thick head of hair and the vibe of a handsome older man.
"Mr. Cross, the story you mentioned is really intriguing." After the initial pleasantries, Peter Berg got straight to the point, his tone tinged with excitement. "An alcoholic, slovenly, short-tempered Superman who's despised by the public. That completely flips the typical superhero image on its head! But it's exactly that contrast and raw realism that brings so much dramatic tension."
Daniel stirred his coffee and smiled. "Yeah, the audience has started to grow tired of the traditional, upright, flawless Superman. We need a hero who's more grounded, with real human flaws. People will be curious -- how does a jerk like this become a hero? That transformation will feel more believable and touching."
"Exactly!" Peter Berg grew more animated as he spoke, sharing his own insights on the project. "I'm really interested in this movie. I feel like it fits me perfectly."
Daniel chuckled inwardly. Nonsense, in the other world this was your project -- you'd of course feel it fits.
Daniel said, "I have a feeling that next year's Superman Returns won't do very well. Once they fail, our movie will be perfectly positioned to show audiences a different kind of Superman. The comparison alone will generate a lot of buzz. It'll save us a ton on publicity."
Peter Berg's eyes widened. "You really think Superman Returns will flop?"
Daniel nodded. "Highly likely."
"That's a bold prediction," Peter said. "But if it happens, it'd definitely work to our advantage. Pair it with a popular male lead, and the hype will skyrocket."
Daniel: "True. Who do you think would be right?"
Peter leaned forward. "The first person I thought of was Tom Cruise. I worked with him on Collateral. His professionalism and box office draw are solid."
Daniel didn't agree right away.
Tom Cruise was somewhat suitable -- especially since it wouldn't be long before the infamous couch-jumping incident shook the entertainment industry worldwide. He'd face a lot of doubt and misunderstanding after that. Somehow, that aligned with Hancock's flawed nature. Casting him might actually capture that vibe.
The only worry was that Tom had never played a superhero before. Would it feel awkward? Luckily, this character didn't require tights or a cape.
Actually, Daniel had someone else in mind -- Robert Downey Jr. If he played Hancock, it would be perfect. His flair for portraying decadence was unmatched, probably even better than Tom Cruise.
But Downey's current popularity was disastrous. He had zero box office pull, and Hancock was an original story with no existing fanbase. That risked sinking the whole thing.
Plus, Iron Man was still waiting for him.
"He could work, but I remember he isn't keen on superhero movies."
"True, but Hancock isn't a franchise character like those in Marvel or DC. It's a standalone, deep story. I'm confident I can convince him."
"Let's make contact and test the waters. Actual signing can wait a few months."
Peter looked puzzled. "Why the wait?"
Daniel smiled slightly. "Early prep takes time. Just drawing storyboards alone will take a while. No rush on locking in actors yet."
Peter suspected that wasn't the real reason but didn't press further.
Peter leaned back. "Alright, now let's talk about something I care about, my fee."
After some negotiation, Peter Berg's directing fee was set at $5 million, after taxes. That was a full $2 million more than he earned on Collateral. He was very pleased, turning a blind eye to the fact that Daniel's production company was brand new, and this was its first project. Of course, the $1 million advance Daniel gave him right after signing helped ease his nerves.
...
Just as Daniel walked Peter out, his phone rang again. The caller was none other than Marvel CEO Avi Arad.
Seeing the name, Daniel guessed his purpose. The corners of his mouth twitched into a smile -- the moment he'd been waiting for had arrived.
He answered, "Hello, Avi. What can I do for you?"
"Daniel, I have an important matter to discuss," Avi's tone was serious.
"What's up?"
"We want to buy back the rights to Iron Man."
Daniel found it amusing. He knew this day would come.
Marvel owned many heroes, but the audience was growing tired of the usual fare. Iron Man was perfect for this phase, especially with mecha elements -- a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. What guy doesn't love mecha?
"Sure."
"Huh?"
Avi was stunned, not expecting such quick agreement.
Then Daniel said firmly, "$500 million, and it's a deal."
Suddenly there was silence on the other end, accompanied by two sets of heavy breathing. Daniel knew, without guessing, that one of those voices belonged to Isaac Perlmutter.
After a long pause, Avi said deep in his voice, "Daniel, I'm not joking."
"Neither am I."
"You know $500 million is impossible."
"Then I'm sorry."
Avi sighed. "Alright, then let's change the approach."
"Go ahead."
"You contribute the rights as equity, and we'll produce the Iron Man movie."
"How about this? The rights count as one share, and I also provide part of the production funding."
Avi's voice suddenly rose a few octaves. "You mean you want majority control?"
"I'll put in more money, but I won't interfere with production. You can handle how it's filmed and what it looks like."
Avi's tone softened. "I need to think about it."
"Fine. I've got patience. If you're not interested, I'll invest and produce the Iron Man movie myself."
Avi's breathing quickened again. "I'll get back to you as soon as possible."
"Phone calls are inconvenient. Next time, come to Los Angeles and we'll talk in person."
Hanging up, Daniel laughed silently.
...
Three days later, Avi Arad and Isaac Perlmutter rushed to Los Angeles. Before, Daniel was always the one going to New York to find them. Now the tables had turned.
After several days of talks, Daniel reached a preliminary cooperation agreement.
The Iron Man rights were valued at $20 million. Daniel would invest another $80 million, making a total $100 million stake and holding the majority share.
Marvel would cover the rest.
In addition to the movie profits, the rights to the film would belong to Daniel. All peripheral rights would not involve Marvel.
*****
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