The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 261

It was still too early to begin filming the sequels, and pre-production didn't require the actors' presence. So, after the press conference, Matthew and the others would go their separate ways. They would simply coordinate their schedules, await Jerry's final timeline, and then wait for the script.

Much like Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and National Treasure—a project that had run into production difficulties and was currently stalled—the two upcoming sequels Jerry was producing didn't have a script yet, only a rough concept.

But that was the mark of a top-tier producer. Where ordinary producers and screenwriters might struggle to get their projects off the ground, and Hollywood production companies might not even bat an eye, Jerry only needed to present a concept and a rough outline to capture the attention of the studio's top executives.

After a few brief words with Jerry, the three lead actors departed. Keira rushed to Los Angeles International Airport to catch her flight back to London, while Matthew and Depp strolled leisurely down the long corridors of the Disney headquarters.

"Next month, Vanessa and I are moving to France to settle down," Depp announced unexpectedly.

"France?" Matthew knew Vanessa was Depp's wife. "Guess I'll have to fly across the Atlantic just to have a drink with you now."

Depp smiled. "It's what Vanessa wants."

Frankly, a man like Depp was undeniably strange and often unpredictable, but when it came to his family, he was exceptionally devoted.

After leaving the Disney headquarters with Depp, Matthew said his goodbyes. They got into their respective cars and drove off.

...Back inside the Disney headquarters, Jerry walked into the office of Robert Iger, the co-chairman of Disney Pictures.

"Bob," Jerry asked directly, settling onto the sofa, "can we get the funding for the National Treasure project flowing now?"

Robert looked up from the papers on his desk. "Hold your horses, Jerry. We're short on funds."

Jerry's expression immediately soured. "Hasn't the domestic box office share and part of the foreign gross from Pirates of the Caribbean come in yet?"

"Most of that has been earmarked," Robert said, sounding rather helpless. "As you know, the company is orchestrating a massive acquisition of Pixar, which requires an enormous amount of capital."

He didn't wait for Jerry to respond before adding, "The second installment of the foreign box office revenue will arrive early next month. I promise to prioritize the National Treasure project then."

"The second installment?" Jerry was displeased. "Will there even be fifty million in it?"

Robert could only say, "If it's not enough, we'll have to seek outside financing for the project."

Jerry fell silent for a moment. If he had been able to secure outside financing, the National Treasure project wouldn't have been delayed in the first place.

Robert added, "But Jerry, you at least have to provide Disney Pictures with a script outline and a brief plan. Otherwise, it'll be difficult for me to secure the funds, and the company's board of directors might veto the project."

He looked at Jerry and asked, "You have the outline ready, right?"

"No," Jerry answered simply. "The writing team drafted a script, but I rejected it."

The truth was, the issue stemmed from a lack of funds that the production team couldn't assemble. A script could have been written at any time, but as the head of the team, he found himself wavering. Seeing the box office success of Pirates of the Caribbean, he believed a production targeting a teenage audience with a young protagonist would be better received by the market. However, after hearing from several screenwriters, he also considered the appeal of a middle-aged male lead with more life experience.

"You need to finalize the script as soon as possible. At the very least, you need a thematic framework," Robert stressed again. "It's essential for the company to be able to release production funds through the proper channels."

Jerry pondered the key question and asked, "How much can you allocate for me?"

Robert replied, "Around thirty million dollars."

"Only thirty million dollars?" Jerry grew even more frustrated. "The initial budget was one hundred million dollars! We're short a full twenty million dollars!"

"There's nothing to be done about it." Robert was also dejected. "Unless you want to wait until the film comes out on DVD and then take a cut of those profits."

Jerry shook his head. "If I wait any longer, I'm afraid my company will go bankrupt."

Robert thought for a moment and said, "Then trim the budget accordingly. You shouldn't cut the film's production value, but you can always save on the actors' salaries."

He suggested, "Weren't you originally considering Nicolas Cage for the lead? He commands a twenty-million-dollar salary. Let's look for actors in the sub-ten-million-dollar category. We can use up-and-coming actors who don't cost as much."

Jerry didn't answer, seriously mulling over Robert's words. The reality of the situation was clear: either the project would be canceled, or adjustments would have to be made.

Robert added, "And I had my doubts about your idea of using Nicolas Cage in the first place. He just tanked in Windtalkers and bankrupted MGM in the process. It would be too risky for us to use him in a major production."

"I know," Jerry agreed. "For the male lead, I'll choose a younger star who better fits the teen market."

Robert exclaimed enthusiastically, "I support that!"

Disney specializes in teen-oriented films, which is also great for marketing, and the company is well-established in that area.

A series of ideas instantly sparked in Jerry's mind. He said, "Bob, when the funds are available, you have to ensure they're funneled into my project! Don't worry, I'll prepare the script outline and production plans as soon as possible."

Robert replied, "Alright, I'll do my best."

Jerry then hurriedly left Robert's office. He called the assistant in charge of the project and asked him to contact two screenwriters, preparing to rush over and speak with them face-to-face.

Next, he called one of his long-time colleagues, a casting director, and asked him to find a suitable location to prepare for auditions for the male lead.

Although the cast hadn't been officially assembled and the funding from Disney Pictures hadn't yet been secured, it was no problem for a producer of Jerry's stature to arrange an initial audition to select the male lead in advance, just as he had done for Pirates of the Caribbean.

Jerry left the Disney headquarters and took a bus to the small town of Venice, his thoughts consumed by the male lead. For some reason, Matthew Horner was the first name that came to mind.

He had considered Matthew for the part before, and if it hadn't been for the financial issues that made him hesitate, he might have chosen Matthew for the lead role from the very beginning.

The box office success of Pirates of the Caribbean and the popularity of Will Turner among audiences had proven that Horner was a big hit with the teen demographic, placing him firmly at the top of the list of young actors under twenty-five.

Having already worked with him on both Black Hawk Down and Pirates of the Caribbean, Jerry knew he was a dedicated and hardworking actor who rarely caused trouble for the crew.

Young, handsome, in excellent physical condition, and drama-free—he was exactly the kind of actor every producer loved.

Most importantly, Matthew Horner was still just a B-list actor, unlikely to break into the A-list anytime soon. Outside of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, his salary would certainly be less than ten million dollars.

That was less than half the amount he had once considered paying Nicolas Cage.

"Matthew would be a good fit," Jerry muttered to himself. "But maybe there are other, more suitable candidates who would ask for even less?"

With that in mind, Jerry decided to hold auditions. More names flashed through his mind, and he called his assistant. "Invite Matthew Horner, James Franco, and Josh Hartnett for next Monday... No, scratch Josh Hartnett."

Both Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down had failed to meet expectations, and Jerry was no longer optimistic about Josh's future. "And Colin Farrell and Jude Law. Send audition invitations to their agents. Tell them I want to invite them for an action-adventure project. Don't give any specifics—I want to see who naturally feels like the best fit for the lead."

Jerry ended the call and decided to shift his focus to the National Treasure project, as filming for King Arthur was about to wrap up.

...

In November, after a four-month theatrical run, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl officially left North American cinemas, with a final box office total of $356.68 million.

At the same time, Matthew received a message from Helen informing him that the Angel Agency had received an official audition invitation from Jerry for the lead role in an adventure film.

The invitation didn't specify the details of the project, and this new venture of Jerry's, not yet public, was known to only a handful of people. But Matthew knew with absolute certainty that this was the audition for the male lead in National Treasure.