The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 531

"Bald bastard!"

Walking through the Universal Studios office building, David Ellison grumbled, "If only I'd known..."

Matthew remained composed. "Anger won't change the big picture, and it can't affect the deal."

Reflecting on the recent negotiations, David gradually calmed down. The more time he spent with Matthew, the more composed he learned to be in unexpected situations. It was true: anger and impulsiveness rarely solved anything. More often than not, they only made matters worse.

Over the past two years, David had matured and grown more experienced.

When he first dropped out of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, his thinking had been much like the arrogant Vin Diesel's. He believed that with his family's financial resources and influence, he would quickly become the center of Hollywood. Or so he had thought.

But the first few films Skydance invested in flopped, and the industry's major players didn't just ignore him—they dismissed him as an outsider, regardless of the money in his pockets.

Even with his financial resources and the Ellison family name, the results were disastrous. Not only did he fail to gain recognition, he couldn't even get a foot in the door with the Big Six studios.

The reality of the industry was something that wouldn't be changed by the whims of a boy who found himself in over his head.

For him, the real turning point had come when he met Matthew. It was Matthew's guidance and influence that had turned his floundering career around, and the film 300 had given him his first real success.As he considered this, David glanced at Matthew walking beside him—one of the few people who could genuinely command his admiration.

Horner had been in Hollywood for less than a decade, yet he possessed an uncanny instinct for choosing projects. He lacked a prestigious degree from an elite university, but he had honed his skills through practical experience, climbing his way up from the very bottom. He wasn't a professional publicist, but he was a master at promoting and marketing himself.

Lately, David had increasingly come to realize that Matthew's pursuit of famous and wealthy women was partly for pleasure, but also, just as importantly, for the publicity and buzz it generated.

When he had first come to Hollywood, he would have scoffed at such a practice, but now he saw the sense in it.

A star with business ambitions who didn't know how to create a stir was truly a pitiful sight.

Stepping into the elevator, David adjusted his bow tie while Matthew used the mirrored wall to straighten his custom Armani suit.

This was a business meeting, and being well-dressed was a matter of basic courtesy.

As for glamour and extravagance, for a celebrity, it was all part of the package. In the entertainment industry, a world built on fame and fortune, luxury was rarely a matter of simple indulgence; it was a professional necessity. While wearing designer brands might attract criticism from some quarters, dressing in simple or shabby clothes was far more dangerous. It would almost certainly be interpreted as a sign of a declining career or impending bankruptcy, triggering a cascade of negative consequences.

The elevator arrived at the top floor of the office building, where an employee was already waiting for them.

"Mr. Horner, Mr. Ellison, this way, please."

Matthew nodded to the man and followed him forward, with David right behind. As they passed the open door of a lounge, a somewhat familiar voice suddenly called out from inside.

"Matthew Horner!"

Matthew stopped in his tracks and turned his head to peer inside. A bald man was sitting on a sofa directly across from the doorway, his intense gaze locked on him.

"Vin Diesel?" David had spotted him too.

The bald man stood and walked toward the door. "A word," he said.

The employee looked hesitant, glancing from Diesel to Matthew.

"Mr. Hal Finna, the head of the film department, is busy right now," Diesel explained. "He's in a meeting with my agent."

Matthew had been part of the last two negotiations and knew, of course, that Hal Finna was Universal Pictures' representative in the matter.

David gave Diesel a cold look and whispered to Matthew, "We can talk to him. The lawyer and the union representative haven't arrived yet."

Initially, Matthew hadn't wanted to waste time on Vin Diesel, but hearing David's point, he nodded to the employee. "We'll be there shortly."

The employee hesitated for a moment before walking alone toward the office at the end of the long corridor.

Matthew and David stepped into the lounge where Vin Diesel was waiting.

"Long time no see." Matthew appeared calm.

David glared at Diesel, wondering if it was time to have him euthanized.

"Do you know why Universal Pictures stopped the negotiations?" Diesel asked coldly, getting straight to the point. "Why they so suddenly changed their minds?"

Matthew didn't answer; the last two negotiations had been direct conversations between them and Hal Finna, held in the strictest secrecy, without any outsiders present.

Those who had even the slightest inkling of what was happening assumed that Universal had broken off the rights negotiations with Skydance Pictures over the price.

Diesel had come to Universal today to present his own plans for a Fast and the Furious sequel, having gone to considerable lengths to find out that Matthew would be coming for a meeting.

Because of the strict secrecy surrounding the recent talks, he didn't know the specifics of the negotiations between the two sides. He could only guess that after he had made his move, Universal Pictures had ceased all talks, and that Horner’s attempt to acquire the rights to a Fast and the Furious sequel was just a fantasy.

With his own money and a detailed plan, why would Universal Studios ever sell the rights to the franchise?

Moreover, though he hated to admit it, he had to consider it highly unlikely that Universal would sell a project that Matthew Horner himself had his eye on.

"Because of me!" Diesel declared, jabbing a thumb at his chest when they remained silent. "Because this is my film franchise!"

"Is that all?" Matthew sounded indifferent.

When Universal Studios had abruptly broken off negotiations the other day, Matthew and David had suspected that Diesel was the cause and that word had leaked. That was why the later, renewed talks had been kept brief and strictly confidential—to avoid any more interference.

Diesel spoke again. "There will be no more negotiations with Universal Pictures, so save your time. From this day forward, the franchise belongs to me. It won't be long, Horner, before you understand. I was the boss of the first Fast and the Furious, and I'll always be the boss of this series! And—"

Matthew cut him off sharply. "I thought you were going to say something important."

He turned to David. "Let's not waste our time."

With that, he started for the door. David followed, muttering, "Lunatic," in Diesel's direction.

Diesel stared at their retreating backs, his voice rising to a frantic shout. "You'll see who the fool is when you get into his office! I'll even send you invitations to the premiere of the new Fast and the Furious movie I'm producing! I'm a generous guy—no hard feelings! Did you hear me, Matthew?!"

***

Matthew and David emerged just in time to see a middle-aged man in a suit walking toward them. From his attire, it was easy to tell he was an entertainment agent.

The agent shot Matthew and David a curious look before turning and entering the lounge they had just exited.

Then, Diesel's furious voice carried out from the room. "What?! How is that possible? Universal Pictures..."

They continued walking down the corridor, and soon the voice faded until it was no longer audible.

They weren't surprised. The final secret negotiations had already been completed, and the outcome was essentially decided.

Upon reaching the office of Universal's director of film production, Matthew and David waited a short time for the respective lawyers, notaries, and representatives from the Producers Guild of America to arrive. Once everyone was present, the official contract between Universal and Skydance Pictures was signed.

Meanwhile, Vin Diesel went downstairs, his face grim. He didn't leave, however. After dismissing his agent, he waited alone in the first-floor lobby.

He wanted to see for himself what that bastard Matthew Horner had been plotting behind his back.