The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 806

"The more Warner Brothers and DC Comics invest, the better it is for me."

In a hotel near the beach in Cannes, France, Will Smith sat in the lobby, speaking to Jada Smith, who was seated across from him. "No blockbuster film ever succeeds without a massive investment in advertising and marketing."

Jada Smith didn't seem to follow. "But it's not like they'll pay you more just because the studio spends more money on the film," she countered.

Will Smith couldn't help but shake his head. "You have to look at the bigger picture," he reminded her. "Once 'Green Lantern' is a success, my career will turn around, and it won't be hard for me to get back into the 20 Million Dollar Club."

"Really?" Jada Smith was impressed by the mention of the "20 Million Dollar Club."

"Of course," Will Smith said confidently. "My team and I have done a thorough analysis, and we've gotten detailed information from several top-tier agencies. Judging by the market's reaction to the 'Spider-Man,' new 'Batman,' and 'Iron Man' series, there's a high probability that the era of superhero films is upon us."

He hadn't taken this role on a whim.

Jada Smith paused for a moment, seemingly unable to process it all, but she still asked the question that mattered most to her. "Will your salary go up?"

Without a high enough income from her husband, how could she possibly maintain her extravagant lifestyle?

Will Smith laid out his reasoning. "Have you seen the salaries for 'Iron Man' and Robert Downey Jr.?"He didn't wait for Jada's answer, continuing, "Robert Downey Jr. was paid only a few hundred thousand dollars for the first 'Iron Man.' By the time 'Iron Man 2' came around, he was already making nearly ten million. What's more, I have reliable information that Marvel Studios wants to use 'Iron Man' as the foundation to build 'The Avengers.' How much do you think Robert Downey Jr. will be making then?"

Jada Smith nodded mechanically.

"I'm starring in the first film of the DC Justice League universe!" Will Smith's analysis was perfectly logical. "To Warner Bros. and DC Comics, Green Lantern is their 'Iron Man.' If this movie is a huge success, I can push DC to build the Justice League with Green Lantern at its core!"

"That sounds pretty good."

Will Smith suddenly broke into a grin. "My current salary is in the tens of millions. How much do you think we should ask for when the time comes?"

Jada Smith smiled happily as well. "The more, the better! It can't be any less than what Johnny Depp was paid for 'Pirates of the Caribbean'!"

Rumor had it that Disney had paid Johnny Depp over forty million dollars for the fourth 'Pirates of the Caribbean' film.

Will Smith chuckled. Since failing to win the lead role against Matthew Horner, he'd had a run of bad luck over the past two years. He hadn't had a single standout film, and his salary had even been adjusted downward. If he fell any further, he might not be able to maintain his status as an A-list star.

Warner Bros. had approached him right when the success of 'Iron Man' and Marvel Studios' plans for 'The Avengers' were the talk of the town, giving him a glimpse into the glorious potential of superhero films before he finally committed to the role of Green Lantern.

He understood perfectly that the earlier he joined a film series like this, the more likely he was to become a core part of it. And the more central his role, the higher his earnings would be.

And while it might affect his future development, it was better than sliding down to the B-list. Besides, with a ready-made example like Johnny Depp, what was so wrong with becoming a franchise superstar?

This wasn't the nineties anymore!

In this regard, Will Smith had a clear perspective. In today's era, becoming a true superstar was incredibly difficult. Not everyone had the strength and luck of Matthew Horner.

Just look at the new century—aside from Matthew Horner, had Hollywood produced any new superstars?

The answer was obvious.

Will Smith knew that 'Green Lantern' and the entire 'Justice League' project were unlikely to make him a true superstar, but becoming a franchise icon like Johnny Depp wouldn't be a bad outcome at all.

'Green Lantern' would restore his widespread fame.

He was confident of this, especially since Warner Bros. and DC Comics were placing enormous importance on 'Green Lantern' as the launchpad for their cinematic universe and had significantly increased the budget for advertising and promotion.

And yet... he still couldn't surpass Matthew Horner.

Thinking of this, Will Smith couldn't help but sigh. In just ten years, that man had become the most influential actor in Hollywood.

"Will!"

Jada Smith's voice suddenly cut through his thoughts. "Look over there, at those two people who just came out of the elevator. Isn't that woman the head of Matthew Horner's studio?"

Hearing this, Will Smith quickly glanced toward a side entrance. A young woman and a middle-aged man were standing there, the woman apparently seeing the man off.

He didn't recognize the middle-aged man, but he knew exactly who the young woman was—Matthew Horner's former personal assistant and the current CEO of Studio 13, Bella Anderson!

What was she doing here?

Will Smith found it a bit strange. It was well-known in the industry that Matthew Horner had no interest in European film festivals and the like.

While he was pondering this, Bella had already escorted the man out of the hotel.

"Mr. Langmann," she said with a smile to the middle-aged man, "I'm here to convey Mr. Horner's sincere interest, and I hope you'll reconsider the twenty-million-dollar offer."

She added with the utmost seriousness, "We truly think very highly of your film, 'The Artist'."

Thomas Langmann smiled and replied, "I will certainly give it careful consideration."

As a producer, he had come to the Cannes Film Festival not only with the hope of winning an award to boost his film's prestige but also to find a suitable international distributor to sell the overseas rights for a high price.

Such a distributor could only come from Hollywood.

Other than Hollywood, no other studios had the capability for global distribution.

After watching Thomas Langmann get into his car and drive away, Bella Anderson turned and walked back into the hotel, heading for the elevators.

She had been in Cannes for some time and had achieved her initial goal of repeatedly interfering with Harvey Weinstein’s negotiations with international film distributors, managing to poach several deals from Weinstein Pictures.

Unfortunately, it seemed this time would be a bust.

From all the reports she'd gathered, the film called 'The Artist' was Harvey Weinstein's number one target.

Bella had already obtained enough relevant information. The value of 'The Artist' at the market was approximately ten million euros. An offer of twenty million dollars was neither too high nor too low, but it was just enough to outbid Harvey Weinstein.

Meanwhile, Thomas Langmann, who was driving away, had just hung up his phone and instructed his driver, "Take me to the Hôtel Martinez."

Ten minutes later, he arrived punctually in a private room at the Martinez, where he shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with Harvey Weinstein, with whom he had dealt before.

"Thomas, what have you decided?" Harvey Weinstein asked.

"Mr. Weinstein," Thomas Langmann said in English laced with a French accent, "an offer of fifteen million dollars is too low. We can't accept it. That price isn't even enough to cover the production costs of 'The Artist'."

Harvey Weinstein narrowed his eyes. "I'm buying the rights outside of Europe!" He cast a slightly disdainful look at Thomas Langmann. "You still have the European market. If things go well, you can make your money back in Europe, and this fifteen million dollars will be your pure profit."

Thomas Langmann smiled. "Who can say what the future holds? I can't do business at a loss."

A film called 'The Artist' might sound high-minded, but for producers, it all came down to money in the end.

Harvey Weinstein, accustomed to playing the strongman with these overseas producers, said bluntly, "Thomas, gaining the friendship of Weinstein means your future films will have full access to the North American market."

North America was the largest film market in the world. Who wouldn't want to get in and take a piece of that pie?

If he had no better choice, Thomas Langmann might have accepted Weinstein's so-called hand of friendship, but the difference was five million dollars!

That was five million dollars!

Your fat face is worth five million dollars, Harvey Weinstein? That's the joke of the century!

Selling you by the gram wouldn't even cover that gap.

As a producer and film businessman, Thomas Langmann certainly knew how to use pressure to negotiate.

"Mr. Weinstein, I personally hope to work with Weinstein Pictures very much," Thomas Langmann replied smoothly. "But the film has several shareholders, and I'm not the only one with a say. Someone else has made an offer of twenty million dollars..."

At these words, Harvey Weinstein immediately thought of a few possibilities and asked in a cold voice, "Is it Studio 13?"

"Yes." Thomas Langmann didn't mind the other party knowing who the competitor was; it was more advantageous for him.

"And you're aware they have no distribution capabilities?" Harvey Weinstein reminded him sharply.

Thomas Langmann, having just spoken with Bella, replied, "They'll contract Disney or Warner Bros. for distribution." He also emphasized, "They're one of Hollywood's Big Six."

Harvey Weinstein frowned and added, "As I've said, I'm buying 'The Artist' to win an Oscar. And in Hollywood, there's no company like Weinstein Pictures when it comes to running an Oscar campaign! Let's not forget the influence of the Oscars!"

"Then we can change the contract." Thomas Langmann simply wasn't taking the bait. The Oscars were indeed very attractive, but all that mattered was tangible revenue. "Fifteen million dollars is the base buyout fee. 'The Artist' earns revenue in North America, and we split it fifty-fifty."

"That's impossible!" Harvey Weinstein flatly refused.