Chapter 202： One more ring match!

If you want to choose the best managers of the past three decades in Hollywood, there is no doubt that it is Michael Eisner!

In the 1970s, ABC Group's performance declined and suffered losses year after year. It was the emergence of Michael Eisner that turned the tide and turned losses into profits.

In the early 1980s, Paramount Pictures was almost bankrupt, and its performance was the worst in Hollywood, even worse than MGM, which was played by capital. It was Michael Eisner again, who led Paramount and took the studio from the bottom of the Big Six to the top in just a few years.

At that time, Disney was in a slump for many years, the company was in a state of chaos without a leader, the theme park was gradually losing its vitality, and Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck were almost a distant memory.

It's Michael Eisner again. After saving two big companies in a row, he came to Disney in 1984!

Through a series of drastic reforms, including the crazy development of brand-driven product sales, upgrading Disneyland, and opening a film and television department that produces non-G-rated movies, Disney movies began to recover in just a few years. , has become an industry leader.

Not only that, he also made Disney's expansion into the TV industry and publishing industry through step-by-step acquisitions, becoming a giant-style cross-media conglomerate!

If Disney is a beautiful Sleeping Beauty, then Michael Eisner is the Prince who woke Sleeping Beauty and saved the Magic Kingdom.

The continuous success naturally allowed Michael Eisner to form a kind of imperial domineering and absolute power within Disney.

Not only is there no one who dares to challenge internally, even if you look at Hollywood, Michael Eisner is hard to beat.

Although Disney's animation performance declined after Jeffrey Katzenberg left, he was drawn to the new generation of animation studio Pixar.

Disney's animation influence is still the dominant one!

And with the efforts of Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax, and Jerry Bruckheimer Productions, Disney has gradually expanded its voice in the field of live-action movies.

Until this summer, a major change occurred.

The blockbuster "Sixty Seconds" invested by Disney was instantly killed by "Spider-Man" produced by the emerging Hollywood power Dunn Pictures!

This made Michael Eisner, who has always been smooth sailing, feel an unprecedented shame!

A child in his twenties, dare to be arrogant with him?

If it wasn't for Joe Ruth's good performance in the past ten years, and he couldn't find a suitable replacement for a while, Michael Eisner would definitely shoot him decisively and fire him!

The departure of Jeffrey Katzenberg, which has led to the silence of Disney's headquarters, has caused dissatisfaction among shareholders.

The lesson was so profound that Michael Eisner had to tread carefully. In case Disney's live-action movies get worse after Joe Ruth leaves, that's going to make things worse.

And with "Scream" coming to summer as a dark horse, this somewhat relieved the pressure on Michael Eisner from shareholders.

Joe Ruth was lucky enough to escape, and issued a military order to Michael Eisner: The next movie "Undead" will definitely be able to make back the money lost in "Sixty Seconds"!

Disney's Joe Ruth survived, but what about Twentieth Century Fox? They can't come up with a movie like "Scream" to put out a fire in the summer.

Is Tom Rothman responsible?

No, he already had an emergency mechanism.

...

As the popularity of "Spider-Man" waned in the entertainment newspapers, Disney finally had a chance to save face and hype "Scream" as if it had taken the top spot at the weekly box office.

At the same time, another piece of news also came out. The new work "Undead" by "The Sixth Sense" director Nate Shyamalan is officially finalized and will be released in North America on November 15th this year!

For the big sale of "Scream", Dunn's reaction was very calm.

Harvey Weinstein has a very poor character, but his ability is excellent. It is no surprise that the movies he produced are no wonder what kind of miracles happen. To get rid of Harvey Weinstein, it will take a longer time to accumulate contacts and influence.

On the contrary, the movie "Undead"... made Dunn's heart skip a beat.

Although Bruce Willis has a bad reputation now, the director of "The Undead" is Nate Shyamalan, who has outstanding ability, is good at creating suspense, and can grab the audience's appetite.

Moreover, with the reputation of "The Sixth Sense of Supernatural", "Undead Calamity" is likely to be a big sell. This is not the situation that Dunn wants to see.

He called Nina Jacobson.

With the explosion of "Spider-Man" at the box office, Marvel Pictures has risen, and Nina Jacobson, the president, is also like a duck to water. Recently, she has attended many top Hollywood parties and has been very popular.

And the source of all this was because she accepted Tang En's invitation to take charge of the then-empty Marvel Studios.

The memory of the beginning is full of happiness, very fortunate.

Nina Jacobson was very grateful to Dunn, came to his office, and took the initiative to ask: "Is it about "Undead Robbery"?"

Tang En smiled and put down the newspaper in his hand, "There's no way, Disney's propaganda has been very strong recently, and the movie will be released in 4 months, and they are already building momentum for "Undead"."

Nina Jacobson couldn't help laughing and said: "That's because the Disney production department is under too much pressure! My son's "Sixty Seconds" was suppressed so badly in the summer, but his godson "Scream" The box office is a big hit, they must be holding their breath, just want to fight back with "Undead Robbery"."

"Counterattack?"

There was a trace of disdain on the corner of Tang En's mouth, and he snorted coldly, "By the way, have you contacted that director yet?"

"Nate Shyamalan?" Nina Jacobson sighed and shook her head, "If it's a normal business cooperation, I would ask them to help us make a movie, it's not a big problem. But now we and Disney The relationship is already deadlocked, it's either one or the other, and there is no buffer zone in between."

Dunn's eyes turned cold, "So, he chose Disney?"

Nina Jacobson said helplessly: "This is also reasonable. Dunn, do you know the attitude of the Disney production department to Jerry Bruckheimer? It's like an ancestor. Malan's "The Sixth Sense" was a huge success, they must have come up with the best conditions to win over, unless something unexpected happens, we can't dig him out."

"Accident?"

"That's right. For example, "Undead Robbery" failed at the box office, and Disney abandoned Knight. Otherwise, it is unlikely that he will leave Disney on his own initiative."

Tang En nodded, crossed Erlang's legs, and his face was not very good-looking.

Unless it collides with a screen-heavy movie like "Spider-Man", it will be difficult to make "Undead" costing $75 million at a loss.

In mid-November, the Christmas season had not yet arrived, and there were no major productions released during the same period, and there was no film that could suppress the box office of "Undead".

Universal's "Remaining Island" has a strong enough influence, starring Tom Hanks, but this is a literary film, even if it can sell well, it will be a long-term screening effect, and it is impossible to be like "Spider-Man" in the short term. Monopolize the box office market.

As for the other two films produced by Dunn Films, "Soul-Shifting Girl" and "Memento", they are not to be considered.

"Soul Shifting Girl" is scheduled for mid-August. Don't watch the movie starring Nicole Kidman and Natalie Portman, and won the Palme d'Or, but the dull plot and profound content are difficult to arouse the love of North American audiences.

For this film, Dunn's requirements are not high, and it is enough to recover the cost of 40 million US dollars.

Fortunately, the overseas market still recognizes the Palme d’Or, even if the North American box office is not good, it should be able to recoup through the overseas box office.

"Memento" will be released in mid-September. This movie is... even more depressing and dizzying than "The Girl Who Moves the Soul". However, this film has the publicity stunt of "high IQ movie", which can attract some curious fans who call themselves geniuses.

And the movie cost only $5 million, and even the movie theater didn't sell a single ticket. With the type and quality of this movie, you can also make a lot of money by selling videotapes and DVDs.

Nina Jacobson saw Dunn's embarrassment and quickly said: "Actually, Knight and I have a really good relationship. If the box office of "Undead" fails to meet expectations, Disney's production department will treat him. Slightly cold We have a chance."

"Oh?" Tang En's eyes lit up, showing a bit of surprise, "Can it be done?"

Nina Jacobson nodded with a stern face: "Yes! I have met him twice during this time, and I still understand some of his thoughts. Disney has nurtured him, and has a good attitude towards him. You can't be ungrateful. But if Disney's attitude changes first, he has a reason to leave."

"Okay, let's do it!"

Tang En slapped his hand with an excited look on his face, "Then let's continue to take action. After we have fought in the arena with "Sixty Seconds of Extreme Speed", we will also fight in the arena with "Undead Calamity"!"

Nina Jacobson knew very well about the internal situation of Dunn Films, and frowned: "Playing in the ring? With all due respect, Dunn, with the two movies "Soul Shifting Girl" and "Memento", wants to compete with "Undying" It will be difficult to compete in the box office market.”

Tang En smiled and waved his hand, "The schedules of those two films have been confirmed, and it is impossible for Universal to agree to change the schedules."

A hint of doubt flashed in Nina Jacobson's eyes, "Then what do you mean?"

Dunn glanced at her with a smile on the corner of his mouth, "The movies we produced this year are not only "The Girl Who Moved Soul" and "Memento".

Nina Jacobson was even more confused.

Dunn Pictures and its subsidiaries invested in three movies last year, "Spider-Man", "The Girl Who Moved Soul", "Memento", where are there other movies?

Could it be that the film invested this year will be released this year?

Steven Soderbergh's "Drug Web" has not been completed, and the schedule is estimated to be next year. Other movies are even more impossible. They are all commercial blockbusters with an investment of hundreds of millions. It is impossible to complete the production within a year or two.

Tang En looked at her with a smile, "Nina, have you forgotten? We still have Furious Pictures!"