Chapter 673： Threat in the future

The following day, Bernard Isinger visited Stan Lee again and brought him a new "Fantastic Four" comic.

Stan Lee was heartbroken to see his children become like this.

When Bernard Isinger left, he reminded Stan Lee to pay attention to each issue of the "Fantastic Four" comics.

In mid-August, the hottest news in the entertainment industry was not that Charlie Sheen had another derailment, nor was it that a reporter photographed Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston walking into the store and confessing to buying handcuffs. It was also not the media rumors that Stewart- Townsend gave his girlfriend a resounding slap in the street...

Instead, Stan Lee, who is known as the "Father of Marvel", officially filed a lawsuit in the New York District Court and took Marvel Entertainment to court!

In the indictment, Stan Lee claimed that Marvel Comics had an agreement with Stan Lee, and that if each character he participated in was made into a movie or TV series, he would receive percent of the company’s profits. Ten, but all Marvel adapted movies including "Spider-Man" did not get Stan Lee a dollar.

Before the lawsuit happened, Ronan got the news, and personally called Avi Allard, asking him to contact Stan Lee to resolve it.

But Stan Lee still took Marvel Entertainment to court.

Ronan was a bit angry, and he was quite dissatisfied with the management of Marvel Entertainment and called Avi Allard to Los Angeles.

In the meeting room on the top floor of the Theory of Relativity Building, Avi Allard was somewhat embarrassed. Kevin Fitch, who was specifically called, was more on the sidelines. After all, he really joined Marvel after the establishment of Marvel Entertainment.

Robert Iger looked serious.

Robert Lee has a gloomy face. As the head of the legal and copyright department of the group company, he knows very well what kind of trouble the contract might cause Marvel Entertainment and even the entire Relativity Entertainment Group if it really exists.

Fortunately, Relativity Entertainment and Marvel Entertainment have always adopted the strictest confidentiality measures for the "Avenger Project", otherwise the trouble may be ten times or twenty times bigger.

"I need an explanation, Avi!" Ronan stared at Avi-Allard coldly: "Why didn't I know that Marvel signed such a contract with Stan Lee? Why didn't anyone at Marvel ask me Have you reported this?"

Avi-Allard first apologized: "I'm very sorry, this is my negligence."

Ronan ignored him and continued, "I need an explanation."

Avi-Allard can see that the super-rich in the entertainment industry, the only master of Marvel Entertainment and Relativity Entertainment Group, is really angry.

"This is the contract signed with Stan Lee when Marvel Comics began to sell a large number of superhero copyrights in the early 1990s." Avi Allard hesitated for a moment, or said truthfully: "Since then, Marvel Comics has fallen into crisis. Shares are frequently changed, managers come in and out, and most people, including me, ignore this contract."

He did not shirk his responsibility: "This is my negligence."

Ronan looked at Avi Allard and didn't speak.

Avi-Allard added: "After the 20th Century Fox's "X-Men" movie was divided into accounts, someone in Marvel remembered this contract, but it was by the board of directors..."

This was not finished. Under Ronan's gaze, Avi Allard changed his words: "To be precise, it was at my direction that Stan Lee's share was deducted."

Robert Iger interjected and asked: "In other words, is this contract real?"

"Yes." Avi-Allard could not deny: "The Marvel owner Perelman at the time only wanted to use Marvel's listing to make quick money from the financial market. He didn't care about other things at all. In order to fight for With the support of the powerful Stan Lee, he signed such a generous share contract with Stan Lee."

Kevin Fitch asked: "Marvel's equity has changed several times, is this contract still valid?"

Robert Lee replied: "Unfortunately, it still retains the legal effect."

Kevin Fitch took a sigh of relief: "In our Avengers project, all the main creators are Stan Lee's superhero adaptation movies. Can Stan Lee make 10% of the profits?"

Avi Allard closed his eyes slightly and nodded slowly: "According to the terms of the contract, there is nothing wrong with saying that."

"You are seriously negligent!" Robert Iger is already the CEO of Relativity Entertainment, and his voice is quite stern: "Avi, your negligence may cause the Avengers plan to fall into a great passivity."

"I'm very sorry." Avi-Allard did not want to lose his current position, but defended: "This contract is not legally problematic, but from the perspective of company operations, it is very unreasonable. Since the end of the nineties, Stan -Lee’s health condition is deteriorating, coupled with Marvel’s cramped liquidity, in order to maintain the company, I made the decision to withhold the share. Those several million dollars is not a big company, but to Marvel at the time It belongs to the funds that can save the company."

Avi-Allard further argued: "On the other hand, because strictly speaking, Marvel did not breach the contract. The contract stipulates that Marvel’s profit is 10%, but in fact Marvel has been in a state of loss. ."

Robert Iger agrees with Avi Allard's point of view: "Marvel really hasn't been profitable in recent years."

Ronan said: "The key to this contract is not the past and the present, but the future."

Everyone in the conference room understands what Ronan is talking about. With accounting calculation rules and company changes, it is not difficult to make profits from the past few Marvel movies, but what about the "Avengers Project" in the future? How much will it cost? Do you want to make all movies at a loss? Who would believe that one after another, he invested heavily in the continuous shooting and production of loss-making movies?

"If this lawsuit enters the legal process." Ronan asked Robert Lee: "What is our winning rate?"

Robert Lee said: "I looked for a lawyer to read the contract. Attorney Dinah's opinion is at most 50%."

Robert Iger said: "The best way is to reach an out-of-court settlement."

Kevin Fitch reminded: "The key is that contract!"

Avi Allard spoke again: "Marvel has been in contact with Stan Lee. According to what we know so far, Stan Lee's daughter has played an important role in it."

"Stan Lee's daughter?" Ronan asked.

Avi-Allard knew about Joan Kleia-Lee's best product, and roughly introduced the basic situation to Ronan and others.

Robert Iger was a little surprised: "There are such people."

Ronan shook his head secretly. It seemed that he had read the news in general, but he didn't remember it very clearly. Anyway, Stan-Lee was surrounded by too many ill-intentioned people in the last ten years.

From lawyers to family members to assistants to babysitters, it seems that too many people want to acquire things that shouldn't belong to them in the last years of this manga master.

I remember reading a report. It seemed that Stan Lee’s lawyer, assistant and nanny accused him of harassing the nanny, which was later proved to be a collusive frame.

With such a superb daughter, the future life of this manga master can be imagined.

Ronan asked, "Apart from Stan Lee's daughter?"

The problem is easier to solve with the greedy daughter of Stan Lee alone.

Avi-Allard understood Ronan's meaning, and said, "I haven't noticed anyone else intervening."

Ronan looked at Robert Lee: "You have someone in New York. Check the specific situation of Stan Lee's daughter and check it carefully."

"Okay." Robert Lee picked up the phone and started texting.

"Kevin is right." Ronan continued: "The biggest problem with this contract is not how much Stan Lee can get from Marvel's past and current superhero movies, but the future!"

He emphasized: "We can't let this contract continue!"

Robert Iger agreed: "This means that we may pay a painful price in the future." He had communicated with Ronan before: "Our advantage is that the Avengers plan is still in the confidential stage, so we must take the fastest Speed, solve the problems caused by this contract, otherwise once "Iron Man" is released, this contract will become a sharp blade to cut Marvel's flesh and blood!"

Ronan glanced at Avi-Allard, temporarily suppressing the dissatisfaction in his heart, and said: "This matter must be dealt with immediately. I need Marvel to understand the situation and establish a direct communication channel with Stan Lee to strive for An agreement is reached outside the court."

Robert Iger exchanged a few words with Ronan in a low voice, saying: "If necessary, you can pay a certain price to buy out this agreement."

Avi-Allard took the initiative to take a step back: "I am personally willing to give up this year's salary to cover this expense."

Ronan didn't speak, and Robert Iger was directly responsible for the company's internal management.

Robert Iger said: "Now is not the time to pursue accountability. We will settle this contract and talk about other things."

Ronan has no opinion on this.

Robert Iger said directly: "Avi, you return to New York and set up a crisis public relations team at Marvel to deal with this incident."

Avi Allard knows he can’t hesitate: "I'll go back this afternoon."

Robert Iger continued: "Lee, you will join the lawyer Dinah, and you will rush to New York with the capable staff of your department, and take full responsibility for the handling."

Avi-Allard is a little disappointed but can't object, because Marvel management's internal mistakes have lost the initiative to deal with it.

"Marvel Entertainment will fully cooperate." Avi Allard said immediately.

Now that Marvel Entertainment has delisted, more than 90% of the shares are in the hands of Relativity Entertainment. It is not difficult to replace the CEO.

Kevin Fitch looked at Avi Allard, immediately responded positively, and at the same time showed his presence: "What can I do?"

Ronan understood his thoughts and said, "You are in charge of the "Iron Man" project. Don't let this affect the crew."

"I see." Kevin Fitch stopped in moderation.

Robert Iger no longer said: "Do it now."

Ronan and Robert Iger took the lead to leave the meeting room. The two discussed the situation of Marvel Entertainment as they walked. When "Iron Man" succeeded, the situation of Marvel Entertainment had stabilized, and it was necessary to make adjustments to Marvel Entertainment.