American Fame and Fortune Chapter 668

 Chapter 668: The Justice League is finished

　　The opening in North America is US$42.75 million, which looks good at first glance, but compared with the US$200 million production budget and the 100 million+ publicity and marketing expenses, it is really not ideal.

 What's even more frightening is that the reputation of “Green Lantern” has directly collapsed.

 Cinemascore, which best represents the audience's reputation, has only a B- rating from live audiences, a Rotten Tomatoes freshness score of 22%, and an IMDB score of 5.4.

With such audience praise, the film's box office dropped as much as 70% in the second weekend, and the North American box office accumulated US$61.78 million in ten days of release.

Even the most optimistic statistical organizations believe that it will be very difficult for "Green Lantern" to eventually exceed 100 million in the North American box office.

 It will take at least ten to twenty years or even longer for the huge amount of money invested by the film studio to recover the cost.

The failure of a single film is not terrible. For a film project of this scale, investment will not come from just one company. With the size of Warner Bros., the failure of a US$200 million project is far from the end of the world.

However, the ambitious new management of Warner was given a slap in the face. The DC Super Hero Movie Universe was facing bankruptcy before it even started.

 Warner Building, in the large conference room of the head office.

There were executives one after another sitting on both sides of the long conference table, including Hamada and Jon Berg. These people looked extremely serious and kept their mouths tightly closed.

"What's the problem? In the past month or so, our film business has suffered two disastrous failures." Kevin Tsujihara stood at the head of the conference table: ""Green Lantern", which should not have failed, failed. "

 He looked at Hamada: "The entire DC movie universe plan will be interrupted because of this!"

Hamada stood up and bowed at a standard ninety degrees: "I'm sorry! I apologize for this failure!"

Others all turned their eyes, waiting for Hamada to resign.

Hamada straightened up and bowed ninety degrees again: "I'm sorry!"

 The apology was very sincere, but he never mentioned taking responsibility or resigning.

Kevin Tsujihara glanced at Hamada and did not force him to resign. After all, he was his confidant.

But it is also impossible for him to give up the DC superhero movie universe plan, which is one of the main business projects he has promoted since joining Warner Bros.

Kevin Tsujihara told Hamada: "Abandon the plan to start with "Green Lantern" and formulate a new movie universe plan as soon as possible. This time we must ensure success, leaving us little time to catch up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe."

Hamada vowed: "I will definitely formulate a new plan as quickly as possible to ensure that we can catch up with Marvel."

The failure of "Green Lantern" seems to be a thing of the past. Both Kevin Tsujihara and Hamada emphasized the key to speed.

 Kevin Tsujihara thought for a while and then said: "If you have any ideas about the DC movie universe, you can feel free to give us your opinions."

Many people remain silent. What will be the consequences if the suggestions are adopted and the film fails like "Green Lantern"?

From the two commercially failed projects of "Pharaohs and Gods" and "Green Lantern", it is not difficult for them to see that Kevin Tsujihara is very protective of his close team. If they give random opinions, they may be like Christian- Like Bale, he took the blame for failure and was expelled by Warner Bros.

 Compared to others, Daniel, left over from the old Warner management, is more reliable.

He thought for a while and then said: "The continuous success of the films planned by the Marvel Cinematic Universe is directly related to Disney's use of Kevin Feige to coordinate production. I think the DC Universe should also hire a director with successful production experience. The director or producer of a hero movie, unifying and coordinating our superhero movie universe.”

Hamada's face doesn't look good. Doesn't this mean that he is incompetent? He was indeed responsible for the failure of "Green Lantern", but he even bowed and apologized.

ˆKevin Tsujihara didn't think about it so much. Instead, he thought it made sense and asked: “Who do you think is suitable?”

"Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas!" Daniel recommended heavyweight candidates: "Among our current collaborators, no one is more suitable than them. They know DC superheroes well and have directed two extremely successful movies. Batman movie, the third one is also being filmed..."

 This choice was raised one by one, and even Hamada was unable to refute it.

Daniel added: "If we hand over the DC movie universe to Nolan and his wife for unified production, will it be as successful as "The Dark Knight"?"

In some ways, Jon Berg maintained a tacit understanding with Daniel. He added: "This is a very good suggestion. Nolan has brought superhero movies to a level that has never been achieved before."

Kevin Tsujihara nodded slowly: "Nolan is indeed a good fit. Hamada, please talk to Nolan personally and ask him what he thinks."

Hamada's unhappiness disappeared. His immediate boss gave him the job of contacting Nolan. The intention was very clear. Even if Nolan joins the DC movie universe project, he must work under his leadership.

The meeting ended here. Kevin Tsujihara then summoned his cronies and went to the small conference room to hold a small meeting.

Nolan has been working with Warner Bros. for many years, so naturally someone leaked what happened in the meeting just now to him.

 Beverly Hills, Century City.

The Escalade driven by Bruce stopped in front of a coffee shop.

 Martin got out of the car. Before his feet had even landed, a flash light came on next to him.

 Several paparazzi were taking pictures of him. Martin was already used to this, so he pretended not to notice it and went directly into the coffee shop. After observing for a while, he saw where Nolan was and walked directly over.

Nolan waited until he sat down and asked, "How did it feel to shoot the aerospace film?"

  Martin said it honestly: "Like a farmer, apart from shoveling the soil, he is fertilizing, watering and planting potatoes."

“It's a good thing to accumulate more planting experience.” Nolan was obviously not joking: “Don't forget, the hero of my next movie is also a farmer.”

 Martin nodded: “Don't worry if you grow corn, I have planted it.”

 When he planted corn in his previous life, it was not a mechanized operation. He had to dig holes with a **** in the middle of the wheat ridges and plant the corn seeds by hand.

 When harvesting, it is also manual work. The sticks are broken off by hand, put into cement or fertilizer woven bags, and carried to the field.

It was not like later, when the combine harvester swept over and finished the work.

Nolan knew that Martin was a highly professional actor and asked, "Are you going to experience life?"

Martin half-truthfully said: "This part of the film needs to grow potatoes, and yours needs to grow corn, so we might as well do it together."

Nolan's creativity exploded, and a promotional tidbit automatically appeared in his mind: In order to play the role of a corn farmer, Martin Davis returned to Atlanta and worked on the farm for two months, participating in the planting of potatoes and corn...

 Martin saw Nolan suddenly distracted and asked: "Chris?"

Nolan came back to his senses, smiled sheepishly, and changed the subject: "I just received a message and I want to hear your opinion."

This is the real purpose of his invitation to Martin today: "You and I have both worked with Warner Bros. and experienced two generations of Warner management."

 Martin asked: "What news?"

Nolan roughly said: "Warner Bros. canceled the DC superhero movie universe plan after the failure of "Green Lantern" and wanted to invite me to be a producer to develop new related plans for them."

 Martin gets it: “Like Kevin Feige is to Marvel Studios?”

"It shouldn't be as powerful as Kevin Feige." Nolan smiled and shook his head: "The person who talked to me about this matter was not Kevin Tsujihara, but Hamada from DC Films. In other words, I have to suffer Hamada Management.”

Martin has always had a good relationship with Nolan, who is also a front-line director he finally got a chance to get involved with. Of course, he doesn't want Nolan to start something DC, which is also detrimental to him.

 Nolan is a commercial director who is not averse to superhero movies and is somewhat tempted by Warner's invitation.

Martin thought about it for a while and asked: "Chris, I wonder if you have watched "Green Lantern". What do you think of this movie?"

Nolan didn't need to mince words when facing Martin, and said directly: “Calling this movie a piece of shit, I think is insulting shit.”

Martin said: "The producer of "Green Lantern" is Hamada, and the post-production is led by Hamada. This film illustrates his level and ability. If his priority is higher than yours, he wants to intervene in your project. …”

 This is also the main reason why Nolan was tempted but hesitated.

"I also got news that Warner Pictures, the second largest shareholder involved in the investment, filming and production of "Green Lantern", asked each of the six producers to edit a movie..." Martin referred to what Louise called a master of micro-manipulation. Jon Berg was told in detail.

Even though Nolan was well-informed, he was dumbfounded at this moment.

The head of Warner Pictures really pioneered the industry and will definitely be recorded in the annals of Hollywood history.

Nolan said: "Which director or producer can endure such torture?"

Martin added: "Bryan Singer, the director of that film, had a heart attack and was hospitalized."

It is not difficult for Nolan to imagine that if he accepts the invitation from Warner Bros., even if they make a commitment or sign a contract, all kinds of chaos will continue, and the internal friction alone will drive him crazy.

this is too scary!

Nolan didn't want to be hospitalized and wanted to live a few more years, saying: “No wonder you stayed away from Warner Brothers.”

 Martin shrugged: "I don't want to either, but these people, I really don't know what to say."

Nolan has made his decision: "I will turn down the invitation from Warner Bros., DC superhero movies... It will end with "The Dark Knight Rises" here!"

While the two were talking, in the nearby WMA office building, Blake Lively came out of the agent's small office, met the assistant waiting here, and prepared to go upstairs.

The assistant opened the phone and handed it to Blake: "You asked me to pay attention to Martin's whereabouts. He is now in a nearby coffee shop. This is the real-time news sent by the paparazzi twenty minutes ago."

Blake took a look and confirmed that the person in the photo was Martin. He took out his mobile phone and tried to send a text message first: "Do you have time to chat?"

 The other side quickly responded: “Yes.”

 (End of this chapter)

Chapter end