[Shout out to Avinash B, Wai Yan B, and haze2343!]
Hollywood What If Chapter 44
There is a differeween a person who has just bee famous and a superstar who has a billion-dolr movie franchise under his name.
Let's talk about those people.
James Cameron with The Terminator and Avatar.
Arnold Schwarzenegger with Terminator as well.
Steven Spielberg with Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones.
Michael Bay with his Transformers.
Tom Cruise and Mission: Impossible.
And so many more.
Any of these actors could have a fall from grace. However, they could easily return to their superstar status by using these franchises.
The best example is Tom Cruise. After dropping Pat Kingsley (his agent for two decades), Tom Cruise received a strong backsh from the media.
His Stology sdal. His problems with his ex-wife Nicole Kidman and his divorbsp;
Tom Cruise hit ro. The only thing that kept him relevant was his role as Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible.
Even James Cameron didn't have a project for almost ten years after Titanic. But he was still highly respected after the release of Avatar.
When Cameron's movie came out, which was Avatar: The Way of the Water, James Cameron proved himself again.
'If there's anyone who make a billion-dolr movie. It's defihe tyrant director James Cameron.'
His st three movies together have grossed more than 6 billion. Those movies were Titanic, Avatar, and Avatar: The Way of the Water.
'I heard that he is building the ship right now...'
James Cameron wao film on a real cruise ship. He pushed 20th tury Fox and Paramount for more iment.
Titanic cost a whopping 200 million to make. For the 1990s, that amount of money was insane.
'All I want is a franchise that will keep me relevant.'
So he decided to start writing inal spys. He wao do something big.
The st week of January.
Uhe st time, when Kazir used a ky typewriter to write his scripts, this time he used a ptop. He has the moo buy gadgets.
In fact, he decided to ge his apartment. He now lived in a hotel near his studio pany(Grey Pictures). Of course, he was only renting the apartment for a year.
His st apartment was too dangerous for him.
He earned more than 12 million dolrs this year. Although he khat taxes would e for him.
More than 30% of that amount would be eaten up by the gover...
"Salvatore, how was it?"
Kazir heard his ph and answered it.
"Kazir, Paramount wants to work with you. 5 million sary, but they want to talk to you about the box office share."
"I uand. Set up a meeting tomorrow."
"Okay."
He ehe call.
"Hm... Taken, John Wick, and Fast and the Furious."
Those movies had small iments. Eae cost no more than 50 million to make.
"If the movie panies didn't want to support me in starting aovies, then I would..."
He closed his mouth.
.........
......
...
The day came without a problem. Kazir and his agent, Salvatore Barlowe, walked into the Paramount Pictures' headquarters.
Paramount Pictures had Transformers and Mission: Impossible franchises. Although Tom Cruise had authority over the cht of the Mission: Impossible.
In terms of strength, Paramount was the sed weakest of the Big Six. Right o Sony-bia.
Everyone knows that Sony-bia is the weakest of the Big Six. With only Spiderman as a profitable franchise.
"Kazir Grey. Haha, I 't believe I'm going to meet someoh the same st name as me!"
The person in front of Kazir was the CEO of Paramount Pictures.
His name is Brad Grey.
"I heard that your father is actually my third cousin, I guess we are reted."
"Indeed."
Kazir kept his smile... He didn't know that. He just found out today. Besides, the retionship of being a third cousin was not that relevant at all.
As for why Brad Grey knew about it, Kazir didn't have an answer. Maybe he was researg his family tree or something.
"So, Kazir, I heard that you're fighting for a share of the box office. You didn't want to work with Warner Bros. and 20th tury Fox. Because they gave you hard terms."
"That's right."
There was o lie. Everyone in Hollywood had heard that iatioween Kazir Grey and the two film panies had broken down.
"If I give you an 8 million sary, will you stop asking about the box office share?"
"Sorry Brad, I still prefer the box office share."
"As expected. Are you that fident in your movie, or do you just want to tie your future to the movie?"
"Both."
"..."
Brad Grey stared at the man before him. He had two ces to work with this man, but the produa didn't bother notifying him.
It was too te when Brad Grey heard that Kazir had actually sent his scripts to Paramount.
"We both want to work together, so how about we take it slow?"
"I'm fih that."
The two shook hands. The first iatio well. At least Paramount Pictures didn't have aive rea to sharing the box offibsp;
'Maybe they wao get a movie with possible sequels.'
Brad Grey heard that Kazir was als on a sequel to Napoleon Dynamite.
Paramount Pictures has only two big-budget films this year. They are Mission: Impossible and Star Trek.
Although Kazir wahe chts to Mission: Impossible, Tom Cruise acquired the chts years ago.
He wao include it in his ematiiverse. Unfortunately, some things didn't go his way. He was only human after all.
"Then I'll see you again, Kazir. I hope our meeting will be positive."
"I hope so."
They shook hands and ehe meeting. Both sides got to know the other's point of view, which was a good thing for both parties.
[Author's note: Some readers may be disappointed, but yes, there is a smut se (Chapter 44.1). Though it's only avaible on Patreon. I just have to say it].