Made In Hollywood

The summer season, particularly in June and July, is a time when blockbuster commercial films are released almost every weekend. Some competition is inevitable and unavoidable. After Memorial Day, the fierce battles of May have temporarily subsided, but the ever-escalating passion of the market doesn't mean the competition has ended. The slate of blockbusters scheduled for every weekend in June is no less formidable.

Before the first weekend of June arrived, Duke set aside his screenwriting and other work and once again stepped onto the red carpet of a premiere. The film Mission: Impossible, in which he and Tom Cruise held the major investment shares, was officially released.

"Congratulations, Duke."

Just as he stepped into the VIP lounge of the theater, Tom Cruise approached him enthusiastically, his face brimming with energy. "Another three-time summer box office champion! I'm already starting to regret not playing Neo."

Facing Cruise's smile, Duke wasn't stingy with his own. "I think Ian Hunter will also become a classic on the big screen."

"Thank you."

Tom Cruise let go of Nicole Kidman's hand and walked over to give Duke a firm hug. "Thank you for supporting me wholeheartedly."

With Cruise's personality, avoiding conflicts with Paramount Pictures during filming was almost impossible. For most of the production, Duke had his representatives in the crew stand firmly on Cruise's side.

As the saying goes, no one wanted Mission: Impossible to succeed more than Tom Cruise. Moreover, his film instincts around the turn of the century weren't bad, especially with Pat Kingsley constantly advising him.

"Hello, Mary."

"Hello, Duke."

After hugging Tom Cruise, Duke shook hands with Nicole Kidman. It seemed that the couple had finished their social rounds and stayed by his side, continuing to chat.

"I think we can collaborate again," Cruise said, his eyes showing a mix of emotions. "To this day, I still haven't starred in a single film with a North American box office exceeding $200 million. But you..."

He sighed softly. "The Matrix hasn't even been in theaters for a month, and its North American box office is approaching $300 million."

"Hey, Tom, you're exaggerating."

Cruise's enthusiasm left Duke a bit unaccustomed, so he replied with a smile, "The latest statistics are just over $230 million, which is still quite far from $300 million."

The Matrix couldn't defy the natural rules of commercial films like Titanic had. With the passage of time, its hype was clearly beginning to wane. Breaking the $300 million barrier in North America would be challenging.

After all, it was the fiercely competitive summer season. Once the film's hype cooled, theater chains would inevitably reduce screenings significantly. In June, movies like Mission: Impossible, Mulan, and Doctor Dolittle—which were strong contenders in memory—would be released, undoubtedly impacting The Matrix's box office.

"I have confidence in you!" Cruise seemed more optimistic than Duke. He turned to Nicole Kidman and said, "Mary and I have discussed this many times. There's a good chance you'll snag the annual box office champion title again this year."

Nicole Kidman flashed a cooperative smile. "That's exactly what I believe."

Looking at Tom Cruise and then Nicole Kidman, Duke suddenly felt the two of them were more harmonious than when he'd last seen them.

But this had nothing to do with him. Duke quickly dismissed the thought and continued discussing films with the couple. Before they could say much, Paramount Pictures CEO Sherry Lansing walked over.

"Congratulations on another big hit," she said, extending her hand. Duke shook it lightly and replied, "Thank you."

Despite The Matrix receiving a mixed rating and Paramount's involvement in hyping up gun-related controversies, and despite Duke touching on Paramount's interests with Braveheart and Titanic, both he and Sherry Lansing smiled brightly in this setting as if past competition had never existed.

This was actually the norm in Hollywood. This year's partners might very well be next year's competitors due to clashing release schedules. If one were to glare at every competitor, survival in this industry would be impossible.

"It's clear The Matrix is a franchise," Lansing said during the conversation, tentatively suggesting, "Duke, would you consider handing over the sequel to Paramount Pictures? Our terms..."

Indeed, she was eager to secure the sequel rights to The Matrix. She wasn't alone—many in Hollywood shared the same desire.

Blockbuster films with great box office success appear every year, but those that see massive success in merchandise sales are rare.

In recent years, as promotional costs have risen, the profit margin from ticket sales has shrunk, making merchandise and licensing a growing share of revenue.

In 1993, Steven Spielberg alone earned $200 million from Jurassic Park, yet Universal Pictures still made a fortune because its merchandise sales were extraordinary.

Her eyes were set on The Matrix not for its box office performance but for its merchandise sales.

Although overseas sales figures weren't yet finalized, Hollywood insiders had already seen North American merchandise sales for The Matrix. Four weeks into its release, excluding Nokia phones, merchandise like sunglasses, trench coats, and stationery had generated $180 million in sales!

Duke's studio could claim 30% of that—$60 million—plus the $20 million in early advertising sponsorships. Even before ticket revenue was accounted for, The Matrix had already recouped its production costs!

Was there any reason not to be envious?

Moreover, Warner Bros. and Duke's studio were still negotiating with various distributors. The North American television and home video rights for The Matrix would undoubtedly fetch astronomical prices!

And that's just North America; the overseas market, which had already surpassed North America in revenue, was still untapped...

Merely thinking about the potential earnings made Sherry Lansing feel dizzy. In her eyes, Duke wasn't a director but a super gold-making machine!

Though Lansing laid out an enticing offer, Duke politely declined by saying he needed time to consider. Her promises seemed attractive, but how many Hollywood promises actually materialized?

---

"This way, let me introduce you to the cast and crew," Tom Cruise said, inviting Duke to meet the team. Given their thawing relationship and two collaborations, Duke saw no reason to refuse. Inside the theater, he moved to the front row, shaking hands with the main cast and crew as Cruise introduced them. After all, he was one of the film's producers.

"Hello, Jean," Duke said, greeting a French actor with a prominent nose. "Your performance in Léon: The Professional was impressive."

Even though Duke's studio had been among the most aggressive in undermining Jean Reno weeks ago, both parties shook hands calmly.

Such intense behind-the-scenes competition paired with superficial normalcy was standard in Hollywood.

At Cruise's introduction, Duke met many of the cast. Finally, he reached a young actor about his age, whose chiseled, rock-like face and broad, muscular frame almost matched Duke's height. Beneath his tailored suit, hints of explosive strength were visible.

"This is Gerard Butler," Cruise introduced.

Duke, intrigued, gave Butler a second look after their handshake. He then turned to his assistant. "Tina, track down Gerard Butler's agent's contact information later."

"Understood," Tina Fey replied softly. "A new project?"

"I need someone physically imposing, with decent acting skills and a rugged appearance, for those two robber roles. He fits the look."

Glancing at the screen, Duke added, "If his performance in this film is acceptable, we can send him an audition invitation."

The rugged leader of the Red-Caped Army, Leonidas, seemed perfect for such tough roles. Duke only worried about Butler's acting skills. However, as the film began and Butler appeared in several scenes, Duke's concerns eased. While Butler's acting wasn't outstanding, it met Duke's relatively low standards.

Besides, according to Duke's plan, the robbers would spend much of their screen time masked, minimizing the need for exceptional acting. Moreover, to align with mainstream values, he wouldn't emphasize these robbers excessively.

After briefly pondering the casting for his new project, Duke shifted his focus to the screen. Although Mission: Impossible was delayed by two years, some scenes and plot points had changed. What remained constant was the film's overall style and Ethan Hunt's array of stunts and charm. Tom Cruise's star power was formidable at this time, as evidenced by the gasps and cheers from teenagers in the back rows.

As an investor, Duke, like Cruise, wanted the film to succeed. Based on his industry experience and judgment, he predicted the film might not receive stellar reviews, but its box office prospects seemed promising. It might not be a blockbuster hit, but a total of $100–150 million appeared achievable.

The combination of Mission: Impossible's genre and Cruise as its lead actor would undoubtedly pressure competing or upcoming releases. It too would have to thrive amidst fierce competition.

....

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