Huayu Entertainment 1995 started with hijacking.

Chapter 218 Repeated Visits
The settlement of the Spider-Man deal brought Wu Yuchen a great sense of relief. He had already done his best to help Marvel redeem 30%. Spider-Man was the most difficult to deal with; the rights to other characters like Black Widow were easier to negotiate.

Of course, not everything went smoothly. For example, Universal Pictures wouldn't budge on the Hulk, a super popular hero. Universal is jokingly called the monster movie company because they've always had a fondness for monster movies. However, Wu Yuchen wasn't too concerned. The Hulk movie adaptation in his previous life wasn't exactly a success, and he was already doing well enough to finish the Spider-Man trilogy. He didn't have the energy to work on the Hulk again.

On July 14th, "X-Men" was released, raking in 5447 million yuan at the box office in its opening weekend, attracting the attention of several major Hollywood studios. Marvel's superheroes once again garnered attention, naturally prompting Marvel to celebrate with champagne.

Although the rights to X-Men are no longer in their own hands, the success of the movies proves that their superheroes are appealing, which will make their future superhero movie adaptations much smoother.

Meanwhile, people from Sony also personally visited Wu Yuchen on the set of "The Pirate King".

"Wu, you really made a good deal."

Sony was a little annoyed. If they had known that X-Men would do so well at the box office, they might not have been willing to agree to Marvel's request to redeem the Spider-Man rights, at least not by asking them to redeem 30%.

Wu Yuchen smiled and shook his head: "Hey, isn't this good news for us? It means our Spider-Man has a high chance of success!"

"That's why we're contacting you now. The company has decided to start the Spider-Man project as soon as possible, and we're all waiting for your script. You're not going to wait until Pirate King is released before you start writing, are you?"

Sony wasn't in a hurry before, but now, spurred on by X-Men, they've immediately accelerated their efforts.

When Wu Yuchen saw the attitude of Sony's representatives coming to his door to urge him, he knew that they were really impatient. Fortunately, he had finished the script for the first Spider-Man movie during his spare time from filming.

When the Sony staff saw Wu Yuchen's completed script, they couldn't help but show their delight: "Wu, everyone in the industry calls you a creative master, and you truly live up to the reputation!"

In the previous two months, Wu Yuchen registered the scripts for several movies, which caught the attention of the Screenwriters Guild. The news spread and amazed many people, earning Wu Yuchen another title of "creative master".

Wu Yuchen smiled and said, "You can take the script back and read it first. If you have no objections, then you can look for a suitable director. I suggest that you find a director who loves Spider-Man and whose style matches the script."

"Wu, are you really not considering directing it yourself?"

Wu Yuchen waved his hand: "My energy is really limited. Wasn't this something we already discussed beforehand?"

"Okay, one more thing, what's your approximate budget estimate for this project?"

Wu Yuchen held up one finger:
"Superhero movies must have special effects and big scenes, so the production cost cannot be low. If Spider-Man wants to be a hit, the production cost cannot be less than 1 million, and preferably more than 1.3 million."

Upon hearing this number, the Sony staff couldn't help but gasp, and then said to Wu Yuchen:
"Wu, this is no small sum. We need to go back and evaluate it carefully based on your script. But are you sure Marvel has the money to invest?"

Wu Yuchen chuckled: "Don't worry, Marvel will definitely invest its full 30% share."

Having finally secured 30%, he wasn't about to let Marvel miss out on this opportunity because of money. However, this time he wasn't planning on providing Marvel with any more interest-free loans. He figured it was enough to do this once to win people over when they first started; always playing the good guy didn't necessarily bring good results.

This time, he will have Marvel seek a bank loan, using Marvel's revenue for the next five years as collateral, with himself acting as guarantor. In other words, if the film loses money, and Marvel's revenue over the next five years isn't enough to repay the loan, then Wu Yuchen, as the guarantor, will have to pay it off.

However, this situation will not happen. He is full of confidence in Spider-Man, which is a movie that has grossed over 8 million worldwide and completely doubled the value of Marvel superheroes!

On July 29th, Hollywood was abuzz with news of a wedding. The wildly popular American sweetheart Jennifer Aniston married Brad Pitt. A floral crown, 50,000 flowers, four bands, hundreds of celebrity guests—coinciding with the turn of the millennium—made the wedding a global spectacle, a wedding blessed by the world.

Wu Yuchen also received an invitation, but he was busy filming a movie and naturally couldn't attend. After seeing the various news reports in the newspapers and on TV, he just smiled and let it go. To be honest, Brad Pitt certainly has the talent, but it cannot be denied that he has benefited greatly from both of his marriages.

Brad Pitt's marriage to Jennifer Aniston, a sweetheart adored by all of America, was considered by many to be a step up for him, and it certainly boosted his fame and status. Five years later, while filming "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," Pitt's affair with Angelina Jolie, followed by their marriage, generated another huge media frenzy. To rise from a restaurant waiter and odd jobs to the top of Hollywood is no small feat for Brad Pitt!

However, this was none of Wu Yuchen's business; he could just watch the show. At that moment, a pair of jade-like arms embraced him from behind, revealing a beautiful face. Wu Yuchen turned around and gently pulled her into his arms; it was none other than Jiang Qinqin.

Wu Yuchen laughed and said, "Why don't you sleep a little longer? You should adjust to the time difference after just arriving here."

Jiang Qinqin shook her head: "I'm your little assistant now, of course I have to follow you, Director Wu, everywhere I go!"

Jiang Qinqin had just finished filming Huo Jianqi's "Life Show" and wanted to relax, so she came to America to visit Wu Yuchen. Wu Yuchen was naturally happy to welcome her. Putting aside everything else, the filming locations for "The Pirate King" were all very beautiful, and Jiang Qinqin could take a tour with him. However, Wu Yuchen couldn't possibly accompany her.

She's supposed to be a little assistant, but it's good enough if she doesn't cause Wu Yuchen any trouble. However, Jiang Qinqin's arrival could ease Wu Yuchen's lovesickness; after months of filming, he needs comfort and care!
What? The female lead is Keira Knightley?

Putting aside the fact that Kayla is only 15 years old and wouldn't make such a mistake, Wu Yuchen wasn't particularly interested in Kayla's flat chest.

Jiang Qinqin linked arms with Wu Yuchen as they walked and chatted: "Hey, is it true that Jiang Wen was banned?"

Just two months ago, Jiang Wen took "Devils on the Doorstep" to this year's Cannes Film Festival without approval and even won the Jury Prize.

Because of Wu Yuchen, many people are now paying more attention to film awards, which has made this year's Cannes Film Festival a focus of attention.

Actually, this year's Cannes Film Festival was a big victory for Chinese-language films. Jiang Wen's "Devils on the Doorstep" won the Jury Prize from mainland China, Tony Leung won Best Actor for "In the Mood for Love" from Hong Kong, and Edward Yang's "Yi Yi" won Best Director from Taiwan. There were significant awards across mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan—a truly joyous occasion. However, upon Jiang Wen's return, rumors circulated that he had been banned, causing quite a stir.

"It's both true and false," Wu Yuchen sighed upon hearing this.

"What do you mean by real or fake? Don't keep me in suspense!" Jiang Qinqin asked curiously.

"It is true that he was banned from directing for 5 years, but there was no official document specifying it."

In the past, when a major crackdown on someone involved the use of scissors, a clear document would be issued and given to the relevant person. But this time, Jiang Wen did not.

It is said that many influential people felt that the censorship standards were too strict, which sparked a discussion about reforming the film censorship system, but it eventually came to nothing.

Although there is no official document, it is certain that filming is prohibited for five years.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qinqin sighed, then said to Wu Yuchen beside her, "Then you'd better be careful~"

Wu Yuchen rubbed her shoulder: "Don't worry, I'm not so easy to restrain."

Wu Yuchen has now become a leading figure in Chinese cinema, and his films are not ones that ordinary people dare to ban; they all have to ask for permission from higher authorities.

Take Li An from his previous life, for example. He made "Lust, Caution." If it were an ordinary director, it definitely wouldn't have been able to get released. But "Lust, Caution" was released anyway. Ultimately, it's because great directors have a different kind of influence.

The beaches of St. Vincent are incredibly beautiful. The film crew built three piers there specifically for shooting exterior scenes in Port Royal and Tortuga. At this point, the three most important ships in the film—the Black Pearl, the Intrepid, and the Interceptor—were already docked there. The crew even brought in professionals to teach the crew how to operate these large ships, as they would be used for actual filming.

As Jiang Qinqin watched Wu Yuchen direct the crew of over a hundred people in an orderly manner, and saw him issuing orders to this group of foreigners, she couldn't help but feel a strong sense of admiration, love, and pride.

Actually, Jiang Qinqin's special trip here was naturally partly to keep an eye on Wu Yuchen. The incident involving Gao Yuanyuan at Xiangshan Film City last year had given her pause for thought. And when Liang Chaowei walked the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival in May, he was seen holding hands with both Maggie Cheung and Carina Lau. At the time, the media widely speculated that Liang Chaowei and Maggie Cheung had developed feelings for each other while filming, and Carina Lau was worried about their relationship, insisting on going along to try and keep Liang Chaowei involved.

Seeing Liu Jialin's actions, Jiang Qinqin felt a sense of empathy for some reason and felt a sense of crisis, so she decided to come and stay by Wu Yuchen's side.

That evening, after returning to her room, Jiang Qinqin looked at the photos Wu Yuchen had taken throughout the day and couldn't help but ask:
"The female lead in your production looks quite young to me."

Wu Yuchen glanced at her and said, "Of course you're young, she's only 15."

"15 years old?! People in Europe and America develop that early!"

"Don't girls naturally mature earlier? If they get enough nutrition, it's not surprising that they'll be fully grown by the age of fourteen or fifteen. In a few years, when the average standard of living in China goes up, it will be the same."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qinqin was completely relieved. Apart from the female lead, Kayla, there weren't many beautiful women in the crew, and Wu Yuchen wouldn't make a move on such a young girl.

Then she asked, "Hey, how much is her salary?"

"$20 million."

"$20? That's more than my movie salary in China!" Jiang Qinqin exclaimed in astonishment.

"My dear Qinqin, this is Hollywood, their units are US dollars, of course it's expensive!"

Jiang Qinqin wrinkled her nose and complained, "When I was 15, I couldn't even earn a few hundred yuan. It's really infuriating to compare yourself to others!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Yuchen put his arm around her: "You should be content. Countless actresses in China envy you~" "It's just that I suddenly feel it's a bit unfair. We're all actors making movies, yet the difference is so huge..."

Why is Hollywood a place where actors from all over the world pursue their dreams? Isn't it essentially about making money?
"If you want to break into Hollywood, I have a piece of advice: practice martial arts and film action scenes. Otherwise, it's very difficult for Asian actors to succeed in Hollywood."

Whether it's Jackie Chan, Jet Li, or actress Michelle Yeoh, they all established themselves in Hollywood through action films. As for Chow Yun-fat, without "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," Wu Yuchen estimates he'll have a very hard time making it in Hollywood.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qinqin made a bitter face: "Then forget it, I'm not cut out to be a fighter, I'll just be a good, dear wife to you~"

Upon hearing this, Wu Yuchen smiled and kissed his beloved wife on the cheek.

Jiang Qinqin stayed with the crew for more than half a month before leaving. She wanted to take care of Wu Yuchen while he was filming, and she didn't want to be a burden and affect Wu Yuchen's $1.4 million project.

That's how film crews are; people come and go, it's normal. Jiang Qinqin had only been gone a few days when Spielberg arrived.

"Wu, how's filming going? I heard that during the night scene shoot, the small boat you were returning from ran aground?"

Wu Yuchen nodded: "There will be some minor issues from time to time, but they are all still under control."

Spielberg smiled and said, "It's normal for such a large production crew to encounter some minor problems. I believe you can handle it properly. Are the actors still obedient?"

Wu Yuchen immediately knew that Spielberg was asking about Johnny Depp, after all, he's a famous eccentric.

"It's not bad. His daughter came to visit him a few days ago, which made him very happy."

"Heh, having children really does make you more mature." Spielberg was relieved.

Wu Yuchen understood Spielberg's thinking; after all, it's a $1.4 million production, and he wouldn't feel at ease without seeing it in person. So far, Depp's $800 million investment seems quite worthwhile. However, Depp's salary for the sequels and third installment will likely become a headache.

Actually, Wu Yuchen initially wanted to sign a three-film contract with Depp, but Depp refused. Neither he nor his agent are stupid.

Some might mention Robert Downey Jr.'s five-film contract with Marvel. Downey signed it from the start because he had ruined his career, causing numerous scandals and even serving time in prison over several years due to drug use. He was already down on his luck, and signing the contract was his only chance to re-emerge; he had no choice. Johnny Depp's situation was completely different from Downey's at the time.

Although Johnny Depp is an eccentric and often plays unconventional roles, he has always maintained a respectable level of fame. While he may not be considered a top-tier Hollywood star, he is certainly among the best of the second tier, and arguably close to A-list. Therefore, it's virtually impossible for him to sign a contract that significantly restricts his salary for sequels.

Wu Yuchen shook his head. Let's talk about these things after filming is finished. Thinking about them now will only cause more trouble.

At this moment, Spielberg introduced the unfamiliar middle-aged man next to him to Wu Yuchen: "Wu, this is Brian Glazer, a great producer, he wants to talk to you."

"Wu, hello! I've heard so much about you!"

"Hello, Glazer, nice to meet you~" Wu Yuchen was a little surprised that Spielberg would introduce this person to him.

Glazer smiled and said to Wu Yuchen:
"Wu, actually I've dealt with you before."

"Hmm?" Wu Yuchen cast a questioning glance.

"To be precise, it's with your agent."

"Karl?"

"Yes. He contacted me wanting to buy the rights to a novel, but I refused."

Wu Yuchen had previously asked his agent to buy the copyrights of some novels, and naturally some of them were unsuccessful, but he has been having people follow up on them.

"Oh? I don't know which novel you're talking about..."

“The Nash Biography”.

Upon hearing this, Wu Yuchen narrowed his eyes and asked again, "The one by Sylvia Nasa?"

"That's right, 'A Beautiful Mind: The Nash Story,' a biographical novel about John Nash, the founder of game theory and a mathematician who won the Nobel Prize in Economics."

Upon hearing that this was exactly what he had in mind, Wu Yuchen immediately smiled and said, "Grezer, I didn't expect that the copyright of this novel was in your hands."

"A Beautiful Mind" is the film he plans to make next, aiming to compete for an Oscar again. There are several types of themes that are easy to win at the Oscars, such as the Jewish Passion in recent years, the future of Black civil rights, racial discrimination, women's rights, etc., but Wu Yu-chen doesn't want to make any films about Jews or Black people.

However, one genre that has always been favored by academia is biographies, though of course, you have to make them well and reach a certain standard. "A Beautiful Mind" is a high-quality film; in its previous life, it won numerous awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress. For Wu Yuchen, it was a great film to win awards, and it was also a target he had his eye on. However, when he had his agent contact the publisher before, the novel's rights had already been bought.

Glazer said with a smile, "After the novel was published two years ago, I was deeply moved after reading about Nash's tumultuous life, and then I bought the film adaptation rights from the author."

Wu Yuchen sighed. Actually, "A Beautiful Mind: The Nash Story" was not a best-selling novel at all. He originally thought that buying it would be easy, but even such a novel had been beaten to the punch.

Wu Yuchen asked sincerely:

“Glazer, I was also deeply moved by Nash’s experience, which inspired me a lot. I even made a film project about it. I wonder if you could part with the adaptation rights and transfer them to me? I would be very grateful!”

"Of course, but I'd like to try a different approach. How about we collaborate?"

After Glazer finished speaking, he pointed at Spielberg and said, "We are a three-way collaboration."

Wu Yuchen looked at Spielberg and asked, "Steven, what's your opinion?"

“I heard from Glazer that you wanted to buy the rights to this novel, so I knew you wanted to adapt it into a film, and that's why I brought him along. I'd be very happy to make this collaboration happen.”

Actually, films like "A Beautiful Mind" are the kind Spielberg would most like Wu Yuchen to direct. These kinds of films, no matter how high the budget, won't be too high—definitely not exceeding 100 million. Even with a big-name star, it would only cost around 60-70 million at most. Looking at Wu Yuchen's past films, he seems well-suited to this type of low-budget, character-centric movie.

Wu Yuchen glanced at Spielberg, who was smiling at him, and roughly understood that the two must have planned this beforehand. At the same time, he guessed that the Glazer in front of him was most likely Jewish.

He then looked at Glazer: "Okay, how do you want to cooperate?"

Glazer's face lit up with delight, and he asked, "Wu, you just said you've made a filming plan. If you were to direct, how much money would you be willing to spend on the film?"

"Sixty to seventy million."

"I can offer ten million, plus the novel adaptation rights, and my producer's fee, which will be 20%. How about that?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Yuchen did not answer immediately, but instead looked at Spielberg.

Spielberg then said to Wu Yuchen, "Wu, if you can keep the cost under 6000 million, as originally agreed, you can get 20% of the full copyright director's fee."

Upon hearing the director's fee, Wu Yuchen nodded in satisfaction, but still said, "Hey, Steven, how about allocating some more of the investment share for this movie to me?"

"Wu, isn't 20% of the full copyright fee enough for you?"

"Steven, didn't you complain before that DreamWorks' finances were a bit tight? I just wanted to help ease some of the pressure on you."

Spielberg smiled and shook his head: "Gladiator is doing very well at the box office right now, and DreamWorks' finances are not under pressure. Besides, this movie won't be filmed until next year, will it?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Yuchen sighed inwardly. He actually wanted to secure more investment, as the film was incredibly profitable, grossing 4.8 million worldwide in his previous life, a true box office and critical success.

Unfortunately, he doesn't own the copyright now. The two other companies have clearly already agreed on the terms, so getting 20% ​​of the director's full rights fee is acceptable. However, looking at it from another angle, he mainly aimed for awards when making this film, and now that the project is in his hands, he's achieved his initial goal.

"make a deal."

(End of this chapter)