Chapter 245: Chapter 245: New Projects Choices
The following morning, Martin arrived in Century City and entered the WMA office building.
As per usual, Bruce approached his assistant, Natasha, while Martin went into Thomas's office alone.
Thomas had an array of information spread across his desk. Upon Martin's arrival, he announced, "I'm all set."
Martin grabbed a chilled bottle of water from the fridge and took a seat on the couch.
Thomas placed the printed scripts and project information on the coffee table, explaining, "I've compiled scripts and project details that might be suitable for the company, anything with a glimmer of potential."
Martin's eyes landed on the first script, featuring Hasbro's prominent toy, "Transformers."
He picked up the script.
Thomas elaborated, "This project involves a collaboration between Hasbro, DreamWorks, and Paramount. DreamWorks is set to produce the adaptation, with Steven Spielberg personally involved as a producer. The director chosen is Michael Bay, known for 'The Rock,' with an expected budget exceeding $150 million."
Without diving into the script, Martin inquired directly, "Tell me about the male lead?"
Thomas handed over the script, flipped to a page featuring a concept drawing of a soldier, and stated, "The male lead? He's the second-in-command, Captain of the U.S. Special Operations Team."
Martin, having a rough idea, recalled the character. "Forget it," he stated.
Thomas began to explain but couldn't hold back, "These are Spielberg and Michael Bay's projects."
Nonetheless, Martin picked up the script again, flipped through it, and remarked, "The true stars are Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. The male lead can only be third fiddle. Where's the second male lead?"
Thomas set it aside temporarily and handed Martin another piece of information, a few pages and a book titled "The Last Man."
He passed it to Martin, explaining, "David Heyman, producer of the Warner Bros.' Harry Potter series, plans to remake Warner's old film 'I Am Legend.' I've heard that the plot diverges from the original version, aiming to incorporate elements from 'The Last of Us.'"
Martin knew that Warner Bros. held complete rights to the film.
Thomas added, "I haven't received the script yet, but it's expected to use the one written in the 1990s. At that time, Warner was considering Ridley Scott and Schwarzenegger for the lead but abandoned the idea due to budget constraints." He continued, "However, it appears the success of the same genre recently may have persuaded Warner Bros."
Martin inquired about the male lead requirements, "What are they looking for in the male lead?"
Thomas replied, "The 'last man' concept, as the title suggests, necessitates a lead who can carry the entire film alone. Newcomers are unlikely to be considered by Warner and David Heyman. The male lead must have a substantial box office presence."
Martin recognized his own situation, stating, "I lack the necessary box office appeal."
Thomas added, "If 'Wanted' proves to be a major success, you might gain some leverage."
Martin concluded, "You keep an eye on this project, and if possible, fight for it."
From what Martin knew, the film was previously a massive success due to a combination of factors, including the popularity of the novel and the film's unique protagonist.
Perhaps the latter was the more pivotal element.
The next piece of information pertained to a role in "Zodiac," a film directed by David Fincher.
Susan Downey, who had changed her last name after marriage, had already secured a key role for Robert Downey Jr. and was currently seeking actors for three other significant roles.
This project was also an adaptation.
Thomas had prepared the original novel for Martin.
Given Martin's preference for David Fincher's style, he had seen most of his works, with "Zodiac" being one of the more mediocre ones in terms of box office.
Martin scanned through the script and commented, "The protagonist's role isn't prominent enough. Move it further down the list."
Thomas said little and retrieved another piece of information, along with a novel: "You mentioned your interest in director Christopher Nolan, the director of the new Batman movie. He's planning to adapt Priest's novel 'The Prestige' into a film. Warner Bros. has acquired the rights, and Jonathan Nolan is penning the script."
Martin posed a key question, "Has Warner Bros. given the green light for the project?"
Thomas confirmed, "It has received the green light. Barring any unforeseen issues, we're looking to start production next year, with a release targeted for 2007."
Martin noted the novel's title, "The Prestige," and advised, "Keep an eye on Nolan's project. If the opportunity arises, reach out to him or his wife."
Thomas informed Martin, "Emma - she has been working as the production manager on Nolan's project."
Thomas inquired, "She seems to be over 35. Should we send Mene..."
Martin shook his head, "Let's gather more information first."
Thomas nodded, saying, "Understood."
Martin selected the two books, "The Last Man Standing" and "The Prestige," and instructed Thomas, "Keep an eye on 'I Am Legend' and 'The Prestige.' Let go of the others."
Thomas had high hopes for "Transformers," particularly since it involved Spielberg. However, Martin was focused on realistic prospects. If there was a project where he could secure the male lead, he saw no reason to play second fiddle to a robot.
"I'll initiate contact with Warner Bros.," Thomas assured.
Martin took the books and stood up, declaring, "I'm heading out."
Thomas escorted him to the door.
Martin waved goodbye to Bruce and exited the office, accompanied by Bruce downstairs.
Midway through, he tossed two novels over to Bruce. "New harvest."
Bruce glanced at the cover and remarked, "I haven't finished 'Dark Realm' yet, so you've added two more to the list."
They left the office building and hopped into the Escalade. Martin inquired, "What's Alan's book about?"
Bruce started the car and pulled out slowly. Once they were on the main road, he began explaining, "The protagonist is a writer, quite similar to you in terms of personality. He daydreams incessantly but lacks any real talent. Essentially, he's a loser."
Martin nodded, recognizing the standard underachiever start. "Are there any power-ups involved?"
"Power-ups?" After Martin briefly explained the term, Bruce continued, "Absolutely, there are power-ups. The male lead comes across a certain drug. Upon taking it, he can unlock his full human potential, including improving his intelligence. He can even learn a foreign language or master skills like finance or combat in a single day."
Upon hearing this, Martin became more focused. "Go on."
Bruce wasn't particularly skilled at storytelling but did his best to convey the plot. "After taking the drug, this dim-witted guy transforms into a genius and starts making a fortune. It's like picking up fallen leaves in the woods, yet he exudes the charisma of a Leonardo. Yes, the one from Titanic," Bruce clarified. He attempted to organize his thoughts further, saying, "A capitalist discovers his newfound abilities, and from what I gather, the story likely revolves around the capitalist's attempt to seize the drug, with the male lead using the drug's power to fight back."
Martin's mind drifted to a movie he had seen, one that used to be a favorite among regular folks, especially those fond of daydreaming. It was a masterpiece among escapist films, often referred to as "Limitless." He remembered watching this film with a fellow actor who, after seeing it, fantasized about getting his hands on such a drug, even coming up with nicknames for people who'd taken it. The film resonated with everyday people: take a pill and become a superhero, amass wealth, and attract beautiful women.
The author, Alan Glynn, seemed well-versed in the desires of the common folk, particularly what they envied most about Hollywood stars: luxurious homes, fancy cars, beautiful companions, and, most importantly, wealth.
As for the original male lead actor, he was likely still at a lower tier in the industry.
Martin inquired, "Do you have the novel with you? Did you bring it?"
Bruce pointed to the armrest compartment. "It's in there."
Martin retrieved the novel given to him by Alan. "Let's find a spot. We can read it."
Bruce found a nearby coffee shop, parked the car, and they both entered. They ordered two cups of coffee and delved into the novels.
Martin flipped through "The Dark Realm," while Bruce began reading "The Prestige."
Both of them, despite their casual appearance, were thoroughly engrossed in their reading.
Martin might not excel at writing, but he was still a competent reader. While the novel and the movie adaptation differed, the main plot and framework were essentially the same as the film "Never Ending." Martin was certain this was the original source material for the movie.
He grabbed his phone and dialed Thomas's number. "Could you find out how many copies of a novel titled 'Dark Realm,' authored by Alan Glynn, have been sold?"
On the day of the wine tasting, Gillian had mentioned that Alain Glynn had only published this one work so far.
After waiting for about ten minutes, Thomas called back. "It was published in 2001, and so far, it's sold less than 40,000 copies."
Martin knew that personally getting involved wasn't the best approach. "You and Jessica, get in touch with the publisher and the author directly. Use my studio's name to acquire the film and television adaptation rights for this novel."
Thomas seemed puzzled. "It has a limited readership and isn't worth much."
Martin explained, "Precisely because of that, it won't cost us much to acquire. We're not planning to invest heavily in its adaptation."
Thomas saw the logic and agreed. "I'll have Jessica negotiate, and I'll assist her."
"Good," Martin replied. "I trust you to handle it."
Thomas promptly took action. "I'll head to the studio right away."
Before making any decisions, Martin called Jessica. There were no urgent matters; she and Emily would stay back at Davis Studio to manage fan and online-related affairs.
Bruce, having already set down "The Prestige," gestured at the novel. "Are you sure this is our next target?"
Martin tucked the novel away. "Obtaining the adaptation rights for this one won't be a major challenge." He took snapshots of the other two novels. "The real surprises will come from these two. They have the potential to secure one of the leading roles."
Bruce expressed his doubts. "Christopher Nolan? He's not that famous. I've only heard of the new Batman movie, nothing else."
Martin explained matter-of-factly, "He's emerging as one of the top directors in the industry now. Warner Bros. highly values him, and Legendary Pictures fully supports him for his contributions to revitalizing Batman."
The Dark Knight and Superman were among DC's and Warner Bros.' most valuable assets.
Martin grabbed the book. "Let's go."
Bruce followed suit, quipping, "Too bad Batman doesn't have any superpowers."
Martin casually asked, "Does having wealth count?"
Bruce paused for a moment, pondering. "If you have money, you can calculate quite a lot." Having wealth was the most practical route to achieving numerous goals, allowing one to effectively control an entire city.
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