Chương 726: Chapter 726: Deliberate Showoff!
After the Oscars wrapped up, "The Martian" bid farewell to North American theaters, leaving the continent's box office stagnant at a solid $322 million.
But the movie still had adventures overseas, especially in Japan, where it was set to premiere in March, catering to a market that usually thirsts for Hollywood flicks.
Currently, the film boasts a global box office haul of a whopping $776 million.
As March dawned, most of last year's Hollywood releases had settled into their box office rankings. Both "John Wick 2" and "The Martian," starring Martin, secured top ten spots in the 2011 North American and global box office rankings. "The Martian" nabbed third place in both charts, trailing only behind "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" and "Transformers 3."
"John Wick 2" wasn't far behind, ranking fourth on both lists with a solid $261 million domestically and $623 million worldwide.
Additionally, "John Wick 2" raked in $255 million in DVD sales alone, clinching the second spot in North America after "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."
For his roles in both films, Martin pocketed a base salary of $20 million, plus a bonus contract pegged at up to 10% of the North American box office earnings.
"John Wick 2," released the previous summer, also saw Martin striking a deal with Disney Pictures. Besides his $20 million base pay, Martin cashed in a hefty $22.57 million from the box office and a further $1,967,000 from DVD and TV rights revenue shares.
With these earnings, Martin joined the elite club of actors grossing over $60 million from a single film, while "The Martian" alone saw Martin's salary and box office bonuses soaring past $50 million.
Yet, Disney Pictures was still in the process of reconciling payments with major theater chains in North America, delaying Martin's windfall until mid-year.
In 2011, Martin's earnings from acting soared past $100 million for the first time, securing him the top spot on "People" magazine's annual Hollywood celebrity income list with a cool $115 million.
Despite the wait for most of his income, Martin had already laid out plans for his fortune, including investments and a dream of buying a yacht.
However, the promise of sharing that yacht with Elizabeth Olsen had hit a snag.
Elizabeth had a change of heart.
"We're both in the thick of our careers. We barely have time for a few sea voyages a year. Buying a yacht would just mean it sits idle at the dock, collecting rust," she explained.
In the cozy living room, Elizabeth lounged on Martin's legs before reclining onto her back. A delicate Lily perched on Martin's shoulder, its petals cascading down as Elizabeth idly toyed with its leaves.
"In the past couple of months, those yacht commercials got me thinking," Elizabeth began, her gaze drifting upward. "Maybe a private jet makes more sense for us now."
Lily gently clasped Elizabeth's finger and directed it towards Martin, chiming in, "Liz jets off for business, I attend art events, and Martin, you're always making public appearances. A private jet just fits the bill."
Martin nodded in agreement, his tone pragmatic. "At this stage, a private jet is definitely more practical. Pick the one that suits you best and let's place the order."
Elizabeth turned to Martin, curious. "Any specific requirements?"
Lily interjected with a playful tone, "Preferably one where you can play poker in the sky!"
Martin, however, maintained a more serious demeanor. "It needs to be capable of international flights... with some private space, of course."
"Got it," Elizabeth nodded, though the thought of soaring through the skies did stir up some excitement within her.
The trio delved into discussions about which brand to opt for, considering top choices like Bombardier, Gulfstream, Thor, Falcon, among others. Lily even threw in a whimsical suggestion of customizing a Boeing 737, though Martin hadn't entertained that idea yet.
As they talked planes, Martin's mind wandered to Ukraine and its massive aircraft, though he couldn't recall the specific names.
"I wonder if it'll be fun to challenge the global leader once we get it airborne," Martin mused aloud.
Lily glanced at the clock and rose from Martin's side, pulling Elizabeth to her feet. "Time to head to the studio," she announced.
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "Every day?"
"Absolutely," Lily affirmed, gathering her belongings. "Craftsmanship like sculpture demands daily dedication. I refuse to be a mere commercialized artist. Skill is key."
Elizabeth's smile was sweet, but her words carried a sharp edge. "Your dexterity," she teased, "how'd it get so nimble? Martin won't stand a chance."
Lily playfully caught Elizabeth's hand again. "Years of observing Martin's quirks," she explained. "I've had plenty of practice catching his weak spots."
Elizabeth nodded knowingly, recalling Lily's older sister and her penchant for peeking into others' lives before they arrived in Atlanta.
Leaning closer, Lily teased, "Need a hand becoming more nimble, Liz?"
Elizabeth's response was a sly tongue against her lips, silently conveying that she had her own strengths over Lily in certain aspects.
Lily tugged the person away, a hint of urgency in her voice. "Come on, let's get to work! Remember our agreement, no one's stealing our thunder."
The duo headed to the studio, but Martin had another stop to make. Hastily, he dashed out to meet attorney Hamlin in Burbank.
Hamlin was overseeing Martin's case against Warner Bros. Pictures, a battle that had been brewing for a month now. Despite the lawyer's initial letter, Warner Bros. showed no signs of budging on the issue of unpaid shares from 2011, affecting numerous individuals, including Martin and Nolan.
Recently, the first out-of-court negotiations between Warner Bros. and multiple legal teams had ended in deadlock. Warner Bros. proposed extending the payment deadline to July, offering interest on top of the original amount.
As expected, Martin stood firm: "Interest is just the beginning. We're owed liquidated damages and late payment fees, as per the contract."
Hamlin nodded confidently. "Leave it to me."
With little more to add, they bid farewell, Martin swiftly making his way to Disney Studios, where preparations for the new project, "Prince of Thieves," were underway. Graham and Louise, deeply engrossed in the film's pre-production, awaited his arrival.
Louise, stationed in the studio, greeted Martin warmly. "Your recommendation for Denis Villeneuve as director checked out. After interviewing him, Graham and I believe he's the right fit. He's willing to provide a test reel to showcase his vision for the project."
Martin inquired about the timeline. "How long will that take?"
"A week at most," Louise replied. "Of all the candidates, Villeneuve stands out. Considering your $20 million base salary, the film can be completed within a $50-60 million budget."
Satisfied, Martin affirmed, "Budget won't be an issue."
With Davis Studio, Pacific Pictures, and GK Pictures onboard as co-producers, and investments from Wu Maoting and South Korea, the project was financially secure.
Louise outlined the next steps. "If Villeneuve's reel meets expectations, Graham will negotiate the contract with his agent, and we'll kick off the project in full swing within ten days."
She paused, shifting gears. "Meanwhile, I'm focusing on 'La La Land,' where we're still scouting for a director. Disney's recommended a few candidates with musical expertise. Meetings are lined up for next week."
Martin sighed, acknowledging the complexities of preparing a musical. "Musicals are always a handful."
"Mainly because musicals are like a niche within a niche," Louise remarked, adjusting her black-rimmed glasses. "There aren't many professionals left in this realm."
She issued a gentle reminder to Martin. "Once the choreography's set, it's time for professional training and piano practice."
Martin had dabbled in piano lessons with Sebastian for a spell, albeit sticking to rudimentary melodies. "Sebastian Anhui will continue as my piano instructor," he confirmed.
Both dance and piano proved to be quite the undertaking.
But Martin was resolute, eschewing substitutes and committing to performing himself when the time came.
His upcoming slate as an actor was all but confirmed, including roles in "Interstellar," "John Wick 3," "La La Land," and "Prince of Thieves."
Thankfully, scheduling the shoots was a breeze. Apart from Nolan's "Interstellar," all three films were financed and produced by Davis Studio, allowing for seamless coordination with Martin's availability.
The conversation veered toward Warner Bros.
Louise, with her extensive tenure at Warner Bros., was privy to inside information. "Warner Bros.' repayment delays were partly due to lackluster box office returns and public response to last year's releases," she explained. "But withholding shares from older films is a different story. Jon Berg is to blame for misappropriating funds."
Martin pondered, "Berg won't divert the money into new projects, will he?"
Louise elaborated, "Remember 'Jack the Giant Slayer? He introduced a new post-editing model, involving multiple editing versions and expert review panels, all demanding hefty financial backing. The original budget fell short, prompting further injections."
Martin mused, "If this mega production tanks, Berg's neck will be on the line?"
"Absolutely," Louise affirmed. "Even as Kevin Tsujihara's brother-in-law, Berg won't escape the fallout if it flops. Tsujihara may sway the Warner Bros. board, but not Time Warner Group."
Martin nodded thoughtfully, shifting gears. "When's 'Jack the Giant Catcher' hitting theaters?"
Louise pondered briefly. "Mid-May. No other major releases of similar magnitude are slated for that window."
Martin didn't mince words. "Here's to hoping it tanks."
Meanwhile, the "La La Land" crew had arranged for a piano instructor for Martin. Once the choreography was nailed down, he'd be hitting the studio promptly for dance rehearsals.
Capitalizing on the Oscars buzz, Disney Pictures seized the moment to kick off the DVD release campaign for "The Martian." With Ridley Scott tied up filming "Prometheus" and unable to participate, Martin took the reins of the promotional efforts with gusto.
After all, DVD sales weren't just about revenue for Davis Studio; they also directly impacted Martin's future earnings.
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