King of Hollywood
Chapter 411 - 133: Expansion Again

Chapter 411: Chapter 133: Expansion Again

Lawrence Fishburne joining Keanu Reeves speaks volumes, and it wasn’t long after the novel version of "The Matrix" was published that producers were contacting about film rights, incessantly. Although most were small companies, and there were a few complete scammers, there were also a few medium-sized film companies — the major companies, after a little investigation, would know who the author was and naturally wouldn’t dream of getting the rights from Adrian — so it could be said that Hollywood had quite a few insightful people.

It was about time to bring this movie to the screen, ideally right after "Titanic." Thus, as one of the pioneers of the CGI era, "The Matrix" was destined to make an even more significant mark in film history. Although the movie was full of meaning and held a high status in cinematic history, Adrian wanted to produce it a few years earlier because the current version might not elicit the same reaction as the original.

To secure the rights early on and not to be accused of deriving inspiration from Japanese animation, among other factors such as improving his writing, Adrian had written the story as a novel and published it, completing the trilogy. So, as the movie became popular, the audience was bound to go back and buy the original novels.

Although Adrian modified part of the plot, some segments appropriate for the film were unsuitable for the novel. He even made different implications in the end of the movie. At the end, where people of Zion cheered, longing for the long-awaited peace and freedom, he added a twist: an unappealing man returned to his room, tinkered with some devices, and then displayed a sly smile.

This ending was inspired by a meme he saw in a past life. Before the third installment of "The Matrix" was released, countless people debated online about the possible conclusion. The most supported theory was that the people of Zion were on another independent server, still in virtual space under the control of the Matrix.

To differentiate it from the movie, Adrian used this idea. Of course, he employed ambiguity, leaving readers uncertain whether they were still in virtual space or if that person had been overtaken by an Agent Smith-like virus.

Even so, many aspects were still similar to the movie. Many movies adapted from novels are popular because they visualize classic or famous scenes and because they always add or cut content. Those popular adaptations were particularly adept at this, giving a different feel from reading the novel. Thus, for "The Matrix," once moviegoers watched the film and then bought the novel, the next two parts inevitably lost some of their mysterious allure, which was a tremendous setback for the films.

Although producing it early couldn’t completely improve this situation, Adrian had no other plans; after all, there were no better alternatives. More importantly, the original had been extensively expanded and even interpreted in ways that creator and his sister never fathomed. Who knows how people would interpret these two different endings now?

They had plenty of time, and they were eager to showcase themselves; let them argue, Adrian told himself. Who knows, it might turn into a good thing later on.

"It will be tough at first, but you’ll get used to it after you adapt," Adrian reassured Monica, who was quite tired after the training session. "This is good for you as it allows your body to train properly and maintain your figure. Of course, if you really can’t adapt, I’ll have them reduce your training initially and then gradually increase it; we have plenty of time."

"It’s okay, I can handle it," Monica declined his kindness. "I’m not joking, Ed, this training is nothing for me."

Seeing her determined expression, Adrian didn’t stop her, but simply smiled lightly: "Alright then, how about I give you a massage when we get back?"

"Really?" Monica looked disbelieving, her eyes conveying a ’what are you scheming now?’ message.

"Though I’m not as good as those professional therapists, I can still relieve some muscle fatigue," Adrian laughed, not elaborating further.

He always knew his limits; saying it was just a massage meant just that. Despite the pleasant touch, he refrained from any further actions, and in the end, he just held Monica as they slept through the night. If he didn’t have this level of self-control, how could he have achieved his current status?

Thinking about her role in "The Matrix" and comparing it to now evoked an unstoppable surge of fascination in Adrian’s heart. Monica was still the perfect fit for Trinity. She had been a model, always well-proportioned, and apt for playing a cold and glamorous character. The only issue was her age, slightly older than Reeves, but that wasn’t really a problem, a little makeup trick would do.

As for the pair of enviable breasts, they posed no issue in a world where physical rules could be easily altered—it could, in fact, enhance her allure.

To be honest, when Adrian decided to cast Monica as the lead actress, he initially thought about replacing the other three main characters as well. He considered Joaquin Phoenix for the male lead, but Reeves and River were good friends. Plus, Adrian was more familiar with Reeves, so he chose him. As expected, Reeves readily agreed.

As for the role of Morpheus, none of the top African American celebrities at the talent agency seemed fit. Samuel Jackson’s appearance was a bit too "villainous," and his husky voice didn’t suit Morpheus. Washington had a dignified look, almost too dignified, which lacked the reckless vibe required for Morpheus. He could work in a few years, but Adrian couldn’t wait that long. As for Will Smith, he was outright rejected for being too young to portray Morpheus’s persona.

So, after much consideration, Lawrence Fishburne was the final choice. Adrian admitted it was partly influenced by the original casting, but also because Reeves kept the lead role.

Though the two main characters remained the same, other roles were adjustable. While reviewing the first script and recalling from memory, Adrian thought of another interesting idea, details of which would come later.

Time flew by quickly, and soon summer ended. AC Media once again expanded successfully, not making the front page of financial news this time, as many economic experts were skeptical of their acquisition of Marvel Comics. Everyone knew that the comic company, which once contended with DC Comics, was in a tough spot with decreasing comic sales and unprofitable investments—if it didn’t adjust and reform, being sold was inevitable.

"But I don’t see it that way. Marvel still has a lot of potential," Adrian confidently spoke in the Marvel boardroom. "Although I’m not skilled in administrative management, I believe I have sufficient authority to speak on movie production and entertainment."

It was the first meeting since AC Media had acquired Marvel, attended by Adrian, Claude, Marvel’s executives, board members, and well-known authors who held some rights to various characters, such as Stan Lee.

"Of course, adjustments must be made foremost, as there is currently some redundancy, and many departments overlap with headquarters. But I promise to consider everyone’s thoughts and feelings throughout the integration process. With some time, Marvel will surely revive!" Adrian continued.

His main job was to energize those present, to make them believe that the future was bright despite the winding path. As Claude said, not utilizing Adrian’s eloquence, along with the word "miracle" from his nickname Miracle Director, would be a foolish oversight.

"That’s all up to you now, Miracle Director. If you don’t deliver on these promises, I’ll be the first to demand justice for my children," Stan Lee joked as the meeting concluded.

Lee was a humorous and spirited old man, known for his vibrant personality. Most of the superheroes who graced the screens in the 21st century were his creations. He had maintained an optimistic outlook through the challenging times at Marvel, and even after it was inevitably acquired by AC Media, he cheerfully suggested, "This might be a good thing"—though he still assertively pursued rights when necessary.

"No problem, within three years, Marvel will experience even more remarkable growth," Adrian promised without hesitation, adding, "As long as I’m here."

Lee responded with a shrug. Not every critic was pessimistic about AC Media’s acquisition of Marvel; some had written articles about the positive changes the Miracle Director might bring, given Adrian’s proven track record. But, logically, who can maintain their advantage forever? It wouldn’t be too surprising if something went awry. Lee’s reaction was relatively good; others might offer praise to his face while secretly scoffing and waiting for a downfall.

"You really have confidence, you’re certain that Marvel can make a comeback in three years?" After leaving the Marvel office, Claude joked.

"What do you think?" Adrian countered.

"It’s hard to say, although I’ve already learned a lot, going over their business situation still shocked me—it’s a complete mess," Claude shrugged.

"How does it compare to ABC?"

"That’s incomparable, ABC’s just poorly managed, but the entire management team is still competent; just a few outstanding programs could stabilize the decline and lead to recovery. Marvel, on the other hand, is a different story—the leadership has unclear goals and impractical expansions. Handling this mess will likely require cutting many departments and staff, you’ve really handed me a tough problem, Ed." Claude sighed.

"You could start by cutting those irrelevant departments and staff first. As for other areas, just observe and wait until profitability, then adjust. By then, they will have no excuses," Adrian said as he settled into the car.

"I’m not joking, Crow, if it weren’t for waiting on Titanic’s release to gather more specific responses, I would need only two years to alleviate Marvel’s predicament," Adrian said, pouring a glass of champagne from the RV’s mini fridge and handing it to Claude. "The era of ’Spider Man’ comics can spark a significant craze, and so could adaptations of the movies."

"You’ve already chosen the themes for adaptation?" Claude raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Pretty much, most of them come from Stan Lee’s hands—Spider Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four, and others. It’s not necessarily all made by our movie company, I have other plans."

"Alright, alright, that stuff is your specialty, and only you would spend 240 million—no, it’s 2.4 billion now—on investing in one movie, I really don’t know how you deal with Regret."

Watching Claude’s sighing demeanor, Adrian couldn’t help but chuckle, thinking that in this era, only he dared to invest so lavishly in a movie, quite proud of himself, though he was nagged by Regret a few times.

Regret had managed his finances impeccably over the years; besides owning AC Media, Adrian privately had many investments, all of which were managed by Regret. Although he was serious and rarely joked, he was always intensely loyal and had repeatedly warned Adrian not to give too much power to Claude.

This wasn’t about sowing discord. Consider Paul Allen, Bill Gates’ childhood friend who supported Gates in developing Microsoft from the start, still ended up having his shares diluted by Gates when he fell ill. There are no lifelong friends in business, especially as it grows larger.

But Adrian and Claude’s relationship was different. First, the Cowell family and the Ronris family had generations of connections, and Adrian and Claude’s relationship surpassed those of average partners. Secondly, Adrian had laid plans early on, predicting outcomes that were now materializing, which, along with his insightful vision and achievements in entertainment, gave him considerable influence. Thirdly, although Adrian wasn’t keen on administrative management and financial matters, he wasn’t ignorant; he meticulously reviewed monthly reports, was always concerned about company matters, and with Charlize having matured into an excellent secretary assistant over the years, he needn’t worry about oversights.

Most importantly, as his financial advisor, Regret also stayed abreast of these issues. Adrian had to admit, although few, every person left by his enigmatic father was impeccable in capability and loyalty.

"Just wait and see, Crow," Adrian said with profound meaning, "all the predictions I made years ago came true, and the present ones will, too."

Yes, they would come true eventually, but that still required continued effort. By the end of September, the post-production of Eyes Wide Shut had reached its midway point. Adrian wasn’t Kubrick; he didn’t need repeated editing to achieve perfection, so his editing pace was always quick. If not for wanting to further brighten his aura without overdoing it, he might have already planned a year-end release.

While the Cruise couple was involved in the voiceover work, Adrian once again met Nicole, but they always arrived and left together, needing minimal voiceover. However, opportunities were still there.

"I need to leave first, dear, finish up your work and head back on your own. I’ll have David take me there and then return to pick you up. If he doesn’t show up after you’re done, just wait a bit longer," Cruise said to Nicole after taking a phone call.

"Can’t you wait for me?" Nicole wanted to keep him.

"I’ve been waiting for you these past few days, but you still have at least ten minutes of scenes left, and there’s an urgent matter on the other end. It’s just one day," Cruise said, his tone clearly impatient.

Nicole watched her husband move his lips, yet said nothing, simply watching as he walked away. Then, just after Cruise had left, Adrian almost forcibly pulled Nicole into the lounge room.

"Please... Ed... don’t...," Nicole pleaded, her eyes closed, her head twisting to dodge Adrian’s light kisses, though it almost seemed like she was trying to meet them head-on.

"Why? Didn’t you enjoy it during that shooting time?" Adrian spoke teasingly.

"That was then... it’s different now...," Nicole breathed lightly, her resistance weakening.

"I don’t see any difference," Adrian laughed, then whispered into her ear, "I’ve been watching the Chamber of Secrets scenes every day while editing."

Nicole suddenly tensed, her half-open eyes flashed with panic, and her breathing became erratic.

"Don’t worry, no one else has seen it," Adrian knew what she was thinking, immediately chuckling.

With her face flushed with both anger and hurry, Nicole couldn’t act before Adrian continued in her ear, "You know, although the lighting wasn’t very bright and the colors quite plain, the effects were relatively poor, but at that time, you were incredibly captivating, showing all of you, inside and out!"

Nicole’s body went limp, and Adrian immediately took possession of her. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote and support at Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation.)