After his trip to South Korea, Simon returned to North America on March 2.
The first thing to pay attention to is the Valentine's Day schedule that has passed in North America.
Daenerys Entertainment's first major feature of 1999, the American version of "Love Call Transfer" starring Tom Hanks, was released on February 12, the eve of Valentine's Day, and was finally released from February 12 to February 18. It grossed US$41.95 million at the box office in its first week.
A good start.
Subsequently, in the week after its release from February 19th to February 25th, the decline of "Love Call Transfer" was well controlled at 36%, and it collected another US$26.83 million, with a total of US$68.78 million.
Simon returned to North America on Tuesday. The three-day box office of the film's third weekend has also been released. It continued to earn 12.89 million U.S. dollars, and the cumulative box office exceeded the 80 million mark, reaching 81.67 million U.S. dollars.
Obviously, it is only a matter of time before the American version of "Love Call Transfer" exceeds 100 million at the domestic box office. Moreover, based on the current box office curve forecast, the film's North American box office is expected to rise to between US$120 million and US$130 million.
Speaking of overseas, although some core vote-rich countries have not been able to synchronize Valentine's Day, they have basically started.
By the time Simon returns to North America, the cumulative overseas box office of the US version of "Love Call Transfer" has exceeded US$70 million. Based on various data, the total overseas box office of the film is expected to be between US$150 million and US$200 million.
The global box office is expected to reach $300 million.
The production cost of the film is 40 million US dollars, and the publicity and distribution expenditure is 20 million US dollars. The global calculation is based on 300 million US dollars. In the theater stage alone, the film can achieve a profit of about 70 million US dollars. It is obviously another great success.
The most intuitive experience is first of all from China.
The original version of "Love Call Transfer" was made in China. After all, most people don't know the inside story of this project. Therefore, an adaptation of one of their own projects can achieve a box office of over 100 million in Hollywood, and I feel proud.
First of all, the project has passed the review in mainland China with a green light and is scheduled to be released at the end of March. This is absolutely amazing in the field of imported films.
Secondly, the Lunar New Year film "Party A and Party B" is still being released in China. Because it is the original cast of last year's "Love", after it gained fame overseas, everyone could not see last year's "Love" in theaters, so they pinned their emotions on "Party A and Party B".
As the news of the US version of "Aihu" being a hit spread in China, the box office curve of "Party A and Party B" unexpectedly rose again. The domestic box office was originally expected to be 150 million, but it increased by about 30 million in one fell swoop. It is expected to reach 180 million yuan.
For this reason, Jinshu also planned to re-introduce its original version to theaters for a re-screening when the US version of "Aihu" is released in China at the end of March.
No matter how much or how little you earn, you will definitely make money.
In North America, the industry will inevitably have various interpretations of the success of this movie, and they will follow the trend.
However, some people, especially those in the Hollywood industry, actually see more.
In the unpopular February schedule, even with the blessing of Valentine's Day, in previous years, those that could break through the 100 million yuan box office club threshold were basically considered dark horses of the year.
Now, is the American version of "Aihu" considered a dark horse
Doesn’t count.
The main characteristic of dark horse movies is that they become unexpected hits when no one expects them.
As for the American version of "Aihu", a total investment of US$60 million was invested in production and promotion, which can be said to be a blockbuster. The production company is willing to invest so much money in a project, and it obviously has considerable expectations for the business prospects, so this is Not an unexpected success.
However, the American version of "Aihu" is undoubtedly a very successful project, especially since it was not popular in February.
So the question is, why is it so successful
Because today's Hollywood is no longer the Hollywood where every industry began to compete side by side for beauty.
The newly born Daenerys Entertainment has occupied more and more resources, segmented an increasingly larger market, and has become more and more powerful. It has squeezed out the living space of other peers. In the end, it is completely Changed everything.
Let’s talk about the past. According to people’s traditional belief, it is difficult to release a movie with a box office of 100 million yuan in February.
Because during this period, compared with the year-end or summer season, the number of moviegoers first dropped significantly, which naturally reduced the market size. Secondly, even if the ticket warehouse is that big, in the past everyone still had to compete with each other to cut the already small cake into smaller pieces. Therefore, it is difficult to produce a blockbuster with a box office of 100 million yuan.
Now, Daenerys Entertainment is breaking the rules.
With its own strong publicity network, Daenerys first stimulated more people to enter the theater during this time period, expanding the market size.
Secondly, as Daenerys becomes more and more powerful, other Hollywood studios have been continuously reducing their production output and investment volume in recent years, resulting in a significant reduction in projects competing with films produced by Daenerys during the same period.
The pie is getting bigger, the competition is decreasing, and coupled with the excellent quality of the American version of "Aihu", it is not surprising that it easily broke the box office limit of the traditional February unpopular period.
Speaking of which, this is also a trend in Hollywood in the original time and space.
Historically, when other popular schedules could not meet the schedule of its own films, the powerful Dibao began to open up February schedules.
A more typical example is "Black Panther", which was released in February. To some extent, it also shows that De Bao is more or less unconfident in this Marvel movie with a pure black hero. As a result, this movie was actually unpopular at the beginning of the year. It sold US$700 million in the local market alone.
The underlying reason for this market performance that completely broke the schedule restrictions is the same as that of the American version of "Aihu" at this time. One is that Dibao was too strong at the time, and the other is that other competitors are getting weaker and weaker.
At that time, the major studios, except for Disney, Warner and Universal, were nothing more than empty shelves.
In the current Hollywood of this time and space, Daenerys began to exert her full and unreserved efforts last year. Next, in addition to the 'competitors' reserved by Simon's plan, other studios will inevitably soon become empty shelves.
Simon returned to Hollywood, and a merger that had been quietly promoted took shape.
About MGM and Fox.
There was also the little move of Murdoch Sr. trying to acquire Lucasfilm first. Simon actually heard the news soon, but had no intention of getting involved. Anyway, it ended up in his own pocket.
Because Simon didn't intervene, Murdoch finally negotiated the deal for a total of $1.7 billion in cash and stock. 1.7 billion US dollars to acquire Lucasfilm, including Industrial Light & Magic, which has developed quite well in the CG field after Daenerys' special effects in recent years, as well as popular series such as "Star Wars" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" copyright.
You know, the reason why Disney spent a huge sum of US$70 billion to acquire Fox was not only because it wanted to take back the copyright of the X-Men series, but also because it wanted to completely complete the Star Wars series.
The global distribution rights for the first six Star Wars films, including many peripheral rights, had always been in the hands of Fox before Disney acquired them.
Now, Fox has taken over Lucasfilm. Although Simon thinks that US$1.7 billion is a bit high. After all, more than ten years later, the price was only US$4 billion, but it is acceptable. After all, in order to continue to ensure the right to speak, Lucas Requested as much as $1.2 billion for a 70% share of the stock.
In short, next, MGM will merge with Fox, and Simon will basically have complete control of the super IP of Star Wars.
Also worth mentioning are Industrial Light and Magic and "Raiders of the Lost Ark."
Even though Simon's deliberate suppression over the years has made Industrial Light and Magic's technical level far inferior to what it once was, it is still a fish that has slipped through the net outside the Westeros system. Now that we have it in our hands, Simon's control over Hollywood special effects movies will continue to grow. A step.
Again, there is a difference between being able to do CG and being able to do special effects, just like someone who knows kung fu may not be a martial arts instructor.
Then there’s Raiders of the Lost Ark.
This is also a gold mine series, but it’s a pity that the distribution rights are in the hands of Paramount, and it is also inseparable from Mr. Lao Si. However, as soon as the project is launched, Paramount is already encouraging Lao Si to film "Raiders of the Lost Ark 4". In short, by then, there will definitely be no less interests that belong to this side.
After taking over Lucasfilm, it became a matter of who merged with whom.
Murdoch took over the parent company of the Star Wars series in advance in order to gain more initiative in this regard.
Simon didn't force this.
After all, News Corporation was also a cooperation partner that Simon valued very much. Therefore, after returning to North America, the two had breakfast together and the matter was finalized.
MGM merges with Fox.
However, as a concession, the new Fox film team after the integration will be CEO of Shirley Lansing, who was promoted by Simon.
Let’s talk about the specific scale of the merger.
Thanks to the benefits of the Westeros system and a series of blockbuster projects in recent years, MGM's market value has always been on the high side, with the market value recently reaching US$4.3 billion. On Fox's side, the current market value of News Corporation, the parent company of 20th Century Fox, is US$16.5 billion.
Apparently the big fish eats the small fish.
However, according to the agreement reached between Simon and Murdoch, News Corporation will be split into two independent parts, 20th Century Fox and News Corporation, which will be listed separately.
Even if the print media industry is currently in decline, including News Corporation's print media and television assets in Australia, Europe and Asia, after the divestiture, the new News Corporation, which mainly focuses on print media and business outside the United States, will probably take away about US$7 billion. According to the market value, the remaining 20th Century Fox company, including Fox Television Network, Fox Cable Network, Fox Pictures and other assets, is discounted to approximately US$9.5 billion.
Neither party asked for a premium or discount, and the deal closed at the current share price.
Also consider Lucasfilm.
Therefore, after the merger, the new Twentieth Century Fox company will have 63% of the original shares held by Fox, 8% by George Lucas, and 29% by the original MGM.
Just looking at this shareholding ratio, it seems that Simon lacks a voice, but in fact, of the 63% of the original Fox shares, only 17% belongs to the Murdoch family. Although it is broken down, it is also the largest shareholder. , but it is still far from absolute control.
To put it bluntly, the new company has basically become a publicly held company.
However, the reality is that small shareholders must step aside.
As for major shareholders, they also need to rely on the board of directors to exercise control over the company.
This is also an area of tension between Simon and Murdoch Sr.
Of course an agreement was reached.
The nine-member board of directors planned to be established has eight members, except for one requested by George Lucas in order to protect his own rights and interests.
After all, if we really want to fight for control of the new company through a public shareholders' meeting, and Simon and Murdoch stand on the stage together, there is no suspense about who the shareholders will choose.
In addition, compared to Redstone, who could turn against a group of his children in order to cling to company power, Murdoch is not so extreme in terms of company control. Moreover, Murdoch also knows that he actually does not have many choices.
What if you reject the deal
Can.
At that time, we will be able to continue to firmly control the company.
However, the current trend of Hollywood basically means that this company will decline.
At breakfast that day, Simon directly clarified Murdoch's speculation.
Therefore, this is an opportunity that Simon gives to the Murdoch family, rather than Simon begging the Murdoch family to agree to this deal.
Next in Hollywood, Simon only plans to keep two competitors that can ostensibly compete with Daenerys.
One of the spots has already been given to Warner.
The other one, which has actually been determined, is to expand based on the MGM team.
If Fox doesn't get in the car this time, it will be even more difficult for him to get in the car in the future. Even Simon's original idea had no chance for Fox.
Simon wants Disney, which is currently in the hands of France's Vivendi.
Even if Simon, the big butterfly, takes away too much luck, Disney, with its theme park business and large accumulation of animation IP, is still a hot potato that can be revived with a little tidying up. Therefore, even if the merger is successfully completed, Simon has no intention of giving up on Disney.
As for the others, including Fox, it all depends on fate.
Simon's initial thoughts were based on the fact that the "Star Wars Prequels" series was about to be launched, and that a deeper alliance with the Murdoch family would further consolidate the voice of the Westeros system in global public opinion.
However, if you don't want to, then let it go.
The result is that, just talking about the volume of the transaction, it seems that 20th Century Fox accounts for the majority, but in terms of control, just like when Fox was sold to Disney, it is obviously impossible to gain too much control, and it is the same this time. It is a good result to be able to split in half, and at the same time, Murdoch will continue to serve as the chairman of the new company.
The basic transaction framework was reached, and the two parties officially announced the news on March 5.
Once again there was an uproar.
Obviously, Fox, MGM, and Lucasfilm were originally only three companies that were at the bottom of the seven or in the second tier. Together, they suddenly showed the image of a giant. In today's Hollywood, in addition to the superior Daenerys Entertainment and Time Warner, which is backed by GE, the brand-new 20th Century Fox will firmly pursue the third position as long as it completes the merger.