Like "Steel Magnolias" and "Driving Miss Daisy" produced by Daenerys Entertainment in the past two years, "A Few Good Man" is also adapted from the popular Broadway stage play about a fledgling The story of a Navy lawyer who investigated a military murder case under great pressure.
The original version of "A Few Good Men" was also translated as "The Greatest Heroes", starring Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore. It was also a blockbuster movie that year with a box office of over 100 million. However, just by looking at the roles of the three protagonists, we know that the production cost of the film will not be too low, which is why Simon is willing to take the project forward and cooperate with MGM.
Shirley Lansing took the coffee brought by the female assistant, thanked her, and said to Simon: "It's a very good story. It has a similar theme to Harrison Ford's "Presumed Innocent" this summer. It should be... To be recognized by an Oscar.”
Harrison Ford's "Presumed Innocent," released in the summer, is also a courtroom crime film.
The film had a mediocre start, but in the three months since its release on June 8, the film has unknowingly accumulated more than 70 million U.S. dollars in box office. The total domestic box office is expected to reach 80 million U.S. dollars, far exceeding the initial estimates of the industry media. expected.
Simon even felt that "A Few Good Men" in the original time and space was probably a movie that followed the trend of "Presumed Innocent".
"In this case, let's start preparations as soon as possible. In addition, I have given the heroine to Demi Moore. She is very suitable for this role. It just so happens that she also has a contract with Daenerys. The male protagonist Daniel Caffey , you can get in touch with Tom Hanks.”
Shirley Lansing hesitated and said: "Simon, I think Hanks is more suitable for comedy, and he's not young enough."
"You can take the time to watch the sample film of "Pink". Hanks's acting options are much wider than you think. Moreover, Hanks is 34 years old, which is very young in Hollywood. If it doesn't work, just modify the script." The original script of "Rain Man" was about two middle-aged men. The producers wanted Hoffman and Nicholson to play together, but later changed it to a pair of brothers with a big age difference for Cruise. "A Few Good Men" also Likewise, the male protagonist may not necessarily be a newcomer, he may be a middle-aged man who is marginalized or has made some mistakes. In short, it must give the audience a sense of counterattack and contrast."
Shirley Lansing nodded, but said: "Actually, Simon, I showed the script to Cruise. Tom was very interested in the role of Caffey, and his price was not high, $6 million. This is US$3 million less than the salary he received in "Thunderbolt", which is very sincere."
If you want to ensure the success of "A Few Good Men", it is undoubtedly the safest way to use the original cast.
Simon never thought about it from the beginning.
Over the years, Hollywood studios have lost too much of the initiative in front of their stars.
Simon now wants to take back all the power that should belong to the studio. He will not allow Daenerys Entertainment to become passive in front of any star, let alone Paramount in the original time and space, for the sake of "Disc" Impossible" had a vigorous quarrel with its leading actor over the revenue share. After the quarrel, he had to start cooperating with the other party again in despair.
Although Cruise’s offer of US$6 million this time was obviously a show of goodwill to Daenerys Entertainment and wanted to resolve some previous disputes, Simon had no intention of letting go and insisted: "Shirley, I know you and Ke The relationship with Russ is good, but this matter is non-negotiable and Daenerys Entertainment will not cooperate with Cruise."
Shirley Lansing knew that she was not qualified to bargain with the young man in front of her, so she could only express regret to Cruise and said: "Then, I will contact Hanks as soon as possible."
After talking about this matter, Simon changed the subject: "The next script can be discussed after the completion of "A Few Good Men". Also, how are you and Brosnan talking about 007, and the copyright of Specter?"
Shirley Lansing shook her head and said: "Brosnan refused. Moreover, the Broccoli family means that Timothy Dalton can star in a sequel. The copyright of Specter will probably be negotiated recently, 300 Ten thousand dollars, this price can’t be lowered.”
The copyright of 007 has always been jointly held by MGM's United Artists and the British Broccoli family. Moreover, in the past 007 series, the filming rights have always been in the hands of the Broccoli family.
Pierce Brosnan is 37 years old this year, older than Hanks. After being in the industry for so many years and finally becoming famous with "Pretty Woman", I really won't easily lock myself into the character image of 007.
Simon did not force it, but said: "Even if Brosnan is not willing to star, the leading actor still has to be replaced. Several of Dalton's 007 films were not successful. The most recent one, "License to Kill," should be the best box office performer in the 007 series. It’s a bad one, and continuing it will only be a waste of time.”
At that meeting in Brisbane, Qintex's shareholders and creditors proposed that Simon join MGM's board of directors or serve as a consultant to the company, but Simon rejected them.
To put it this way, Simon was involved in the operation of MGM without any legitimate name.
However, after personally experiencing the meeting that day, Shirley Lansing knew that it would be easy for the young people in front of her to replace herself as the CEO of MGM. Therefore, even if she felt a little resistance in her heart, she did not dare to ignore it. Simon's suggestion: "I will discuss this matter with the Broccoli family when I get back."
After ending his meeting with Shirley Lansing, Simon saw her off and returned to the administrative area to continue her afternoon work.
Until about six o'clock in the evening, Simon was looking through another copy of the copyright information for the novel "A Time to Kill" that he had recently obtained. The phone on his desk rang, and the female assistant prompted MCA Chairman Lou Vassalman to call in person. Simon A little surprised, but still picked up the phone.
After chatting for a while, Simon hung up the phone, summoned the female assistant to come in, and said: "Vasalman invited me to attend a cocktail party tonight. Let's go together later. After that, we fly to San Francisco and spend the night together. How about it?" "
Jennifer nodded: "Okay, but I won't accompany you to San Francisco after the cocktail party. I have to work tomorrow."
Simon's trip to San Francisco is on business and he will probably stay there for two days.
Hearing what Jennifer said, Simon pretended to be dissatisfied and said: "Then don't go to the cocktail party. You can go home and rest."
The female assistant's eyes were bright and she insisted: "I must go."
Simon grimaced and said, "You looking so tight will make me have a rebellious mentality. Besides, this seems to be Jenny's responsibility."
The female assistant nodded firmly and said with a smile: "Yes, it is indeed Jenny's responsibility."
All right.
This is also a Jenny.
Seeing that the female assistant walked out on her high heels after finishing speaking, Simon just smiled and started looking through the information in front of him again, and he couldn't help but think about the purpose of Lou Vassalman's invitation.
According to some news in the circle, Panasonic's acquisition team has begun formal contact with MCA management these days. On Simon's side, Daenerys Entertainment, Cersei Capital and Raybould Law Firm have also formed an acquisition team of about 60 people.
As things have developed now, it is unlikely that it will be kept secret any longer.
Presumably, Lou Vassalman must have received the news and planned to recruit Simon to join the team in advance in order to increase the bidding price of MCA.
In my memory, Panasonic's acquisition of MCA was very unsatisfactory. In order to prevent MCA's stock price from skyrocketing to a level that he could not accept, Simon had no plans to take action in advance. Instead, he planned to wait until Panasonic and MCA negotiations reached a stalemate before considering the right time to propose the acquisition. Offer.
Even if the acquisition negotiations between Panasonic and MCA are no longer as bumpy as in the original time and space, but smooth sailing, Daenerys Entertainment can still intervene before MCA's shareholders vote on the acquisition.
However, I still have to find an excuse to deal with Vassalman tonight.
Simon quickly remembered another thing he was considering recently, which was also a plan he would launch after flying to San Francisco tomorrow. An acquisition also involving billions of dollars may serve as a temporary shield.
In short, MCA cannot be allowed to use itself as a bargaining chip to raise its stock price and intensify competition.
Having made up his mind, Simon turned his attention back to the "A Time to Kill" material in front of him.
"A Time to Kill" is a crime thriller published last year that deals with racial discrimination and justice, similar to the famous "To Kill a Mockingbird."
The original "A Time to Kill" movie was released in 1996, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Matthew McConaughey and Sandra Bullock. It also achieved very good box office results and Oscar recognition.
Not only that, John Grimson, the author of the novel "A Time to Kill", has two other works, "Gannet" and "Sugar-Coated Trap", both of which were blockbuster films in the 1990s. However, the original novels of the latter two films have not yet been published. When Daenerys Entertainment purchased "A Time to Kill," it also signed the priority rights to John Grimson's other two novels.
However, Simon has no intention of investing in these projects in the short term.
Next year alone, the blockbuster projects related to Daenerys Entertainment, including its own productions and external cooperation, will already include "Toy Story", "Silence of the Lambs", "Scream 3", "A Few Good Men", " Batman: The Dark Knight, The Terminator and The Fugitive are seven blockbusters that are expected to gross over 100 million at the box office.
Although the annual box office in the United States exceeded US$5 billion earlier than in the original time and space, this box office is ultimately limited. However, in Simon's view, these films may form internal competition, not to mention that there will be "Lightning" next year. "Man", "007: GoldenEye", "Captain Hawke" and other key studio projects.
In order to avoid too fierce competition, Simon has recently decided to move "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2" to 1992. Some major projects that were originally planned to be launched early have also been temporarily shelved, and he is already considering extending the first phase of the DC movie universe. Make a beat.
The 1990s in the original time and space were a period of great films, and Simon did not want this market to be occupied prematurely by various action blockbusters and superhero movies. Only when a hundred flowers bloom can we maintain prosperity for a longer period of time. Being too focused on blockbuster commercial movies is actually very detrimental to the long-term development of Hollywood.