Huayu: Hard fight against Zhang Weiping at the beginning

Chapter 662 The Great Villain of the Special Agent Universe
Gulina turned on her computer and began searching for Universal Pictures' famous IPs. Since Universal Pictures doesn't have a particularly large number of well-known IPs, and many of them are already familiar to everyone, this task was relatively easy for her.

In less than an hour, Gulina had compiled a detailed list, which included information such as IP name, first release date, major works, and brief introduction.

Holding the compiled list, she gently knocked on the chairman's office door.

"Come in," Zhang Chen's voice came from inside.

Gulina pushed open the door and went in, handing the list to Zhang Chen: "Chairman Zhang, this is the list of Universal Pictures' IPs that you requested."

"From now on, call me Director Zhang~"

"Okay, Director Zhang~"

Zhang Chen took the list and looked at it carefully. Sure enough, it listed some of Universal Pictures' most representative IPs, such as the Jurassic Park series, the Fast and Furious series, the Bourne series, and the Despicable Me series.

He nodded and said, "Hmm, well done."

Gulina stood aside, watching Zhang Chen's serious expression, not daring to disturb him.

Zhang Chen leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, his mind racing as he considered how to snatch these IPs from Universal Pictures.

Despicable Me is an animated series, and although it is very popular, Star Entertainment does not currently have much involvement in the animation field, so we can leave it for now.

Jurassic Park was released many years ago, but Zhang Chen remembers that the series would be rebooted as Jurassic World a few years later, and the box office performance was quite good.

"Perhaps we can use the concept of the 'other world' to steal the thunder from 'Jurassic World'," Zhang Chen thought to himself.

The other world is truly a versatile concept; it can be associated with any genre.

For example, another spacetime wormhole could be discovered somewhere, with the other end of the wormhole leading to a dinosaur world. This would allow the core elements of Jurassic World to be directly integrated into the alternate world, while also creating its own unique features.

Zhang Chen even considered making a film called "The Great Wall of the Otherworld," which was a radical adaptation of Zhang Yimou's "The Great Wall." The film depicts humans discovering that spacetime wormholes open periodically, releasing monsters each time they open. So, they simply built a Great Wall near the wormholes specifically to snipe the monsters.

In short, there can be multiple alternate worlds, and there can be multiple versions of Warcraft.

The Bourne series is a famous franchise. The first three films were considered masterpieces, and Matt Damon successfully transitioned into an action actor through this series, giving his career a second spring.

Unfortunately, in the fourth installment, the screenwriter and director had a falling out, and Universal ultimately chose screenwriter Tony Gilroy to take full charge of the project. The original director withdrew, and Matt Damon, the lead actor, sided with the director and also withdrew.

Then the fourth film saw a box office crash, and audiences didn't buy it; the character of Jason Bourne was simply too deeply ingrained in their minds.

Then for the fifth film, Universal brought back Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon, thinking that this would allow them to rebuild their glory.

However, the success of "The Bourne Identity" is actually the result of the reactions of the screenwriter, director and lead actor. The absence of any one of them would have made it impossible.

Knowing that the fourth installment of the Bourne series was bound to flop, Zhang Chen saw no need to target it further.

The remaining one is Fast & Furious, which is also Universal's most profitable series in the future.

That bald guy offended Zhang Chen, so he's definitely going to try and squeeze money out of the Fast & Furious franchise.

Zhang Chen clearly remembers that "Fast & Furious 5: Rio" will be released next year. This movie is known as the best in the entire series, and it is also a pivotal film in the series.

This film was the first to deeply integrate the elements of "racing" with "robbery," laying an important foundation for the "Fast & Furious" series' transformation from "street racing movies" to "global adventure action movies," and subsequent works have all developed on this basis.

Zhang Chen can't stop its transformation, but as for the iconic scenes, sorry, Zhang Chen will definitely reserve his spot in advance.

You do the first day of the lunar month, I'll do the fifteenth; let's follow the path of "Fast & Furious" and leave "Fast & Furious" with nowhere to go.

He began to think about how to combine iconic scenes from Fast & Furious 5 with the upcoming Mission: Impossible 4. For example, he could incorporate the Rio heist into the plot of Mission: Impossible 4, having Ethan Hunt dragging a giant safe full of money through Rio, which would definitely be a highlight.

Zhang Chen became more and more excited as he thought about it, and began to scribble and revise the script.

Once you're focused, you lose track of time, and before you know it, it's 9 p.m.

Gulina glanced at Zhang Chen in the office, who was still writing and drawing, looking completely absorbed.

Gulina didn't expect to have to work overtime on her first day of work. She wanted to leave, but she couldn't.

Zhong Lifang had specifically instructed that her work schedule must be completely in accordance with Zhang Chen's; she absolutely could not leave work until Zhang Chen did.

"Phew, finally finished!"

Zhang Chen looked at his masterpiece and let out a long sigh of relief.

He read through the revised script and found it very engaging, clearly much better than the previous version.

But it's no use if only he thinks it's good; everyone has to agree on the script before it can be modified. Don't forget, this is a Paramount project.

In Hollywood, scripts are rarely changed once they are finalized, unless all producers agree.

Zhang Chen is doing just that.

He glanced at his watch; it was 21 PM, which was 6 AM in Los Angeles. Zhang Chen didn't care anymore and dialed Tom Cruise's number.

"Zhang~"

The phone rang for a while before being answered, and Tom Cruise's voice on the other end sounded noticeably tired.

"Sorry to bother you so early, Tom Cruise, but I just came up with a brilliant idea..."

"A brilliant idea? What is it?"

Zhang Chen could almost picture the other person yawning and talking on the phone just from their tone, as if they were about to drift off to sleep again.

"I plan to introduce a powerful villainous organization to deepen the connections between our spy universes."

"A villainous organization?" Tom Cruise seemed to have sobered up a bit.

"What kind of villainous organization is it specifically?"

“This organization is called the Syndicate,” Zhang Chen said, emphasizing each word.

Tom Cruise raised an eyebrow slightly on the other end of the phone: "The Syndicate?"

That's right, Zhang Chen is planning to introduce the Syndicate, the villains that will only appear in "Mission: Impossible 5".

Syndicates typically refer to alliances formed by companies in the same industry to monopolize the market and obtain high profits; they can also refer more broadly to similar alliances or groups. This name, as a villain's name, sounds very formidable.

Of course, Zhang Chen had to make some changes, such as turning Solomon Lane into the character played by Angelina Jolie—Solomon Jolie.

Julie helped a lot with Harvey's matter, and Zhang Chen should show his appreciation. However, his future film leading lady is definitely meant to promote Chinese actresses, and he's a little reluctant to give her away to Julie for nothing.

The main villain is a great choice, especially since this main villain is the main villain in the entire spy universe.

"What exactly is a Syndicate?"

"You can think of it as MI6's 'Operation Stumbling Block,' founded by Solomon Julie..."

"Solomon Jolie? Could the actress playing her be Angelina Jolie?"

"You guessed right, I'm planning to merge the female assassin with Solomon Julie..."

Zhang Chen organized his thoughts, "Solomon Julie is like Jason Bourne, except that she didn't choose to go into hiding after she broke free from control."

He took a sip of water and continued, "She expanded the syndicate, absorbing many spies or retired agents from other countries, and its power grew."

"Then what is their goal? To destroy the world?"

Tom Cruise asked as usual, his voice on the phone completely free of sleepiness.

Of course not~
What I hate most is when movie villains want to destroy the world all the time, destroying the world for no reason at all. They're like crazy people, just bored out of their minds!

Tom Cruise was amused by his blunt criticism, and his laughter came through the phone: "So what is their goal?"

"It's simple, deliberately create unrest to make money for yourself..."

Zhang Chen's eyes were sharp. "They move between various countries' forces, using information gaps and espionage skills to make huge profits. Such villains are more realistic and more threatening."

Tom Cruise's thoughtful voice came through the phone: "This concept is really interesting, much better than those villains who just shout slogans."

He then changed the subject and asked, "So, how exactly does the Syndicate collaborate with other works, as you mentioned, to deepen the connections within the spy universe?"

“That’s simple,” Zhang Chen said with a confident smile. “The Syndicate will also be the villains in Taken 3.”

"Taken 3?" Tom Cruise's voice was full of surprise. "You mean, you want Brian and Ethan Hunt to face the same enemy?"

“That’s right,” Zhang Chen snapped his fingers. “Brian and Old Chen are both retired special agents. Solomon Julie saw their abilities and hopes they can join the Syndicate.”

He paused, then added, "To get them to join, Julie will definitely use some tactics, like threatening their families, and that will create conflict, won't it?"

"Since we all share a common enemy, the crossover between Mission: Impossible and Taken would make perfect sense."

Zhang Chen concluded, "Audiences will also be more receptive to this kind of cross-work interaction."

After listening, Tom Cruise's satisfied laughter came through the phone: "This idea is great. It enriches the plot and lays the foundation for the spy universe. I like it very much."

His voice was urgent: "Is there a complete script now? I want to see the specific plot arrangements as soon as possible."

"Yes~"

Zhang Chen smiled and nodded. "I'll have my assistant send you the electronic version later."

"That's great," Tom Cruise's voice came through with a sigh of relief. "By the way, besides the villains and crossover events, are there any other important changes?"

“Of course,” Zhang Chen flipped through the files on his tablet. “The new version of Mission: Impossible 4 has completely removed the Indian part and replaced it with Rio de Janeiro.”

"Rio? Why choose that place?" Tom Cruise asked curiously. "Rio has its own unique features, but the Indian part in the previous script already had a lot of exciting elements."

“Because the syndicate’s operating funds were hidden in the Rio police station’s vault,” Zhang Chen explained, “I was going to change it to the fact that the IMF team discovered the syndicate’s existence and followed the clues to Rio.”

He vividly described the scene: "Then came their series of operations to rob the vault. The streets, favelas, and beaches of Rio would be very visually striking if filmed."

Tom Cruise imagined the scene, his voice filled with excitement: "Robbing a police station vault? That's thrilling enough, the audience will definitely love it."

“Moreover, the atmosphere in Rio is also very suitable for showcasing the mystery and danger of the syndicate,” Zhang Chen added. “The place is a melting pot of different people and the forces of various countries are intertwined, which provides fertile ground for the activities of the syndicate.”

Tom Cruise's approving voice came through: "You've thought this through very well. This change is indeed more interesting than the original Indian part, and it fits the syndicate setting better."

“I also plan to add some details of teamwork to the vault robbery plot,” Zhang Chen continued, “to give each member of the IMF team room to play their part and showcase their individual strengths.”

“For example, Benji is responsible for cracking the security system, Jane is responsible for infiltration and reconnaissance, and Ethan is responsible for planning and executing key steps,” he said. “This makes the whole team more cohesive.”

Tom Cruise laughed and said, "You've really taken teamwork to the extreme. But it's true, the Mission: Impossible series can't rely on Ethan alone; the team's role is also very important."

“That’s right,” Zhang Chen agreed. “Moreover, through this vault robbery, Ethan and the Syndicate will be able to officially clash, laying the groundwork for future plot developments.”

He asked, "Tom, do you have any comments on these changes? If there's anything that's not right, we can adjust it further."

Tom Cruise thought about it seriously for a moment on the phone and said, "I think these changes are all very good. Whether it's the villain setting, the universe connection, or the plot adjustment, they are all more attractive than the original script."

His voice was full of anticipation: "I can't wait to see the complete script. I believe that Mission: Impossible 4 will definitely become a classic in the series."

Zhang Chen responded with a smile: "With your support, I have even more confidence. We will definitely make this movie well."

The atmosphere of their smiles as they looked at each other on the phone seemed to emanate through the receiver, the air thick with anticipation for the film.

Before hanging up, Zhang Chen added, "I'll have my assistant send you the electronic version of the script."

“Okay,” Tom Cruise replied quickly. “I’ll go back and study it carefully. We’ll discuss it in detail over the phone tomorrow.”

“No problem,” Zhang Chen nodded. “Then that’s all for now, I won’t bother you any longer.”

"Okay, goodbye Zhang." Tom Cruise said and hung up the phone.

Zhang Chen put down his phone, a relieved smile on his face. He knew that the new concept for Mission: Impossible 4 had successfully taken its first step.

Gulina stood to the side, looking at Zhang Chen, and asked softly, "Chairman Zhang, is Mr. Tom satisfied with the script changes?"

“Yes, very satisfied,” Zhang Chen turned around and said with a smile, “Next, we will work with the screenwriting team to refine the details of the script based on this concept.”

(End of this chapter)