Hollywood starts with an agent

Chapter 217 Who Can Reject You

"1600?"

Aaron was also stunned when he heard the price Saul Zaentz offered for the adaptation rights of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings".

He looked at his deputy, Dawn Steele, and asked, "Saul Zaentz won't lower the price?"

Dawn Steele shook his head. "The attitude seems very firm."

Aaron thought about it and said, "Promise him. 'The Hobbit' counts as one novel, and 'The Lord of the Rings' has three parts, which adds up to four novels. $1600 million is not unacceptable!"

The Hobbit has 22 words, and the Lord of the Rings series has over a million words. If it weren't for the grand scale of the worldview depicted in the novel, no one would have thought it could be adapted into a movie.

Given the popularity of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings novels, the prices would surely be sky-high.

“Aaron, do you really have confidence?”

Dawn Steele was still a little worried because Tolkien's novels were too difficult to adapt.

Saul Zaentz is 72 years old this year and is a veteran Hollywood film producer. In the s, the film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" which he co-produced with Michael Douglas was a huge success and won five Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Actress!
It can be seen that Saul Zaentz is definitely not an incompetent person. He has owned the "Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings" series of novels for nearly 20 years and has developed an animated version;

Doesn’t this just illustrate how difficult it is to adapt Tolkien’s novels?

"Don't worry, you've seen Spielberg's Jurassic Park. The popularity of special effects blockbusters is beyond our imagination!"

"The Lord of the Rings" must have a bright future, and Aaron will definitely not give up.

Dawn Steele nodded. "Okay, then I'll contact Saul Zaentz immediately to acquire the rights to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings!"

Since Aaron has made the decision, Dawn Steele will not object.

"By the way, over there, Disney spent $6000 million to acquire Miramax, including all liabilities;"

"Miramax is still managed by the Weinstein brothers and maintains its independence, but can only decide on projects under $1200 million!"

"Oh, really? It's not slow," Aaron just smiled and didn't take it to heart. Hollywood has its own dawn, and the other independent film companies will not have any good opportunities.

Disney's live-action films are a mess right now, and while the animated features directed by Jeffrey Katzenberg are certainly strong;
But the market for live-action movies is bigger than the market for children's animation!

"How's the fight between Summer Redstone and Barry Diller for Paramount going?"

Aaron suddenly asked, after all, the future of Paramount is a major event that can affect the entire Hollywood!
"The competition is fierce. Paramount's board of directors is still waiting and watching. It all depends on what decision Martin Davis will make."

Martin Davis, chairman of Paramount Communications (Gulf & Western Industries).

"It seems that both Barry Diller and Summer Redstone want to take over Paramount!"

Aaron leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers on the table.

"Forget it, let's first get the ownership of Saul Zaentz's "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" novels." In the evening, Aaron and Catherine Zeta-Jones returned to the villa in Bel Air together. "The Mask of Zorro" has been released for nearly two months, and the North American box office has exceeded 1 million US dollars, and the overseas market has also exceeded million US dollars. The situation is very good!

"Aaron, 'Speed' took in another $1300 million this weekend, and it's trending pretty good."

After Catherine Zeta-Jones came to the United States, she also began to pay attention to Dawn's other works.

Aaron leaned back on the sofa and smiled. "The cumulative total is $10 million in 3500 days. Not bad."

After all, the production cost of Speed was only $3000 million, the director Jan de Bont was a new director, and the leading actors Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly were not very famous.
As a new type of action movie, "Speed" actually has a very good reputation.

The Hollywood Reporter: "This is a smart and creative thriller that closely combines action, stunts, special effects and excitement. It is a rare and excellent thriller action movie."

Quentin Tarantino, the director who just finished filming "Pulp Fiction", also spoke highly of "Speed".

"Well, 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' has grossed over $2 million worldwide, and now 'The Mask of Zorro' and 'Speed' are also making waves;"

"Shuguang's performance this summer vacation is once again surprising!"

Catherine Zeta-Jones put her arms around the man's neck and kissed him, "Aaron Anderson is the best filmmaker in Hollywood."

Aaron stroked the girl in his arms and said, "Shuguang has a romantic movie to shoot, and it needs two actresses;"

"So, I'm going to cast you with Jennifer Connelly."

The script Aaron was talking about was "My Best Friend's Wedding", which was originally prepared by Aaron for Jennifer Connelly;

This year, Jennifer Connelly and Catherine Zeta-Jones became famous for "Speed" and "The Mask of Zorro" respectively. It's just right that they starred together in "My Best Friend's Wedding"!
"The script you prepared?" Catherine Zeta-Jones' eyes lit up. After all, Aaron Anderson's vision was very impressive.
Especially romantic films, just look at "Ghost" and "Sleepless in Seattle" starring Nicole Kidman.

"Yeah, it's a romantic comedy, nothing complicated to shoot;"

"It's estimated that filming will start within three months, and it will be released next summer!"

"My Best Friend's Wedding" had already completed its preliminary preparations and only needed to form a crew, so it could be completed quite quickly.

"No problem," Catherine Zeta-Jones would of course agree, although now she has entered Hollywood with the release of "The Mask of Zorro" and has also gained a certain degree of fame;

She also received a Hollywood script, but how could she refuse Dawn's project?

Aaron smiled and rubbed the girl's body with his hands. "Don't you want to read the script first?"

Catherine Zeta-Jones hugged the man and asked, "Would any woman turn down an Aaron Anderson script?"

"You had Nicole Kidman, then Sophie Marceau, me and Jennifer Connelly, and now every actress wants a role in your film!"

Moreover, Catherine Zeta-Jones has been keeping an eye on her fellow countryman Elizabeth Hurley, who is currently filming the blockbuster "Forrest Gump" with Tom Hanks.

(End of this chapter)