Director of Photography Department of Huayu

Chapter 290 The Rumors Are Leaked
"News about The Martian should be spreading soon."

Han Sanping and Wu Chen walked side by side out of the space agency and headed towards the parking lot.

"Chairman Han, how did your talks with Chairman Ren go?" Wu Chen smiled helplessly. He didn't care at all whether the project news would get out or not, since the outside world would find out sooner or later anyway.

More and more people know about it now; it's something that can happen anytime soon.

However, China Film Group and Shanghai Film Group are currently embroiled in a major dispute over the domestic distribution rights for "The Martian".

With the project launched, the major investors naturally began discussing various issues such as shareholding and issuance rights.

Wu Chen is determined to secure a 40% share. Jason Blum's Blumhouse Pictures is starting to expand aggressively, but lacks liquidity and is symbolically prepared to invest $500 million.
Universal wanted to take the lion's share of the remaining film, while China Film Group and Shanghai Film Group also wanted to secure a larger share and the distribution rights in China.

There's no problem with that. When the decision was made to co-produce with China, Universal knew that the distribution rights in China would definitely have to be relinquished. The problem was that Shanghai Film Group wanted to co-distribute the film, but Han Sanping wanted to keep it all for himself.

The various parties are vying for power, and after several meetings, the struggle is still ongoing in the shadows.

"It's alright, we'll reach an agreement soon," Han Sanping said confidently.

"Alright then." Wu Chen was too lazy to persuade either of them to give up; whoever could reach an agreement would take it.

At this time, Ren Zhonglun was also very unhappy at Shanghai Film Studio.

"That damn thing, it's just a greedy pig, only taking in and never giving out," Ren Zhonglun cursed under his breath, his anger rising. He slammed his pen on the table with a "click," and the cap flew off.

Everyone voted for "The Martian," so why did China Film Group get exclusive domestic distribution rights?

His demands weren't high; he just wanted a joint domestic distribution. Unexpectedly, Han Sanping not only wanted a larger share but also wanted to monopolize the distribution rights.

News about "The Martian" has been hard to keep secret ever since the technical advisory team was formed.

Not to mention that Universal's domestic executives frequently entered and exited the China Film Group building, which had already been noticed by some in the industry.

Sure enough, within just two days, several media outlets in Beijing began sporadically reporting on the new film, and rumors were rampant:

[Wu Chen may be preparing a new work; according to industry insiders, it is suspected to be a collaboration with the space agency, and the subject matter may be related to space exploration!]

Universal Pictures, Shanghai Film Group, and Wu Chen have frequently appeared at China Film Group, seemingly related to Wu Chen's major project!

[It is reported that Wu Chen's new work may attract investment from multiple parties...]

【.】

As soon as the rumor broke, the entire film and television industry was abuzz with activity as everyone tried to find out if it was true or false.

If this is true, with Wu Chen involved, Universal Pictures, and major companies like China Film Group and Shanghai Film Group, it's definitely a top-tier production. Everyone knows what that means.

Rumors even overshadowed the buzz surrounding the news that "The Forbidden Kingdom" had just finished filming yesterday.

After hearing the news, Li Binbin quickly found Li Xue, and the two whispered among themselves.

"Sister, that news might be true." Li Xue had just finished making a phone call to confirm the source of the news when she saw Li Binbin rushing over and immediately spoke up.

“Then I need to go talk to President Wang.” Li Binbin gritted her teeth. She had just finished playing the white-haired witch in “The Forbidden Kingdom”, and the constant media exposure made her fully understand the value of a big-budget production.

If she could star in one of Wu Chen's blockbusters, it would be a passport to international success for her.

"Yes!" Li Xue nodded, but couldn't help feeling a headache coming on. "We need to be careful of Zhou Xun now; she's still on the set of Xingchen Pictures."

Upon hearing this, Li Binbin also felt a pang of worry. Others might care about titles like "Huayi's Top Female Artist," but Wu Chen didn't care about such things. No agency in China would give Wu Chen face.

"Zhou Xun isn't the most important person; the most important person is Liu Yifei."

Li Binbin suddenly said, and Li Xue immediately burst into laughter, "If that's the case, then there's nothing we can do."

Li Binbin's actions are not an isolated case.

As soon as the news broke, ambitious male and female actors and production companies in Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai's film and television circles began to inquire about its veracity, whether openly or covertly.

At that moment, in the corridor of the China Film Building, Han Sanping had just finished a meeting and was about to return to his office when Yu Dong called.

"Old boss, about Director Wu's project."

Upon hearing this, Han Sanping didn't hesitate for a moment and replied directly, "Forget about this project, maybe next time!" "Uh." Yu Dong was stunned and speechless.

He felt a sense of familiarity with those words; he'd heard them more than once or twice in the past few years, year after year. Why was it happening again?
However, the call wasn't entirely fruitless: at least it confirmed that Wu Chen had a major project, and that it was related to China Film Group.

Meanwhile, some vague discussions have also emerged among netizens online.

Is the news true or false? Anyone who knows the inside story, please tell us!

"Who knows what's going on inside? You can't be sure unless you see the news coming out."

"There's no smoke without fire. It'd better be true. His movies are good, at least much better than others."

"I hope it's true!"

"."

In the dressing room of the "Painted Skin" crew, Zhou Xun had just removed her makeup when she huddled together with Huang Xiaoming and whispered about this matter.

"Xiao Ming, why don't you ask Director Wu?" Zhou Xun said with a hint of enticement. "You're on good terms with Director Wu, why don't you get a word in edgewise?"

Huang Xiaoming isn't stupid: "Sister Xun, we can't ask if we're close, it's too awkward. Why don't you go ask her? I think you're the most suitable."

Seeing Huang Xiaoming's stubbornness, Zhou Xun felt quite helpless.

Wu Chen received inquiries from some people, especially acquaintances in the industry.

The most direct one was Ning Hao, who didn't mince words at all and went straight to the point as soon as the call connected: "Really a big-budget film project?"

"Yes." Wu Chen smiled and didn't try to hide it from Ning Hao.

"Wow! These rumors are surprisingly accurate. So the collaboration with the space agency is true? To film stories about space heroes? Biographies?"

Although he didn't read these rumors, they were already circulating. Since it was a collaboration with the space agency, the first thing that came to his mind was a patriotic space movie.

"A hero?"

Wu Chen frowned slightly. "It's close, but not what you're thinking. Let me be blunt, it's a hard science fiction film!"

"Hard science fiction?"

Ning Hao was stunned: "Flying to the moon? The Shenzhou-7 mission?"

"Get lost, that's reality, not science fiction. If it's all a reality, what's the science fiction about it?"

Wu Chen chuckled and scolded, then specifically instructed, "Going to Mars. Just you and that woman know, don't spread it around. I don't want a bunch of people coming to me trying to get close these days."

"understand!"

After hanging up the phone, Ning Hao stood there stunned for a while, his mind racing as he considered the words "hard science fiction" and "Mars" that Wu Chen had mentioned.

If he remembers correctly, the last time a Chinese director made a truly hard science fiction film was almost thirty years ago, with "Death Ray on Coral Island" in 1980.

Even in 1987, Huang Jianxin's film "Misplaced" only explored AI ethics and could not be considered a science fiction film in the strict sense.

As for Stephen Chow's so-called "CJ7," he inquired about it and found that it was just a sci-fi comedy in a shell.

Seeing this, Xing Aina, who was standing nearby, was already on the verge of going crazy: "What did Director Wu say? Tell me!"

Didn't you see how eagerly she was to know the truth, but Ning Hao remained silent?

"I'm still organizing my thoughts," Ning Hao said slowly.

"Tell me quickly, stop keeping me in suspense!"

"He said he wanted to make a hard science fiction film about going to Mars."

"what"

(End of this chapter)