In Hollywood, keeping secrets is difficult, especially when it involves Michael Eisner's decade-long reign at Disney.
When Michael Ovitz heard Eisner bring up the topic, his tone was calm. Knowing that Eisner had come to terms with the situation, he nodded and said frankly, "I'm still considering it."
Eisner took a sip of his wine and said, "If you decide to go for it, I can publicly support you."
In the original timeline, after Katzenberg left, Eisner had invited Ovitz to join Disney. However, they ended up becoming bitter rivals in less than a year due to power struggles.
Now, with many things changed, their friendship, which had lasted over a decade, remained intact.
A few months ago, during Eisner's heart surgery, Ovitz had flown to New York with his family to stay by his friend's bedside for over a week. Ovitz had even helped negotiate Eisner's final, generous severance package with Disney. To avoid stressing Eisner, Ovitz had firmly denied any intentions of joining Disney whenever asked during that period.
This kind of friendship was enough for Eisner to let go of any past grudges and support his friend.
Ovitz, knowing how stubborn his old friend could be, was surprised to see Eisner offering his understanding. He looked at him in surprise before smiling and saying, "Thank you, Mike."
Eisner smiled in return but then added, "Setting aside my own ousting from Disney, Mike, purely as a friend, I actually don't recommend you joining Disney right now. Would you like to know why?"
Ovitz gestured for him to continue.
Eisner adjusted the blanket on his lap, organizing his thoughts before saying, "I'm more of an observer now, so I can see things more clearly. For example, don't you think Vivendi's acquisition of Disney went a bit too smoothly? Oh, I mean the process of getting it approved by the Department of Justice."
With Eisner's reminder, Ovitz quickly reviewed the details of the acquisition in his mind and began to see the problem.
When Sony acquired Columbia Pictures, there had been a significant uproar in the United States. Most American media outlets opposed the deal because Columbia Pictures' logo was the Statue of Liberty. Newsweek had even published a cover depicting the Statue of Liberty wearing a kimono, warning the federal government to be cautious of Japanese capital infiltration. Under this pressure, the Japanese had to assure that Columbia would continue to be managed by local executives, leading to disaster.
Later, when MGM was acquired by Australian capital, everyone knew that Simon Westeros was behind the deal, so it was seen as staying within the family. The Seagram Group's acquisition of Paramount also faced less backlash because the U.S. and Canada are neighbors with strong cultural ties.
But the French acquisition of Disney was entirely different.
For years, there had been open tensions between the U.S. and France, with anti-American sentiment in France evident even during the launch of Disneyland Paris, which the French media had almost universally criticized.
Moreover, compared to Columbia, MGM, and Paramount, Disney had a much stronger identity as an American cultural icon. Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck had accompanied generations of Americans through their childhoods, and Disneyland in Los Angeles and Orlando were must-visit landmarks for most Americans.
A company with such deep-rooted significance should have faced much more public and political opposition, even if the Department of Justice approved the deal. Congress, too, should have raised objections. In the eyes of many voters who didn't want their childhood memories sold to the French, this was a golden opportunity for politicians.
But everything had gone unusually smoothly.
Eisner watched his friend's expression closely and, after a moment, said, "Can you see it now?"
Ovitz nodded and looked at Eisner. "Someone is pushing this deal from behind the scenes."
Eisner nodded, adding, "Think a little more, and you'll understand who it is."
After a brief contemplation, a young man's image flashed in Ovitz's mind, though he was uncertain. "Simon Westeros?"
Eisner nodded again. "I don't have any concrete evidence, but based on various signs, that seems to be the truth."
Instinctively, Ovitz asked, "But why would Westeros do that?"
Eisner noticed the hint of unease in his friend's voice and sighed before explaining, "That's the brilliance of that young man. If it weren't for the recent projects Daenerys Entertainment had been involved in, I might not have figured it out either."
Ovitz had a sharp memory, and as Eisner spoke, the information clicked into place.
Daenerys Entertainment's latest collaboration projects had already been finalized: Charlie's Angels and The Bourne Identity with MGM, Jumanji with Warner Bros., and The Mummy with Fox.
At first glance, it seemed ordinary.
Ovitz knew these collaborations were Daenerys Entertainment's way of easing the pressure their dominance placed on other studios.
But with Eisner's insight, a problem emerged.
Four major projects had been launched, and although it made sense to stagger the releases of such blockbuster films, MGM had been given two projects, while Disney, Sony, and Paramount were left out entirely—an obvious departure from Daenerys Entertainment's usual collaborative strategy.
Just last year, Disney had successfully released Sleepless in Seattle in partnership with Daenerys Entertainment, and the relationship between the two companies had been very cordial. There was no reason for it to suddenly cool down.
It was clear that this was a deliberate move by Daenerys Entertainment.
So, the question remained: why was Simon Westeros doing this?
Seeing Ovitz's uncertainty, Eisner offered a crucial hint. "It's understandable that you're having trouble figuring this out. For the past century, Hollywood has always had multiple major studios coexisting. But in recent years, the landscape has been undergoing a fundamental shift. This city can no longer support seven major studios."
Ovitz suddenly understood, feeling a chill as if cold water had been poured over him. Some truths were thinly veiled, but he was reluctant to acknowledge them. He instinctively asked, "And what does that have to do with Westeros secretly pushing Vivendi's acquisition of Disney?"
Eisner gave a wry smile. "It's simple. If Disney remained under American control, Daenerys Entertainment's aggressive expansion would inevitably trigger a backlash. The White House and Congress wouldn't stand idly by. But now that Disney is in French hands, it's different. If the company goes bankrupt or collapses, Washington is unlikely to intervene actively. So, in my opinion, cutting off collaboration is just the first step. Hollywood may still have seven majors now, but in five to ten years, it could be down to five, or even three. And the surviving studios will be no match for Daenerys Entertainment."
After Eisner finished speaking, the room fell into silence, broken only by the occasional crackling of wood in the fireplace.
After a long pause, Eisner finally sighed. "Hollywood is no longer our world."
Ovitz, rarely one to feel defeated, took a sip of his wine, then looked up at Eisner and asked, "Mike, what do you plan to do now?"
Eisner was only 52 years old, an age considered to be the prime of life for someone of his stature. With his heart recovering well, Ovitz didn't believe his old friend would be content with a quiet retirement.
Hearing the question, Eisner shook off the earlier gloom, saying, "I've been looking into investments in the new tech industry. I even hired a computer tutor. I'm thinking of exploring that area."
"New technology, huh? We're not exactly familiar with that field, and many media outlets are saying that the tech bubble is severely inflated and could burst at any moment."
"Nothing is familiar at first, and I'm not planning to invest everything I have," Eisner said with a smile. "Besides, following Westeros's lead isn't a bad idea. The Westeros system has been ramping up its investments in new technology, which suggests that the bubble isn't as serious as people think. I'm not playing on the same scale as they are, but investing in smaller projects should be fine. It's better than doing nothing."
Over the past decade, Eisner had turned what was once a stagnant studio into a thriving one, ultimately leading to its nearly $10 billion acquisition by Vivendi. He had accomplished what he set out to do, and his abilities as a professional manager were beyond question. In recent months, he had received various offers from companies, mostly for board positions or advisory roles, with some even probing the possibility of him taking on more significant leadership positions.
However, after the tumultuous events of the past few months, Eisner had lost interest in working as a professional manager for others. Aside from considering some board or advisory roles, his future plans focused on investing and managing the wealth he had accumulated over the past decade, effectively becoming his own boss.
As Eisner talked about investing in new technology, Ovitz couldn't help but recall his encounter with Bill Gates last year.
They had almost reached an agreement, with Ovitz hoping to make CAA Microsoft's exclusive agent in Hollywood for entertainment, advertising, and media. However, he could only muster $50 million for the deal—a significant sum for CAA, with most of it coming from external investors. Gates, unimpressed, quickly shifted his attention to DreamWorks.
Already hesitant about joining Disney and now fully aware of Simon Westeros's strategy, Ovitz was even more uncertain.
Perhaps he, too, should consider new technology.
Ovitz had always been willing to try new things, and over the years, he had accumulated a decent fortune. He recalled the recent gossip about the founding of Instagram—a photo-sharing website launched with just a few
million dollars from one of Westeros's maids and a few models. In just over six months, its valuation had soared to hundreds of millions of dollars. The profit margins were staggering.
But Ovitz was also not one to be fickle.
Having already quietly prepared for the possibility of joining Disney, abruptly changing course didn't align with his principles.
Eisner had been observing his friend's expression closely and now spoke again. "Mike, if you do decide to join Disney, I have some advice for you."
Ovitz looked over.
Eisner didn't keep him in suspense, saying, "First, try to secure a long-term contract with sufficient compensation clauses to ensure Vivendi can't easily fire you."
Ovitz nodded, having already considered this.
According to federal and California law, to avoid conflicts of interest, Ovitz would have to sell his shares in CAA and completely sever ties with the talent agency before joining a major studio as an executive. For Ovitz, taking that step meant there was no going back. If he failed at Disney, early retirement might be his only option.
Therefore, during negotiations with Vivendi, Ovitz's first priority was to secure his financial interests through strict breach-of-contract clauses.
In the original timeline, Ovitz had done just that.
After falling out with Eisner and leaving Disney after just over a year, Ovitz walked away with a severance package exceeding $100 million. However, in interviews afterward, Ovitz couldn't muster any excitement, as he had given up the talent agency he had built from the ground up and had been fired from Disney, effectively ending his career. The difference between tens of millions and a few hundred million dollars wasn't as significant as it seemed.
Seeing Ovitz nod, Eisner continued, "Secondly, you need to wait."
"Wait?" Ovitz asked, puzzled.
"Yes, wait. Wait until Vivendi can't sustain itself any longer and is forced to sell Disney. By then, with the media consolidation ban lifted, there's a high likelihood that domestic investors will step in. If you're still in charge at Disney, you might finally have the room to maneuver."
Ovitz understood and couldn't help but smile wryly. "Mike, how long do you think I'll have to wait?"
"Not too long. I think three to five years should be enough."
"By then, do you think the new owner will keep me on as head of Disney?"
"That's why I mentioned securing a long-term contract. You'll have one or two years to prove yourself. If you can, staying on shouldn't be a problem."
Ovitz could only respond with a bitter smile.
If he left the talent agency he had built over the years to join Disney, he would at least want to accomplish something significant. Even if Vivendi's final offer at lunch hadn't met his expectations, he would have agreed.
But now, knowing that Disney was destined to be suppressed by Daenerys Entertainment, Ovitz doubted his ability to compete with Simon Westeros and feared that joining Disney would only worsen their already strained relationship.
After weighing his options for a moment, Ovitz finally made his decision.
He would decline Vivendi's offer.
Eisner saw through Ovitz's decision and said, "Mike, I hope you won't regret my advice tonight."
Ovitz smiled. "If you hadn't told me all this, then I'd have reason to be upset with you."
Eisner raised his glass to Ovitz and said, "How about this: let's start a new tech investment company together. You can keep running CAA, just help me maintain my connections in Hollywood. I'll handle the day-to-day. Even though it's a new industry, we can't be worse than those kids in Silicon Valley."
This time, Ovitz didn't hesitate. He had been intrigued by the idea earlier, and now that he had decided against joining Disney, he needed something else to focus on. He nodded and smiled. "Looks like I'll need to hire a computer tutor too."
"We don't need to spend too much time on that. Just leave the technical stuff to the experts. Westeros isn't necessarily a computer genius either."
"You never know. From what I've heard over the past few years, there doesn't seem to be anything that young man isn't good at."
Eisner thought for a moment and had to agree. "I don't understand how the world ended up with someone like him. I often wonder if those rumors about him—clairvoyance, aliens, and so on—are actually true."
"Who knows? But clairvoyants have certainly become popular lately. Barbra Streisand even quietly asked me to find one for her recently."
"Do you believe in that stuff?"
"Never tried it, but I hear it works. There are always things in this world we can't understand."
The two old friends' conversation gradually drifted into more casual topics.
Neither of them could have known that their decisions that night were steering Hollywood's history further away from the trajectory Simon remembered.
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