"Hahaha…"
Michael Eisner's laughter bounced around his office.
Disney's ban had undeniably dented Dunn Films' reputation—no arguing that. But Dunn Films' movies stomping Disney's at the box office? That was just as obvious to everyone.
Disney and Dunn Films had each scored wins in their own arenas.
A tie, basically.
But for Disney and Michael Eisner, a tie was as good as a loss!
An old-school titan like Disney going toe-to-toe with a scrappy three-year-old upstart like Dunn Films? That was a humiliation they'd never live down!
Eisner had been stewing over Dunn, but when Robert Iger dropped his latest update, it was like the clouds parted. Suddenly, he was all smiles.
"This kid—I thought he was some big shot. Turns out he's just flailing!"
Eisner's mood flipped from stormy to sunny, a mix of anticipation and mockery in his grin.
Dunn had finally screwed up!
Dunn Films issuing a ban against Disney? What a joke!
Disney's own ban had already stirred up grumbles across the industry.
If it weren't for Disney's century of clout and global reach, the other majors would've ganged up and slapped them down ages ago.
Even Disney caught heat for flexing like that. Dunn Films? What right did they have?
They must've lost their damn minds.
Disney could break the rules—Dunn Films couldn't!
What, because you made a few box office hits? Give me a break!
If your movies were flops, maybe the big players would toss you a pity lifeline. But now? Dunn Films owned the summer, especially with Spider-Man, and it'd left everyone else choking on dust.
They might play nice on the surface, but deep down, you're a thorn in their side—a splinter they can't ignore.
And now you've handed them a golden excuse. You think they won't pounce?
Anyone threatening the top dogs gets taken out!
Bottom line: Disney's the kingpin. Dunn Films isn't. Dirty moves? Disney can pull them. Dunn Films can't!
Robert Iger, Disney's number two—fresh off a stint as chairman and CEO of ABC Group, handpicked by Eisner—watched his boss cackle with a slight frown. "Michael, I think… Dunn Films' ban feels off. Something's up."
"Even if there's a catch, what's a three-year-old movie outfit gonna do?" Eisner scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain.
Disney wasn't just some film studio—it was a global media juggernaut!
If Time Warner or Viacom made a move, Eisner would sweat bullets and plan every step. But Dunn Films?
A little fish might rule a creek, but in the ocean, it's not even a ripple!
Iger hesitated. "Dunn Walker… his track record's too wild. Can you picture a twenty-year-old kid diving into stocks and futures and walking away with billions?"
Eisner shrugged it off. "Wall Street's not Hollywood! One's out in the open, the other's all backroom deals!"
Stock trades had rules and daylight scrutiny. Hollywood's insider games? Shadowy and untouchable.
Iger lowered his voice. "Word is, Dunn's got backup."
"Not Universal, right?"
Eisner shot him a look, his gut tightening.
He knew Dunn and Universal were tight—Universal handled distribution for Dunn Films' slate. But he hadn't lost sleep over it before.
DreamWorks had leaned on Universal for years too. Katzenberg, Spielberg, and Universal's execs were all buddy-buddy.
And yet?
When the industry turned on DreamWorks, Universal didn't lift a finger. They even twisted the knife a little.
The more DreamWorks struggled, the more they needed Universal's muscle—and Universal got sweeter deals out of it.
Same deal should apply to Dunn Films!
But Iger's tone made Eisner's stomach sink. Had Dunn actually roped Universal into fighting Disney?
If so, things just got messy.
"Not Universal. Michael Ovitz!" Iger said, voice steady.
"Ovitz?" Eisner blinked, then roared with laughter—half-arrogant, half-dismissive. "That washed-up agent? What's he gonna do? After I fired him, didn't he start some new agency? How's that working out for him—crashing and burning?"
Iger pressed, "AG's not exactly thriving, sure. But Ovitz's network and sway in Hollywood? That's still alive. Rumor has it he's been making rounds with the big players lately."
"So what?" Eisner's stubborn streak flared. He waved a hand. "A has-been and a punk kid—what's the worst they can cook up? Just watch—Dunn Films' ban is gonna choke the life out of Dunn Films!"
…
Hollywood's Big Six monopoly wasn't exactly a crowd-pleaser. They ran the Motion Picture Association, squeezing the life out of artists and upstart studios alike.
Unions had popped up over time, boosting actors' pay and status. But new film companies? They were still screwed.
Even DreamWorks—founded by Spielberg, Katzenberg, and Geffen—had taken a beating trying to grow.
Compared to DreamWorks, plenty of old-school film folks actually bet on Dunn Films, started by some young hotshot.
But Disney's ban on Dunn Films had left a chill. And Dunn seeming to back down? People could only sigh and shake their heads.
Yeah, if a trio like Spielberg's couldn't carve out space in this cutthroat scene, how was Dunn Films—propped up by one guy—supposed to survive?
Dunn playing it safe made sense, right?
Then, nine days after Disney's ban, a bombshell ripped through Hollywood's inner circle.
Dunn Films struck back!
The second ban against a film company in Hollywood history was born—and it was aimed square at Disney, the global titan!
As the summer blockbuster season wound down, things had been cooling off. But Dunn Films' ban on Disney? It was a nuke, blasting a mushroom cloud sky-high!
Sure, the ban talk stayed hushed in Hollywood's elite circles. But even mid-tier players and the public caught wind that Dunn Films was throwing down with Disney!
The media laid it all out. In his Los Angeles Times interview, Dunn kept it polite but firm.
Dunn Films didn't have the juice to tangle with a lot of the big dogs.
But Disney, with its shaky movie-making game? Dunn Films had the guts to take them on!
Even niche stuff like Girl, Interrupted and Memento was ready to slug it out with Disney's slate!
The average Joe didn't know about the behind-the-scenes fireworks between Dunn Films and Disney. All they saw was a century-old giant getting schooled by Dunn Films!
This summer, every Disney flick had eaten dirt under Dunn Films' boots.
Dunn went public, mocking Disney's weak movies and pitiful box office—smooth as silk but sharp as a blade.
And Disney?
Not a peep!
To the gossip rags, it looked like Disney had belly-flopped in front of Dunn Films, and even Michael Eisner was waving the white flag.
Hollywood's top brass knew more, though. Dunn's wild move had them floored—and sweating for him.
Hitting Disney this hard, both out loud and under the table—wasn't he scared of the blowback?
The Big Six were all MPA buddies. They might bicker among themselves, but against an outsider? They'd close ranks fast.
Dunn Films looked like it was in deep trouble.
Even Francis Coppola called Dunn up personally, warning, "You're being reckless!"
Dunn just laughed it off, cool and confident. "Mr. Coppola, I've heard that saying—'impulse is the devil.' But I've also heard another one: 'the line between devil and angel is razor-thin!'"