Tracy Jacobs is a big-name agent in Hollywood. She used to work for CAA before UTA poached her in 1998 with a hefty offer, making her the vice president of UTA overnight.
It's not just her wide network and sharp skills that got her there—it's the ace up her sleeve: Johnny Depp!
Right now, Johnny Depp isn't quite a megastar, but his unique acting style has him perched at the top of the A-list, never short on offers. This summer, he starred in 20th Century Fox's thriller From Hell as the undisputed leading man.
With From Hell wrapped up, Tracy Jacobs got a new offer right away—from director Tim Burton, Johnny's old collaborator. It's for a massive commercial blockbuster: Pirates League: Curse of the Black Pearl!
Back in the day, Tracy wouldn't have hesitated to jump on this. Johnny Depp was practically hand-picked by Tim Burton, they've been buddies for years, and it's the starring role in a film with a budget of at least $150 million!
But things are different now. This movie's being produced by Dunn Films—and Disney and Dunn Films are at each other's throats, throwing around bans left and right. Anyone with half a brain knows better than to wade into this mess.
This whole "ban" situation isn't just going to fizzle out quietly. The longer it drags on, the worse it'll be for Hollywood. Tracy doesn't have the full picture yet, but she's certain some big players are working behind the scenes to smooth things over between Dunn Films and Disney.
Once this circus dies down, both sides can sit down and negotiate deals again. That'd be the smart move for her and Johnny's interests.
Problem is, Johnny Depp's a stubborn oddball!
"I don't give a damn about Disney's nonsense," he snapped. "When I was at my lowest, Tim was the one who helped me out! Plus, Pirates League is a huge commercial flick—I need this shot!" He didn't even give her a chance to argue, his tone as firm as steel.
Tracy sighed, frustration creeping in. "Johnny, I'm not against you working with Tim Burton again. It's just the timing—it's lousy. Anyway, Pirates League hasn't even been greenlit yet. We could stall for six months."
In her mind, six months was plenty of time for the big shots to clean up the "ban" mess.
"Stall? No way, not happening!" Johnny shot back. "I need to sign with the Pirates League crew right now. Tracy, I get your worries, but for me, it's all about the movie. Tim says this role was made for me—I've got to be in on the early prep to really get into character."
"But the ban, Johnny… It's Disney we're talking about!" Tracy warned, her voice low and serious.
Johnny smirked, unimpressed. "So what? Disney's good at cartoons, sure—but movies? Nah. Dunn Films is the new face of the century. I hear Dunn Walker's personally producing the Pirates League series. I'm looking forward to working with him."
Tracy felt a mix of bitterness and helplessness.
Johnny Depp's quirky, one-of-a-kind personality sets him apart in Hollywood. People say Tom Cruise can be replaced, but Johnny Depp? Never. It's that distinct flair he brings to the screen.
But that same trait makes her job a nightmare.
UTA isn't some giant like CAA or WME. One wrong move with Disney could tank the agency's other clients.
Yet Johnny's her top star. She has to go along with him—or risk him ditching her for another agency, which would be a disaster.
So, what now?
Tracy sat there, lost, unable to decide.
Since the ban drama kicked off, all the A-listers in Hollywood had wisely steered clear. So far, only veteran icon Jack Nicholson had boldly picked a side—Dunn's side.
Bruce Willis had publicly said he'd love a long-term deal with Disney, but everyone knew he was already on Dunn's "banned" list. Even if he wanted to play both sides, it'd depend on whether Dunn let him.
And now, with the ban war raging, Johnny Depp jumping headfirst into a deal with Dunn Films? That's a straight-up slap to Disney's face!
Jack Nicholson can get away with it—he's got the clout and the years. But Johnny? He's 37, in his prime.
What's she supposed to do?
Sitting in her office, Tracy fiddled with her computer absentmindedly, her mind a foggy mess.
Then, out of nowhere, her eyes lit up like fireworks as she scrolled through Yahoo's entertainment section. Her whole body jolted, glued to a single news headline.
Her heart pounded like a drum, faster and faster!
Even her earlier spat with Johnny hadn't rattled her this much—or excited her this much.
The Yahoo story seemed trivial, tucked away in a corner like an afterthought.
But to Tracy Jacobs, a Hollywood insider with her ear to the ground, it was pure gold!
This was explosive!
The headline was low-key: "Mel Gibson Joins A Beautiful Mind." But the implications? They gave her chills.
After Jack Nicholson, another heavy hitter with clout and influence had taken a stand.
This time, it was Mel Gibson—Hollywood's top action star!
The article was short: "Yahoo reports: Mel Gibson recently joined the A Beautiful Mind cast, making a cameo as a college professor. Word is, he's doing it for free. According to his agent, it's the result of a lost bet with director Dunn Walker."
Tracy snorted at the "bet" excuse—ridiculous. It was obviously Mel's agent spinning a tale to dodge Disney's wrath and keep things civil.
But no amount of spin could hide the truth.
At the peak of this "ban" chaos, Mel Gibson had picked Dunn Films, decisively and without hesitation. This wasn't just a jab at Disney—it was a full-on punch!
That Aussie tough guy sure lived up to his rep!
To the average person, this news might've been a snooze—barely 2,000 clicks showed it wasn't trending.
But to Tracy, it was a thunderclap—shocking and thrilling all at once!
Johnny Depp's situation just got a lifeline!
With Mel Gibson taking the heat up front, Tracy's confidence surged. If she couldn't sway Johnny, why not ride Mel's momentum and seal the Pirates League deal?
If Disney came swinging, Mel could take the brunt of it, easing the pressure on Johnny.
…
By September, Disney's Coyote Ugly had bombed hard—both at the box office and with critics. At this rate, a $35 million film scraping past $10 million in North America would be a miracle.
Overseas? Getting a release at all would be a win.
Meanwhile, Dunn Films' The Soul-Shifting Girl held strong. Its box office stayed mid-tier, but glowing reviews kept it steady and enduring.
The A Beautiful Mind crew, filming in Boston, kept dropping little updates to stay in the media's eye.
Then Mel Gibson's cameo news hit—and Hollywood shook!
Especially among the big studios and top stars, faces dropped at the announcement.
Dunn Films was getting too strong, wasn't it?
First Jack Nicholson, the old-school legend, and now Mel Gibson, a red-hot superstar. Their support flipped the tense "ban" standoff between Dunn Films and Disney into a one-sided rout.
And the winner? Not media giant Disney, but the upstart Dunn Films!
It was a jaw-dropping twist!
Disney, with its legacy studio cred, couldn't pull in star power. Meanwhile, Dunn Films, barely three years old, was already making waves across Hollywood.
Had Dunn Films really gotten this powerful?
With Michael Eisner's iron-fist style, there's no way he'd let this slide. Jack Nicholson and Mel Gibson backing Dunn Films? Small potatoes—nothing Disney couldn't handle.
But Disney's pride? That couldn't take a hit!
You could bet Michael Eisner was fuming right now, plotting his next move!
As Hollywood's inner circle buzzed with theories about Eisner's counterattack, Dunn Films dropped another bombshell at a press conference—leaving everyone stunned and goosebumps prickling.
Johnny Depp had signed with Dunn Films to star in their next big project!
In an instant, Hollywood was a whirlwind!
Dunn Films was unstoppable now!