Spider-Man has racked up over $1.19 billion in global box office sales, making it the second highest-grossing film in history, just behind Titanic. It's only natural that Dunn Films would throw a grand celebration to mark the occasion.
The victory party was personally organized by Dunn Films' president, Bill Mechanic, and held at the Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. Invitations went out to top executives from Universal Pictures, Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Studios, and, of course, the Spider-Man cast and crew.
It was a formal affair. Dunn and Natalie arrived dressed to the nines, right on time, instantly stealing the spotlight of the entire event.
Before this, the golden couple everyone was buzzing about had been Spider-Man's leads, James Franco and Jessica Alba.
"Director, long time no see! You're looking great," James Franco said, his sharp eyes likely fixed on Dunn's arrival. He hurried over, a touch of flattery in his tone, and turned to Natalie with a compliment. "Miss Portman, that dress is stunning tonight."
"Thanks," Natalie replied with a polite smile, keeping it professional.
Dunn, on the other hand, was cool as a cucumber.
There was a time when he'd seen big potential in James Franco, even envisioning him as the next Leonardo DiCaprio-level star.
But during the feud between Disney and Dunn Films, Franco's wishy-washy, noncommittal stance left a bad taste in Dunn's mouth.
In terms of brains and charm, Franco was top-tier among actors. But he was too smart, always playing both sides, trying to please everyone and offend no one.
Dunn couldn't stand that kind of person!
Sure, people might call Mel Gibson reckless, hot-headed, or even a racist, but when push came to shove, his gutsy, "foolish" loyalty was something Dunn would remember fondly for life.
Looking at Franco now, Dunn's usual warmth was gone, replaced by a professional smile. "You seem to be doing well. Keep in shape—six months from now, we're starting the Spider-Man sequel."
"I know, heh, I've got a nutritionist on board to make sure I'm in even better shape for the sequel!" Franco replied. He'd signed a long-term deal with Marvel Studios, tying him to the Spider-Man role for at least the next 20 years.
He'd come to terms with it. Since Spider-Man had become a global sensation, the role was bound to bring him unparalleled fame. He was ready to fully embrace being Spider-Man, both in his career and personal life.
After some small talk, Jessica Alba, a bit slow on the uptake, made her way over. Her gaze toward Dunn was layered with complicated emotions.
Natalie, aware of their past fling, found an excuse to slip away and chat with someone else.
Seeing Jessica Alba stirred mixed feelings in Dunn.
Their relationship had been short-lived, fizzling out after Spider-Man wrapped.
Dunn had chosen her as the female lead for Spider-Man partly on James Cameron's recommendation and partly because he was genuinely taken by her beauty.
But during the filming of Spider-Man, problems arose.
It was something he hadn't encountered while shooting Titanic, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, or Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.
Jessica Alba's face… was tough to shoot.
In her past life, despite James Cameron's high praise, she'd lingered in the B- and C-list tiers for a reason.
In terms of looks, Jessica Alba was breathtaking, practically flawless—arguably more striking than Dunn's previous leading ladies, Kate Winslet, Nicole Kidman, or Natalie Portman.
But film is a dynamic art, fundamentally different from still photography. Just because someone's gorgeous doesn't mean they'll look good on screen.
If that were the case, Hollywood wouldn't need extensive casting for "vase" roles—they could just pluck models from Victoria's Secret, who arguably have some of the most beautiful faces in the world.
The truth is, Victoria's Secret models' faces are usually best suited for flat, 2D images. Their beauty is similar to the "internet celebrity" faces of later years—great for photos but not always for film, which demands a "3D" face.
Take Kate Winslet in Titanic. When the camera circled her in a 360-degree shot, audiences didn't just stay engaged—they were immersed in her beauty and the romantic atmosphere.
But shooting Jessica Alba for Spider-Man gave Dunn a headache.
Every time they filmed her face, they had to nail the perfect angle to make her look stunning, much like how some influencers only shine in a 45-degree selfie.
It's not that Jessica Alba wasn't beautiful from other angles—she was. The problem was consistency.
When the camera did a 360-degree spin around Kate Winslet, her beauty was seamless and continuous. With Jessica Alba, it wasn't.
From the front, her face was soft and delicate, almost flower-like, fitting Asian beauty standards.
But from other angles, issues emerged. Despite her mixed heritage, her features leaned toward Caucasian traits—deep-set eyes, a high nose bridge, and a sharp jawline—that conveyed strength and defiance, completely different from the soft, Asian-like beauty of her frontal view.
Her face was a duality: soft and delicate from the front, aligning with Asian aesthetics; sharp and cool from the side, fitting Western ideals.
In film, a character's portrayal relies heavily on facial expressions, and Jessica Alba's face wasn't suited for nuanced, multi-angle close-ups.
This limited her range. Her face required a choice: either prioritize frontal shots or side profiles. In Dark Angel, for instance, they skipped most frontal close-ups, using side angles to highlight her sharp, agent-like edge.
It was a matter of genetics—something even Dunn's golden touch couldn't change.
During Spider-Man's production, he'd noticed this issue and kept his distance from her. He knew she was being groomed as Endeavor Agency's top star, but he genuinely couldn't help her.
"Hey, Jessica, I heard you landed a new role?"
"Yeah, Honey. I'm the lead," Jessica said with a sweet smile that could light up the room.
"Congrats, that's awesome."
Jessica shook her head modestly, flashing a few pearly whites. "It's all thanks to Spider-Man's momentum."
Dunn grinned. "Spider-Man's got a few more sequels coming. Your role's secure."
"Thanks," Jessica said, pausing to give Dunn a deep look. "No matter what, I owe you. Spider-Man was a turning point in my career."
"Heh," Dunn gave an awkward chuckle, unsure how to respond to that.
Beyond her face not being "cinematic," Jessica's emotional intelligence was another issue. Oblivious to his discomfort, she pursed her lips and whispered, "Dunn, if… you're ever interested again, I'm here."
Cough, cough…
Dunn nearly choked.
He knew exactly what she meant, but he had zero interest in rekindling anything intimate with her.
Favors like that are hard to repay!
Hollywood's full of beautiful women. No matter how gorgeous Jessica Alba was, Dunn wasn't about to complicate his life over a bit of eye candy.
It was about physical enjoyment, not emotional torture.
Just then, his assistant, Isla Fisher, swooped in to save the day.
Petite and dressed in a form-fitting red-and-black striped dress with sky-high heels, she jogged over without a care for appearances, drawing plenty of curious glances.
"Careful, don't trip!" Dunn said, startled, rushing to steady her arm. "What's with the running?"
Isla, out of breath and ignoring his question, swallowed hard and said urgently, "Eisner… Michael Eisner's here!"
"Who?"
"Disney's chairman, Michael Eisner!"
"What?"
Dunn's eyes widened, his expression instantly darkening.
What's he doing here?