There's no doubt that Cate Blanchett is a highly versatile actress. If she were to star in a series of superhero movies, it'd honestly be a waste of her talent.
Take something like Thor: Ragnarok, where she played Hela, the Goddess of Death—that's fine. It's a one-off challenge to her acting range, and it doesn't pigeonhole her into a single type of role. But if she were to take on a character like "Erika" and commit to multiple comic-book adaptations, it'd lock her into a specific image. That could really hurt her career in the long run.
The perfect example? Scarlett Johansson. Her big-budget commercial films tanked at the box office, and her artsy movies didn't snag her an Oscar. So, she ended up in the Marvel universe, becoming the face of Black Widow. On the plus side, it made her a global star and a top-tier actress. The downside? She's pretty much stuck now—no more deep, character-driven roles or indie films. It's all popcorn flicks, voice acting for animated movies, or cameo-style appearances.
Cate might not have Scarlett's star power, but her acting chops? They're top-notch, even by Hollywood standards. Suggesting she play "Erika" was just a playful jab from Dunn—a way to thank her and hint at future collaborations.
Cate, though, has a clear vision for her career. After a quick chat with Dunn about "Erika's" backstory, she politely declined and changed the subject with a grin. "By the way, you're a big-time writer now! How about sending me a signed copy of your book?"
Dunn paused for a second. "Fair point—I totally dropped the ball on that. Once you're done filming and back in LA, I'll get you one."
"Have the sales numbers come in yet?" Cate's question piqued the curiosity of Kathleen Kennedy and Patty Jenkins, too.
Dunn beamed with pride. A bestseller! A writer! To him, that carried way more prestige than landing on the Forbes rich list. Money just smells like copper; writing is about wisdom, depth, ideas—stuff that lasts forever.
"In January, it sold 900,000 copies in North America," he said. "I haven't gotten the February numbers yet, but it's already being translated and printed in a bunch of European countries."
His tone was casual, but you could hear the quiet pride underneath. In today's world, the only book that can rival the Harry Potter series in sales is Gone Girl. So far, it's been distributed to over 80 countries and is being translated into more than 30 languages.
According to industry estimates, if Gone Girl keeps topping the New York Times bestseller list, it could break the U.S. record of 6.8 million domestic sales. Its global impact might not be as huge as in the States, but if it gets adapted into a movie? That'd push worldwide sales through the roof—think 50 million copies, minimum.
"900,000 copies?" Cate blinked, trying to wrap her head around it. "That's got to mean some serious royalties, right?"
Dunn chuckled. "Ella says January's royalty check came out to $2.7 million!"
In the U.S., intellectual property is a big deal, so books are pricey, and royalties are generous. Gone Girl retails for $15.99, and thanks to the "Dunn Walker" name, he scored a hefty 20% royalty rate. It's a nice chunk of change.
"$2.7 million? That much?" Cate's expression finally shifted. "And that's just one month—and only in North America! If you tally up a whole year… no wonder people say J.K. Rowling's wealth could buy half of Hollywood!"
Dunn waved it off with a laugh. "It's not that crazy. Sales will taper off over time, and international royalties aren't nearly as high as North America's. Plus, I co-wrote this with Ella, so we split the profits."
Cate shook her head. "Still, this book's got to be worth at least $10 million for Ella, right?"
Dunn shrugged. "Yeah, that sounds about right."
Cate let out a little sigh. Ella Fisher used to be a nobody—a small-time actress from Australia. Then she lucked into a Hollywood Aussie networking event, met Dunn, and everything changed. She didn't stick with acting; instead, she became his assistant. But thanks to Gone Girl, she's now got a name in the industry—and a fat bank account to match. It's the kind of story that makes people jealous.
Cate's a decently well-known actress in Hollywood herself, but she hasn't even hit $10 million in earnings yet. Hitching yourself to Dunn? It's like striking gold.
"By the way, hasn't Rose shown up yet?" Cate's tone wasn't as breezy as before.
Dunn replied, "She'll be here next week. Right now, she's just enjoying life."
Cate's stomach twisted a little. She knew Rose Byrne didn't have a huge role—less than 20 scenes total—so there was no rush for her to join the set.
Truth is, Cate and Rose are tight. Cate's the one who helped Rose break into Hollywood and even get settled at the Mid-Level Manor. They chat on the phone all the time, and Rose can't help but gush about how great her life is now.
She's living in the swankiest estate in Beverly Hills, using the best cosmetics money can buy—complete with a personal makeup artist Dunn set her up with. Her wardrobe? All top-tier luxury brands. There's even a stylist at the manor tailoring everything just for her.
When she heads out, it's in a Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Maybach. If she's not feeling up for driving, she's got a chauffeur on call with a Bentley, Mercedes, or Cadillac—pure luxury. And get this: the manor even provides 24-hour private security.
Sure, it's also Dunn's way of keeping tabs on things. He's not about to sink that kind of money into someone and let them run wild.
Cate doesn't consider herself materialistic, but hearing Rose describe all this? It stirs up a little envy—maybe even jealousy. Back in the day, Rose's life was worlds apart from hers. Now? Still worlds apart, but in the opposite direction.
And it all comes back to Dunn.
After a moment's hesitation, Cate lowered her voice and leaned in. "Hey, Dunn, can I tell you a secret? It's about Rose."
"A secret?" Dunn raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
Cate glanced at the other two women in the room, then gestured toward the side. "Let's step next door. It's an empty bedroom."
Dunn frowned. "Is that really necessary?"
"Yeah, it is."
"What's it about?"
"Something from Rose's past—a relationship."
Dunn's face darkened, and he waved a hand dismissively. "Not interested."
Rose isn't some innocent newbie, and Dunn's just having fun with her—no plans for anything serious like kids. Why torture himself digging into her past?
"No, no, no!" Cate shook her head quickly, her expression dead serious. "Trust me, Dunn, I think you'll really want to hear this."
He studied her for a second, then nodded. "Alright, let's go."