Even though the mother and daughter both thought Barry Meyer was a ruthless man, they still planned to help him probe whether Ted Turner and Carl Icahn had actually teamed up. And if they had, just how closely were they working together?
As for why…
First, both sides were allies. Before any real conflict of interest arose, helping each other was only natural.
Second, the people that the Turner and Icahn were watching were none other than Isabella herself. When people are plotting against you, if you can still sit calmly like nothing's happening, it's not good mentality, it's just a slow reaction time.
Third, using the excuse of studying Marvel to abandon Resident Evil allowed Isabella to keep gaining fans.
So, once the course of action was settled, Susie Figgis, the vice president of Beaver Productions, followed Isa's orders and went to Santa Monica, California, to negotiate a deal with Lionsgate.
Yes, to negotiate a deal.
Lionsgate's opening price of taking the full 20 million was quite reasonable. If you averaged it out, each character would cost less than a million. One million dollars for Thor, Deadpool, Black Widow, and Captain America? That was already a bargain.
But Isabella was never going to pay that much.
Not because she couldn't, but because she didn't want to.
You have to remember, Lionsgate acquired these Marvel rights from Artisan Entertainment.
Artisan was the company that released The Blair Witch Project.
In 2003, Artisan sought a sale due to poor management and other problems.
Lionsgate then spent 220 million dollars to buy it.
Artisan's copyright library had over a thousand films: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Angel Heart, Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs, the classic romantic dance film Dirty Dancing… those were all in their archive.
If that company, with all those classic films, independent filming facilities and full operational base, was only worth 220 million total, Isabella would have to be insane to spend 20 million just to buy Marvel rights.
Therefore…
"We'll offer at most 10 million."
"10 million for all of it."
July 4th, 2005.
Lionsgate.
Sitting on the meeting room couch, Susie Figgis stated Beaver Productions intended price.
When that number came out, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer was stunned.
He said in surprise, "Susie, isn't that price way too low?"
"You should know, Marvel's own buyback offer in 2003 was already more than 10 million."
Back when Artisan was trying to sell, Marvel had already wanted to buy their rights back, but it didn't work out because Lionsgate bought the whole company as a bundle deal, which was more favorable to Artisan's owner, Bain Capital.
Afterward, once Lionsgate acquired Artisan, Marvel tried to negotiate a rights buyback again. Their offer was 15 million, but Lionsgate thought it was too little, so they refused. Carl Icahn's purchase offer later was 20 million.
Yes, in this current deal, Carl Icahn truly didn't want to make a single dollar.
He really didn't want to expose himself.
But unfortunately…
"Jon, our company president believes your asking price is unrealistic. She says 10 million for 20 characters, meaning 500k per character, is the most reasonable. Back then Sony only paid seven million dollars for Spider-Man. And Sony didn't just buy a single character but all characters appearing in the main Spider-Man comics, over six hundred of them."
"Wait—we're selling main titles too!"
Jon Feltheimer raised his voice. "Deadpool is a main title, Thor is a main title, Black Widow is a main title, Steve Rogers Captain America is a main title… uh… may I ask, who exactly is your company's president?"
Jon Feltheimer felt something off about Susie today. They knew each other.
He thought, someone like Susie who'd been in the industry for decades should never say something as ridiculous as 'Sony bought the main titles.' Marvel never sold single characters. And if they actually had sold only single characters, then he really wanted to know: if you only bought Captain America but don't own the Winter Soldier, how are you supposed to make a movie?
Make up your own plot?
If that's the case, why buy Cap at all?
Why not just create your own superhero instead?
Right?
However…
Under his gaze, Susie smiled. "My company's president is Vivian Carlson."
"Sorry, she is…"
Jon Feltheimer frowned hard.
He was sure he'd never heard that name.
Susie's smile grew brighter. "She's Isa's mother. She didn't change her last name after marrying Isa's father. So… you could call her Mrs. Haywood too. She thinks the kid doesn't understand money and is just wasting it."
"…"
Jon Feltheimer was speechless.
Once Susie mentioned Isa's mother, saying she was controlling Isa's spending, there was nothing Jon could insist on anymore.
Because he knew how it worked. When a mother wants to control her child's spending, she won't bargain with you.
"So… Susie, please sit tight for a while. I need to discuss this with my colleagues."
"Okay, go ahead."
Before Susie even finished speaking, Jon Feltheimer bolted back to his office to make calls.
Once Carl Icahn heard everything…
"Then sell it for ten million."
Carl Icahn sighed. "Try to sign the contract within three days and get the money within a week."
He didn't want any unexpected twists in his plan.
This bargain sale made Jon Feltheimer's heart race. He felt like he'd been dragged into a massive conspiracy.
Right now, he only wanted to get out alive.
And when Isabella learned she could get all the rights for 10 million, she and her mom immediately exchanged smiles.
Exactly.
They had purposely cut the price in half.
Only after cutting it in half could you test whether the rights actually were in Lionsgate's hands.
Only if they weren't, and the real holder was afraid of trouble and exposure, would they accept such a choking-low price.
If they were in Lionsgate's hands…
Well, you'd find out when Lionsgate slapped you hard across the face.
"So… you're calling Barry Meyer to leak the news?"
Isabella looked at her mom.
"Yes."
Vivian didn't hesitate and nodded.
Since someone obviously wanted to make trouble, Isabella wouldn't hold back. On the very day the contract was signed with Lionsgate, reporters were already waiting below their building to 'catch' Susie and ask why she had been visiting Lionsgate so often.
Although Vivian hadn't mentioned Carl Icahn to Susie, she had told Susie that reporters would interview her.
And asked her to just answer honestly.
So…
"Oh, Beaver Productions is currently negotiating with Lionsgate for a transaction related to Marvel's rights…"
"Yeah, like you said, Isabella is very interested in Marvel…"
"The result?"
"The fact I've stayed this long in California proves we've already reached a concrete agreement!"
"Yes, yes, we've already acquired the rights from Lionsgate. Iron Man will be just the beginning, definitely not the end… as for production plans? Who will Isabella play? I don't know that either…"
To be honest, when Jon Feltheimer found out that the media was interviewing Susie right outside Lionsgate's building asking about her visit, he felt like the sky was collapsing.
He'd been desperately trying to hide the fact that he'd casually sold Marvel's rights, especially from his own boss.
And now there were reporters at the doorstep?
That was basically a full-face attack.
"So… do we know which media outlet?"
Jon Feltheimer anxiously asked his assistant.
"Warner."
The assistant shrugged helplessly.
"…"
The word Warner made Jon freeze.
He paused for several seconds, then let out a heavy sigh.
He collapsed onto the sofa.
At that moment, he felt like his soul had been emptied.
On the left was Time Warner.
On the right was Carl Icahn.
How was he supposed to play this game?
Isabella had no idea about Jon Feltheimer's despair.
Even if she knew, Isabella wouldn't care.
Because what she wanted most now was to see the reactions of Ted Turner, Steve Case, and Carl Icahn.
And that…
The day after the interview, Warner went ahead and spread the news that Beaver Productions had acquired the Marvel rights from Lionsgate. Immediately afterward, North American media rippled with excitement.
Marvel fans were the happiest ones.
"Oh~ I didn't expect Isabella to love Marvel comics so much!"
"Heck, Isabella bought a bunch of rights? Does that mean our Marvel movies might actually be saved?"
"Oh my god…I'm thrilled. It seems she's the first person who, after declaring she loved comics, actually rushed out to collect the rights! Before this, no matter what director or producer said they loved a comic and wanted to film it, none of them were like Isabella who just closed her eyes and bought the rights!"
"Yes, yes! Look at things now, Isa really wants to make Marvel movies!"
DC fans felt a little heartache—
"Isn't Isa with Warner? HP is all at Warner, so why isn't she making DC movies?"
"Exactly! Is this lousy Warner starting internal conflicts again? Isa is obviously closest with them! DC could've easily embraced her! But instead? She goes to make Marvel? Oh—No—"
"I think DC lost a huge opportunity! Because the lead of Batman Begins is Christian Bale, and Christian has worked with Isa on The Voice movie! So, if he invited Isa, she would have had a big chance of joining DC! But he didn't invite her, and probably couldn't invite her anyway, because Batman Begins did so badly. When DC couldn't even get Batman right from the start, why would Isa go? Honestly, that might be the real reason she bought the rights from Lionsgate."
"Oh—I feel the same—"
"I also think Isa suddenly buying Marvel rights has to do with DC! Because at the premiere of Azkaban, Isa said the cartoon Beaver could connect with Warner's IPs, so clearly she didn't dislike DC. But now she's buying Marvel rights nonstop? That might mean she's completely disappointed in DC…"
The Marvel and DC fans were shouting loud enough to break windows.
Isa's fans, meanwhile, were peeking around like little nutrias, glancing left and right.
Marvel fans' excitement filled them with joy—
"Nice, good, they're treating Isabella like a savior."
DC fans' wails made them grin even more—
"Oh dear, these poor souls begging for redemption…"
Yes~~~
Even though Isa's decision to make Marvel movies had the most to do with her own fans, at this moment they weren't the ones shouting the loudest. Because right now, all they had to do was lean back in their chairs, wiggle their legs, and munch on sunflower seeds to collect happiness.
Makes sense, right?
When "the world" is desperately wishing for Isa to spread salvation, those who liked her long ago don't even need to speak and still get praised for foresight. Otherwise, how could they have liked her early on? Right?
If you get pampered while lying down! If people are kissing your idol while you're just relaxing! Why stand up?
Right?
Hehe~
This peaceful atmosphere also made Isa, watching the outside world, wag her tail.
Being needed felt wonderful.
And sharing her joy were Ted Turner and Steve Case. After learning that the "Marvel rights acquisition news" was actually spread by Isa herself, the two of them burst into massive laughter—
"Oh! Ted! Looks like your judgment was spot on. Isa really does love Marvel!"
"Hahahaha—honestly, Steve, I was nervous when I made that prediction, afraid I'd be wrong. But now… we've already won, haven't we?"
"Oh—Ted—you're too modest—anyway, I'll just say it: yes! Once we get Marvel equity, we'll instantly win. And Marvel shares… might be in our hands as early as next month…"
"Yes! From next month, Time Warner will be our toy—"
In that moment, Ted Turner and Steve Case felt victory was guaranteed!
Or maybe, they were already fantasizing about how to kick Barry Meyer in the butt!
In their imagination, Barry Meyer would bend over, clutch his legs, curl into a ball while raising his rear end, because only that way, after their kick, he could roll smoothly out of Warner!
What?
Someone says their idea is a little insulting?
Oh—
Dear—
Kicking Barry Meyer personally would actually be doing him a favor!
Remember, Barry Meyer is just a corporate manager. Just an external representative of the Ross family! If not for all the trouble he caused them over the years, he wouldn't even deserve to be kicked!
Yet just as Ted Turner and Steve Case were counting days and eagerly waiting for Marvel equity to arrive so they could embrace a bright future… the next day, their smiles froze.
Because that day, USA Today published a report:
[Would Isa abandon Resident Evil to make Marvel movies?]
The article wasn't long. In summary: according to an anonymous insider, Isa's embrace of Marvel characters comes at a price, and that price might be the total abandonment of the Resident Evil IP.
The moment that news came out, it created massive waves…
Well, okay.
Not that massive.
Even though Isa is currently a global top star—
Yes, now, anyone standing in front of Isabella, she would dare to call herself the top of the top;
but the Resident Evil IP doesn't have that strong global influence—
This isn't slander. Within the horror game genre, Resident Evil is number one. But in the entire video game world, it's far from the top. Up to now, meaning 2005, all versions of part 1 and 2 together, including director's cut, rumble version, remakes, everything combined, total global sales are only 13 million. Meanwhile, big franchises like Mario can sell 20 million per game. Even something smaller like Sonic still does over 10 million per game.
So, the "exclusive scoop" from USA Today didn't make big waves in North America.
As for worldwide reaction?
Even smaller.
The story circulated for a while within gaming circles, movie circles, and novel circles, then…
It was gone.
Yep, that's why six Resident Evil movies can't beat one Mario movie at the box office.
From a societal perspective, even top-tier in a niche is still niche.
But whether North America or the world cares about Resident Evil?
That doesn't really matter.
Because every topic in this world can be hyped if needed.
For example—
Once news spread that Resident Evil was canceled, entertainment journalists in North America targeted Milla Jovovich and Paul Anderson, hoping to dig out something juicy.
Faced with paparazzi chasing them down, the two were angry. They believed the real reason Beaver Productions gave up Resident Evil was probably due to Isa focusing on Marvel. But they did not dare say it.
They also fear capital.
They also fear death.
So when asked repeatedly, they could only answer: "Don't know." "Just heard about it." "Needs confirmation." "We can only respond once we get official news."
But these answers can't attract public attention.
So Barry Meyer tightened the pressure and had paparazzi push harder.
And then…
"Milla! Rumor says Beaver Productions cut Resident Evil because of you. They say you can't handle the box office, that you're box office poison. What do you say to that?"
"Milla! Some say Beaver dropped Resident Evil because you want to quit film altogether. They say all you care about now is 'Jovovich–Hawk.' True?"
"Milla! Does the cancellation of Resident Evil affect you greatly? Will it change your film career?"
"Milla! We heard you're opening a showroom in Manhattan for your brand. Can you comment?"
"Milla! Are you aiming for the Forbes rich list soon? Are you officially becoming a businesswoman?"
"Milla! Rumor says your brand 'Jovovich–Hawk' is in financial crisis. Are you close to bankruptcy?"
"Milla…"
"Milla…"
"Milla…"
The relentless paparazzi made Milla Jovovich's blood pressure explode! Right then, she felt like she wasn't walking in America, but some third world country.
The smell of urine and feces everywhere, absolutely unbearable!
Chattering questions pounding her ears, driving her insane!
They say lies won't hurt, but truth is the sharpest blade!
She really was on the verge of bankruptcy. So she really couldn't bear hearing it.
After being asked for the umpteenth time about her brand and Resident Evil, she finally snapped.
She stopped walking and stood firm.
Took a deep breath. Spun around in rage.
And yelled at the paparazzi—
"M-Kxxk!!! Are you people sick in the head???"
"Whether Resident Evil got axed, go ask the copyright owners! Why ask me???"
"And! Since you're so desperate to know! Then I'll say this—"
"Yes! The series has been canceled!"
"And! I knew it months ago! Back when Apocalypse premiered!"
"Because Beaver Productions thinks the project has no chance of profit!"
"They have no way to save it!"
"So they took the simplest option!"
"I'm done!!! Any more questions???"
"Ah-ha—"
She screamed until her face turned red and veins bulged from her neck.
That emotional explosion thrilled the paparazzi!
Everyone knew. This was big news.
Everyone knew. Tomorrow Hollywood and the European entertainment world would shake.
As for why?
The next day, major American media outlets fired off explosive headlines—
[Veteran Hollywood actress Milla Jovovich accuses Isabella Haywood of disappearing like magic!]
[No profit means death! Milla Jovovich calls Isabella Haywood a vampire!]
[Can make The Voice but not Resident Evil? Does Isa have weak spots after all?]
[Marvel Yes! Biohazard No? Analyzing Isa's choices to uncover her real success secrets! Maybe she isn't so miraculous after all. Maybe she's just a normal person!]
[…]