Relativity Entertainment is moving very fast, as a production company, Shahai Entertainment has always paid attention to efficiency, "Shameless" is still negotiating and uncertain, but the copyright of "Zombie Paradise" is already in hand, and the two screenwriters Lott Rees and Paul Winnick have also signed screenwriting contracts.

The project was naturally pushed into the early planning, and the most important funding was not a problem at all.

The investment in the zombie film will not be very high, and the production budget is set at $15 million, financed by the Pacific Investment Fund.

The project is planned to take two years and is expected to be released in 2007.

"Zombie comedy genre movies, Hollywood used to rarely appear. George Clint said to Ronan, "There's no film like this that can sell well in North America." ”

Ronan said, "Is there any data for Shaun the Zombies?"

George Clint thought for a moment: "It's a British movie, right? The response is okay, and the North American box office seems to be $10 million." ”

Ronan added: "Director Edgar Wright has done a good job, but it's a pity that it's a British film, otherwise the commercial response might have been better." ”

"Shaun of Zombies" is a very good zombie comedy movie.

George Clint understood what Ronan meant: "Invite Edgar Wright to be the director of 'Zombieland'?"

Ronan said: "Edgar Wright is a good candidate, you guys try to get involved. ”

George Clint was worried: "He's an Englishman. ”

Ronan laughed and said, "Edgar Wright is also relatively familiar with American zombie films, have you forgotten? He starred in George Romero's Land of the Living Dead and spent a long time on the set. ”

Former Edgar Wright, like Christopher Nolan and Guy Ritchie, is one of the few British directors who can impress Ronan, and his "Blood and Ice Cream" trilogy with Simon Page combines visual language with humor and comedy, appropriately blending anti-hero, banter and violence to create an extremely strong personal style.

Ronan still remembers that the original director of the Marvel series "Ant-Man" was Edgar Wright, and later Edgar Wright and Kevin Feige had serious differences over the creative concept of the film and voluntarily withdrew from the Marvel series.

In fact, if you think about it carefully, how can a style like Edgar Wright fit for Baby Di?

This is also a more heavy-handed director.

George Clint passed the news that afternoon, because Edgar Wright had made a cameo appearance in George Romero's "Land of the Living Dead", and he was also considered to have cooperated with Relativity Entertainment, he was very interested in being able to make a zombie film with Relativity Entertainment.

And Edgar Wright is a typical zombie movie lover, and George Clint feedback shows that Edgar Wright is also preparing a guest appearance in the mill movie co-produced by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez.

It is said that the latter is preparing a zombie movie.

After the success of "Dawn of the Living Dead", zombie films have obviously begun to recover in Hollywood, and related themes and film projects are also increasing.

The zombie revival has truly arrived.

This is also a reflection of Hollywood's film and television creation.

Ronan is also asking Shahai Entertainment to grasp the filming and production of zombie genre themes, and the film continues to continue the momentum of zombie films after "Dawn of the Living Dead" and "Land of the Living Dead", and even began to discuss the sequel to "Dawn of the Living Dead".

At the end of "Dawn of the Living Dead", the heroine played by Scarlett Johansson causes an explosion and ends up at the cost of winning a chance for her companions to escape to the island.

The situation of the so-called "safety island" is also a topic that fans often discuss.

The screenwriting department of Shahai Entertainment has set up a project to prepare for the sequel, which is titled "Dawn of the Living Dead 2: Island of Death", which mainly tells the story of several survivors who come to the island and face the zombies with the survivors on the island.

Relative to investment, "Dawn of the Living Dead" can be described as a huge success, and the sequel continues, and there is a great possibility of success.

Ronan also took this into consideration, Scarlett Johansson's performance in the first part was quite eye-catching, and Scarlett Johansson, who was at the peak of her figure and appearance, also attracted many fans.

The second part still follows the route of the first big heroine, and the first protagonist is still a young woman.

Of course, the success model cannot be changed, so the heroine of the second part will be a girl who is even more ferocious than Scarlett Johansson.

In "Squid and the Whale," which CAA recommended to Embassy Pictures for direct DVD distribution, Ronan saw a familiar figure, an actress Alexandra D'Addario who was born with a murder weapon in the world.

A girl who runs more scarily than a magnitude nine earthquake.

Shahai Entertainment has made initial contact with Alexandra D'Addario, and actor cooperation is not a problem at all.

For a rookie actor, the temptation to become famous is too great, and this is still the heroine of the sequel movie.

According to Alexandra Daddario's own characteristics, Sand Sea Entertainment will tailor some scenes for her, such as the traditional zombie chase scene, such as the wet scene after jumping into the sea, such as the running scene where the wet clothes cling to her body......

When the audience watches this film, they will deeply feel that zombies are not terrible, what is really terrible is running with the ball.

Due to the change of heroine, Zack Snyder is unlikely to return, and the sequel, except for a few supporting roles in the first part, will launch new actors across the board, and the production budget will be compressed to less than $10 million as much as possible.

With the addition of a sequel effect and a favorable environment, the possibility of profitability is extremely high.

"Zombie Paradise" and "Dawn of the Living Dead 2: Island of the Dead" will continue the momentum of Shahai Entertainment in the zombie movie theme.

On the other hand, Relativity Entertainment wants to be the first to eat crabs.

The first zombie-themed TV series "The Walking Dead" in Hollywood and even North American history officially began preparations, although the first season was only six episodes, but the investment was as high as $7 million.

At Ronan's request, more scenes of zombies and humans will be guaranteed in the first few seasons, even if the darkness of human nature is shown, it will be said after the reputation of the series is erected.

There may also be many viewers who like to watch human battles in a post-apocalyptic environment.

But such a premise is still set in the zombie apocalypse.

Ronan asked Shahai Entertainment to conduct a targeted market survey on this, and the data obtained showed that more than 80% of the respondents liked the scene of zombies the most was the confrontation between humans and zombies.

Without investigation, there is no right to speak, and the data obtained from the first-tier market best reflects the needs of the audience, so Ronan ignored the opposition of the original author and let the plot of the first few seasons focus on the confrontation between humans and zombies.

This philosophy also influenced the choice of directors.

Since the production concept was not disclosed to the public, the directors who came to the crew to apply for jobs responded to this recruitment more with their own understanding of the original work and their personal style formed over the years.

Since streaming is just emerging, it's far from the era of crazy investment.

In today's period, the director of TV dramas is naturally lower than that of film directors, unless there is a salary that is difficult to refuse or the nature of their own tickets, well-known film directors rarely direct TV series.

Ronan didn't expect that "The Walking Dead" would attract a famous director.

The famous French director Frank de la Bonte came to the crew to apply.

Perhaps this name is very unfamiliar to many people, but when it comes to his representative works, it can be described as "The Shawshank Redemption".

Just like "The Shawshank Redemption" was about the same at the Oscars, Frank Darabont's directorial career in Hollywood wasn't much smooth.

In fact, there are not many French directors who really mix well in Hollywood.

Facing Frank Delabant, Ronan quickly got to the point with a few simple greetings.

The most important of these is undoubtedly the production concept.

"I want to ask a question. Ronan said directly: "Director Drabont, if you are the director, how do you plan to shoot and produce this adaptation?"

Frank Delabante was also unequivocal, saying: "I have read comics, I can say that I am a fan of comics, and what attracts me most about this comic is its core concept, the analysis of life instincts, and the display of human nature." ”

He obviously has quite mature considerations: "I think that the core of the comic should be fully reflected in the adaptation of the series, so that the dark side of human nature is completely exposed in the catastrophe." In the face of the apocalypse, zombies are not critical, nor are they terrible, and it is precisely the struggle between the living that brings destruction. ”

Listening to these words of Frank Darabont, Ronan sighed slightly in his heart, and could only say that this is worthy of being the director of "The Shawshank Redemption".

Frank Delabant's words continue: "The focus of the series is not to create suspense to stimulate the senses, nor to show those stupid zombies, but to shape and excavate human nature, and to ...... the ideological connotation of human torture."

Ronan didn't interrupt Frank Darabont, but what he described next, he didn't listen to it again.

Because there is no need to listen to it, this is completely contrary to his production philosophy.

To be precise, this production concept is not suitable for previous seasons.

Even if Frank Derabont is the director, it will have to wait for the first two seasons or even after the first three seasons.

"That's it. Frank Darabont finished.

Ronan smiled and nodded, "Impressive." That's it, director de la bont, there are a lot of people applying for this director's position, I can't give you a reply for the time being, please be patient for a few days. ”

"Yes. Frank Derabont shook Ronan's hand: "Hopefully we have a chance to work together." ”

Ronan politely replied, "I hope so." ”

Two days later, Ronan asked Shahai Entertainment to inform a number of directors, including Frank Delabant, that he regretted not being able to work with them.

In the end, he chose Drew Gouda, a young director who was jointly recommended by Jereif Abrams and Joss Whedon.