Just after the New Year's holiday, Matthew walks into the office building where Burbank Skydance Pictures is located, and David Ellison asks him to discuss the Fast and Furious series.

"The marketing department of Sky Dance Pictures and the professional research agency I commissioned did market research specifically for the Fast and Furious series. David Ellison didn't talk nonsense when he saw Matthew, and went straight to the point, "Racing and drag racing movies do have a relatively wide audience in North America. ”

Matthew sat on a European-style sofa, withdrew his gaze from the lavishly decorated reception room, and asked, "David, have you made up your mind?"

David Ellison suddenly turned to look at Matthew and said deliberately, "I trust your vision. ”

Of course, this is just to say, and he added later, "We each contributed half of the money to jointly buy the rights to the "Fast and Furious" series. ”

His purpose is simple, in this way, Matthew is tied to the Fast and Furious series, and he shares the risk.

David Ellison does treat Matthew as a friend, but he understands that friendship has to be pushed back in business operations, and friendship is far less secure than common interests.

If he bought the rights to the series as a sole proprietor, what if the situation is not good and Matthew runs away?

Matthew pondered for a few seconds and said firmly, "Yes, as long as Universal Pictures doesn't offer too much, I guess I can make up the money." ”

"Good!" said David Ellison.

As long as he can drag Matthew to invest, he doesn't worry about Matthew not doing his best, if he fails, such a sum of money Sky Dance Pictures can afford to lose, and Matthew is estimated to vomit blood.

It is not difficult for Matthew to see David Ellison's thoughts, but he thinks it is normal, involving tens of millions of dollars of investment, even if it is replaced by Larry Ellison, the risks and benefits will also be considered.

"David ......," he recalled, "what if Universal Pictures doesn't let go?"

"I've seriously considered your suggestion. David Ellison had a substantial investigative inquiry, "Leonidas has already died in the Battle of Hot Springs, and you can't appear in the sequel in the future, right?"

Matthew nodded slightly, "The sequel to the "Three Hundred Spartan Warriors" series will no longer have anything to do with me. ”

David Ellison sighed, clearly determined, and said, "Well, Matthew, we're going to split it into two steps. ”

Matthew didn't speak, waiting for David Ellison to continue.

"We first tried to buy out the rights to the sequel to the Fast & Furious franchise from Universal Pictures. David Ellison said seriously, "Ideally, Universal Pictures would sell us the rights to the sequel. ”

He continued, "It's not easy to impress Universal Pictures, and if the first step doesn't work, we will use the sequel copyright of "Spartan 300 Warriors" as a weight. ”

Matthew then answered, "Last time you said Universal Pictures was interested in the rights to the sequel, and now it's confirmed?"

David Ellison nodded slowly, "I've specifically investigated, the successive successes of Sin City and Spartan 300 Warriors, the industry is quite confident in the film adaptation of Frank Milan's illustrations, and I told you last time that many companies are staring at the sequel comics to Frank Milan's "Spartan 300 Warriors", and Universal Pictures is one of them. ”

He was still a little reluctant, "If the first step can be taken, we won't start the second step." ”

"Yes. Matthew agreed, "I also hope to get the rights to the sequel to the Fast and Furious series with the money alone." ”

That being said, he doesn't think it's very likely.

David Ellison said, "I then had people engage in substantial contact with Universal Pictures. ”

Matthew thought for a moment, and then said, "Go back and ask someone to talk to Helen." Since it is a joint venture acquisition, we will reach an agreement first. ”

David Ellison couldn't help but laugh, "So I'm relieved." ”

Matthew didn't say much, since it was a business cooperation, it would be better for the agreement to fall on paper.

Later, the two discussed more details, and Matthew stayed at Skydance Pictures for nearly a day before leaving.

From the next day, Helen Herman made contact with David Ellison's representatives, and the two sides quickly reached an agreement and a formal contract was signed.

At the same time, Robert Reston, the bald CEO of Sky Dance Pictures, also submitted an offer of up to $30 million to Universal Pictures for the production rights of the sequel to "Fast and Furious".

As Matthew expected, Universal Pictures didn't think much about it at all, and directly rejected Sky Dance Pictures.

However, one thing is more reassuring to Matthew and David Ellison, after Sky Dancing Pictures saw that after the offer was raised to $40 million, Universal Pictures did not completely close the door to negotiations and is still in contact with Sky Dance Pictures.

According to Matthew and Helen Herman's speculation, Universal Pictures seems to have plans for Sky Dance Pictures as well.

On the top floor of Universal Studios' office area, Ron Meyer paced back and forth in his large office, with a department director in the back saying nothing but waiting quietly.

"How likely do you think the Fast and Furious franchise is to win back the market?" Ron Meyer paused and looked back at the director, "Can it be more than fifty percent?"

The director smiled wryly, "Fifty percent, Ron, that's impossible." He elaborated, "The first part of Fast and Furious grossed $140 million in North America, the second part was $120 million, and the third part was less than $50 million. ”

He picked up his coffee cup, took a sip, and said, "Like the declining box office, the reputation of the trilogy is getting worse and worse, and the third "Tokyo Drift" is already recognized as a bad movie. On the contrary, the investment is getting higher and higher, so we terminated the follow-up plan. ”

Ron Meyer turned back, pulled out a chair and sat down, asking, "This sequel to the series doesn't mean much to us?"

"It hardly makes sense. "Now the rights to the trilogy are in our hands, and like the old movies that no one cares about, we can only benefit from long hours of television broadcasts and disc rentals." ”

Ron Meyer propped his chin in one hand, as if he was thinking carefully about something.

The director added, "Actually, if the price is right, we can consider a deal for Sky Dance Pictures." ”

"Tell me about it. Ron Meyer nodded his chin.

"In the beginning, Sky Dance Pictures wanted full rights to the Fast and Furious franchise, and we included the rights to the trilogy. "But after we refused outright, Sky Dance Pictures adjusted their strategy, and they only asked for the production rights of the sequel to the Fast and Furious series, not the rights to the trilogy. ”

He smiled, "If the deal is made, we can keep the rights to the trilogy, and the rights operation and revenue of the trilogy will not be affected in any way, just sell the sequel rights of the series to Sky Dancing Pictures, and they are now bidding up to $40 million, which will be a pure profit for the company." ”

No matter how you count Universal Pictures, it is more cost-effective.

But Ron Meyer did not say anything, and the six major Hollywood companies are very cautious about selling the rights to any of their films and even the rights to the sequel, and they will not consider it at all without a sufficiently attractive price.

Universal Pictures has no precedent in the past for remastering and successful remastered series, most notably the "Mummy" series.

I think that other companies or producers also asked Universal Pictures for the sequel rights of "The Mummy" and other monster movies, and if the sequel production rights had been sold at that time, there would have been no glory of "The Mummy" and "The Mummy's Return".

It's not impossible to sell the rights to make a sequel, but there must be enough profit.

"Ron, what do you think?" the superintendent asked.

"Let people talk to Skydance Pictures. Ron Meyer said unhurriedly, "I met Frank Miller in New York some time ago, and he was already working on the comic book for the sequel to "The Three Hundred Warriors of Sparta", "Rise of Empires", but according to the previous contract, the purchase rights to buy the film adaptation of the sequel are in the hands of Sky Dance Pictures......"

The director immediately understood what Ron Meyer meant, "You mean to let Skydance Pictures and David Ellison trade the rights to the sequel to "The Three Hundred Spartan Warriors"?"

Ron Meyer nodded, and then said, "I confirmed from Frank Miller that if Skydance Pictures doesn't give up, they have the rights to the sequel for ten years. Of course, if it is not adapted within five years, it will be deemed to be automatically abandoned. ”

But Universal Pictures can't wait five years, and with the success of the two film adaptations of "Sin City" and "The Three Hundred Spartans", Frank Miller's work is hot, and even after the expiration, Universal Pictures will have to face stiff competition from other companies, and it is better to grab the sequel rights directly from Skydance Pictures.

The sequel to such a super-hit movie is much less risky and more valuable than the sequel to the Fast and Furious series.

"One more thing to note. Ron Meyer specifically advised, "This negotiation should be kept strictly confidential, so as not to leak out and attract other companies." ”

The director nodded, understanding Ron Meyer's intentions, after all, "The Three Hundred Warriors of Sparta" was too successful.

Ron Meyer consulted with the director for a while and determined his bottom line, Sky Dance Pictures had to trade the rights to the sequel to "Fast and Furious" in the form of royalties plus the rights to the sequel to "The Three Hundred Spartans".

After all, Sky Dance Pictures has obtained the right to buy the sequel to "The Three Hundred Warriors of Sparta", and has not yet started negotiations with Frank Miller on the copyright fee for the sequel, and if Universal Pictures can get it, it is impossible to pay the fee itself.

Matthew and David Ellison want to get the rights to make a sequel to the Fast and Furious franchise in Universal's hands, and Universal Pictures wants to get the right to buy the sequel to The Three Hundred Spartans.

The two sides seem to be able to find the basis for an agreement, but everything is not going to be as smooth as it seems.