After the box office of 10.35 million in the first week, "Heartbeat" only received $7.2 million in 2,458 theaters in North America in the second weekend. In the case of individual movie theaters, the downward trend at the box office is not obvious, but attendance is always a problem.

The audience who watched it said that it was good, and it was praised on the Internet, but it just couldn't attract the audience to the cinema to watch the movie. As the Los Angeles Times put it, this is a niche film. There are no special effects, no handsome men and beautiful women, no big-name stars, no bizarre and twisty stories, and even there are only a few scenes, school, home......

Despite the reduction of the theater chain and the decrease in the box office, with the face of Shao Shuaijun and Summit Entertainment, as well as a good reputation, the release cycle of "Heartbeat" must still be very long, and it is expected that the box office of 30 million US dollars can be won. In general, the movie does not lose money, and there will be a surplus, but it is not the same as everyone expected.

Everyone has become accustomed to Shao Shuaijun's magical ability to absorb gold......

In mid-April, Shao Shuaijun put aside the matter of "Heartbeat", and another major event was waiting for his participation. The negotiations between Summit Entertainment and Marvel Comics have entered the substantive stage. Compared with Walt Disney's toothpaste-like bids and anti-war negotiations, Summit Entertainment relied on its nouveau riche boldness to win the favor of Marvel Comics.

Now, they want to talk about the future with Shao Shuaijun, the big boss behind Summit Entertainment.

As a big boss and a financial professional boss, Shao Shuaijun will not participate in the negotiation process, and participating can only help. What he needs to do now. It's with Kevin, the boss of Marvel Comics. Feggy, talk about the future, talk about what to do if Marvel Comics merges into Summit Entertainment, etc.

Basically, Kevin. Fei Ji needs to know the status of Surprise Comics in Shao Shuaijun's mind.

If you just want a casual subsidiary, Kevin. Figgy is not willing to be acquired, how to say that they are also a comic giant, with confidence and dignity, and demand more attention.

Marvel Comics headquarters in New York. Shao Shuaijun and Kevin. Feggy in the dining room of the cafeteria. Drinking tea and coffee alone, they began to talk nonsense.

"I just went to see "Heartbeat", a very good movie, and I felt a lot after watching it. It's like remembering the past. A lot of innocence has been recovered. Pick it up. Kevin. Figi is a talkative middle-aged man, and being able to take the helm of a comic book giant is naturally magnanimous.

Shao Shuaijun smiled and said, "Thank you." It's just a simple film that can leave a little bit of emotion on the audience, and I don't think it's filmed in vain. ”

"Yes, the current mainstream of Hollywood is full of all kinds of commercial blockbusters, and occasionally it does need a little simple and innocent movies to whet your appetite. But it's surprising that you have the impression that you're the kind of commercial director who is full of magic suddenly changes to this style. ”

"Sometimes shooting a subject is just to see if you like it or not, and no one is set in stone."

Kevin nodded: "This era is changing, and we have to keep changing to make sure that we don't fall off the bus by the progress of this world." Whether it's making comics, or running a company. This time the subprime mortgage crisis has had a greater impact than expected, but fortunately, Summit Entertainment has shown us that the threat to the entertainment industry is the least, and we can continue to be strong. The real estate tycoons were out of luck, and their assets shrank dramatically. ”

"yes, the subprime mortgage crisis is being broadcast on TV every day, as if the world is going bankrupt. I don't feel much, whether it is Dream Chasing Golden Harvest or Summit Entertainment, they are all listed in the contrarian trend, and the momentum is good. ”

"Summit Entertainment is the most outstanding film company in North America in the past two years, and during the period when the industry was affected, shareholders have held great confidence in you, and it can be said that you have also been exposed to the light of the subprime mortgage crisis." Kevin. Fit said Marvel Comics was also hit by the subprime mortgage crisis, which is why they were willing to be acquired.

Marvel Comics can be said to have gone through countless ups and downs, especially in the economic crisis at the end of the last century, the comic industry declined, and Marvel Comics was almost out of business. had to sell the superhero copyright, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four and other famous heroes, all of which became other people's money-making babies.

Without the support of a strong parent company, it is difficult to rise again. Seeing the old rival DC Comics, since becoming a Warner Bros. subsidiary, Batman and Superman have made a lot of money, and Marvel Comics is also greedy.

Shao Shuaijun smiled: "We have the strength, Summit Entertainment not only has a unique vision, but also blockbuster movies one after another. There is also the Internet and high-tech support, which is enough to stand. Moreover, the parent company of Summit Entertainment is still China's giant enterprise, China's economic development speed is visible to the world, and Summit Entertainment itself and background are strong, so it makes no sense not to rise, right? ”

"That's just as well." Kevin flattened his mouth, a little sour. Compared with Summit Entertainment, Marvel Comics is just a piece of fat on the side of the road, except for being taken away by a certain wolf, it seems that there is no good result. Now it's up to you to see if this wolf will be eaten raw or made into a delicious dish......

Kevin was sour for a while, and suddenly asked: "I heard that the acquisition plan was proposed by you Dongshao, and you are very optimistic about our Marvel Comics?" ”

"Anyway, I'm very optimistic about our cooperation. If Marvel Comics wants to remain independent, it is unpleasant to say that you do not have the financial resources to support your revitalization plan. I know you've been building the 'Ultimate Universe' project, and I really appreciate it. ”

"Really?"

"yes, Kevin, you know, I'm also a fan of superhero comics. I love watching Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, it's pretty cool. Of course, I'm not referring to the worlds in these comics, but to the rearranged 'Ultimate Universe' series of ......"

In Marvel comics, superheroes know each other, and occasionally hang out to make a soy sauce or something. For example, Spider-Man vs. Hulk, Wolverine and Captain America saved Black Widow's life, etc., although these superheroes are from different comics, they all belong to Marvel Comics.

Because manga is continuous, as long as it sells well, you can continue to draw it. Comic companies can also stay in business. However, people who draw manga may have things like resignation, reduction, and increase. In order not to allow the turnover of people, which leads to the end of the life of a comic, the comic company decided to set the story background within a framework.

In this way, both new artists and artists who have taken over in the middle of the game can easily take over all the manga drawing work without messing up the world setting, and manga fans can enjoy the manga more clearly. As the number of characters in the comic book increases, the background of the story becomes larger and larger, and eventually a "world" is formed.

A world where comic book heroes are born.

The world of Marvel Comics, known as Marvel-Universe, Marvel is Marvel Comics, Universe is the world, also known as the True World. Sometimes referred to as Earth-616 (Earth-616, meaning another Earth, was established in June 1961). This world ensures the overall continuity of the comic book stories under the Astonishment Comics umbrella within a certain range.

But as time goes by, children grow up and adults no longer read comics, and when new children read comics again, they are powerless to cope with the vast background plot. This has led to a tragedy where there are fewer new readers and comic shops are becoming more and more niche.

In order to change this embarrassing situation, in 2000, Marvel Comics made a bold plan, they left behind the historical baggage of the past and told the stories of superheroes anew. Wrapping the superheroes all over again, the story is also placed in a similar 21st century context.

The test subject was Spider-Man, the most popular series of Marvel Comics at the time. And then there's the X-Men. The success of these two aces led to a large number of new readers, and more and more superheroes began to join the program. Finally, Marvel Comics started an important branch.

This system is called Ultimate, or the Ultimate Universe, and is numbered Earth-1610, and all comics titled "Ultimate" belong to this world.

In the ultimate universe, superheroes are not only back to square one, but even younger than when they appeared in the main story. Mr. Fantastic Reed. Richards is no longer a scientist with gray sideburns, but a genius young man who is only twenty-one years old; The ultimate version of Dr. Strange is the son of the original Dr. Stranger, who often has problems with mana and likes to make appearances in the media......

Compared with the old-fashioned main world, the superheroes in the ultimate universe have more prominent personalities, and their identity backgrounds are more in line with reality, which is more suitable for arranging into movies. The popularity of "Spider-Man" and "X-Men" is proof of this.

"I'm very interested in the Ultimate Universe Project, and I think your setting is just pretty cool." Shao Shuaijun praised it vigorously. "Whether it's Iron Man or Thor, or the Avengers, it's a great story, and it's perfect for a movie."

"That's right, that's what we thought." Kevin was praised and excited, "Our Marvel Comics superheroes are more popular than DC Comics superheroes, and the movies we've developed are definitely more blockbusters, and it's a valuable resource we've built up over the decades, and it's invaluable." Shao, how much do you say they are worth? ”

"Priceless." Shao Shuaijun suddenly changed his words, "But in the hands of others." ”

"Uh." Kevin choked.

Marvel Comics does have countless super popular heroes, but because of the economic crisis, it almost went bankrupt, and the copyrights were almost sold.

The film rights of X-Men, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and Daredevil are in the hands of Twentieth Century Fox, the film rights of Spider-Man and Soul Chariot are in the hands of Sony, the film rights of Blade Warriors are in the hands of New Line (owned by Warner Bros.), and the film rights of the Punisher are in the hands of Lionsgate.

The distribution rights of the movie versions of Iron Man and Thor are in the hands of Paramount.

Almost all the superheroes in charge are held in the hands of others...... (To be continued......)