"Michael, I believe we will have the opportunity to work together in the future." In the reception room, Duke and Michael? Ovitz shook hands and said goodbye, "Disney is a very good partner. "Michael? Ovitz forced a smile and turned to walk out, as a former agent, reading words and expressions is the most basic skill, he can see that Duke cares about Disney, not him as the CEO, and there is no need for the two sides to continue talking. Looking at Duke sitting back down, Tom? Cruise's face stiffened, and although he didn't say it explicitly, he could tell from Duke's words that he was not interested in the project at all, even if his conditions were generous enough. Why does he always have to go against himself? Thinking of this, Tom? Cruise also stood up and prepared to leave. "Tom......" Duke looked at Pat? Kinsley, look at Nicole again? Kidman, eyes finally falling on Cruise, "Can we talk about it alone?" "Tom? Cruise thought for a moment and nodded slowly. Nancy? Josephson handed the bag to Duke and left the reception room first. Kidman and Pat? Kissley whispered a few words in Cruise's ear and walked out. "You may be seated." Duke reached out and motioned for the seat next to him, waiting for Tom? After Cruise sat down, he opened his purse, took out the script for "Chicago", and handed it over, "Tom, I want to invite you to star in my new movie." "New movie?" Stunned for a moment, Tom? Cruise flipped through the script. "Musical?" Although he didn't look at the specific content, after seeing that it was based on a Broadway stage play, he immediately decided on the theme of the film. After all, this revue has created an incomparable brilliance. "You want to ask me to play Billy?" He asked tentatively. "That's right, Tom." Although he looked sincere, what Duke said was all nonsense, "I wanted to work with you a few years ago, but it has been delayed until now because of salary or other factors, I think this is an opportunity......" Duke didn't notice. Tom? The corners of Cruise's mouth twitched slightly, and there was incredulity in his eyes. From the moment I saw the script. He felt that there were 10,000 thunderbolts exploding overhead, as if the world was not normal, and the famous Hollywood explosion maniac wanted to shoot a song and dance film? Also invited him to play the leading role? How crazy is that? Will he succeed? Tom? Cruise subconsciously wanted to refuse, but his mouth opened. But nothing was said. Sitting there, Duke didn't do anything for the time being, if Tom? Cruise refused, he had no need to continue. Flip through the script quickly, Tom? Cruise remained silent, even though he was surprised, but he had no intention of expressing his surprise. He opened the pages of the script, his eyes slid over the lines of letters, and Cruise gradually dissipated the surprise in his heart. After all, it is not only Duke who Hollywood directors want to transform, there are also successful precedents such as Spielberg in the past, and Duke is constantly succeeding. It's easy to feel like you're going to keep succeeding. Hollywood, from film companies to all types of work in the circle, is following in the footsteps of successful people. Will he succeed? Is this Tom? The question that Cruise is most concerned about, why do A-list stars like to work with big directors? Because their work is often a guarantee of success! Memories of the past flashed in Cruise's mind, starting from "Brave Death Island", there was an opportunity for the two to work together, but for various reasons it was not achieved. As a result, "Brave Death Island" succeeded, and "Independence Day" succeeded. "Saving Private Ryan" was also a success, and even for people like him who don't like Duke very much, he has to admit that none of these successes were flukes, and they were all fought out of the fierce competition between CAA and other opponents and the summer file. And if one of them Nicholas? Cage, Tom? Hanks and the others are replaced by him, then his current status and value will inevitably be higher! Until now, none of his films has exceeded $200 million at the North American box office! Close the script, Tom? Cruise turned his head and looked at Duke sitting next to him, as he had seen before, Duke was calm and indifferent, as if he knew he wouldn't say no. Duke just doesn't care, and in his mind, no one in Hollywood, including himself, is indispensable. "How much does it cost to produce the film?" Tom? Cruise returned the script and broke the silence with his mouth, "When is the plan to start filming?" "Filming won't be until next year." Taking the script, Duke thought for a moment and said, "The cost of making zuò is about $15 million. "Hear that number, Tom? Cruise immediately frowned, which was not enough even for his standard salary. Duke is very clear that he must say something now, "Tom, this is a low-budget musical and dance film, to be exact, it will be an independent film that I personally invest in......" He knows Cruise's psychological state, in addition to improving his status, he most wants to be recognized for his acting skills and write a blank check directly, "I plan to release the film before next year's awards season, and the old men at the academy are nostalgic, they have always missed the golden age of Hollywood, and the musical and dance film is one of the genres they miss the most, If we play well......" the next words, Duke didn't say, but could you see Tom? Cruise's eyes seemed to light up a bit. "You do have a point." Tom? Cruise rarely echoed Duke's opinion, "Nostalgia is indeed a good way to win the prize." As always, Duke didn't care much about the award or something, he was just fooling Cruise, seeing that he was a little moved, he continued to lie all over the world, "Tom, you are known as the actor's 'milky pie', and I am recognized as the representative of the director's 'milky pie', we have all proven ourselves in the market, it's time to win a few important academic awards!" It is not luck and appearance that prove our success, but strength! In order to attract this superstar with great market appeal to join him with a low salary, Duke completely threw away his past preconceptions, after all, if he succeeded, the other party would create huge profits for him. It's a pity that he doesn't have a brain-dead aura, otherwise he might have allowed Cruise to join with zero pay. Tom? Cruise is still thinking about this kind of thing related to money and honor, even if he is as impulsive as him, he will not just listen to a few words from others, and then respond casually. There has been no refusal until now, Duke has been determined, Tom? There's a half chance that Cruise will end up agreeing to the offer. As long as Cruise should come down, then the starring role of "Mission Impossible" may have zài variables, if you want to excel in "Chicago", then the song and dance must appear in person, this is not an overnight thing, Cruise is bound to spend months or even half a year practicing and rehearsing. Duke isn't too worried about Cruise's acting skills, the former Richard? Kiel's Billy couldn't be worse, and his acting skills and singing and dancing are even worse, although Liang Tang may not be strong, but in terms of market appeal and appearance, he is better than Richard? Kiel. The memory of the past told Sù Duke that Liangtang was also obsessed with the Oscars, if he could be seduced by the Oscars, he would become an award-rushing maniac and plunge headlong into the independent and literary circles...... Only he knows how much Oscar doesn't want to see Liangtang, even if Xiao Li has to bow down in front of him. Just in Tom? When Cruise was still thinking about it, Duke also had countless thoughts in his mind, and even he thought of some hidden ways after the film was released, looking for someone to fund film critics to tout Liangtang's acting skills, and it was best if he could get an Oscar nomination, but he passed by the little golden man, but he felt that there was great hope, and he might win the award next time, and then continue to attack. In Hollywood, there are not a few actors and directors who have been brought to the pit by film critics and Oscars. If the soup becomes a soup for awards or a literary soup, it will not be far from the end, and maybe "Chicago" will become his swan song in the box office market. Of course, the premise of this qiē is that "Chicago" can be successfully produced by him, and things will develop the way Duke imagined. Next, Duke vs. Tom? Cruise talked for a while about the film's production and future prospects, and he could fully feel Cruise's desire for Oscar and academic recognition, and he tried his best to bring him into the pit of literature and art and the Oscars. Tom? Cruise is not stupid and stupid, even if he leaves at the end, he does not give Duke any clear answer, only that he will think about it for a while. Big-name stars starring in any movie often involve a lot of people behind it, especially the opinions of public relations and agents are quite important, Duke has long heard Nancy say, Pat? Ginsilly had long since asked Yì Cruise to work with him, and it was not expected to be a particularly big obstacle. Besides, even if Pate? Kingsley is shrewd and capable, and she will not be like Duke, who knows that Cruise's possibility of winning the Oscar is infinitely tending to zero, otherwise she would not have operated the award so much for him in public relations, and maybe she would push Cruise in the back, after all, having the Oscar in her hands can also strengthen her position in the agent industry. "How's it going?" Walking out of the clubhouse, Nancy got into Duke's car and asked, "What is Cruise's intention?" "It's hard to say right now." Duke shook his head and looked at Pat? Kinsley drove away and said, "You have more contact with Cruise's agent." "Want Tom? Cruise starred with a pay cut, and there is still a lot of work to be done. The two discussed a few more words about the film, and Nancy changed the subject, "I just got a call from New York that ICM has connected you with a cabaret director on Broadway. "Give me his contact information." Duke nodded, "I'll go to New York next week and talk to him then." (To be continued)