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"Duke, are you interested in football?"

In the huge ballroom, Duke sat in a corner lounge with a Russian-Jewish who seemed to be an avid football enthusiast, "I'm talking about soccer, and with your fame, it shouldn't be difficult to buy a Premier League team, so that we can meet on the pitch every year in the future." ”

"So, Roman." Duke put the wine glass in his hand on the table in front of him and asked with deliberate curiosity, "Are the rumors true?" ”

From the day he came to London, he kept reading in the newspapers that Roman? Roman Abramovich wants to buy a Premier League team.

"Actually, the deal is done."

Abramovich is obviously interested in befriending Duke, and he looks like he is in a heart-to-heart relationship, "It's not a secret in football circles, and now it's just waiting for the official announcement after the season." ”

He smiled at Duke, "Soccer is the number one sport in the world, and there are countless fanatics around the world, so football is a great opportunity to expand its influence." ”

"Expand your reach?"

Duke, with one hand on his chest and the other on his chin, is no exaggeration to say that his fans are all over the world, but they are certainly a lot worse than those of football, or some of the biggest clubs.

Seeing Duke's expression of interest, Abramovich's next topic always revolved around English football, and he seemed to be really happy for Duke to join this circle.

Although he likes American football and has been a quarterback in school himself, Duke also knows a thing or two about English football, and has heard of Abramovich, who is undoubtedly a fan of English football, and may have started the acquisition with a real purpose, but later showed enough enthusiasm.

The Premier League is undoubtedly the world's No. 1 Golden League in the future. At least commercially, sports clubs aren't just about investment, and there are a lot of business families in North America who are using the sports industry to make a profit.

Duke is intrigued by Abramovich's proposal, and imagine if he were now involved with a football club with a strong influence around the world, and then the media coverage will be repeated. What kind of promotion will it bring to the release of "The Return of the King"?

Yes, he didn't even think about buying a Premier League club, but he was happy to use the opportunity to hype.

The end with Roman? Abramovich's small talk, Duke walked out of the ballroom, and Tina? Fei shouted.

"Inform David and Pani to get to London as fast as possible!"

Eighteen hours later, Duke met with his investment manager and public relations manager at the hotel, as well as the head of Warner Bros. Britain, and they discussed for two hours. before parting ways.

Duke withdrew from the London leg of the crew's promotional tour in Europe, and two days later, the Times reported a rather appealing news that United had been approached to buy the club entirely.

Fleet Street heard the news, and it only took one day to dig up the so-called insider. Then from the BBC to newspapers, from the web to traditional media. There are all kinds of news reports.

"The famous director Duke who just finished the Lord of the Rings trilogy? Rosenberg, who has now reached out to three of Manchester United's biggest shareholders and the club's management, has officially submitted an offer for a total of up to £300 million! ”

"Hollywood invades the English Premier League, Duke? Rosenberg is tired of directing and wants to enter football, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy is likely to be his last work. ”

"It is unacceptable for an American to buy a football club in England. Even if he succeeds in adapting the masterpiece of English literature, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, it doesn't mean that he knows enough about the culture and traditions of this country......"

Reporters also went to interview Manchester United's management, and the club's CEO admitted that he had received an offer from Duke, but the club's shareholders have no plans to sell it at this time.

Manchester United in this era is simply incomparable to Chelsea. In just a few days, Duke's limelight completely overtook Abramovich's, not only dominating the headlines of the entertainment section, but also easily stealing the headlines of the sports edition.

Even, throughout Europe, many large sports and non-sports media are paying attention to this news, such as Germany's "Bild", Spain's "As", and Italy's "Milan Sport" have put this news on the front page headlines, and also used long text to specifically introduce Duke's origins. Rosenberg and the title of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The hotel where Duke stayed in London was surrounded by reporters and paparazzi.

Since this explosive news was thrown, Duke didn't mind standing up and saying a few words, and was specially interviewed by a reporter when he was out to return to the hotel.

"I'm a Manchester United fan and I like Ryan so much? Ryan Giggs, David? David Beckham and Paul? Paul Scholes, Manchester United is one of the greatest football clubs in the world and I think I have the ability to make it even better. ”

One journalist stepped forward and asked, "But there are Manchester United fans who are worried that you will be borrowing money from the bank to complete this acquisition, and thus leaving the club with heavy debt." ”

"I'm not going to borrow money from anyone!" Duke said very seriously, "I have enough money ready, and if the shareholders of Manchester United agree to my offer, this deal will not bring any debt!" ”

Speaking of which, he threw out the most important words of the interview, "If the deal is completed, I promise to use all the proceeds from "Return of the King" as reinforcements for Manchester United next season!" ”

As soon as this sentence was said, the scene immediately caused a sensation, and there are many reporters here who run entertainment, knowing that Duke got more than $200 million in the first two films, and "The Return of the King" must be only a lot more, if this acquisition is really completed, how much money will Manchester United have to attract next season?

The goal has been achieved, and Duke, escorted by two bodyguards, walked directly into the hotel.

This news storm was almost pushed to a climax by him, and his name and "The Return of the King" were constantly mentioned frequently by various media, and it didn't take long for the rapid flow of information to reach the ears of fans around the world with Manchester United.

"Duke? Rosenberg? "The Return of the King"? The Lord of the Rings Trilogy? ”

In a football-themed bar in India, a man in a Manchester United jersey asks in confusion, "What is this?" ”

The person who knew something next to him explained, "Duke? Rosenberg was a director in Hollywood, and those were the films he made. ”

"Director?" The Manchester United fan was even more curious, "When did the director become so rich and could afford our Manchester United team?" ”

"He's a very rich director!" Another person said, "According to the newspaper, his net worth is estimated to be more than $3 billion, and any one of the Lord of the Rings trilogy alone can bring him more than $200 million." ”

"What?" The man was incredible, "What kind of movie can earn so much?" ”

"It is said that the last part of the trilogy, "The Return of the King", took less than 20 days and exceeded a billion dollars at the global box office?"

"There are such scary movies, why don't I know about them? Is there a screening in India? ”

"It's being screened, it's nothing today, so let's go and see it together......"

"I'm going too, and I'm going to see what kind of film will be made by the director who can buy Manchester United......"

A large group of people left the bar and headed straight to the nearest movie theater.

Perhaps the whimsical hype did play a role, or perhaps the enthusiasm of fans in the newly added screening regions was enough that when "The Return of the King" spent its fourth weekend overseas, the overseas box office not only did not continue to decline, but instead made a small increase, winning $110.25 million from 95 countries and regions in seven days!

But the response to soccer in North America has been lackluster, with "Return of the King" continuing to decline at the box office in North America with a healthy decline, and this week the film has its first real competitor, the sequel to Universal's production and distribution, Fast and Furious 2.

However, suppressed by the number of theaters and the rate of film scheduling, plus the protagonist Fan of the first part? Diesel's withdrawal from the crew, as well as the impact of the replacement of the heroine, the box office of "Fast and Furious 2" fell seriously in the first week compared with the first part, and in three days, in 2480 theaters in North America, only $18.98 million was obtained, and it was still unable to challenge the dominance of "The Return of the King".

"The Return of the King" still maintains a strong screening posture of 4013 theaters, winning $24.86 million from North America in the fourth weekend, although the box office of a single theater no longer has an advantage, but theater companies are still willing to maintain a super-large-scale screening, because it brings them not only the box office, but also the theater sales department that often sells out!

Although the peripheral sales of the Lord of the Rings trilogy are incomparable with the most popular time of Star Wars, "The Return of the King" is the final chapter of the film and the last parting in the eyes of fans.

Compared with the box office of the film, the peripheral goods are more profitable for producers, distributors and sellers!

Like all commercial companies, any decision made by a North American cinema chain is based on commercial gains.

However, the 4,013 theaters and high screening rate of "The Return of the King" will end here, and next weekend, "Looking for Nemo", produced by Pixar Studios and distributed by Warner Disney, will be released on a large scale.

But the success of "The Return of the King" was enough to make anyone involved in the production and distribution of the film laugh, and within four weeks of its release, the film grossed $421.18 million in North America and $1,175.04 million worldwide! (To be continued......)