As the morning passed, there was no progress and negotiations could continue.

The next negotiations are still deadlocked, not because Marvel Comics does not want to sell the rights to superhero characters, but because they are dissatisfied with Ryan's conditions.

In particular, it will no longer enjoy any form of sharing and licensing fees, including animation, film and television, TV series and film and television works.

On the contrary, there is not much resistance to the permanent purchase of the copyright.

Anyway, it's not the first time that Marvel Comics has sold out the copyright of superhero characters, and even the copyright of Spider-Man has been sold, not to mention some second- and third-tier superhero characters.

As Ryan said that day, people have forgotten about most of the superhero characters under the Marvel Comics banner, with the exception of Spider-Man.

The hottest superheroes in North America at the moment are Superman, Batman, and then Spider-Man.

The other side still did not agree to the $50 million offer, unless the very harsh conditions were agreed. ”

In the conference room of Marvel Comics, Ronald Perelman sat in a chair, his eyes closed, while listening to the latest report on the negotiations.

"So how are you getting in touch with other film companies or copyright companies?"

It's clear that Marvel Comics isn't referring to Ryan's family, and they're also contacting companies that are interested in buying the rights to superhero characters.

An executive stood up a little helplessly and said, "I'm afraid it will be difficult to find a second buyer in a short period of time." ”

However, some banks and financial structures have agreed to use the copyrights of superhero characters as collateral for loans. ”

One cannot be said to be good, but it cannot be said to be bad news.

Mortgage!

Ronald Perelman frowned, and that wasn't what he wanted.

In fact, he is not short of funds and can completely continue to invest in Marvel Comics.

However, he was not optimistic about the future of comics for a long time, so he made a new development plan to use the large number of superhero characters under the Astonishment Comics banner to enter the film and television industry.

Unfortunately, this development plan has not been approved by the board members, and has even encountered various obstacles.

"What we need now is an injection of capital that will revitalize the comics business and even boost the company's share price, not a loan that needs to be repaid in the future. Ronald Perelman's gaze showed a hint of dissatisfaction.

A loan is obviously unlikely to significantly increase the company's share price unless a new development plan is implemented.

But when his eyes fell on the board members on both sides, he couldn't help but shake his head, these people would not agree to enter the film and television industry, they just wanted to guard the crumbling comic business.

"Then we can only completely sell the rights of a number of superhero characters like the last time we faced Twentieth Century Fox, and we will not enjoy any form of share. ”

"Only such a harsh agreement can get back $50 million, and finally meet the willingness of some people to pull up the company's stock price. Avi-Arad couldn't help but show a sarcastic tone.

It was clear to everyone that Ronald Perelman was only thinking about how to raise the company's stock price so that he could take advantage of the opportunity to extract more cash, just as he did when the company first went public.

"Avi Arad, remember who you are, whether you agree to this matter or not, it's not up to you to decide, it's me, I'm the boss of Marvel Comics. Ronald Perelman's stern eyes suddenly fell on Avi Arad.

Although Avi Arad is in charge of the two animated films "Fantastic Four" and "Iron Man", he has some status at Marvel Comics, but he is far from being qualified to argue with Ronald Perelman.

It's 1994, far from the end of the twentieth century, when Avi Arrad, who was in charge of Marvel Studios, could decide the development of Marvel Studios in one word, recovering the rights of sold superheroes everywhere, and formulating the live-action movie Avengers plan.

For a moment, the conference room became quiet.

After a long while, someone finally couldn't help but speak: "Something like the X-Men really shouldn't continue to happen, unless Ryan Gosling can offer a price that people can't refuse." ”

"However, the differences on the price can be discussed slowly, and the specific conditions can also be discussed slowly. ”

At this point in the meeting, the members of the board of directors finally reluctantly agreed that they could talk, but they had to come up with a price that people couldn't refuse.

Over the next few days, Ryan followed the negotiation team and kept talking to Marvel Comics.

As for the release and promotion of "Saw 2", it was handed over to Twentieth Century Fox, and even the cooperation plan that had been negotiated with Touchstone had to be postponed until after Christmas.

After a few days, Ryan's efforts were not in vain, and Marvel Comics agreed to buy out the copyright in perpetuity, without any time limit, unlike Sony, where every once in a while, a Spider-Man movie had to be filmed in order to keep the Spider-Man copyright.

However, the buyout price has not decreased, but has increased, and Marvel Comics has been biting the revenue in the later period.

Even if the price has increased to $55 million, Marvel Comics still hasn't let up, and it's clinging to a five-percent license share.

That's not five percent of the North American box office, or the global box office, but five percent of all revenue.

Compared with the previous agreements reached between Marvel Comics and Twentieth Century Fox and Constantine Pictures, the conditions are more stringent.

It seems as if everything has taken a turn for the worse, Ryan has suddenly changed from a robber to a robber.

"I could agree to increase the buyout price to $55 million, but a 5 percent split of all revenues, this is absolutely impossible. ”

"At most, we agree to a share of box office profits, and only two percent. Ryan retorted.

"Two percent, and it's just a share of box office profits!"

"Marvel Comics will also never agree to such harsh sharing conditions. "The negotiators on the Marvel comics side of the comics were very crisp and refused.

"No company or individual would agree to such a condition. Five percent of all income?" Ryan said with a hint of sarcasm on his face, "It's ridiculous. ”

"We're not talking about superhero character copyright, it's not Superman, Batman, it's not even Spider-Man. ”

"If you continue to insist, I'll only be able to approach DC Comics, and maybe they'll be willing to sell some rights to second- and third-tier superheroes that seem inconsequential. ”

As soon as Spider-Man was mentioned, the negotiators in Marvel Comics immediately showed a helpless look, they had already sold the Spider-Man copyright.

DC Comics is the biggest opponent of Marvel Comics.

"Mr. Ryan, you don't need to move DC Comics out, they're not going to sell the rights to any superhero characters. ”

It stands to reason that DC Comics will never sell the rights to its superhero characters, even if it is only some inconsequential second- and third-tier superheroes.

However, with the relationship between DC Comics and Marvel Comics, as well as years of competition, it may not be impossible to sell the copyrights of several second- and third-tier superhero characters, thus preventing Marvel Comics from obtaining much-needed funds.

Back then, Marvel Comics almost bought DC Comics, which has always been regarded as a shame by DC Comics, and will never mind adding a little trouble to Marvel Comics.

Seeing that the negotiations were at an impasse, Ryan was not in a hurry, anyway, it was only 1994, and there was still a long time before Marvel Comics established Marvel Studios.

During this period, Marvel Comics went bankrupt several times in succession, and there was always a chance to buy the rights of a number of superhero characters.

As for DC Comics, he didn't think about it at all.

The reason is very simple, DC Comics was acquired by Time Warner Group in 1969 and is now a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Entertainment, one of the seven major Hollywood studios.

It is almost impossible to buy the rights to a number of superheroes from Warner Bros., and it is much more difficult than buying the rights to the X-Men from Twentieth Century Fox, or it is not the same difficulty.

Whether it is Superman or Batman, there have been successful precedents, far from being comparable to the superhero character copyright under Marvel Comics, and Warner Bros., no matter how idiotic it is, will not sell the superhero character copyright under DC Comics.