In recent gossip media, there are quite a lot of rumors about Duke and Katherine Zeta Jones, but both of them tacitly abide by the overall plan formulated by Pany Kellis, and they appear in public from time to time without any too intimate behavior. When reporters asked about some activities, they all said that he neither admitted nor denied it. ∈♀♀

Of course, the focus of the crew's early publicity was always on this is Duke and Tom Cruise's first collaboration, and the effect is comparable to the attention he attracted when promoting his cooperation with Hanks in "Saving Private Ryan". Just like the cooperation between Spielberg and Harrison Ford, the cooperation between top directors and top superstars can easily attract a lot of attention.

During this period, Duke also went to Lucasfilm once. There were a small number of special effects in "Chicago" and handed over to Industrial Light and Magic, who had been working with him. While chatting with George Lucas, he also heard him mention the new Star Wars plan.

"Star Wars" is about to be re-released, and the film will soon enter mainstream theaters in Europe and the United States again. This may be the most released movie in film history.

“Since 1994, I started writing new stories about the Skywalker family.”

The person who spoke was George Lucas, opposite him, Duke was flipping through the scripts of the first two Star Wars prequels, "George, so the protagonists of the film are Padme Amidala and Anakin Skywalker?"

Lucas nodded slightly and added, "And Obi-Wan."

He saw Duke reading the script carefully, and after thinking about it, he said, "I am good at building the world background, but the details of the story are weak. Duke, give me some suggestions."

If it were someone else, Duke would definitely shut up, but George Lucas was the exception. After all, the relationship between the two families was different.

After reading it for nearly an hour, Duke closed the script and smiled at Lucas, "Did I say it?"

"Just say it directly." Lucas asked his assistant to change two cups of coffee.

Duke took a sip and then said, "Padme Amidala and Anakin Skywalker are a sister-brother relationship, but in the second script, this relationship came too suddenly and unprepared. I think in the first part, the two should have more communication and show their emotional conflicts. Especially Padme."

"And the death of Anakin's mother, if I'm not wrong, is this paving the way for his transformation to a black warrior?"

Seeing Lucas nodding, Duke thought for a while before saying, "There are too few scenes in the script that express Anakin's psychology, I'm worried..."

After hesitating for a moment, Duke didn't continue. Lucas spoke, "Worried that the next one would be a change for the sake of the change?"

He gently tapped the armrest of the sofa. Lucas laughed, "Do you know why the third script has not been completed yet? I have been thinking about the process of Anakin turning to the dark side. Duke, you gave me a lot of tips."

"Just some very personal opinions." Duke said modestly.

George Lucas suddenly turned his head and looked at him seriously, "Duke, do you really not consider the director of the next Star Wars?"

"I'm sorry. George." Duke shook his head slowly and firmly, "My work plan has been scheduled for 2003, and there is really no time."

"What a pity! I think you've surpassed me in pure commercial film." George Lucas is obviously not kidding, "No one in Hollywood, including me, is better suited to be the new director of the Star Wars series than you!"

He said again. "Agree or not, Steven and I are already behind this era. Duke, you will be the most successful director in Hollywood!"

The most successful director?

When leaving Lucasfilm, Duke couldn't help but think of this sentence: If someone could crush Hollywood and the world's film industry with just box office, it would be James Cameron.

The filming of "Chicago" is still constantly having some problems, and the speed is always lower than expected. Fortunately, there are constant inspiring news in other aspects, especially about the film's division, which can always make people feel refreshed.

Duke can also openly find Twentieth Century Fox to collect debts.

"Save Private Ryan" North America's box office of $325.79 million and global box office of $649.27 million, automatically triggering the 20% share clause in the ladder share agreement. Because the film's award-winning period went through an extremely long screening period in North America, Fox was not ready to pay Duke's share share until the end of June, and there were still many difficulties. After Duke's accountants urged him continuously, Townsend Rossman specially invited Duke to the headquarters of Century City Fox.

"Townsend, our cooperation has been very enjoyable."

Sitting in the CEO reception room, Duke's face was full of dissatisfaction, "Three days left, June is coming to an end. The North American share of "Save Private Ryan", the first month of North American vcd, videotape and TV copyright share were not received!"

VCD and videotapes will create sales peaks in the first month of the release of the video, and can even reach more than one-third of the total revenue per year. According to the contract, Fox Pictures, as the North American copyright owner, must pay Duke's share before the end of the first half of the year, which is also a considerable number.

The film won nine awards including Best Picture with eleven Oscar nominations, becoming a big winner in the videotape and TV broadcast market.

During the whole month of April, the videotape "Save Private Ryan" sold as much as $23.5 million, and the videotape rental revenue was $15.25 million. Even the vcd discs that were not popular in North America sold $570,000, and the copyright of the first round of North American TV broadcast was also sold $4.5 million.

In just one month, the North American surroundings of "Save Private Ryan" brought a total of $43.82 million in revenue, of which six percent belonged to Duke, or $2.62 million. Together with the North American box office share of $65.15 million, Twentieth Century Fox is about to owe him a lot of money.

If it were three years ago, the Twentieth Century Fox could have delayed it, but now it has to consider the consequences.

After working together for several years, they can see Duke's ideas clearly and know that he will soon return to the ranks of mainstream commercial films. Which film company does not want to continue working with directors who are so successful in business?

But this is indeed a huge sum of money, and the Focus is really difficult.

"Duke, we will definitely pay for your share."

From the time we sat down, Townsend Rossman's brows were frowning, "We are old friends, we all believe in each other's credibility, and Fox has always supported you."

"Yes, I appreciate your support." Duke said not entirely politely.

In the Mel Gibson incident, Fox's media always stood firmly on his side. Even though this was a manifestation of political correctness, they did make efforts.

"But you should know, Townsend." Duke's words turned back, "Our cooperation has always been friendship and business is business."

"I don't hide it, Duke."

Next, as long as someone who is interested in doing some investigation, you can get relevant news. Townsend Rossman simply said directly, "Fox's liquidity is very tight. After the North American box office share of "Save Private Ryan" was paid, the part that belonged to Fox has been invested in the sequels and other projects of "Life and Death Hour". We did not move your share, but..."

He sighed, "Besides you, there is another person chasing behind Fox for money."

Hearing this, Duke gradually remembered something, but his face was unmoved. He is now fully qualified to bargain with Twentieth Century Fox.

"Fox hopes to defer your share payment," Townsend Rossman said slowly. "The board of directors has agreed to pay interest at the bank interest rate."

"Why don't you ask the group company for help?" Duke asked tentatively.

Tom Rossman shook his head, "Duke, you're a completely amateur question. Fox and News Group's financial accounting is all independent. Although the two parties have affiliation, there are very few direct financial transactions."

After picking up the coffee cup and drinking a little bit slowly, Duke asked, "Is there something wrong with the project you worked with Paramount?"

"You should have heard that this is not a secret." Townsend Rossman's eyes were filled with anger despite maintaining calmness. "Fox invested 100 million US dollars! James Cameron was still following us and asked for more investment. We threw in part of the working capital that maintained Fox's daily operation, but he replied that the film would not be released this year!"

In the past two years, Fox has invested more than this project. The $100 million invested by the ship seems to be not much, but it has used a considerable amount of working capital. In the remaining memory in Duke's mind, some senior Fox officials once said that if Cameron's project fails, Fox is likely to go bankrupt.

Duke gradually had a plan in his mind, "So Fox wants to temporarily intercept my share and continue to add James Cameron's investment?"

"We will invest part of the money to revitalize this project."

There is nothing wrong with the matter now, not to mention that Twentieth Century Fox has other plans, "James Cameron has delayed for too long, and Fox and Paramount are both interested in replacing him as the director!"

Duke was not surprised at all about Townsend Roseman's words. Twentieth Century Fox and Paramount Pictures did plan to replace James Cameron halfway through.

But Townsend Rossman said next, but he was stunned.

"Yes, we want to replace James Cameron. He has delayed a project for too long. We want to replace a director who has a fast enough production speed and can ensure quality and quantity!"
Chapter completed!