belamy20
patreon
1651-1653
🕑 Added 2025-08-08 17:14:42 +0000 UTCChapter 1651: Live for the Moment
“Anson! Anson! Aaaaahhh!”
Cheers, screams—an overwhelming roar surged through the crowd. The energy was so intense that only those present could truly feel its impact. It was far from ordinary.
Anson stepped forward, waving to the audience on both sides of the red carpet, smiling as he said, “Please support The Princess Diaries 2!”
Audience member: “You look like the official spokesperson.”
Anson gestured to his chest. “Do I need a sash?”
Audience member: “Anson, should we choose The Princess Diaries 2 or Spider-Man 2?”
Anson, without hesitation: “The Princess Diaries 2.”
Roar roar roar!
Anson continued, “I’m sure you’ve all seen Spider-Man 2 already, so now it’s time for The Princess Diaries.”
He kept the conversation light and playful, engaging directly with the crowd. Everywhere he went, laughter followed, and the energy just kept building.
Unfortunately, Anson didn’t stay on the red carpet for long. He left the spotlight to Anne, Chris, and Hector, disappearing into the bustling crowd of the El Capitan Theatre. Inside, a fresh wave of cheers erupted—
Clearly, Anson had a close bond with The Princess Diaries 2 cast and crew.
Whew.
Chris finally let out a breath. Even though Anson hadn’t been overbearing, his powerful presence was impossible to ignore.
Now, Chris could finally return to the spotlight—not as a supporting actor, but as the male lead.
But reality had other plans.
Even after Anson left, the red carpet buzz still revolved around him. Every other sentence mentioned his name. He was the undeniable center of attention.
Strangely enough, after Anne, Chris, and Hector exited the carpet, the crowd's excitement somehow reached a whole new peak, spilling out into every corner of Hollywood Boulevard.
Buzzing, chattering, bursting with excitement.
Faces lit up with joy and excitement as people animatedly discussed Anson’s every move. Some even danced in place or screamed with delight—it was like the whole street was on fire.
When director Garry Marshall arrived, this was the scene he saw—
“What’s going on?”
Wait... were they cheering for the director?
A smile slowly crept onto Garry’s face.
Meanwhile, inside the El Capitan Theatre, despite the packed crowds, it was still easy to spot one figure.
He was like the moon surrounded by stars.
Anne couldn’t help but smile. Her heart was pounding, and a wave of pure happiness welled up in her chest—
Surprise. A hundred percent genuine surprise.
Their phone call last night had lasted less than ten seconds.
Anson had said he was on his way to Toronto. The North American press tour had just wrapped, and next came the international leg—nonstop travel and barely any time to sleep.
He didn’t even get a chance to hang up. He fell asleep mid-sentence.
Anne, too, had been swamped. The hectic Ella Enchanted promo tour had left her exhausted, and she’d jumped straight into promoting The Princess Diaries 2. With the premiere coming up, she was barely staying awake herself.
Neither of them had gotten a chance to say goodnight—they’d both drifted off mid-call.
So today’s surprise felt almost unreal.
She still couldn’t quite believe her eyes. Was this a dream? Maybe a continuation of last night’s half-asleep fantasy?
From across the room, Anson seemed to sense her gaze and turned his head. Their eyes met, cutting through the crowd.
Their lips curled into smiles. Hearts racing.
But with so many eyes watching, Anne had to control herself. The excitement made everything feel even more surreal.
She held herself back, reined in her emotions, and then—graceful and composed—walked toward him without hesitation.
“I thought you were in Toronto,” Anne said.
Anson replied, “How could I miss the premiere? Not being in the movie was regret enough—I couldn’t risk making another mistake. I might lose the chance to be your friend.”
Everyone laughed at his joke. But only Anne could hear the teasing message hidden underneath. Her face flushed, and her mouth went dry.
Then Anson added, “Sorry for stealing the spotlight. Hopefully tomorrow’s headlines stay on topic.”
Anne tilted her chin with a playful huff. “Hmph! If you were going to show up, you should’ve done it quietly. I bet you did this on purpose.”
The crowd joined in immediately, shouting things like, “Totally on purpose!” and “Anson, not cool—don’t steal the show like that!” Everyone was cracking up.
Anson shrugged with a grin. “I could keep a low profile… but doing good deeds without taking credit? That’s just not my style.”
Roars of laughter.
“All right, to make it up to you all—dinner’s on me after the premiere,” Anson declared generously.
Someone in the crowd joked, “You mean like… In-N-Out?”
Anson: “Ah, busted. Plan A is out. Let’s go with Plan B—I’ll hand my bank card to Anne. Food, drinks, and the after-party are all on me tonight.”
First came laughter, then cheers. The atmosphere was electric.
Anne stared at him, speechless.
Anson smiled warmly and added, “Feel free to invite your friends and family.”
Roar!
Now the crowd went wild.
Anne could barely believe her ears. She mouthed silently, “Are you insane?”
Anson just gave a tiny shrug and smiled without saying a word.
Missing out on The Princess Diaries 2 hadn’t cost Anson much professionally, but in his heart, he never forgot the support Garry Marshall and the whole crew had given him. Without that first opportunity, there would be no Anson Wood. One party? No big deal.
Anne could feel the electric excitement too. The crew had started chanting her name.
“Anne! Anne! Anne!”
And then it hit her—Anson had given her his credit card. Did that mean…
She stopped the thought before it could grow, blushing and flustered. She turned away and pushed a crew member ahead of her into the theater, laughing and joining the crowd like nothing had happened. But as she passed Anson, she stood on tiptoe and whispered:
“Careful, or you’ll max out your card.”
Anson replied without missing a beat, “That’s your job—to keep me in check.” His eyes sparkled with mischief.
Anne froze—“Ugh! This guy!”
She didn’t dare say another word and quickly disappeared into the theater with the rest of the crowd. Joy filled every corner of the El Capitan Theatre.
Whatever happened at the box office, tonight’s premiere was a massive success. Drink and be merry tonight—tomorrow, they could worry about the film’s fate.
In the chaos and celebration, no one noticed a figure quietly approach Anson. After a brief conversation, the two of them slipped away unnoticed.
Just as Garry Marshall walked in, he caught a glimpse of their backs and frowned in confusion.
“Bob Iger? Anson? What are those two doing together?”
Chapter 1652 – Seemingly Ordinary
“Hey, Anson.”
A calm, gentle voice called out—low-key and humble.
In the middle of all the hustle and bustle, it stood out even more, like the first ray of morning sunlight filtering through dense forest leaves, softly landing on a tender sprout. Subtle, yet unshakable—it instantly caught Anson’s attention.
He turned around and saw that face.
Squarish features, a faint, modest smile at the corners of his lips. Not flashy or sharp. His round, gold-rimmed glasses added a touch of elegance—he had the look of a quiet scholar.
In a crowd, he could easily go unnoticed. He looked delicate, harmless, someone you'd think couldn’t even win a fight with a chicken. There was no trace of aggression in his eyes.
And yet, this was the man who had overturned Michael Eisner’s rule at Disney, who had pushed through the acquisitions of Pixar, Lucasfilm, and Marvel, and who had dragged Disney back from the brink. With a series of bold moves, he left Warner Bros. in the dust and firmly took the throne of Hollywood.
For fifteen straight years, Disney dominated the industry—films, TV, animation, comics—every front saw success. Even the Disney theme parks found new life. He achieved what companies like Warner, Sony Columbia, and 20th Century Fox had always dreamed of but never pulled off.
Bob Iger—this quiet, bookish man—was the force behind it all.
Perhaps his only major misstep in his career as Disney’s CEO was underestimating the rise of streaming and short-form content, which left the Disney Channel behind in the race. And from what Anson knew of the future, they never quite caught up.
Even so, Bob’s vision and judgment remained in a league of their own.
After crafting one legend after another, he announced his honorary retirement in 2019, stepping down as CEO and preparing to enjoy his post-career life.
But the company soon lost direction and began to falter. As Disney's advantage shrank, the board begged Bob to return. In 2022, he stepped back in as CEO, hoping to lead Disney into another golden era.
Of course, the tides of time can’t be turned by one person alone. His continued misreading of the streaming landscape meant Disney lost its edge, and even someone like Bob couldn’t instantly reverse its decline. In fact, just three months into his second term, Bob announced a layoff of 7,000 employees—a move that once again revealed his sharp decisiveness beneath that mild exterior.
Still—
There’s no question: Bob Iger was, without a doubt, the most influential figure in Hollywood over the next twenty years.
And now, here he was, standing in front of Anson—calm, warm smile on his face, eyes focused as if no one else existed.
Anyone would feel respected under that gaze. Even before a word was spoken, you’d already like him.
“Bob Iger, producer,” he said simply, extending his hand politely.
Anson raised an eyebrow, returning the handshake. “The Chief Operating Officer of Disney calling himself a producer? That sounds like a pretty big misunderstanding.”
He didn’t hesitate to call Bob out.
That surprised Bob a bit. In Disney, everyone knew Michael Eisner’s name, but even with his COO and president titles, Bob was often invisible to the outside world. Very few people could recognize him on sight—or had even heard his name.
Not just Bob—many top execs in Hollywood faced the same.
Most actors didn’t really bother with the tangled web of industry power structures. Heck, even elite producers and crew members wouldn’t know every name and face. That’s where a good agent usually stepped in.
But Anson had spotted him right away.
Bob looked Anson up and down—yep, definitely not just a pretty face.
Still, his surprise faded quickly, and he smiled again. “I was just wondering how to introduce myself without sounding like a scammer. Looks like I can relax now.”
With a playful tone, Bob gestured, “There’s still some time before the film starts. I was thinking of taking a walk—would I be lucky enough to have your company?”
Anson blinked. “Me?”
Bob smiled. “Right now, the whole of Hollywood wants to take a walk with Anson Wood.”
Anson smirked. “You probably don’t.”
Bob replied, “Why not? Actually, I’ve been wanting to meet you ever since the Princess Diaries premiere. You seemed like everyone else at first, but you had something different. Your own color.”
Anson lifted his chin slightly. “Well, I’m not sure if I should feel honored or worried right now.”
Bob tilted his head. “Worried?”
For once, Bob looked genuinely confused as he studied the glimmer in Anson’s eyes.
Was he… concerned about getting hit on?
Then Bob laughed as the realization clicked. “Relax. You’re not my type.”
Anson let out a long breath, clearly relieved. He didn’t say anything more but motioned politely, walking alongside Bob as they left the crowded theater entrance.
The more Bob thought about it, the more amused he became. He was the one who approached Anson, but somehow, Anson had quietly taken the lead in their exchange and was controlling the mood.
Brilliant.
Bob couldn’t hold in a laugh. “Ha!”
Noticing Anson’s glance, he explained, “You’re the first person to challenge me to my face.”
Not because of any aura of authority—but because most people thought he wasn’t a threat. Anson was different.
Anson shrugged. “There’s a first time for everything. Like today—Mr. Iger, you came to me. That must mean you’re ready, right?”
Bob’s heart skipped a beat. He glanced at Anson—
Wait. Could he know about Bob’s rebellion against Michael Eisner?
No way. Not even many insiders at Disney knew. How could Anson possibly know?
Bob kept his cool. “Oh? So what do you think I came to you for?”
Anson shrugged again. “Well, since I’m not your type, we’re clearly not here to talk about the dinner menu, are we?”
Bob burst into laughter. “What if I said I just find you interesting and wanted to get to know you?”
Anson stopped walking, turning to face him. “Then I’d thank you for your attention, Mr. Iger—and suggest we head back and watch the movie.”
Bold, direct, sharp—but not unpleasant. In fact, that clean, to-the-point attitude was refreshing and downright admirable.
Chapter 1653: The Value of a Superstar
Truly deserving of the reputation!
Bob looked into Anson’s eyes, a flicker of admiration surfacing. “I’ve heard countless stories about Anson Wood in Hollywood. We all know those stories are usually exaggerated… but I didn’t expect you to be the one who actually makes the rumors seem dull in comparison.”
“So then, what do you think is the reason I came to see you?”
Flattery aside, Bob wasn’t one to surrender so easily.
He offered a compliment, but immediately shifted the conversation back to Anson, appearing to give ground while still holding the upper hand. One moment of carelessness and Anson could fall into Bob’s rhythm.
But Anson paused.
That single pause broke the flow. Bob raised his eyebrows, mildly surprised.
Then Anson said, “Should I answer that?”
Bob: ?
Anson smiled lightly. “Or… should we keep walking?”
Bob couldn’t help but laugh, the corners of his mouth rising.
Anson had seen right through Bob’s tactics—and he wasn’t playing along. It was Bob who had invited him on this walk in the first place. If Bob insisted on trying to control the game, Anson wasn’t interested in playing it.
A glint flashed in Bob’s eyes. “So this is how you got the better of Michael Lynton?”
Anson replied calmly, “I thought it was a win-win. Nobody got hurt.”
Bob laughed brightly—he was now fully convinced that the man before him was the real deal. Hollywood was in for a wild ride.
In truth, this was exactly why Bob had come to Anson.
Hypothetically, if Bob planned to unseat Michael Eisner and take the helm of Disney, he needed a long-term strategy.
Of course, such a plan would be a massive capital endeavor. A few films or a handful of stars wouldn’t change the game. But on the sidelines of this financial battlefield—where the board and Wall Street are made up of people—emotions and influence still played a role.
That’s where a top-tier superstar could make a difference.
Imagine: Bob takes over Disney and announces the first step of his vision—a short-term plan that includes films by Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise, and Anson Wood. The excitement alone could boost the board’s confidence and stabilize the transition.
After careful observation and consideration, Bob believed Anson was the ideal candidate—even better than Tom Cruise, Will Smith, Johnny Depp, or even Leonardo DiCaprio.
Young. Energetic. Peaking. On the rise.
Even with Spider-Man 2 making waves, the scariest thing about Anson was that he was still ascending.
Just the name “Anson Wood” was a shot of adrenaline, a symbol that could reassure both shareholders and the board, allowing a smooth management transition.
On paper, it all made sense. But in reality, Bob had doubts.
Sony Columbia and Warner Bros. were cautionary tales. Both had shown that Anson was a wildcard—not easy to control, and more than capable of turning the tables if you weren't careful.
And that was exactly what Bob wanted to avoid.
Which is why he had come personally to test the waters.
So far? Everything was going exactly as expected.
In theory, someone like Anson was the last person Disney would want.
Disney’s style?
Stable. Conservative. Polished. Family-friendly.
From the very beginning, “family and children” had always been Disney’s core. The last thing they needed was risk, weirdness, or unpredictability.
Pirates of the Caribbean was already pushing the envelope.
Bob knew this well—and he firmly believed that was Disney’s soul. A force like Anson, with limitless potential, was not the kind of partner they usually aligned with. Like the Weinstein brothers and Miramax, their departure was inevitable.
But that wasn’t the full picture.
Bob also understood that times were changing. If Disney stayed trapped in its traditions, drifting with the current and refusing to evolve, they’d eventually be forgotten—swept into the dustbin of history.
That was why Michael Eisner had fallen—not because of his stronghold on power, but because his mindset was outdated.
Replacing Eisner wasn’t hard. The key was not repeating the same mistakes.
So Bob didn’t turn away. “The one thing I’m certain of—you’re the biggest winner here.”
Anson didn’t argue. What he wanted to say was: Sony Columbia was the real winner. He’d only taken a small slice of the pie. The lion’s share still belonged to the capital powers. But there was no need to point that out to Bob—he was more curious about Bob’s intentions anyway.
So he shrugged. “Everyone keeps saying that, but I still don’t feel it. Maybe I should check my bank account.”
Then he added with a slight smirk, “But I assume Mr. Iger’s real interest isn’t in my contract with Sony Columbia? Sorry, that’s confidential. I have to learn to keep my mouth shut.”
Bob smiled again, not hiding behind vague hints anymore. “I was wondering if you’d be interested in collaborating on a series of projects with Disney.”
“The Princess Diaries was a pleasant experience, though sadly, we didn’t work together on the sequel.”
“But now, we have a chance to change that. If we work together, I believe you could become an icon for families and children around the world—like Tom Hanks. Oh, my mistake. I should say, the one and only Anson Wood.”
“With Sony Columbia, you’re a pawn. With Warner Bros., you’re a tool. But with Disney—you’d be a symbol.”
Anson tilted his head slightly, a meaningful expression on his face. “So I wouldn’t be human either way.”
Bob: …
Anson chuckled. “Sorry, just a habit. I kid. So, what kind of projects are we talking about?”
Bob let out a breath. “Ah, that’s the tough part. It’s a huge vision. We’re not talking about just one or two films. We’re talking about a series.”
Anson asked, “Something like Harry Potter?”
Bob replied, “No, bigger. Much bigger. We want to build something around you—based on your style and spirit. Just like the powerful partnership between Spielberg and Hanks, we could become Hollywood’s next top duo.”
“Five films. Ten films. Maybe more.”
“What we’re discussing here isn’t just a set of movies. It’s a brand. A persona. A legacy. Anson and Disney. Disney and Anson. One plus one equals more than two.”
Blah blah blah.
One impressive phrase after another, painting a grand and dazzling vision.
You had to admit—Bob was incredibly persuasive. His scholarly, unassuming appearance only added to his charm, making the shining future he described all the more enticing.
Anson didn’t interrupt. He patiently waited for Bob to finish before speaking.
“So, could you give me a more concrete example of what that might feel like?”
Bob paused for a beat. “Have you heard of The Chronicles of Narnia?”
