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🕑 Added 2025-06-25 16:29:32 +0000 UTCChapter 289: A Gathering of Titans
As the celebration party kicked off, more and more big names started showing up: Chinese-American director Ang Lee, DreamWorks mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg, horror legend George Romero, kung fu star Jackie Chan, British maestro Ridley Scott… the list went on.
Even Columbia Pictures’ chairwoman Amy Pascal and MGM’s distribution president Robert Levin made appearances.
Amy Pascal was a sharp, no-nonsense woman who’d climbed the ranks from secretary to a powerhouse with real clout, thanks to her bold and fiery personality. She’d once had her eye on snagging the Spider-Man rights, but Dunn swooped in and nabbed Marvel first. Later, she tried for Fantastic Four, only to get turned down by Dunn again. This time, her goal was clear: she wanted Columbia Pictures to become Legendary Pictures’ second big partner.
Dunn played it coy, dodging a straight answer.
MGM, on the other hand, was a fading giant. They churned out about twenty films a year—decent output—but only the 007 and Hannibal series ever really made a splash at the box office. Plus, they’d made two colossal missteps: hiring John Woo for Windtalkers and betting big on a string of projects with Tom Cruise. Within two years, they’d likely be staring down bankruptcy.
No way Dunn was teaming up with MGM right now!
“You’ve been cozying up to Twentieth Century Fox, huh?” Dunn asked, slipping over to Michael Ovitz during a rare quiet moment.
A deal like this—pooled investment—was a big deal, and even Dunn couldn’t call the shots alone. He had to think it through and, most importantly, show respect to his partner, Michael Ovitz.
“Yeah, I’ve met with Tom Rothman a few times lately. We’ve hit it off,” Michael Ovitz said, glancing at Dunn and lowering his voice. “I know you two had some friction in the past, but… Fox has been laying low and playing nice lately.”
Dunn waved it off. “No need to bring that up. I’m not about to let personal grudges mess with the company’s bottom line. Legendary Pictures belongs to all its shareholders, not just me.”
He wasn’t putting on an act here.
Legendary Pictures had only scored Wall Street funding because Dunn staked his personal reputation on it. Sure, he and Wall Street had clashed hard before, but after a few solid collaborations, they trusted his word.
Now that Legendary was up and running in Hollywood, far from Wall Street’s grip, Dunn wasn’t dumb enough to tank his hard-earned cred by strong-arming the company for his own gain and screwing over the shareholders.
It wasn’t worth it.
Besides, Twentieth Century Fox wasn’t Disney. Even when things got heated between their companies, Fox played by the rules—standard market competition stuff. They weren’t mortal enemies; there was room to patch things up.
Disney, though? Once they got mad, it was kill orders and scorched earth. They’d rather bleed themselves dry than let Dunn Films live. That kind of over-the-top feud left no room for reconciliation.
Michael Ovitz nodded, pleased with Dunn’s response. “I’ve stepped down as CEO of AG Agency. My focus is all on Legendary now. I’ve done some deep digging lately and narrowed it down to two companies that fit our needs.”
“Twentieth Century Fox?”
“Yup, and Universal!”
Dunn’s expression shifted. “Universal’s a no-go.”
Michael Ovitz chuckled. “I figured you’d say that, so I never seriously considered them. My talks with Tom Rothman have been pretty smooth, though.”
Dunn mulled it over for a second, then nodded. “Fox has X-Men going strong and just kicked off Planet of the Apes. They’ve got solid returns lined up for the next few years—definitely a better bet than Paramount or Columbia.”
Michael Ovitz let out a relieved breath. “Glad you see it that way. These first two deals are gonna have Wall Street watching us like hawks. We need to deliver a killer scorecard to lock in more funding.”
More funding meant a bigger footprint for Legendary in the industry!
Dunn’s eyes lit up. “More funding? You mean…?”
“Exactly!” Michael Ovitz grinned, a glint of power in his eyes. “The economy’s shaky right now. Tons of private equity funds are sitting on cash with nowhere to put it—some are hoarding over ten billion bucks! Film co-investment’s the hot new thing, and fund managers are all over it.”
Dunn narrowed his eyes. “So you’re saying Legendary could score another massive cash injection soon?”
“If this second deal goes big enough, I’m confident I can close a second round of financing by March!”
“What kind?”
“Maybe senior debt, maybe mezzanine financing. Doesn’t matter—what counts is the cash hitting Legendary’s books!”
Dunn cracked a laugh at that.
That’s Hollywood swagger for you!
Once the money’s in Legendary’s account, rolling through Hollywood’s turf… heh, how it gets spent is up to them, right?
“Sounds good. If push comes to shove, we can even offload some management shares to sweeten the deal for investors!”
Dunn wasn’t above playing hardball. As long as he kept his basic credibility intact, he’d love to see Legendary grow fast. Those measly shares? Honestly, he’d never banked on them for profit. Tech companies were the real goldmine.
His $100 million stake in Legendary? That was all about buying power and status in Hollywood!
Just then, a loud voice rang out from the entrance: “Paramount Pictures Chairman and CEO, Ms. Sherry Lansing, has arrived!”
As the host, Dunn had to go greet her. Michael Ovitz quickly wrapped up, “So, you’re cool with Fox?”
Dunn grinned and clapped him on the shoulder. “Michael, you’re the chairman and CEO of Legendary. I’m just a board member in name.”
Michael Ovitz burst out laughing. “Sly little fox!”
“Keep it under wraps for now,” Dunn said, covering his mouth and dropping his voice. “We’ve got a big show coming up later, and you’ll need to keep these studio bigwigs happy.”
Michael Ovitz raised an eyebrow, a flicker of worry crossing his face. “Dunn, don’t do anything crazy!”
“Relax, I’ve got it under control!”
Dunn flashed a wicked grin.
Michael Ovitz felt a chill. What wild stunt was this guy cooking up now?
…
Before long, the Saw celebration party was packed with heavy hitters.
Top brass from old-school giants like Universal, Paramount, Twentieth Century Fox, Columbia, Warner, and MGM all showed up, alongside execs from rising players like DreamWorks, Lionsgate, and Legendary.
Big-name directors like George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott, and Clint Eastwood rolled in, dressed to the nines.
The whole event turned into a who’s-who of Hollywood power players!
A little B-movie like Saw had stirred up more buzz in the industry than Spider-Man or even Titanic back in the day—an unprecedented spectacle!
Of course, anyone with a brain knew the bigwigs weren’t really there to toast Saw’s success. They had ulterior motives.
George Lucas was lobbying for Fox, Ridley Scott for Universal, Martin Scorsese for Paramount…
Point is, Legendary’s second co-investment deal had become the prize every Hollywood titan was gunning for!
Some small-time actors at the party—like young Aussie actress Rose Byrne—didn’t get the full picture and were just floored by the scene.
Rose didn’t know Dunn personally but was tight with Natalie Portman. In Star Wars: Episode II, she’d stepped in for Keira Knightley as Queen Amidala’s handmaiden.
She was only at the Saw party because the Aussie expat crew had insisted: “If you’ve got the time, you’ve got to show up!”
Her mentor, Cate Blanchett, had told her Dunn was tight with Australian actors. If she wanted to make it big in Hollywood, hitching her wagon to Dunn was the move.
Rose had picked up the subtext in Cate’s advice.
Sleep with him?
She was young, with dreams, drive, and ambition—she wasn’t about that life!
But what she saw now left her jaw on the floor!
She couldn’t believe Dunn Walker, a guy around her age, had this much pull and prestige!
Hollywood’s top dogs and A-list directors were swarming around him, hanging on his every word like he was calling the shots.
It was mind-blowing!
Then another announcement boomed from the entrance, and Rose’s eyes sparkled, her heart pounding so hard she nearly fainted. Another mega-player had just walked in—
“Disney Chairman and CEO, Mr. Michael Eisner, has arrived!”
…
Dunn was chatting and laughing with the big shots, never running out of small talk, when the call came that Michael Eisner had shown up. The vibe in their little circle froze solid.
Michael Eisner? He was here too?
These were all industry heavyweights—they knew the bad blood between Dunn Films and Disney.
Last time, at the Spider-Man party, Eisner had crashed uninvited, made a fool of himself, and earned some serious side-eye from the industry.
Now… he was back for Saw?
What was he up to?
Going for broke?
The guy’s lost it!
Chapter 290: He Came Prepared!
Dunn nearly burst out laughing at the strange, sly looks on everyone’s faces.
In this little circle, every single person was a sharp operator. They could all guess that Michael Eisner showing up today wasn’t for the same reason as them—it couldn’t possibly be just about the co-financing deal!
The room was packed with Hollywood heavyweights, including a few studio chairmen, but when it came to status and clout, none of them could hold a candle to Michael Eisner!
Take Tom Rothman, the chairman of 20th Century Fox’s board. In Eisner’s eyes, he was just a small-time schemer from humble roots, scrambling for power.
The only ones on Eisner’s level were titans like Rupert Murdoch, the big boss of News Corp, or Sumner Redstone, the head honcho of Viacom, Paramount’s parent company!
People like Tom Rothman or Sherry Lansing might be on par with the chairman of Disney’s film division, but they were nowhere near the top dog of a media empire like Disney.
Co-financing was a game-changer for Hollywood’s movie industry, a revolutionary move that had everyone buzzing and bending over backward to court Dunn.
But the film division was just a tiny slice of Disney’s pie—not nearly enough to drag Michael Eisner himself out here.
So the question was: why would Michael Eisner lower himself to show up at the Saw celebration party?
All eyes turned to Dunn.
This had to be another one of that kid’s tricks!
Everyone in the room knew about the personal beef between Dunn and Michael Eisner. Heck, Dunn Films still hadn’t lifted its ban on Disney—easily the juiciest gossip in Hollywood circles.
To recklessly plot against Disney’s chairman like that? Across all of Hollywood, Dunn was probably the only one with the guts!
These were all big shots, but if they were honest with themselves, not a single one had the nerve or the backbone to go toe-to-toe with Michael Eisner and burn that bridge.
The funny thing? Dunn was doing just fine—thriving, even, as Hollywood’s golden boy.
Meanwhile, Michael Eisner… had to come knocking on his door!
Aside from a few clueless small fry on the fringes, anyone with a shred of insider knowledge or connections could see it plain as day: in this personal showdown, Dunn had come out on top!
Dunn scanned the room and noticed that, except for Michael Ovitz, Bill Mechanic, and a couple others, everyone’s eyes were a mix of suspicion and awe. Feeling pretty good, he smiled and said, “Mr. Eisner’s here, huh? Well, that’s the king of Disney for you!”
His words dripped with sarcasm.
King of Disney? So what? Still had to come groveling at my feet, didn’t he?
Michael Eisner’s domineering reputation wasn’t exactly a secret, and it didn’t win him many fans. Soon, quiet chuckles rippled through the crowd.
“Mind joining me to go greet him?” Dunn asked, blinking innocently. “He’s a big deal, after all. Gotta make the welcome grand, or he might think I’m snubbing him on purpose.”
With something like this, if one person went, the rest had to follow. No one wanted to risk looking like they were disrespecting Michael Eisner.
That Disney chairman wasn’t exactly known for his big heart.
Dunn led the way, flanked by his right-hand men, Bill Mechanic and West Cotton, with practically the most powerful crew in Hollywood trailing behind.
It was quite the sight!
Some of the lesser-known folks, like Rose Byrne, didn’t know what was going on. Seeing this “storm brewing” moment, they were so nervous they forgot to breathe.
These were the kind of people who could shake Hollywood with a stomp of their foot. Hitching your wagon to just one of them would guarantee a solid foothold in the industry.
And Dunn, young as he was… was clearly the center of it all!
Mind-blowing!
…
Michael Eisner was definitely not thrilled—hundreds of times over. If he could, he’d send Dunn straight to the depths of hell!
But here he was, forced to show up at the Saw party to prop up his archenemy. It was a bitter pill to swallow.
Still, since he’d come, he had to keep up appearances. He’d already heard this party was crawling with industry bigwigs.
Taking a deep breath, Michael Eisner tried to wipe the scowl off his face, forcing a smile and puffing up his chest with that lofty air of his as he stepped into the auditorium.
Right away, he saw Dunn approaching with a dozen Hollywood power players, all smiles.
There was Bill Mechanic, George Lucas, Tom Rothman, Terry Meisel, Sherry Lansing, Martin Scorsese, Amy Pascal, Michael Ovitz…
Talk about a warm welcome!
If his friendliness had been fake a moment ago, now Eisner was genuinely pleased.
This Dunn kid knew how to play the game!
He liked this kind of reception!
Quickening his pace, Michael Eisner shook hands with everyone, grinning. “Well, look at this—tons of old friends here!”
When he got to Dunn, the handshake came with a smirk. “Mr. Eisner, no date this time?”
“Huh?”
Michael Eisner froze for a second.
Ron Meyer, Bill Mechanic, and a few others felt their hearts skip a beat. This didn’t feel right.
Dunn, looking totally harmless, didn’t hold back. “Last time, didn’t you bring little miss Britney Spears to introduce to me? Ha, I’m not into those ditzy types. What, no new gift this time?”
Eisner’s gut twisted. Was Dunn deliberately digging up old dirt to embarrass him?
The mighty head of Disney, playing matchmaker for some young upstart—and a rival, no less? It was downright humiliating!
“Gift? Ha, Dunn, you’re a riot! Objectifying women’s not cool, though, right, Sherry?” Eisner recovered fast, roping Sherry Lansing in for backup.
Sherry Lansing was inwardly groaning. She was a polished professional, not some raging feminist.
Sure, “gift” could imply objectification, but this was Hollywood! Treating pretty girls as presents was standard practice!
Even as a woman, Sherry had played that game plenty of times on her climb to the top at Paramount.
It was just how Hollywood worked!
Otherwise, Dunn wouldn’t dare say something so outrageous in front of all these people.
Caught between two sides she couldn’t afford to cross, Sherry squirmed.
But Amy Pascal, the other powerhouse woman in the room, didn’t mince words. “Objectification? Come on, this is Hollywood. Dunn’s a feminist—I’m sure he doesn’t discriminate against women.”
Amy was bold and brash. Starting as a secretary, she’d clawed her way up to running Columbia Pictures by 35, a testament to her savvy and grit.
Back when she was after the Fantastic Four rights, she’d hinted to Dunn more than once that she could send Charlie’s Angels stars Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz to his bed.
Forget other women—even she’d been through that kind of deal countless times on her rise. She’d long since stopped caring.
Michael Eisner took the hit, and he wasn’t happy.
Amy Pascal didn’t care. She had Sony Pictures—and the Sony empire—behind her!
In this era, Sony was untouchable, a juggernaut crushing all in its path!
Disney might be big, but next to Sony, it was a joke.
Eisner forced a tight smile, not backing down. He glanced at Bill Mechanic standing quietly behind Dunn, clearly not planning to smooth things over, and got the picture.
This was Dunn’s power move!
You’ve got your tricks, but I’ve got my counters!
“Ha, so everyone’s here for the co-financing deal, right? No way a little B-movie could pull in this many Hollywood elites,” Eisner said lightly, brushing off Dunn’s jab and firing back.
Michael Ovitz, who had a deep grudge against him, kept his face cold. “No need to hide it—it’s just business. Unlike some people who love their dirty little schemes.”
Eisner sneered, not giving an inch to his old rival. “Too bad Legendary Pictures’ cash can only cover one deal. You’re flitting between studios, but you can only pick one partner. What are the rest supposed to be? Clowns?”
Sharp and cutting, he hit the nail on the head!
The room was full of Hollywood bosses, many of them studio heads, and they weren’t thrilled about Michael Ovitz cozying up to everyone.
Especially since all that schmoozing might end up being for nothing—talk about annoying!
Eisner’s words ripped the bandage right off!
Sure enough, the blunt and fiery Amy Pascal jumped in first, her voice low. “I agree! Mr. Ovitz, and Dunn, since we’re all here, why not just lay it out? Who’s your second pick for the co-financing deal?”
The other moguls weren’t as direct, but they nodded along, their eyes bouncing between Ovitz and Dunn, waiting for a straight answer.
They were busy people—no time to dance around Legendary Pictures!
Ovitz’s vagueness and Dunn’s dodging were getting old. It felt like they were toying with everyone.
Nobody liked that!
Eisner’s lips curled slightly. “Legendary Pictures’ strength… well, we all know what it is. Without the co-financing hook, no one would waste their time on a newbie outfit like that!”
In just a few words, the guest, Michael Eisner, seemed to seize control.
Clearly, this time, he came prepared!
Chapter 291: Open Confrontation
Rose Byrne was a promising young Australian actress. Back in August, she’d snagged the Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival for her standout role in The Goddess of 1967. But that was an Aussie film. In Hollywood, she was still a total newbie, fresh-faced and untested.
In Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, she’d landed a small part as Natalie Portman’s handmaiden—a stark reminder of the massive gap between a European film festival win and Hollywood’s reality.
That harsh contrast hit Rose hard, showing her just how deep the waters of Hollywood ran.
Things shifted when the “Aussie crew” brought her into the fold. Learning that Aussie icons like Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts had climbed the ladder with Dunn’s help? That was a gut punch.
But seeing Dunn in action right now? That was something else entirely—his sheer influence was undeniable!
This wasn’t just about blockbusters like Titanic, The Phantom Menace, or Spider-Man. The way Dunn held court among Hollywood’s elite, chatting and laughing with ease, screamed power.
What draws women to men?
Surface level: looks. Mid-tier: money. Top-tier: power.
Dunn? He had all three in spades!
To women, that was the ultimate allure.
From a distance, Rose watched Dunn’s tall, commanding figure standing at the center of a pack of Hollywood titans, and something stirred inside her.
“He’s my shot!”
“I want to be as big as Nicole!”
“They did it—why can’t I?”
Rose clenched her jaw and marched over to her best friend, Cate Blanchett, keeping her voice low. “Cate, I’ve made up my mind.”
“About what?”
“I want to be a huge star.”
Cate chuckled. “Who doesn’t?”
“No, I mean it!” Rose tilted her chin up stubbornly, biting her lip. “I… later, could you play middleman and introduce me to Dunn?”
Cate’s eyes widened with realization, a mix of surprise and amusement crossing her face. “Rose, you… I thought you weren’t into that kind of thing?”
“There’s something about him—he’s got this glow, he’s incredible!” Rose said earnestly.
Cate sighed. “Yeah, he’s got a kind of magic. No one can say no to him.”
“Cate, you… did you and him ever…” Rose hesitated, struggling to get the words out.
Cate blinked. “Sleep together?”
Rose nodded, a little embarrassed.
“Nope.”
“What? You turned him down?”
“Are you kidding?” Cate rolled her eyes. “I told you, no actress in Hollywood can turn him down.”
Rose frowned, confused. “Then why didn’t you two…?”
Cate shrugged. “Maybe… he didn’t think I was pretty enough?”
“No way!” Rose’s eyes nearly popped out. “You’re gorgeous, so elegant—you’re like a queen!”
“A queen?” Cate smiled faintly. “Maybe that’s exactly why he wasn’t into me.”
“Huh?”
Cate laughed softly. “Could be his taste. He… likes women who are soft, obedient, gentle as water. My ‘queen vibe’ might’ve stressed him out. After all, you know, he hooks up with girls to unwind from work.”
“But Natalie Portman played a queen too.”
“Exactly—there’s only one Natalie Portman! If you’re aiming to ride Dunn’s coattails, she’s the line you don’t cross,” Cate warned seriously, then waved it off. “Forget it, come on. Let’s find Nicole—she’s been there, done that. Ask her for tips.”
“Is… is that okay?” Rose’s cheeks flushed, her nerves kicking in.
Cate brushed it off. “Why not? This is Hollywood. We’re outsiders here—we’ve got to stick together. Don’t worry, Nicole’s the vice president of the Aussie crew. She won’t mind.”
“Okay,” Rose mumbled, her voice shaky.
Nicole Kidman was a legend in Aussie entertainment—a true icon, a spokesperson for their country!
But to Rose’s surprise, Nicole was shockingly down-to-earth. After hearing her out, Nicole sized Rose up with a small smile. “Great figure, and pretty too!”
“Thanks,” Rose said, squirming under Nicole’s unabashed gaze, even though she was fully dressed and it was just another woman looking.
Nicole nodded lightly. “You sure about this? No second thoughts?”
“No second thoughts!”
“Alright then, I’ll take you to meet Dunn in a bit.”
“Um… thank you.” Rose bit her lip, nervous. “Is there… anything I should watch out for?”
Nicole smiled. “Nah, with a face like yours, you’re set. Just be sweet and easygoing—he likes girls who don’t push back.”
…
Michael Eisner came in hot, but he’d forgotten one thing: cash might be Legendary Pictures’ weak spot, but their future prospects were their ace in the hole!
Dunn loved nothing more than waving a big flag to rally the troops. Facing a sea of skeptical eyes, he kept his cool and smiled. “Don’t forget, the whole co-investment idea’s only been around for three months, and Legendary Pictures has barely been up for two.”
Michael Ovitz jumped in, oozing confidence. “That’s right! Sure, we’ve only got a couple hundred million in liquid funds right now, but that’s just from two or three months of work! Wall Street’s still watching, and—full disclosure—I’m already in talks with two private equity funds.”
Dunn added, “Movies take time to pay off—two or three years at least. Whether co-investment works hinges on how Legendary performs over that stretch. If, in two years, we’re raking in fat returns, we won’t even have to chase Wall Street—they’ll come throwing money at us! Capitalists don’t pass up a market like that!”
Michael Ovitz chimed in seamlessly. “I know some of you are quietly sniffing around Wall Street too—no need. Hollywood’s got swagger, and Wall Street’s no pushover. It all comes down to profit. Give it two years, and we’ll see who’s standing!”
Warner’s president, Barry Meyer, was riding high. Terry Semel was set to step down in January, and with the board’s blessing, Barry was lined up to take over as CEO of Warner Bros. He stepped up with a grin, playing peacemaker. “He’s right—co-investment’s a brilliant concept. If it works, it’ll pump unprecedented cash into Hollywood, maybe even juice up the whole film market. Warner’s proud to be Legendary’s first client. This partnership’s built on trust and responsibility.”
Pretty words—everyone could sling those.
The room was full of sharp minds, not easily swayed by Michael Eisner’s rabble-rousing or Dunn’s smooth talk.
Tom Rothman, Fox’s head, squinted with a sly smile. “Legendary’s second deal carries a lot of weight, but at the end of the day, it’s business. The choice is theirs, not mine. Co-investment’s got a bright future—imagine, five or ten years from now, it’ll be baked into Hollywood’s movie-making DNA. So why squabble over short-term scraps and mess up the bigger picture?”
Michael Ovitz climbed right on that pole. “Exactly! We’re all in this game together—rivals, sure, but allies too. Keeping Hollywood’s collective interests first is the baseline. Don’t let some schemer stir the pot and ruin what we’ve got going!”
A shot across the bow, aimed square at Michael Eisner!
The two were mortal enemies—way frostier than Dunn and Eisner’s beef.
Even with all these big shots around, Ovitz didn’t care one bit, openly flaunting his disdain and hatred for Eisner.
And he wasn’t alone—Jeffrey Katzenberg was right there with him!
Couldn’t be helped. Back in the ‘90s, when Eisner ruled Disney with an iron fist, he’d pissed off way too many people.
“Disney’s got four big divisions—media, TV, parks, and resorts make up 75% of their revenue! The film studio’s just a side gig now. Some people… they’d love to muddy the waters and fish in the chaos!” Jeffrey Katzenberg sneered, not holding back.
Michael Eisner’s temper flared, veins bulging in his neck. “What’s that supposed to mean? You think I don’t want Hollywood stable?”
“Heh, if you really meant that, what was with the blacklist back then?” Katzenberg didn’t flinch, flipping the table wide open. “Big studios flexing on newbies? Fine, that’s fair competition. But a blacklist? That’s your idea of ‘fair’?”
“The blacklist… Disney dropped that ages ago!” Eisner snapped, fuming.
He hadn’t seen this coming. After getting booted from Disney, Jeffrey Katzenberg had laid low for five or six years, biding his time. Now, using Dunn’s stage, he was coming out swinging.
Even Dunn was caught off guard.
His arrival had shaken up Hollywood’s stagnant pond, and now even the patient, plotting Katzenberg was calling shots out loud. And what he said next? It nearly had Dunn doubled over laughing—
“Yeah, Dunn had a knife to your throat. What choice did you have but to lift that blacklist?”
