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Chapter 150: Friends and Foes
🕑 Added 2025-05-06 20:15:26 +0000 UTCHollywood’s always the center of attention. Even with Wall Street in chaos right now, it’s the entertainment world that grabs the headlines.
Ever since Mel Gibson threw his support behind Dunn yesterday, sparking a wave of buzz, tons of Hollywood stars have started picking sides.
Steven Spielberg: “Dunn, a criminal? No way—that’s ridiculous! Dunn Pictures is just hitting a rough patch. Our partnership’s solid, and we’ll keep working on this project together. I hope the FBI wraps this up fast—their rash moves are shaking up Hollywood big time.”
Leonardo DiCaprio, with his slick charm: “Dunn in a scandal? Sure, I’d buy that. Economic crimes? Total nonsense! With his talent, if he wanted cash, he’s got a million legit ways to become a billionaire—no shady stuff needed.”
George Lucas chimed in: “I don’t think Dunn’s a crook. He’s a great kid, a gifted director. Maybe he’s made some small mistakes—young guys do—but on the big stuff? He’s solid. I know his character—he’s a good, kind person.”
David Heyman added: “Dunn’s an outstanding director, a brilliant filmmaker, and a respected businessman. He knows how to make money, takes bold risks, and has a sharp eye and a quick mind.”
Australian star Geoffrey Rush: “I don’t know him personally, but from what friends say, he’s a positive, sunny, good guy. On this, I think the FBI’s got it wrong.”
Russell Crowe cut straight to it: “I know Dunn—he’s a genius, unstoppable! He works miracles in Hollywood and made a killing in the stock market. Shocking to you? Not to me. That’s just who he is.”
…
Dunn lounged back in his boss chair, nodding lazily as Reese Witherspoon rattled off the updates with her usual flair.
In times like this, connections really shine through.
Reese kept going: “Oh, and there’s Hugh Jackman, Heath Ledger, Guy Pearce, Hugo Weaving—huh, looks like the whole Aussie crew’s backing you up!”
Dunn grinned. “Anyone else?”
Reese flipped through her notes. “Just some small fries looking to kiss up… Oh, wait—two big names I forgot! Francis Coppola and Marlon Brando!”
Dunn froze, quiet for a moment, then asked, “What about Nicolas Cage?”
“Nope!” Reese smirked, unimpressed. “He’s the lead in National Treasure, tied up with Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer these past few years. Not trashing you is already a win!”
Dunn shook his head. Reese didn’t know his history with the Coppola family.
“Write down all these names,” he said. “Stick ‘em under my desk. We’ve gotta remember this—they’re doing us a solid!” He knew a lot of these were just empty words, not real help. But stepping up when he’s under fire? That says plenty.
Reese nodded. “What about the ones talking smack?”
“Oh?” Dunn’s eyes narrowed, a sly smile creeping up. “Who’s that?”
Reese opened another file. “Not many, but they’re heavy hitters. First up, your old pal Bruce Willis—he’s calling you a criminal.”
“Grasshopper after the harvest,” Dunn snorted. “Does he even sell tickets anymore? In my book, he’s a clown—not worth my time.”
“Who else?”
“Ooh, an old buddy!” Reese huffed. “Jerry Bruckheimer!”
Dunn’s brows shot up, anger flashing. “Him?”
Reese sneered, “Yup! This guy ditches our contract, then runs his mouth. Total sleaze. Says he cut ties with Dunn Pictures to avoid ‘dirtying his hands with a criminal.’ What a saint, huh?”
“Great! Just great!” Dunn slammed the desk, fuming. “I treated Bruckheimer with respect, and he stabs me in the back! Fine—let’s see how long his ‘golden producer’ crown lasts!”
Reese frowned. “He’s been cozy with Disney for years. Every live-action hit they’ve had? His fingerprints are all over it. Disney’s got his back way more than they do Willis, so he’s cocky.”
“Is that so?” Dunn’s lips curled into a dark, mysterious smirk.
Reese shivered, wide-eyed. “Dunn, you’ve got some evil plan brewing, don’t you?”
Dunn snapped, “Watch it—I’m your boss! Keep going. Who else is mouthing off?”
“Michael Bay.”
“Who?!”
Dunn’s jaw dropped. He shot up from his chair, eyes bulging like he’d misheard.
Reese sighed. “Yup, Michael Bay—the explosion-obsessed director!”
Dunn stood there, stunned, muttering after a long pause, “No way… I’ve never even met the guy! Why would he—?”
Reese stayed cool. “Simple. He’s Bruckheimer’s lapdog. If Jerry hadn’t plucked him from obscurity and handed him Bad Boys and The Rock, he’d still be a nobody printing film reels.”
“What’d he say?”
“It’s nasty. Maybe I shouldn’t—”
“Spit it out!”
Reese rolled her eyes, huffing. “Fine, but don’t take it out on me! He called you a fraud who doesn’t belong in Hollywood—says prison’s your real home.”
“Ha… haha… HAHAHA!” Dunn burst out laughing, doubling over.
“I’ve finally seen through Hollywood. Fame and character? Zero connection! Michael Bay? Oh, this is rich!”
“Dunn, you okay?” Reese flinched, spooked by his wild, red-eyed grin.
Dunn took a deep breath, his smile turning bitter. “I’m fine—better than ever! Who’s next?”
“Tom Cruise.”
“No surprise there,” Dunn said, nodding calmly.
Tom Cruise turning on him made sense. Forget the Nicole Kidman drama—just that night after the Golden Globes, Natalie’s words had practically made them blood enemies. Still, Dunn didn’t hate him. Cruise wasn’t malicious—just not the sharpest tool in the shed. Plus, Dunn had been in the wrong first.
As long as Cruise didn’t go overboard, Dunn wouldn’t sweat it—totally different from clowns like Willis, Bay, or Bruckheimer.
“Got it. Anyone else?”
“Yeah, a Jewish bigwig—Harvey Weinstein, head of Miramax,” Reese said, looking worried. “Dunn, this guy’s got real pull in Hollywood. His Jewish ties mean he’s tight with Spielberg, Lucas, all of them.”
“Harvey Weinstein? Oh, this is getting good!” Dunn felt a laugh bubbling up. “One little FBI probe, and all these snakes come slithering out!”
Reese cautioned, “Dunn, he’s not like the others. He’s a true Hollywood power player—bigger than Spielberg!”
Dunn waved it off. “No worries. We’ll take it slow. Write these names down too—stash ‘em under my desk. They’re my enemies, and we’ll deal with them one by one. Nobody’s slipping away!”
Seeing Dunn stay level-headed, Reese smiled, then glanced at her notes. A weird grin crossed her face as she looked at him slyly. “One more—and maybe you can start with her.”
“Who?”
“Anne Hathaway.”
“Who?!”
Dunn’s mouth fell open again, speechless.
Reese figured he didn’t know her. “She’s a young actress, not even 18. Director Marshall picked her for the lead in Disney’s The Princess Diaries.”
Of course Dunn knew Anne Hathaway! But… what the heck was this?!
In Hollywood, actresses are usually the underdogs. One wrong word can spark a PR nightmare. During this mess, every woman stayed quiet—even close allies like Kate Winslet, Nicole Kidman, and Sofia Coppola. They knew they didn’t have the clout for this fight.
But Anne Hathaway, a rookie barely out of diapers, jumping into this tsunami?
“Anne Hathaway… how dumb can she be?” Dunn couldn’t help but laugh.
With his status, her words didn’t faze him. He just hadn’t expected her to be this clueless! She was the poster child for Natalie’s “idiot actress” rant— Exhibit A! No wonder she’d later fall for that Italian con artist, thinking he was her rich Prince Charming, only to get played for years and nearly end up in jail bailing him out.
Brains really are the ultimate superpower!
