HOLLYWOOD WHAT IF

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 542

Inside the wide conference hall, where a long table had people talking about their plans, a nervous person started discussing their second-quarter profit.

He read the documents.

In this second quarter, the company's revenue was $1.8 billion. That was huge.

Grey Pictures's annual revenue was around $2 billion—sometimes less, sometimes more. But they usually had revenue of more than $1 billion.

Yet 20th Century Fox's second quarter (April to June) grossed $1.8 billion in revenue. This was the power of 20th Century Fox, one of the Big Six of Hollywood. In three months, the company made $1.8 billion.

The Big Five probably earned at least $1 billion in revenue in these three months. April, May, and June were part of the summer schedule, and this was the season when a lot of people visited the theaters and watched movies.

Big movies such as Iron Man, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, and The Incredible Hulk were released within these three months. Two of these movies were distributed by 20th Century Fox.

Perhaps this was the reason why the company had revenue of $1.8 billion. By computation, around 35% of this amount would be their profit.

"As of today, July 21, Iron Man grossed $315 million, while The Incredible Hulk grossed $132 million at the North American box office."

"Other than that, there are other movies that performed well this summer such as Indiana Jones and Narnia. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull grossed $313 million, while The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian ended its screening in North America with $139 million."

Even though Lucasfilm had a close relationship with 20th Century Fox, the distributor of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was Paramount Pictures. Steven Spielberg and Paramount had a strong relationship, so it was not surprising.

The Chronicles of Narnia was the franchise that Walt Disney chose to follow the trend of adapting novels into movies.

The presenter licked his lips and clicked the next page. The slideshow went to the next slide, which was a pie chart.

"This year, there are three superhero movies that were released. Two of them are from us, and they performed well even internationally."

Iron Man grossed $513 million worldwide. The movie is already losing its popularity. The expected box office is around $580 million.

"As for The Incredible Hulk, it has a lower box office compared to Iron Man, but it's still a success nonetheless. $259 million is not a small amount…"

The presenter paused.

"Continue," Tom Rothman said, and the presenter nodded.

"After 14 days of screening, The Dark Knight grossed $351 million. Furthermore, the movie was released internationally and grossed $241 million. Two weeks of screening, the overall box office of The Dark Knight is $592 million."

In just two weeks, the movie grossed more than half a billion.

The atmosphere in the conference room turned cold, and everyone became quiet. All of the people inside looked at Kazir, one of the people responsible for the success of The Dark Knight.

Kazir shrugged. He had nothing to explain. He was hired by Warner Brothers; hence, he had to do his job... Besides, he earned more than $150 million directing The Dark Knight as of now. Once the box office of the movie reached its limit, which was expected to be around $800 million, Kazir would probably earn $200 million. On top of that, Kazir had peripheral profit to earn in a few years, which would probably be $70 million at least.

So yeah, even though some people didn't like Kazir's decisions, it was clear that Kazir won. The money he earned was absolutely worth it working with Warner Brothers.

That fact was not liked by 20th Century Fox.

In fact, Kazir could see some people glaring at him.

Tom Rothman weakly sighed... His salary was actually smaller than Kazir's, which was understandable since Kazir was one of a kind.

The presenter could feel the tension, so he decided to continue his presentation.

"For our next plan, in August we will release Mirrors, The Rocker, Babylon A.D., and Wanted 3."

"In September, we only have one movie to release, which is The Equalizer 2."

As expected, Wanted 3 and The Equalizer 2 would be released in less popular schedules because they were not prioritized by the company. However, the profit they made by distributing CCU movies was around $500 million every year.

The meeting continued and the atmosphere became better. Overall, they were satisfied with what they achieved this quarter. The company was doing well.

The meeting then reached the next topic, which was the approval of projects.

They approved the filming of Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Final Destination 3, Machete, and Wall-E.

20th Century Fox bought the script for Kazir's Wall-E, and the director agreed because he didn't want to sour their relationship further.

"Hm, now that I think about it. Kazir, I still don't know what your next movie is. You seem kinda free lately. Most of the time, after you're done with your project, you immediately start a new project," Tom Rothman said to Kazir, two chairs away from him.

"Tom, have you forgotten what we talked about a week ago? I said I had no intention of directing a movie in 2009. I want to take a rest," Kazir explained.

"What? I thought you were joking. We are talking about you, Director Grey, the workaholic director who films a movie every year... Are you sure you're doing well?"

Tom asked curiously, a bit worried.

Everyone knew that Kazir had experienced some horrible stuff within these past months.

Last year, Kazir also got killed.

Three weeks ago, he saw his friend almost dying.

It wouldn't be a surprise if Kazir wanted to take things slow and take a rest.

Tom Rothman apologized after realizing that he was being rude. At the end of the day, Kazir was a person, and he needed rest after so much shit.

"If possible, I just want to lay on my bed all day and do nothing."

Completely relatable.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 543

"Then, since you're not going to film a movie for a year, how about doing your job to the truth this time?" Tom touched his chin and nodded as he agreed with the idea he had just thought of.

"Huh, what do you mean?"

"I'm talking about your job as an Executive Producer. You will help Blue Sky Studio in making Wall-E."

"... I still haven't agreed to that. I haven't even signed a contract."

"You're the scriptwriter of Wall-E. You're also a talented director. The scenes are probably already done in your head, and we need that to help us animate Wall-E... I honestly want you to direct the movie, but that's asking for too much."

"... You're just bitter that The Dark Knight is making a lot of money compared to Marvel movies."

"You are damn right. Don't worry, we will pay you at least $5 million for your position as the Executive Producer."

"... Let me talk to my agent first."

"That's good to hear."

This showed that Kazir was not against working on Wall-E animation. However, Salvatore would probably increase the salary to $7 million before things became official.

Tom Rothman knew that some of the executives were angry at Kazir because of his so-called "betrayal" and understood why. However, he knew that Kazir didn't betray them. The fact that Kazir was still working with them showed that his intention toward 20th Century Fox and Marvel Studios was good.

He knew that the biggest reason why The Dark Knight was making huge money right now was because of Heath Ledger's situation.

The Big Six competed against each other, but none of them wanted to hurt or kill one another because that was not morally right at all.

Making up false rumors to destroy someone's reputation was acceptable.

Blackmailing celebrities to get what they wanted was acceptable.

Doing some sex trafficking? Yeah, fine. Hollywood loves that.

Secret sex parties? The orgy was all right... But adding kids to those sex parties was downright wrong. Apparently, Hollywood was fine with that and deemed it normal.

Anyway, killing a person was bad. That's where they drew the line.

Showbiz was business, not a war where you had to kill your opponent. Tom Rothman didn't wish for anyone to suffer, not even his worst enemies.

This was the reason why everyone in Hollywood hated the executive who tried to assassinate Kazir because that incident blemished Hollywood badly... Yes, Hollywood was not pure, and it had a lot of dirty secrets, but there were limits to the sins they could accept.

What happened to Heath Ledger was not something Tom Rothman wanted to happen to other celebrities.

"... But I'm not going to lie, Warner Brothers found a diamond with their promotion. They took advantage of the bad news to promote The Dark Knight."

Warner Brothers was monetizing grief because they were a corporation.

It's a sad thing that Heath Ledger was comatose, but have you seen his latest work, The Dark Knight? Dude, watch it. You will understand why Heath Ledger became depressed and dependent on prescription pills... This was the common conversation. By the way, some of the information was just rumors with no clear evidence to back it up.

"I heard that some people are blaming Kazir because he's the one who pushed Heath to take the role of the Joker. I guess I can understand why he needs a rest."

Their meeting ended after that.

.........

......

...

The hospital room was quiet, except for the faint, rhythmic beeping of machines.

Heath Ledger lay still, pale and unmoving. He had been in that state for 18 long days.

Outside the hospital, fans gathered. They were holding signs and pictures of Heath as the Joker. Some carried flowers, others held candles.

The situation was getting overdramatic, as if Heath had already died. Well, a certain corporation wanted to keep it dramatic. They even paid some people to cry in front of the hospital.

"I just want him to wake up. I want him to see how much we love him and his films."

"I've watched The Dark Knight three times now. He… he is incredible. It's heartbreaking that he can't see what he's accomplished."

Some fans had their heads bowed, whispering prayers. Others held each other, united by grief and hope.

Across the world, people were talking about Heath Ledger. News anchors delivered updates on his condition with solemn faces.

Why was Heath's situation still trending even after two weeks? Well, Time Warner was keeping the issue alive. Time Warner was one of the major media conglomerates in the world.

Five media conglomerates dominated globally, Time Warner, Comcast, Walt Disney, Paramount Global, and News Corporation.

It wouldn't be hard for Time Warner to keep Heath's story alive for a month if needed.

The Dark Knight continued to dominate the box office, but fans were still worried about Heath Ledger's health.

"The world watches and waits, praying for his recovery."

Talk show hosts discussed his performance with praise.

"He transformed into the Joker. It's... scary."

"I've never seen anything like that. He's not just acting. It's as if the Joker was real."

But behind every compliment, there was sorrow. Heath wasn't awake to hear any of it.

Later that evening, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, and Gary Oldman visited the hospital. They had just finished a press conference but couldn't go home without seeing Heath.

They stood at the doorway, hesitant to enter.

"... He's not going to die, right?"

If he was going to die, then the build-up of this story arc would be useless.

"Hush, his family is inside."

"Let's go in."

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 544

The three actors entered the hospital and found Heath's relatives. Every one of them was worried about Heath's situation.

The three men paused at the doorway. No matter how many times they experienced this, they were still uncomfortable. The atmosphere was too depressing.

Actually, even though it sounded messed up, Warner Brothers and their agents encouraged them to visit Heath once in a while, especially now, when Heath's situation was trending.

This was a form of promotion and also a way to show a positive impression to the public. The fact that the three actors showed up and the people saw them going to the hospital was publicity. They were building the image that they were good people who visited their co-star who was comatose.

Honestly, this was great publicity. People liked kind-hearted actors.

The three nodded at each other and greeted Heath's family.

Heath's mother sat by his bedside. She was gently brushing her son's hair. She had a pale face. She nodded at them and weakly smiled.

Heath's father stood behind her, his hand on her shoulder. The dark bags under his eyes proved the sleepless nights he had endured.

Michelle Williams sat quietly next to them. She was holding Matilda in her lap, whispering comforting words to her daughter. The innocent two-year-old girl was sometimes asking when her dad would wake up. She thought Heath was just sleeping.

Heath and Michelle Williams were in a serious relationship. Their relationship started during the filming of Brokeback Mountain. She starred in movies such as Brokeback Mountain, Blue Valentine, My Week with Marilyn, Manchester by the Sea, and many more.

The two had a daughter named Matilda Rose Ledger.

"…"

Honestly, the three actors were not that close to Heath or to his relatives. They were just co-workers, after all. However, this was a way to promote their movie, so they had to visit Heath.

Christian Bale cleared his throat, breaking the heavy silence. "How… how is he today?"

Heath's father looked at him, his eyes hollow. "No change," he whispered.

"The doctors said… it's a waiting game now."

Their expressions didn't seem good. Even the three actors felt the negative vibes in the room… This was awkward.

However, every one of them hoped that Heath would wake up. None of them wanted to see a person suffer.

Particularly Christian Bale, he was with Kazir and Scarlett when they discovered Heath's overdose. After what he experienced and what Heath experienced, he was hoping for good news.

Anyway, the actors talked to the relatives to ease up the situation. They had to stay in the room for at least half an hour to show their sincerity. After that, they would leave through the front entrance of the hospital so that people would see them. Yeah, they were farming publicity.

As the room fell into another silence, only Heath's breathing could be heard.

Suddenly, Heath's fingers twitched. His eyelids fluttered, just barely.

"Heath?" his mother gasped. She dropped the comb she had been using to brush Heath's hair.

Michelle's eyes widened. She also saw it.

"Oh my God… Heath?"

"…"

Heath Ledger's eyes slowly opened, unfocused at first. Everyone was silent for a second. Then, Christian Bale immediately came out of the room to call the nurses and doctors.

"I'm gonna call the doctors!"

Heath blinked his eyes. His eyelids were heavy, but he could see. His gaze drifted before settling on his daughter. His lips moved, and he weakly smiled.

Then, the family started crying in happiness.

Heath's father choked back a sob while his mother cried as she hugged her son.

Heath woke up.

.........

......

...

The camera cut to the modern newsroom, where a newscaster sat at a polished white desk, papers neatly arranged in front of her… These papers were just props, by the way, because the newscaster only read the teleprompter behind the camera.

The headline of the segment was: "HEATH LEDGER AWAKENS. A MIRACLE IN HOSPITAL."

They always use caps lock whenever they write a news headline.

"Good evening. In a heartwarming development that has captivated Hollywood and millions around the world, actor Heath Ledger has awakened from his coma."

"After spending eighteen agonizing days in an unresponsive condition at the hospital, Heath Ledger's eyes have finally opened, marking a miraculous turn in his recovery process."

The 'screen' next to her shifted to live footage of the hospital exterior, where people were celebrating, and some even kissed… The people who kissed were both men. After the success of Brokeback Mountain, many gay fans became devoted supporters of Heath.

The scene then changed to a brief clip showing Heath Ledger's family gathered around his bed.

"Sources confirm that Heath Ledger, known worldwide for his portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight, is now responsive."

"The medical staff reports that while his condition remains serious, his return to consciousness has sparked hope among his family, friends, and fans."

"Ledger's sudden awakening has ignited a wave of relief and celebration, with many calling it a miracle."

A split-screen showed a clip of Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, and Michael Caine outside the hospital, their faces a mix of relief and happiness.

"In related news, Warner Brothers, which has closely monitored Ledger's condition, released a statement expressing joy and support for Heath Ledger."

"The studio noted that while Ledger's recovery is encouraging, they are continuing to work with the hospital to ensure his health. As the story develops, we will bring you further updates on Heath Ledger's progress."

The newscaster paused while fixing the thin stacks of paper in her hands.

"Stay tuned for more updates on this recovery. For now, fans worldwide are rejoicing at the news. The legacy of Heath Ledger's incredible performance in The Dark Knight continues to inspire people."

The camera slowly faded to the network's logo as the segment ended, leaving viewers with a sense of optimism.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 545


"Continue to inspire people? Isn't Heath's role about a psychotic serial killer? What the fuck is Warner Brothers cooking? The Joker is not a positive role model!"

Robert "Bob" Iger grumbled as he turned off the television. He was happy that Heath Ledger woke up, this was a good thing for Hollywood itself.

Hollywood and celebrities had been glorified to the point where people saw celebrities as gods above others.

Heath Ledger's incident made this status even better. Now, people would look at celebrities with sympathy and perhaps awe.

As long as people glorified celebrities, movies would continue to make money. Hence, the Big Six loved it whenever something like this happened.

However, Robert was also bitter that Warner Brothers was earning a lot of money because of this incident. Walt Disney had been losing its edge these past few years.

Because of this, the company was desperate to acquire Lucasfilm, since Lucasfilm owned profitable IPs that Walt Disney was salivating to get.

Bob Iger sighed and leaned back in his chair. He looked at the ceiling. He knew that interesting stories could shape public perception. Warner Brothers was capitalizing on Heath Ledger's ordeal perfectly. They were turning a tragedy into a marketing goldmine, and The Dark Knight was reaping the benefits.

"They're milking this for all it's worth. I wouldn't even be surprised if they interview Heath while he's still in the hospital."

He muttered. Frustration was evident in his voice.

He stood up and gazed out of his office window. The tall buildings in Los Angeles were towering across the city.

If Disney wanted to compete, they needed something bigger. Something that would dominate the box office. They already had the answer.

His eyes narrowed. Lucasfilm was the key. He just needed to make it happen.

"We will acquire Lucasfilm. Then we will make the worst Star Wars franchise and shit on the fans… Yeah, I can see it happening. Who gives a fuck anyway? It's all about money."

Robert laughed like a devil. The fans of Star Wars would probably be devastated once they heard the news.

Robert felt like the future would be rough if they failed to acquire Lucasfilm. He heard that Blue Sky Studio was planning to animate Wall-E, which was a story written by Kazir. Blue Sky and DreamWorks were rivals of Pixar.

After spending so many resources, Robert successfully acquired the complete version of the Wall-E script, and he was amazed by how Kazir portrayed the dystopian future in the script.

Acquiring a complete version of a movie script was tough, especially when it was still in production. A person had to sign a non-disclosure agreement. But Robert paid his way to get a copy secretly… He wanted to call Kazir to ask him if he had more interesting scripts, but he knew that the director would probably not work with them, which was infuriating.

"Now that I think about it, Heath is super famous right now! Maybe he is interested in working with Disney!"

.........

......

...

Kazir was having a good time. He was smiling the whole day.

The answer to why Kazir was happy was because his friend woke up from a coma.

Another reason why he was happy was that he changed the future. Heath Ledger died in the original timeline, but now the worst thing he suffered was a coma of 18 days.

Kazir and Scarlett had already visited Heath two days ago and had a conversation with the actor. Heath was thankful to Kazir because he saved his life. Heath learned that Kazir, Christian, and Scarlett saved him. Heath even cried.

It was a heartwarming moment for Kazir. It was a good thing that Heath woke up.

Kazir sat on his couch, his eyes glued to the television. News about Heath's miraculous recovery was everywhere. He watched as reporters enthusiastically covered the story. Some were speculating about Heath's future projects and his return to Hollywood.

"They're already building him up as a legend… He's not even fully recovered yet."

Kazir shook his head, a small smile on his face.

Scarlett entered the room, carrying two cups of tea. She handed one to Kazir and sat beside him. She looked at the television.

The two had been spending their time together a lot lately. Both of them agreed to take a rest for a year and lay low on working.

"They'll keep milking this for a while. But at least Heath is alive. That's all that matters," Scarlett added.

Kazir nodded, his heart feeling lighter.

"Yeah… that's all that matters."

.........

......

...

The last week of August arrived, and Wanted 3 had its premiere.

Wanted 3 would probably be the last installment of the franchise for a while, unless Ben Affleck himself showed interest in making a sequel.

His three-movie contract had ended. His contract lasted for nine years since the filming of Wanted in 1999. It was a long commitment, so it was understandable why Ben Affleck had no intention of renewing the contract.

The story of Wanted 3 was about Wesley Gibson learning about his father's past and the secret his mother had been keeping from him. Of course, there were action sequences every ten minutes to hype the movie.

Wesley Gibson was one of the most wanted criminals in the world. In the last scene, everyone thought that Wesley Gibson died, but he actually survived and changed his name. Also, he was now a rich person living in a tropical country. His life story ended in a positive way.

The premiere of Wanted 3 was a grand event. Fans lined up outside the theater, eager to see how Wesley Gibson's story would conclude. Reporters swarmed the red carpet, flashing cameras capturing every moment.

Kazir watched from the sidelines. He was satisfied with the situation. The film was already generating buzz, and he was confident it would be a box office hit, as always.

As the lights dimmed and the movie started, he glanced at Scarlett, who sat beside him. Scarlett held his hand.

He whispered, "You think this will be the biggest hit of the year?"

She smirked. "I wouldn't be surprised. You wrote it."

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 546

Billy and Wallace cheered as they witnessed how Wesley Gibson found his peace.

Billy and Wallace had been fans of Kazir since the release of Napoleon Dynamite. Since then, they had watched every movie Kazir released. They also watched every CCU movie. In fact, they even built a fan base.

Naturally, Billy and Wallace witnessed how much suffering Wesley experienced in the trilogy. They were happy because Wesley found his peace at last. They also understood that this would probably be the last time they watched the Wanted franchise because Ben Affleck's contract had ended.

However, they might still see him once in a while in other CCU movies as a cameo appearance.

Still, the fans were a bit melancholic. Bryan Mills, Jason Bourne, and Wesley Gibson were the first three protagonists of the CCU, and now only Jason Bourne was still active. Bryan Mills had died, while Wesley Gibson retired.

As the credits rolled, Billy and Wallace remained seated, basking in the afterglow of the final moments of Wanted 3. The theater was filled with excitement, with fans discussing their favorite scenes and speculating on the future of the CCU.

The theater was rented by the Grey Fans to watch Wanted 3. The fact that everyone was wearing a suit made it look like they were in a business meeting inside a movie theater, out of place but entertaining.

"I can't believe it's over," Wallace muttered. He was a bit sad. Wanted was a huge franchise and had gathered so many fans all over the world.

"At least Wesley got a happy ending. He deserved it," Billy nodded.

They didn't leave right away. They waited a few more minutes for the post-credit scene. The scene was about The Equalizer 2, the movie set to be released in September.

.........

......

...

Wanted grossed over $1.11 billion worldwide in 2000. This was the updated box office after every country had submitted complete data.

Wanted 2 grossed $821 million and was considered a success despite a lower box office performance compared to the first movie.

And now, people were wondering at what number the box office of Wanted 3 would stop. Would it reach $700 million? Perhaps only $600 million?

August 29, 2008, Friday. Wanted 3 grossed $39 million.

August 30, 2008, Saturday. Wanted 3 grossed $86 million.

August 31, 2008, Sunday, also the last day of the month. Wanted 3 grossed $122 million.

In three days of screening, Wanted 3 grossed $122 million.

Everyone would agree that Wanted 3 was a success. This kind of performance was expected from a CCU movie. Nothing to be shocked at.

By the way, as of August 31, The Dark Knight had grossed $889 million worldwide. The movie had been screening for 45 days and was still going strong.

.........

......

...

September 1, 2008, Monday. The industry was already having discussions about Wanted 3's strong opening weekend. Analysts predicted it would easily cross $600 million worldwide, solidifying its place as another Continental Cinematic Universe success.

Kazir Grey, however, was more focused on the future. He sat in his office, going through final preparations for The Equalizer 2. He was reviewing documents related to the movie.

Wanted 3's post-credit scene had created excitement among fans, and expectations were high.

Meanwhile, Warner Brothers was celebrating The Dark Knight's unstoppable momentum. Executives were confident it would surpass $1 billion, making it the highest-grossing film of the year... unless a new opponent joined the battle. The battle for box office supremacy continued.

After doing his job, Kazir decided to read the newspaper and found an article about Wanted 3:

-- Wanted 3 delivered a thrilling and satisfying conclusion to the action-packed trilogy. Ben Affleck shines once again as Wesley Gibson. He brought depth to a character who has endured loss, betrayal, and redemption. The film masterfully balanced intense action sequences with emotional storytelling. It gave fans a fitting farewell to one of the Continental Cinematic Universe's original protagonists.

-- The intense fights, stunning cinematography, and well-crafted plot kept audiences engaged until the very end. While it may not surpass the original, Wanted 3 provided closure. It left fans both satisfied and nostalgic. A must-watch for action lovers and longtime CCU fans.

Kazir looked at the name of the writer who wrote the article.

"Bribe Miner? Isn't that the movie critic we paid to write positive reviews on our movies? No wonder this article seemed paid."

Well, the article seemed on point, though... The article didn't tackle much about the movie, since the content of Wanted 3 was nonexistent. The author didn't know what to write or add about the plot.

Kazir then tackled the next topic that the company had to face.

Grey Pictures ventured into TV shows around 2003 to 2004 by making Game of Thrones. Now, Game of Thrones was in its third season and still going strong. It had gained so many fans. It was popular, and Fox TV also profited from the show.

Because of this success, Grey Pictures was interested in starting another show. This time, they asked Kazir if he had a comedy TV show in his arsenal.

Well, actually, they were right, Kazir had a few on his list. He had written some comedy sitcoms. However, he was genuinely confused as he realized something big had happened without his knowing.

"The fact that some of these shows did not exist in the current timeline is shocking."

The list was:

Modern Family

Parks and Recreation

Brooklyn 99

The Big Bang Theory

How I Met Your Mother

Looking at the list, Kazir was shocked that The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother did not exist in this timeline. Meaning, Kazir could make them if he wanted to.

+++++

[What TV show do you think won the poll?]

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 547

[Author's Note: I just want to make things clear, this novel is not a Chinese translation. It was written by me, Pujimaki, word for word. The reason a Chinese version exists on a popular novel platform in China is because someone pirated and translated it without my permission.]

Kazir was deep in thought. The realization that The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother didn't exist yet was both exciting and overwhelming. He realized that he had changed another thing in the timeline without even knowing it.

Kazir loved movies, but he rarely watched TV shows. He didn't have time to watch TV, so he was clueless that his interference in the timeline had erased The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother from existence.

The two shows were famous in the USA and basically two of the most well-known shows.

"If I play this right, I might make another successful show. If I remember correctly, sitcoms are less expensive than high-quality shows like Game of Thrones."

Sitcoms averaged $2–3 million per episode, while high-quality shows like Game of Thrones and Stranger Things had an average of $15–20 million per episode. Yes, sitcoms were less expensive.

By the way, sitcoms were TV shows that usually had the same settings, where episodes happened mostly in a single location. Also, sitcoms were comedy shows that had a laugh track, a sound of people laughing in the background whenever the cast made a joke. The best examples of sitcoms were Friends and The Big Bang Theory.

He picked up a pen and jotted down potential ideas.

"If we start production now, we could have one of these on air by next year," he murmured.

His mind raced with possibilities. However, he realized something, he only had to choose one. Furthermore, even though The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother were famous shows, they were not considered the best.

"If we are talking about natural humor that doesn't need a cringe laugh track in the background, then Modern Family is the best option."

Modern Family was filmed in a mockumentary style. It was a humorous show if done right. It was different from a sitcom, but it was a comedy show nonetheless.

"We also have Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn 99," Kazir added.

These two were also popular shows.

"The question is, which of them should we make?"

They could make all of them at once, but that would be too much for Grey Pictures to handle. So, for now, they had to choose only one.

Kazir could keep the other projects in the script library until they needed another show to make. Or perhaps Kazir could sell the projects to another production company, and they would make the show in exchange for a profit percentage. Kazir had to think about it carefully.

"For now, I'll have to wait for the poll to have a clear answer."

…Was that a fourth-wall break?

Kazir closed his notes. He had at least a week before making a decision. At that time, the answer would be clearer.

A successful sitcom could generate steady revenue for years, unlike movies, which relied on box office performance.

For clarification, TV shows have stable profits, while movies have short but explosive profits. It depends on what angle you look at it. But both options were great as long as they generated enough profit to satisfy all parties involved.

"Whichever show we choose, it has to be the right one," he muttered.

He decided to consult with his executives and trusted writers. Their insights might help him make the best choice for Grey Pictures' future.

This was different from filming a movie where Kazir was confident. TV shows were a different market, and Kazir didn't have enough experience to make a bold decision. Fortunately, he had Stella Willow to make up for his shortcomings.

"Even now, Stella is helping me with managing the company. I'm grateful for what she did."

Kazir also heard that Stella's dating life was getting better, so that was good news. A happy person means less stress.

.........

......

...

September 7, 2008. Ten days after the release of Wanted 3, the movie grossed over $203 million at the North American box office.

The industry was closely watching Wanted 3's box office performance. A $203 million domestic earnings in just ten days was undeniable proof of its success.

At Warner Brothers, executives were relieved that The Dark Knight still held strong, but Wanted 3's numbers reminded them that the CCU was a force to be reckoned with...

They regretted the fact that they had messed up their Cinematic Universe because Superman Returns was a failure profit-wise. Thankfully, The Dark Knight had now grossed over $900 million, and it was a cause for celebration. They invited the cast of The Dark Knight for a celebration party. Heath Ledger was also included. Even though The Dark Knight was losing its energy at the box office, the movie still had strong potential to surpass $1 billion.

As expected, Kazir Grey was amazing. Warner Brothers didn't regret working with the director. Not anymore. They knew that Kazir hadn't sabotaged them. The Dark Knight was a blockbuster!

At Universal Pictures, some regretted sabotaging Kazir back when he was still a novice. They also hated the fact that many people were hating their company because one of their executives had issued an assassination order against Kazir. Yeah, they were hated by the public.

Meanwhile, Walt Disney was taking notes… They were still hoping that Kazir would give them some crumbs to feast on. If Kazir announced that he would sell a script for a TV show, Walt Disney might be the first to buy it.

20th Century Fox, on the other hand, was very happy. Even though Wanted 3 was not owned by them and they didn't have the copyrights, they had a share in the box office, which was 25%.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 548

Kazir Grey sat across from the executives of Blue Sky Studio in their conference room. Because he was guilt-tripped by Tom Rothman into working on Wall-E, Kazir decided to accept the position of Executive Producer.

Unlike most of the time when Kazir's position was only a title, this time, Kazir promised that he would visit Blue Sky Studio every three days to check on their progress and help them whenever they needed assistance.

Kazir knew that his position at 20th Century Fox was getting awkward because he worked with other studios, which was not illegal, by the way. Kazir, as a person, was allowed to work with other studios unless he signed an exclusive contract with 20th Century Fox.

Company politics was a difficult game to play. But Kazir's position as one of the shareholders of 20th Century Fox forced him to join it.

To make up for it, Kazir decided to work on Wall-E to appease some people who were growing a grudge against him… It might look obvious, but Kazir didn't want anyone to hold a grudge against him… The last time someone held a grudge against him, he almost died.

Of course, since Kazir agreed to become the Executive Producer of Wall-E, he had a salary. 20th Century Fox, or to be precise, Blue Sky Studio, paid him $5 million just to hire him. In their opinion, this amount was too small compared to the box office appeal that Kazir could bring to the project. They should be thankful that Kazir was not that greedy.

Furthermore, Kazir was a director, so he knew what to do.

"Kazir, thank you for working with us. It's an honor."

"Nah, it's cool."

The meeting had been arranged to discuss the progress of Wall-E. Unlike most 3D animated movies that focused more on comedy, Wall-E was an emotional cartoon. It had the same vibe as Nemo. In a way, Blue Sky Studio had a concrete plan for Wall-E.

They wanted to compete for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards. Blue Sky Studio wanted to show that their studio also had the capability to compete in prestigious awards such as the Oscars.

"Let's see… Wall-E is promising, but we have to set up the atmosphere," Kazir said, and the executives nodded in agreement. Well, everyone in the conference room had already thought of that, but they wanted to hear more from Kazir since he was an expert in this category. He was a director, after all.

"The atmosphere is important. You need to make Wall-E's experience resonate with people, and that means crafting every scene with intention. The first few minutes should be depressing. It should be slow with the right amount of melancholy. Let the audience feel Wall-E's loneliness."

He paused and sipped the warm tea next to him. The executives had heard that Kazir liked tea, so they prepared high-quality tea for this meeting.

"The music needs to blend right with the movie. Think of it as an emotional guide."

The room fell quiet, the team absorbing his advice. Kazir's experience was undeniable… They had heard this kind of explanation so many times since they were all working in the same industry, but it sounded profound when Kazir said it. At this point, they were just being bootlickers.

Kazir smirked.

"And for that, we need a director who will oversee this creation."

Everyone nodded.

However, one by one, they all looked at Kazir.

If there was a director who could create a masterpiece, it would probably be Kazir. He could turn Wall-E into a masterpiece.

Everyone in the room looked at Kazir, and the director realized his mistake.

'Why are you looking at me like I'm the messiah?'

Kazir coughed.

"I'm planning to rest for a year, and I don't have the intention of directing a movie. We should find someone who will direct Wall-E."

Wall-E was approved by 20th Century Fox, but that didn't mean everything would happen so fast. First, they had to calculate the budget to make the movie. For that, many people had to come together and find the right amount. Producers, Production Managers, Studio Executives, Financial Analysts, and even Completion Bond Companies had to study the project and come up with a budget.

So yeah, it was not surprising that Wall-E still didn't have a director to oversee the project.

'Unfortunately, it's impossible to hire Andrew Stanton to direct Wall-E. He is a key figure of Pixar Animation and he will not work with a rival company… I guess I'm an oddity, huh.' Kazir chuckled. Unlike Andrew Stanton, who was loyal to Pixar, Kazir worked with other studios.

Anyway, Andrew Stanton was the director of Finding Nemo, Finding Dory, A Bug's Life, Toy Story, Toy Story 2, and Monsters, Inc.

It was not an understatement to say that Andrew Stanton was good at his job. He was the original director of Wall-E.

'Although in the original timeline, Andrew Stanton had a flopped movie called John Carter.'

John Carter (2012) was a bad movie in terms of box office, and that was also the last time Andrew Stanton worked on live-action movies.

"Director, if we pay you $25 million plus 15% box office share plus 5% peripheral profit share, will you still decline?"

One of the executives asked Kazir. Some of them frowned because that amount was too huge to let go, but they also knew that Kazir's salary was usually higher than that amount.

Kazir shook his head and declined, unfazed by the generous offer.

"I appreciate the faith you have in me, but my decision is firm. I need a break. Directing is exhausting, and I don't want to burn out."

For a director who filmed at least one movie per year, that was the most bullshit statement that Kazir had ever said.

The executives exchanged glances. Some were clearly disappointed.

"Then who do you think should direct it? We need someone with a clear vision," one of them spoke up.

Kazir looked at his tea. He was contemplating and didn't answer.

"We need a director who understands emotion and storytelling, not just animation. What about Andrew Stanton?" another executive joined in after realizing that Kazir was in deep thought.

"He's at Pixar. It's almost impossible to hire him. And even if we hired him, he would probably ask for a huge salary," another one answered.

Kazir smirked and realized something. "Then we just need to find someone who is great at storytelling but not expensive."

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 549

There were a lot of directors who were amazing at storytelling and stirring the emotions of the audience. In fact, this was one of the criteria to determine if a director was talented.

If a director couldn't affect his audience, then he didn't have the qualifications to be a director. A director's job was to make a movie to entertain the audience. The movie would be useless if the audience felt nothing.

Anyway, the best directors in the industry were good at storytelling and stirring the emotions of the audience.

Some of the directors who had a talent for emotionally powerful storytelling were:

Steven Spielberg. Almost everyone would agree with this fact. Steven Spielberg was very good at storytelling, and he could make his audience cry. He was basically the GOAT of heartwarming movies. He directed Schindler's List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Saving Private Ryan, and many more.

Hayao Miyazaki was also a director who was great at stirring the audience's hearts. He might not be a Hollywood director, but even Hollywood agreed that Hayao Miyazaki was an amazing director. He directed Grave of the Fireflies, Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and many more.

Kazir had to admit that he was not good at making emotional films. The best emotional film he did was The Revenant, and that wasn't even comparable to what Spielberg and Miyazaki created in their filmographies. Kazir was just making circus movies, and he was proud of that fact.

Wall-E needed a director who had great storytelling skills and could make impactful scenes. Kazir knew someone, and he was one of the best in that category.

The person Kazir was talking about was Christopher Nolan.

In Kazir's opinion, Christopher Nolan was comparable to, or perhaps even better than, Spielberg and Miyazaki in creating amazing movies. His filmography was filled with critically acclaimed films.

He was the best director that Kazir could ever hire... Furthermore, Christopher Nolan was still finding his footing in Hollywood, so he might be interested in Wall-E.

'I also heard that Christopher Nolan is still looking for interesting projects to do.'

Kazir actually felt guilty about that... He had the script of Inception registered in the Writers Guild because he was interested in it. To make sure that everything would work fine, Kazir even bought the live action adaptation rights of Paprika just to be safe.

Years passed, and Kazir realized that he didn't have the time to film Inception.

When Christopher Nolan was done with Taken 3, his agent called Kazir and hoped that they could buy the script because Christopher Nolan was interested in Inception.

Kazir agreed and let Salvatore and Nolan's agent negotiate. However, both sides didn't reach an agreement.

'I will give the script to Christopher Nolan for free if he directs Wall-E. It is originally his anyway.'

Kazir nodded.

The executives felt like Kazir was cooking something, so they were waiting for his response. Kazir looked at them and shrugged.

"Christopher Nolan is the perfect director for Wall-E," he said firmly.

The executives exchanged uncertain glances. They had heard about this director, the fourth director who had a $1 billion movie in his filmography after filming Taken 3.

They also heard that Christopher Nolan was very serious about choosing scripts. Even though the Big Six invited him to sign a contract, Christopher Nolan maintained his silence because he couldn't find the perfect script to film.

This time, they were not sure if Christopher Nolan would agree to work on an animated film.

"Nolan? But he's known for live-action movies, not animated films," one of them pointed out.

Kazir smirked.

"That's exactly why we need him. He understands atmosphere, emotion, and visual storytelling better than most directors. Wall-E isn't just an animated film, it's a cinematic experience. If anyone can make it unforgettable, it's Christopher Nolan."

"I'll personally reach out to him." He paused before adding.

When Kazir said that, the executives sighed in relief. Kazir was known for hiring the perfect director for the job.

"If Nolan agrees, we'll have to adjust our approach. He's known for practical effects and grounded storytelling. Do you think he'll be comfortable working in animation?"

One of the executives adjusted his glasses.

"Nolan is a perfectionist, but it doesn't mean he won't adapt to the changes. He'll push for perfection, but he will maintain the essence of the film, which is to entertain the kids and the parents, and that's exactly what we need. Wall-E's world should feel like it could happen in the future. If he agrees, expect him to work closely with the animators to ensure every detail is perfect."

The executives nodded, starting to see the vision. They decided to trust Kazir.

"Alright," one of them said.

"If you can convince him, we're on board."

"Okay. By the way, I haven't seen Carl Ludwig today. This is a business conference, he should be here."

"The guy is on vacation right now and can't be contacted."

"…"

Kazir was a bit jealous. He had promised himself that he would relax for a year, yet now he was still working.

Kazir let out a sigh, rubbing his temples.

"What a life," he muttered under his breath. "Maybe I should take a break too."

"Um, please don't, we need you here. We paid $5 million…"

One of the executives nervously chuckled.

Kazir smirked but didn't deny it. $5 million was a huge amount.

"Aight."

His mind was already running through how to approach Nolan. He needed to make the offer enticing, not just with Wall-E, but by giving him full creative control.

"I'll set up a meeting with Nolan and his team," Kazir said.

"Let's hope he's interested."

As the meeting ended, Kazir stood and stretched. Maybe he really needed a vacation.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 550

September arrived. On September 9, Kazir had his 38th birthday. He didn't have an extravagant birthday party. He just invited his friends and relatives to enjoy the day. Kazir's father was the only one who attended this time because his brother was busy with the company and currently out of the country. He took his wife and daughter to enjoy their time in a foreign country.

Anyway, Kazir had fun. He realized that he felt blessed to be alive. He further understood how important life was. He had experienced quite a lot in his two lifetimes, so he cherished the moment.

As the evening settled in, Kazir sat on the balcony of his home... The view in Beverly Hills was average, not going to lie. Kazir chose a house that had a mediocre location. He didn't care, though.

He was sipping a glass of wine while watching the city lights twinkle in the distance.

His father, Victor, sat beside him, holding a bottle of beer.

"You've done well for yourself, son," the old man said, his voice filled with pride. He was a bit tipsy and emotional. He was proud that his children could stand on their own.

"Thanks, Dad. I've been lucky." Kazir chuckled.

His father shook his head.

"Luck only takes you so far. Hard work and determination got you here."

Kazir nodded, appreciating his words. Honestly, Kazir still couldn't explain his regression, so he kind of thought of it as his luck.

As the night grew quieter, he made a silent wish, not for more success, but for more moments like this, where he could see everyone around him happy.

..........

.......

...

In the second week of September, The Equalizer 2 had its premiere. Kazir and Scarlett naturally attended the red carpet.

The red carpet was filled with excitement as cameras flashed and reporters scrambled to interview the stars. Kazir, dressed in a sharp black suit, walked hand in hand with Scarlett, who was stunning in an elegant emerald-green gown.

Reporters immediately swarmed them.

"Kazir! How does it feel to be back on the red carpet?" one journalist asked.

"It feels great. The Equalizer 2 is an amazing project, and I'm happy that the franchise is doing great." Kazir chuckled.

"Tonight will be wonderful." Scarlett smiled beside him.

The couple posed for a few more pictures before heading inside, ready to enjoy the premiere.

As they took their seats, Kazir glanced around the packed theater. The energy in the room was electric, filled with excitement and anticipation.

Denzel Washington, the film's lead, caught Kazir's eye and gave him a nod. Kazir returned the gesture with a smile.

The lights dimmed, and the 20th Century Fox and Grey Pictures logos appeared on the screen. The audience quieted down as the movie began.

Kazir leaned back in his seat, watching the film unfold. He had already seen the early cut, but experiencing it with a live audience was different. The reactions, excitement, cheers, and shouts of the people made the experience special.

The Equalizer 2 was about Robert McCall, a former DIA operative who now works as a vigilante, helping those in need. When his close friend and former colleague, Susan Plummer, is murdered while investigating a case in Brussels, McCall sets out to uncover the truth. His search leads him to discover a conspiracy involving his former partner, Dave York, who has turned into a mercenary. As McCall takes down York and his team, he also mentors a young neighbor, Miles, steering him away from a life of crime. The film ends with McCall avenging Susan's death and continuing his quiet life as a protector of the innocent. (ChatGPT)

To make it a bit spicy, Kazir changed some parts of the plot, such as Dave York becoming part of the High Table. Yeah, this was the best he could do to include the franchise in the Continental Cinematic Universe. Perhaps the third movie would be a direct confrontation against the High Table.

.........

......

...

On September 12, Friday, The Equalizer 2 grossed $15 million.

On September 13, Saturday, the movie grossed $39 million.

On September 14, Sunday, the movie grossed $56 million.

After three days of screening, The Equalizer 2 grossed over $56 million on its first weekend.

Grey Pictures and 20th Century Fox both agreed that the start of The Equalizer 2 was promising. Based on their calculations, The Equalizer 2 would gross at least $200 million at the North American box office once done. However, they had a lot of factors to consider, so this $200 million was just an estimation. Either they would earn more or less than that amount.

By the way, as of September 14, The Dark Knight had already grossed over $517 million at the North American box office, and its international box office was $429 million. After 60 days of screening, The Dark Knight had already grossed $946 million worldwide. Everyone could see that the movie would reach $1 billion.

As for Wanted 3, after 17 days of screening, it grossed $255 million at the North American box office as of September 14.

The momentum of Wanted 3 was still ongoing, while The Dark Knight was already losing its gas. Unfortunately for 20th Century Fox, The Dark Knight had a stronger potential to reach $1 billion, unlike Wanted 3, which would probably reach $800 million at best.

Well, a win is still a win. Both sides were winning and nothing to be salty about.

Grey Pictures and 20th Century Fox kept a close eye on the numbers, but they weren't overly concerned. Wanted 3 had already exceeded expectations, proving that the franchise still had strong appeal. Meanwhile, The Equalizer 2 was gaining momentum, and industry insiders believed it had strong legs at the box office.