Due to Guillermo del Toro's illness, the filming of "I Am Legend" was paused. After visiting del Toro in the hospital, Matthew began closely monitoring the negotiations between Sky Dance Film Company and Universal Pictures, frequently visiting David Ellison's office for discussions.
He couldn't directly participate in the negotiations, as it might complicate things.
This wasn't just Matthew's opinion; both Helen Herman and David Ellison had repeatedly emphasized this.
The negotiations were extremely difficult. In the first round, Universal Pictures outright rejected Sky Dance Film Company's $30 million offer for the sequel rights. When Sky Dance Film Company raised the offer to $40 million, Universal Pictures employed delaying tactics, giving no direct response.
A few days later, when the two parties sat down again, Universal Pictures proposed an extremely stringent condition: both parties must sign a confidentiality agreement prohibiting any disclosure of the negotiation details until the talks concluded.
Though Matthew and David Ellison felt it was an overreaction, they agreed to the confidentiality agreement. However, Sky Dance Film Company included a seven-person production team in their negotiation team, arguing that the producers of "300 Spartans" had the right to know.
This way, Matthew, as a named producer of "300 Spartans," was listed without arousing suspicion from Universal Pictures.
With the confidentiality agreement signed, the negotiations entered a prolonged stage. Matthew and David Ellison stayed behind the scenes, controlling the negotiation team. Unexpectedly, Universal Pictures themselves proposed exchanging the sequel rights for "300 Spartans" before Sky Dance Film Company could suggest it.
Moreover, Universal Pictures, like Matthew and other powerful business players, demanded an exorbitant price.
In addition to the sequel rights to "300 Spartans," Universal Pictures wanted Sky Dance Film Company to pay the $40 million fee and grant Universal Pictures the distribution rights for all future "Fast & Furious" films. Universal Pictures would also take a cut from the box office and receive 50% of all related profits.
"These conditions are beyond harsh," Helen Herman said in Sky Dance Film Company's conference room, her face cold. "All our future efforts on this series would essentially be working for Universal Pictures."
David Ellison shook his head. "They're greedier than I expected."
The bald CEO added, "Universal Pictures believes they have an absolute advantage..."
The atmosphere in the room was tense. Matthew, clenching the calluses on his hands, said, "Reject them! End the negotiations!"
"Hmm?" David Ellison was considering.
The bald CEO agreed, "Matthew is right. We should withdraw from the negotiations."
"I'm no expert in business, just thinking from a profit-loss perspective. See if this is feasible," Matthew said directly. "Before Universal Pictures proposed the '300 Spartans' sequel rights, we were at their mercy. But now that they want the sequel rights, the situation has changed. We hold the sequel rights to a film with a higher North American box office than the combined 'Fast & Furious' trilogy."
He spread his hands and smiled. "So, I believe the advantage is now ours."
Hearing this, David Ellison slowly nodded.
Helen Herman said, "We should adjust our negotiation strategy."
Matthew shrugged, "Sorry, I can suggest, but the actual negotiation is up to you professionals."
David Ellison frowned, thought for a while, and said, "I'll handle this."
That afternoon, in another round of negotiations with Universal Pictures, Sky Dance Film Company outright rejected Universal's proposal, stating clearly that any terms involving the rights to "300 Spartans" were off the table.
Matthew and David Ellison conveyed that Sky Dance Film Company would rather forgo the sequel rights to "Fast & Furious" than sell any rights related to "300 Spartans."
Sky Dance Film Company unilaterally halted the negotiations.
It was a risky gamble, but when news broke on TMZ that one of the producers, Zack Snyder, representing Warner Bros., had contacted Frank Miller several times, Universal Pictures requested to resume negotiations.
The negotiations resumed, and though Sky Dance Film Company didn't gain complete control, the talks were now on a more equal footing.
What remained was the tedious back-and-forth of bargaining.
"How are the negotiations between Universal Pictures and Sky Dance Film Company going?"
In a café in Burbank, Vin Diesel, sporting a shiny bald head, asked his new agent Brock Lesnar, "Do they still not know Matthew Horner is behind this?"
Brock Lesnar had just arrived, pulled out a chair, and sat across from Vin Diesel. "They don't know. Universal Pictures still thinks it's David Ellison's doing." He took a big gulp of water, loosened his tie, and added, "I predict they'll reach an agreement within a week."
Vin Diesel, rubbing his smooth head, said gruffly and with evident dissatisfaction, "Predict?"
As an agent, Brock Lesnar was accustomed to Vin Diesel's self-centered attitude and didn't take it to heart. "Since three days ago, I've only known that negotiations are ongoing. I can't get any new information. They must have reached a confidentiality agreement."
Hearing this, Vin Diesel's expression remained unchanged.
Brock Lesnar continued, "Sky Dance withdrew from the negotiations the day before yesterday. Yesterday afternoon, Universal Pictures invited them back to the table."
Vin Diesel's face remained expressionless, seemingly always stuck in that mode.
"This means they're close to reaching an agreement," Brock Lesnar reminded him.
"Mm." Vin Diesel nodded, his deep voice rumbling, "So, my opportunity is coming?"
Brock Lesnar, feeling somewhat helpless, nodded. "Yes."
More than a week ago, he had learned about the negotiations from Martin Davis and promptly informed Vin Diesel. Initially, he planned to report it to Universal Pictures immediately, to cut off their contact with Sky Dance Film Company and push their own plans for the "Fast & Furious" sequels.
But Vin Diesel insisted on waiting for the right moment to approach Universal Pictures.
"You still think my approach is unnecessary?" Vin Diesel glared at Brock Lesnar.
Needing Vin Diesel to pull in funds, Brock Lesnar had to accommodate him, but he wasn't afraid of him. He replied directly, "Very unnecessary."
"Hmph, what do you know?" Vin Diesel snorted, "I not only want to restart the 'Fast & Furious' series and make it a successful franchise, but I also want to take down Matthew Horner!"
Mentioning the name, he seemed to feel a pain in his chest, as if the frustration from that Victoria's Secret show night had never dissipated.
Initially, Vin Diesel had only a mild interest in rebooting the "Fast & Furious" series. His past collaboration with Universal Pictures had been unpleasant, with their constant meddling on set being annoying.
But when Brock Lesnar mentioned Matthew Horner's intent to buy the series rights, his interest skyrocketed. What could be more satisfying than directly thwarting Matthew Horner?
"I want to show up just as Matthew Horner is about to get his hands on it," Vin Diesel stood up, exuding overwhelming confidence, as if the entire galaxy was bowing before him. "I want to take 'Fast & Furious' from him and humiliate him in person! I want him to know he's still the same worthless pauper in front of me!"
Brock Lesnar's mouth twitched, an irresistible thought crossing his mind: was poaching this megalomaniac a mistake?
This person was incredibly difficult to handle and would undoubtedly cause countless troubles and controversies.
However, the thought quickly passed. Vin Diesel had the resources he needed, especially the funds to start film projects.
After lunch, Brock Lesnar accompanied Vin Diesel to Universal Pictures, where they met with a director from the production department. Everything went smoothly, as expected.
Upon learning that Matthew Horner was behind David Ellison and Sky Dance Film Company, Universal Pictures reconsidered the market potential of the "Fast & Furious" series.
The two top executives at Universal Pictures took advantage of this, combined with Vin Diesel's promise to bring in tens of millions of dollars and CAA's commitment to allocate resources, swaying the management.
Since someone else could cover most of the production costs, Universal Pictures was willing to give it a shot. Even if it failed, the losses wouldn't be significant.
The news of the halted negotiations quickly reached Matthew and David Ellison. They soon grasped the situation, and Matthew no longer needed to stay hidden. He and David Ellison joined the negotiations directly. After two rounds of highly confidential talks, they appeared at Universal Studios at Universal Pictures' invitation.
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