HOLLYWOOD WHAT IF

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 572

Since Final Destination was successful and created a path for consistent profit through a bi-yearly sequel, 20th Century Fox was happy and didn't think twice about casting Tobey Maguire for another horror movie.

When Tobey received a call from his agent, he was hesitant at first. Being an actor, he wanted to expand his acting range. He thought of trying musicals if possible. He even thought of taking singing lessons.

The Academy Awards had a strong love for musicals and realistic movies, and Tobey wanted to try and see if he could compete for a Best Actor or Best Supporting Actor award. It depended.

Anyway, he immediately changed his mind when he realized that the script was written by none other than Kazir Grey! The director also wrote some key points about the movie, specifically the found footage genre.

When Tobey read the title, he was sold.

The Paranormal Activity.

Yes, Tobey Maguire was cast in the movie as the father of a newborn baby who was going to be kidnapped by a demon.

Unlike the original version of Paranormal Activity, this one had a slightly higher budget and a polished script, thanks to Kazir's involvement.

It still retained the core theme and horror feel of found footage, but with stronger thrilling scenes that might cause the audience to shriek in fear. Honestly, Paranormal Activity was not that scary, but it had shocking scenes that could wake people from their stupor.

Tobey saw the potential. It wasn't just a jump scare fest; it was psychological and had a chilling atmosphere. A different kind of horror movie than the usual slasher films.

Playing a father was a new role for Tobey Maguire, and he was interested in it. Tobey had a baby face, so he had to do some makeover to appear older, hence the thick beard and the weight gain.

In a way, he was following Leonardo DiCaprio's steps. Leonardo was also known as a young, handsome actor in the 90s; he always had this young baby face. But Leonardo transitioned, and his appearance now had a mature and older vibe to it. Unlike the 90s, when Leonardo could only take young teenage roles, he could easily snag older and better roles in the 2000s.

Tobey called his agent back and agreed after reading the script. Kazir's name was enough to convince him that this could be a game-changer.

Who didn't like a box office success? If this horror movie made money at the box office, then Tobey would also have strong negotiation power in his next projects.

His salary was $3 million and 7% of the North American box office share. With his fame and status, Tobey Maguire could easily get this kind of contract. 20th Century Fox also agreed since they needed a strong actor for this small-budget horror movie.

The success of Final Destination could be factored into Tobey's casting, so 20th Century Fox didn't have a problem with a $3 million salary plus 7% North American box office share.

In fact, the studio was satisfied that Tobey only asked for $3 million. For a superstar like him, he could easily ask for $10 million. Tobey and his agent decided to trust Kazir. The director was known for being a success magnet. Any project that Kazir participated in always generated profit.

The budget for Paranormal Activity was only $10 million, so 20th Century Fox happily signed the contract with Tobey. The studio didn't have any intention of increasing the budget since this was only a horror movie.

In the original timeline, the budget of Paranormal Activity was only $15,000. Very, very small.

But this time, it was different; with Tobey Maguire as one of the lead actors in the movie and the trust that 20th Century Fox put into the project, the budget increased to $10 million.

Including the money 20th Century Fox spent on buying the script from Kazir, the overall expenses for Paranormal Activity were $15 million.

.........

......

...

It was still February and basically the start of the year, yet some major events had already happened that could have changed the future.

Aside from box office movies, events such as the new President of America and the first Bitcoin transaction happened in January.

On January 12, 2009, the first Bitcoin transaction happened. The creator of Bitcoin sent 10 BTC to a developer and supporter of Bitcoin. This sort of started cryptocurrency trading. People wouldn't expect that this kind of currency would become massive in the next 10 years. In 2020, the average price of one Bitcoin was $11,116, while the peak was $28,886.

Knowing the future, Kazir started farming Bitcoin. Even owning one Bitcoin in 2020 was already fulfilling, so Kazir intended to earn at least a hundred Bitcoins. Bitcoin was still useless, so Kazir had no problem farming them. Perhaps in the next few years, his name would also become famous as one of the biggest crypto magnates.

Kazir easily earned billions without putting in huge investments. All he had to do was hoard Bitcoins while they were still useless.

He quietly built a mining setup in his basement. Even Scarlett was confused about what he was doing. Kazir just explained that he was trying a new hobby.

While others chased fame, scripts, and positions in Hollywood, Kazir diversified his portfolio. To the world, he was just a director, erm, a billionaire director. But in the crypto world, he was preparing to become one of the earliest whales in cryptocurrency history. Kazir grinned as he imagined the future.

Anyway, aside from Bitcoin, there was another huge event that affected the United States: the Presidential election and the winner.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 573

Barack Obama was officially the 44th President of the United States on January 20, 2009. It was a historic moment, not just for America but for the entire world. Obama was the first African-American president.

Kazir watched the inauguration with a knowing smile. Since he knew that Barack would win, he didn't regret showing his support. He wasn't political, but he understood the importance of having strong backing. He might not be a close supporter, but at least Barack knew that Kazir had voted for him.

Kazir was taking advantage of his future knowledge, and it was never wrong to use that to his advantage. The fact that he was now farming Bitcoin showed that he was capitalizing on what he knew.

Hollywood, too, was changing.

More movies about diversity and inclusion were being greenlit. Kazir made a mental note. Movies were about making money, after all.

As for the positive and negative effects of Barack Obama's leadership, only people who experienced it could say their opinions.

.........

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...

Kazir Grey leaned back on his leather couch. The glow of the flat-screen high-definition ultra-large television illuminated his living room.

A half-empty glass of wine was on the table beside him, untouched for the last ten minutes. On the screen, a live interview was playing. An interview that had caught his attention the moment he heard the word "multiverse."

The interviewer, a female anchor from a popular science talk show, turned toward the camera.

"Tonight, we will tackle the question that has puzzled both scientists and storytellers alike. Do parallel universes truly exist?"

The guest, Dr. Chris P. Bacon, a well-respected physicist with a calm voice, nodded thoughtfully.

"The multiverse theory, particularly the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, suggests that every choice made creates a new universe. It's not just science fiction, it's rooted in real theoretical physics, though we still lack direct evidence."

Kazir's eyes narrowed slightly. Since Kazir was now part of Marvel Studio, he had become interested in the Multiverse theory. Phase 4 of the MCU had aspects of the Multiverse.

Loki.

What If...?

Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

These four projects, two TV shows and two movies, tackled the aspects of the Multiverse.

Now, sitting as a powerful director and producer, hearing more about this theory could help him.

On top of that, there was another reason why he was interested in the Multiverse, Parallel Universe, and Many Worlds theories: because of the situation he was in.

Kazir knew that his regression had created another timeline. A new world where some events changed while others remained the same.

"Scientists are exploring anomalies in cosmic background radiation," Dr. Bacon continued.

Listening, Kazir had no idea what exactly the scientist was talking about, but he understood the gist.

"If parallel universes brush against ours, we might one day detect their presence."

Kazir chuckled under his breath.

If only they knew, he thought.

The truth was, Kazir didn't just believe in parallel worlds, he experienced one. He was not sure if he loved his first life because of the many messed-up things he experienced, but it was still a novel experience nonetheless.

But now, Kazir was starting to live his life again. He was probably at the top of his life.

Every time he made a change, every moment he used his knowledge of the future, he was reshaping this reality.

Maybe not literal dimension-hopping, but it felt the same. Kazir was shaping a new universe, and he was the only one who knew about it.

From the moment he regressed back to 1994, Kazir promised that he would not tell anyone about the fact that he was from the future. It was safer that way.

On the screen, the interviewer asked,

"And what would you say to those who believe that the Multiverse is real?"

"I'd say, maybe they've caught a glimpse of something, perhaps a Mandela Effect," Dr. Chris P. Bacon smiled gently.

Kazir smiled back as if the scientist were speaking directly to him.

The interviewer nodded.

"I see. Then, let me give an example. What if our universe is actually not the original? What if we're also part of a Multiverse? Let's say Kazir Grey didn't direct The Dark Knight, Pirates of the Caribbean, and many more. What if Pirates of the Caribbean was actually from Walt Disney? So what are we?"

"Perhaps we are what if?" Dr. Bacon asked back, enjoying the conversation.

"So what are we, some kind of Hollywood What If?"

"Say that again."

Ah yes, this is truly our "Say that again" ahh moment.

Kazir wrote the last part of their conversation with a smirk. He understood the reference. Perhaps he could revive it again through Fantastic Four and Suicide Squad.

"This is truly our Hollywood What If."

"Maybe Hollywood What If are the friends we made along the way."

.........

......

...

March came in like a lion. This month, some movies that were released surpassed $100 million.

First in the line was Watchmen, a movie that was released in the first week of March. The movie was distributed by Warner Brothers. Watchmen was based on a comic published by DC Comics. The movie was directed by Zack Snyder, and it grossed $339 million.

After working on 300 and having a successful collaboration with 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers saw Zack Snyder's potential in adapting comic-based movies. Warner Brothers was interested in filming more comic-based movies, so they decided to hire Zack Snyder. As their first collaboration, they let the director film Watchmen, a standalone comic series. It was a safe bet.

They didn't expect that Watchmen would gross over $300 million. Zack Snyder did his best to adapt the comic into a movie as close as possible.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 574

Zack Snyder's success with 300 had already placed him on Hollywood's radar. At first, no one knew this director, despite him already having directed a horror movie about zombies titled Dawn of the Dead.

Kazir was the first to contact him, but they failed to establish a collaboration. However, after the small success of Dawn of the Dead, Zack Snyder was invited by 20th Century Fox to direct 300. The person who recommended him for the job was Kazir.

Zack was actually embarrassed when he heard that at first, because he knew he had chosen Universal Pictures over Grey Pictures a few years ago.

Anyway, he had to be shameless, so he worked on 300. That decision turned out to be the best thing he ever did.

The uniqueness of 300, which was mostly filmed on a green screen, became a success. The action-heavy film grossed over $450 million worldwide on a $65 million budget.

It earned Zack Snyder $10 million, including salary and bonuses. He was extremely satisfied with what he earned.

Then, Warner Brothers also contacted him. Rumors spread that Kazir was interested in Zack Snyder's talent as a director. Warner Brothers wanted to know if that was true. Besides, with Zack's past success, Warner Brothers had legitimate reasons to hire him.

With Watchmen, despite being from a less popular genre (noir) and featuring darker themes, Zack Snyder still negotiated a strong deal through his agent, of course.

Although Watchmen had a lower box office performance at $339 million compared to 300's $450 million, Zack earned approximately $6–8 million, salary and bonuses included.

While 300 proved more commercially successful, Watchmen cemented Snyder's reputation for turning comic books into movies, and his adaptation was highly regarded.

"Zack Snyder's filmography has ups and downs."

Since Kazir was the one who first contacted Zack, it also meant that he knew Zack's capabilities.

Overall, Zack's filmography was not perfect. He had some movies that performed terribly at the box office.

In fact, his next project, which was already in production, wouldn't perform well at the box office. It was an animated movie, also distributed by Warner Brothers. Yeah, Warner Brothers was trying to understand Zack's talent. They were investing in his future.

Anyway, the animated movie Zack was currently working on was Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole. It was about owls fighting in the sky... The movie only grossed $140 million worldwide despite having an $80 million production budget. It wasn't a loss, but it also wasn't a win. It wasn't even average.

"Let's see… If Legend of the Guardians fails next year, there's a chance that Warner Brothers might lose interest in Zack. Once that happens, maybe we can sign a three-picture contract with Zack just to keep him away from the DCEU."

Kazir didn't forget the reason he wanted to hire Zack Snyder. He wanted Zack Snyder to never participate in the DCEU. Although the DCEU was incomparable to the MCU in terms of profits and movie performance, it was still a strong rival. Now that the CCU was in a great place and the MCU was starting to grow, Kazir didn't want to saturate the market.

In his opinion, the Cinematic Universe should only be dominated by the Continental Cinematic Universe and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Anything beyond those two was considered competition.

"Zack is also a talented director, so signing a three-picture deal with him is not that bad. As long as we can keep him busy."

A three-picture deal and a trilogy deal were different. A trilogy meant that a director had to direct three movies of a franchise, usually the introduction movie, then two sequels. The best example was Kazir's Batman trilogy where he had to film Batman Begins, then The Dark Knight, and then The Dark Knight Rises.

As for a three-picture deal, it didn't have to be a trilogy. Sometimes, a director could film three movies that had no connection to each other.

Hiring Zack Snyder for a three-picture deal was worth it. That was Kazir's opinion.

If Warner Brothers were interested in starting the DCEU without Zack Snyder, then Kazir couldn't interfere with that. He just hoped it wouldn't perform well, for the sake of his own interests.

Was it bad that he hoped for the downfall of a rival even though he admitted that he was also a fan of the DCEU in his past life?

Well, it depends.

Showbiz was often cruel, ruthless, and heartless. Some business decisions outweighed personal preferences. Some actors hated their roles but didn't have a choice but to go along with them because of money.

Robert Pattinson hated his role in Twilight, but he made a great amount of money, so he had to swallow his disgust.

Halle Berry also hated her role in Catwoman for obvious reasons.

Megan Fox also hated her role in Transformers. Although to be fair, she probably hated Michael Bay more than her role because she felt objectified.

Still, they chose the money.

Kazir did the same. There was nothing wrong with that. He loved DC Comics, but his love wouldn't feed him and his family. His admiration wouldn't pay the bills.

The entertainment industry was thriving, and Cinematic Universe franchises were swimming in gold. Kazir wanted to maintain the exclusivity of the Cinematic Universe and its market control.

If the DCEU gained too much fame, it could downgrade the audience's excitement for superhero films, affecting the MCU and perhaps the CCU as well.

So, Kazir's plan was simple: keep Zack occupied, offer creative freedom, and ensure that Warner Brothers never had the chance to weaponize his talent against Grey Pictures and Marvel Studios.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 575

Kazir didn't think of it as sabotage, more like strategic containment.

In this timeline, he had the power to shape outcomes, and he intended to use that power wisely. Zack Snyder was a promising director, but his talent alone didn't guarantee success at the box office.

If Kazir could redirect Zack's attention toward standalone films, franchises, or TV shows under Grey Pictures or 20th Century Fox, everyone would benefit, especially Kazir. After all, only Kazir knew that Zack Snyder would become an important part of the creation of the DCEU.

"Marvel Studio should thank me for what I'm doing. In others' eyes, what I'm doing might be pointless, but I'm trying to make sure that the MCU and CCU are secured."

Well said. So "sabotaging" Zack Snyder and Warner Brothers was the best decision. If Warner Brothers wanted to start the DCEU without Zack, then so be it.

Besides, offering Zack the chance to direct original scripts or even adapt lesser-known comics might satisfy Zack's creativity without threatening Grey Pictures and Marvel Studio. Heck, Kazir might hire him to direct one franchise in the MCU.

Kazir couldn't help but chuckle at the idea. For him, it was funny and ironic. The spearhead of the DCEU might become a pillar of the MCU this time.

"Although we have to find the right franchise, something that has a darker tone since Zack is into that kind of genre."

Kazir knew some comic characters that could suit well with darker tones such as Moon Knight, Daredevil, The Punisher, Venom, Ghost Rider, and even Wolverine, particularly Wolverine's solo series.

In the end, it was all about balance. Control the talents, and you control their future. Kazir could now affect the future of talents in Hollywood.

After the first week of March and the release of Watchmen, other movies were also released.

In the third week, I Love You, Man and Knowing were released.

I Love You, Man was a comedy starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel. The movie grossed over $124 million.

Knowing was a thriller suspense movie starring Nicholas Cage. The movie grossed over $214 million.

In the fourth week, two more movies also grossed over $100 million.

The Haunting in Connecticut was a horror movie that grossed over $103 million.

The last movie was produced by DreamWorks Animation and was also the box office winner of March, grossing the highest.

Monsters vs. Aliens grossed $493 million, just a few million short of reaching half a billion. However, a million dollars was not that simple to acquire, so Monsters vs. Aliens remained under $500 million.

The plot of Monsters vs. Aliens was about monsters fighting aliens… Yeah, the title already spoiled the plot. Still, this movie had a lot of memes. DreamWorks Animation was starting to threaten Disney, and that was good or bad depending on whose side you were on.

DreamWorks had been releasing banger after banger these past few years. It was understandable why some studios were taking them seriously, especially their animation department. Everyone knew that animated movies usually had a combo of products, which were merchandise, toys, and other stuff. That was where most of the money came from.

Naturally, Kazir also paid attention to DreamWorks Animation's momentum.

The rise of another animation powerhouse could affect Disney's dominance, which might impact other parts of the industry, including box office competition and merchandising.

"Now that Blue Sky Studio is also getting better, it means that Walt Disney's dominance in the animation industry will decrease."

Honestly, Kazir thought of starting his own animation studio. He was confident that his animation studio could stand equal against big-name studios such as Walt Disney and DreamWorks.

He wasn't joking. With the right team, talent, and voice actors, he could have the edge… Even one huge hit animated film could establish a foothold.

He already had the resources. Money was not the problem. And with his knowledge of future trends, he could use original IPs from the future and animate them in the current era.

However, despite this interesting idea, Kazir decided not to do it. Grey Pictures was already in the limelight, and the Big Six already held some dissatisfaction toward it. If Kazir also intended to start his own animation studio, the future wouldn't be easy. Especially Walt Disney, this company would probably do its best to sabotage him if he tried to build an animation studio.

Even 20th Century Fox wouldn't help in this regard since it also had Blue Sky Studio to protect.

Grey Pictures was already powerful. In fact, if it had a distribution channel, the Big Six might become the Big Seven. Or perhaps Sony-Columbia would lose its privilege and Grey Pictures would become the new part of the Big Six.

Anyway, these were just what-ifs. Kazir understood the danger of being greedy. He had no intention of making enemies. The fact that he didn't try to acquire a distribution channel spoke for itself.

Being too greedy and ambitious was never in Kazir's dictionary.

Having a few billion dollars was already satisfying. Heck, only 0.0000369% of the world's population was a billionaire. That was a small percentage compared to the 8 billion people in the world. In other aspects, only 1 in 2.7 million people were billionaires.

That achievement was already amazing; Kazir had no intention of fighting for more influence in Hollywood… Or else he might face the hidden society, which included the Illuminati, Rothschilds, and the BlackRock Corporation.

Staying low-key was not bad. With his influence, he didn't need to make more buzz.

Besides, it was entertaining to watch others wage war over market dominance in the animation industry. He was interested in seeing which of the current Big Three of the animation industry would win. Would it be Blue Sky Studio, DreamWorks Animation, or perhaps Walt Disney?

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 576

March 2, 2009.

Gibson Amphitheater.

Los Angeles, California.

The soft cranking of the limousine engine was the only sound inside the vehicle. Paul Walker sat back against the leather seat, his fingers happily drumming lightly on his knee as the limousine turned the corner toward the Gibson Amphitheatre.

Outside, fans were already packed behind barricades, camera flashes twinkling like stars in the night sky. It was a moment that only a few people could savor, people who could personally see their idols.

He glanced at the rearview mirror and caught his expression. His eyes showed nervousness, but they were also calm. He was excited but collected. After all, this was not the first time he had experienced attending a red carpet.

'I still can't believe it. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a dream. Decades ago, I was just an actor who wasn't even well-known. But now, these people are waiting outside to cheer me.'

Paul Walker had been in the industry since the 80s. Despite being in the industry for decades, he still couldn't find his big break.

Until he was cast in one of the franchises of the Continental Cinematic Universe, the Fast and Furious franchise. His career had leveled up.

The franchise was successful from the first movie, especially since the scriptwriter was Kazir Grey.

Although Paul couldn't deny that there were moments he thought the franchise might just fade away, just another cool street racing flick that lived and died in the early 2000s.

Even now, some people were still skeptical about the longevity of the Continental Cinematic Universe.

But here they were, at Fast & Furious 3, the third installment, bringing most of the original cast back.

And the hype? It was super insane.

He tugged at the collar of his white shirt. He had no tie. He liked keeping it comfortable, even on red carpets. The navy suit was clean and sharp and made him feel like he was a superstar.

Even though Paul Walker hadn't reached the superstar level, he still received annual projects, and his salary was also satisfactory. He owed it all to Fast and Furious.

He was actually happy that he had a project he could lean on whenever he needed exposure and money. At least he wouldn't fade away as long as Fast and Furious was relevant.

His salary alone was $5 million, plus the studio promised a bonus if the movie achieved a milestone.

He also had some conversations with Kazir, the head of the overall CCU project. Whenever Kazir and Paul had a conversation, it always lingered around driving.

Kazir adamantly said that having a personal driver was important. Especially when going to a party or charity event and drinking alcohol, having a designated or personal driver was crucial.

Paul didn't know why the conversation always veered into that topic, but he decided to listen to Kazir. After all, Kazir had experienced some traumatic stuff, and his opinion regarding personal drivers was valid. So, as much as possible, Paul had a personal driver, especially when he was drunk.

As the limo slowed to a stop, the muffled roar of the crowd outside grew louder. He took a deep breath and put on a charming smile.

"Let's roll," he said.

The driver opened the door, and Paul stepped out into a storm of flashing lights and cheering voices.

The cool breeze touched his face as he raised his hand in a waving motion. He offered a relaxed smile that had charmed the audience.

"Paul! Over here!"

"Paul, give us a smile!"

"Brian O'Conner lives!"

"Paul, you're so fucking cool—!"

He laughed at that last one, pausing to pose for the cameras before making his way down the carpet.

The Fast & Furious banner loomed behind him, massive and glowing with lights. His name, Paul Walker, was there, written on the poster, easy to see. He was one of the protagonists of Fast and Furious, after all.

He stopped for interviews, nodding and answering with thoughtful pauses.

"How does it feel to return to the franchise?" a reporter asked.

"It's amazing. There's something about the cast, the crew, every time we're together, it just clicks. It's not just about cars or action. It's about family," Paul smiled.

That word. Family. It was more than a tagline now. It was the motto of this whole franchise.

Nothing beats family. You can do everything when you're with your family. You can jump onto a running tank if you have a family. You can go parachuting in your car with your family. Also, you can go to outer space with your family.

Suddenly, a cheer erupted from the crowd as Vin Diesel emerged from his own limousine.

Speaking of the devil, the guy who promotes "family" had arrived.

Vin Diesel had projects such as Chronicles of Riddick and XXX. Out of all the cast of Fast and Furious, Vin Diesel was probably the most successful. The Rock was still steadying his fame in Hollywood in this era.

Vin walked over and immediately pulled Paul into a firm hug. Was this a form of promotion or a genuine act?

Was Vin Diesel really friends with Paul Walker? Perhaps they were just coworkers? Perhaps they hated each other? Only close friends could know the answer.

"Happy to see you tonight, Paul," Vin said.

Paul nodded. "Yeah. Let's give them a show."

They stood together for the cameras, Dominic Toretto and Brian O'Conner, side by side as they promoted Fast and Furious 3.

As they headed toward the theater, Paul glanced back at the sea of fans. He felt grateful, deeply and profoundly grateful. Not just for the fame or the franchise, but for the chance to be part of a huge project that people would remember for a very long time.

"Let's see where the road takes us this time," he thought, stepping inside with a smile.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 577

Fast and Furious 3 was successful. Most people probably expected it. After all, this was the part where the old cast of the franchise. Dom Toretto and the others, had returned, especially now when Vin Diesel had a good run at the box office and was popular.

Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) is living in the Dominican Republic, lying low after the events of the first film. After hearing that his girlfriend Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) has been murdered, Dom returns to Los Angeles to hunt down her killer. He reconnects with Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker), who is now working for the FBI and also investigating the same drug cartel responsible for Letty's death.

The two reluctantly team up to take down Arturo Braga, a ruthless drug lord who smuggles heroin across the U.S.-Mexico border using high-speed drivers. As they go undercover and race against time (and each other), Dom seeks vengeance while Brian is torn between his duty and loyalty to Dom and Mia (Dom's sister).

Unlike other CCU movies, Fast and Furious 3 had a down-to-earth plot. It didn't tackle anything about the High Table or the terrible terrorist attack in the last arc. Yet despite this simple plot, the audience loved it.

Perhaps people were just looking for a not-so-complicated plot. Furthermore, despite having a simple story, the other aspects of the movie were delivered amazingly.

Most fans of Fast and Furious were car enthusiasts and also fans of street racing. Every installment of Fast and Furious had street racing, and that was what these people were waiting for. Thankfully, the street racing part of the movie was satisfying, Kazir made sure of that.

The chase scenes were cool, the engine roars were loud, and the fast-moving cars delivered that adrenaline rush fans had been craving. Kazir personally watched the editing of this scene to ensure the people would love it. In fact, the whole production crew, Justin Lin included, even attended underground street racing to gain inspiration.

The chemistry between Paul Walker and Vin Diesel reignited the core that carried the franchise in its early days.

Critics may not have praised the story for its depth, but even they admitted the film had delivered on its promise. The box office was the proof.

On April 3, 2009, Friday, the movie grossed $19 million.

On April 4, 2009, Saturday, it grossed another $23 million.

On April 5, 2009, Sunday, it grossed another $15 million.

In just three days, Fast and Furious 3 grossed $59 million. That in itself was a testament to its performance. It meant that people liked the movie.

The last movie of the Fast & Furious franchise was 2 Fast 2 Furious, and that movie grossed $751 million at the worldwide box office back in 2004.

Now, people were wondering how much the third installment would make. Usually, the third part of a trilogy had the weakest performance, since most people were not satisfied with the endings. But since Fast & Furious would probably have at least 10 movies, the fans would be deeply happy.

Besides, even if Fast and Furious 3 only grossed $600 to $700 million, it was still a victory no matter how you looked at it.

"As long as the movie makes money, it doesn't matter if the critics hate it. As long as Fast and Furious 3 surpasses $500 million, we already consider that a success. The series will continue to make money for us."

Kazir, sitting in his office, glanced at the data that showed the increase in numbers. These increasing numbers signified money. Even the Cinema Alliance called him and congratulated him. Normally, the Cinema Alliance had a closer relationship with the Big Six than with other production studios that didn't have a distribution chain. But since Grey Pictures was a top-notch studio that helped the Cinema Alliance make money, it wasn't wrong for them to befriend him.

By the way, the Cinema Alliance was a group of companies that held the majority of cinemas in North America, particularly in the U.S.A. and Canada. They controlled how many theaters a movie could be screened in. Their alliance was the reason why even the Big Six couldn't bully them.

Kazir and the others from Grey Pictures couldn't help but be happy.

The success of Fast and Furious 3 was not just another win, it was validation. Despite the ending of a major CCU arc, the fans were still desperate for more CCU movies.

He had taken a risk by pushing for a more grounded story in Fast and Furious 3, focusing on cars and brotherhood instead of over-the-top, out-of-this-world stunts about bullets bending their trajectories and ninjas merging with the shadows. And the audience responded positively.

Merchandise sales, soundtrack downloads, and social media buzz all pointed to one thing, the Continental Cinematic Universe was still shining bright, like a diamond.

Kazir smiled, knowing that things were still on the right path. With the right balance of bravery, speed, heart, and family, the road ahead for the Fast & Furious series looked unstoppable.

"When I see you again..." Kazir couldn't help but hum the most famous soundtrack of Fast and Furious aside from Tokyo Drift.

See You Again was the theme song for The Fate of the Furious (F8). Performed by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth, See You Again was a hit song. The song was also a tribute to Paul Walker.

"At this time, Charlie Puth is still probably a small-time YouTuber."

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 578

Aside from Fast and Furious 3, other movies were released in April that grossed over $100 million.

In the second week of April:

Hannah Montana: The Movie, a film based on a popular Disney show, successfully grossed over $234 million.

In the third week of April:

17 Again was released. Starring Zac Efron and distributed by Warner Brothers, this comedy film grossed over $169 million.

State of Play was also released in the third week of April. Starring Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck, State of Play grossed $106 million. The movie was distributed by Universal Pictures.

Compared to summer, where every week had blockbuster movies released, April didn't have much to offer. But once May arrived and summer vacation started, Hollywood would go all-out to make as much money as possible.

As for Fast and Furious 3, it grossed over $243 million at the North American box office by April 30.

Its international box office also grossed $184 million. Movies these days could be released around the same time as in North America since technology had improved, and international distribution didn't need film reels anymore. Heck, you could even send copies of movies online.

At the same time, piracy also became popular around this period. People could easily find movies just by searching on the internet. They downloaded the movies without paying for them. This sick move hurt Hollywood, that was the truth.

Piracy was bad, but can you really blame the people? They found an easier way to acquire movies, and they also didn't have to pay for them. The answer was obvious: they preferred the free better.

Movie piracy became popular because of convenience and accessibility. With the rise of the internet and file-sharing platforms like BitTorrent, people could download full movies from the comfort of their homes.

A pirated DVD version and camera recordings of a movie (the ones where you could see people in the background standing) appeared online just days, or even hours, after a film's release.

For many people, especially in countries with limited cinema access or expensive movie ticket prices, piracy seemed like the only and best option.

Added to the fact was the lack of global streaming platforms at the time. It was no surprise that people turned to illegal downloads. Hollywood hated it, but the audience simply followed what was easy and free.

Fun fact: when slogans against movie piracy spread, more people started to pirate movies online.

Back then, only people who were clinically online knew about movie piracy. But when a short ad about shaming movie piracy was added to DVDs and cinemas, people started learning that it was actually possible to pirate movies without paying! So more people started pirating movies.

Perhaps you recall the slogan:

"You wouldn't steal a car."

"You wouldn't steal a handbag."

"You wouldn't steal a television."

"You wouldn't steal a movie."

"Downloading pirated films is stealing."

"Stealing is against the law."

"Piracy. It's a crime."

Yeah, this iconic ad was the reason why piracy became more popular.

People had no idea that you could actually download movies, but this ad told you that it was possible.

On top of that, you could even burn the movies onto CDs and sell them cheaper! This method was super famous in less wealthy countries. Particularly third-world countries, they loved buying pirated CDs.

Imagine, you could buy a CD that had 12 movies for just $1. That was cheap as fuck.

As for CDs, you could also make a Deez nuts joke with it...

Of course, not everyone took piracy seriously at the time. To many people, it felt like a harmless act, especially when big Hollywood studios were still making billions every year. Some even saw it as a way of rebelling against the system or something.

Over time, websites specializing in pirated content exploded in popularity. Sites like The Pirate Bay, Kickass Torrents, and LimeWire became household names for an entire generation of internet users.

It wasn't just movies either; TV shows, music, and games. Anything that could be turned into a digital file became fair game. Piracy had become a culture of its own.

People supported it for a reason. Around the 2010s, some people who felt bad about pirating movies started subscribing to Netflix, which was still affordable at that time.

Netflix was one of the best movies and TV shows streaming platforms, and people didn't have a problem paying a few bucks every month as long as they could watch tons of movies. It was far better than blockbusters and any movie rentals after all. They wouldn't feel guilty anymore since they paid money.

But just a decade later, around the 2020s, more streaming platforms appeared, and now the subscription prices were so expensive.

Imagine paying $15 for a monthly subscription but a few episodes of your favorite shows were missing.

Imagine you watched Game of Thrones. You're seriously watching it, but you didn't expect that Netflix didn't have the whole Season 2, so now you're spoiled that Robb and Catelyn Stark died in the Red Wedding, even though you haven't watched Season 2 and were clueless about the whole context.

Furthermore, you have to go to another streaming platform and pay a subscription just to watch Season 2. Yeah, it was a very terrible event that you wouldn't wish even on your worst enemy.

Since streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and many more were doing shady business, people grew tired of them, and some people started going back to the good old days which was pirating movies and TV shows.

If buying doesn't mean owning, then piracy doesn't mean stealing.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 579

A new assistant director was holding the clapperboard with clear energy. This was the guy's first project, and he wanted to learn and experience more about filmmaking. Hence, despite a week of working, the new assistant director was still excited.

Modern Family had just started filming a week ago, around the last few days of April. The production team was filled with new workers, while some were already veterans in the industry. This team was expected to work on Modern Family for years since this TV show was projected to run for at least ten seasons.

Anyway, the assistant director clapped the clapperboard in front of the main camera, and the "clack" sound echoed, making the crew members shut their mouths and go silent as the filming started.

They were at the house. Phil Dunphy was sitting on the couch and started talking in front of the camera.

"I am brave. Roller coasters? Love them. Scary movies? I've seen Ghostbusters like seven times. I regularly drive through neighborhoods that have only recently been gentrified. So yeah, I'm pretty much not afraid of anything... Except clowns."

Suddenly, Phil recalled the moment when Cam was in a clown suit, and Phil's expression was filled with deep, seethed fear. He slowly went to the corner while the birthday party was ongoing.

There was a short silence as Phil looked at the camera.

"I never have a chance to tell that to the fam. I do have an image to maintain. I'm not really sure where the fear comes from. My mother said that when I was a kid, I found a dead clown in the woods, but who knows..."

"Okay, cut--! Let's reshoot that scene just to have more comparison. Ten minutes break."

Director Everest said, and the crew members busied themselves again.

Ty Burrell, the actor who played the role of Phil Dunphy, approached Everest. Most of the cast of Modern Family were less popular actors who were trying to make a name for themselves, and Ty Burrell was also in that stage of his career.

"Director, is there something you want me to do? Should I stare more at the ground and act timid?" Ty asked.

"Hmm, let's see..." Everest looked at the footage. He had been Kazir's assistant and learned a lot from him. He realized that a director should always look confident in front of the actors and never show any fear or timidness. His position as a director needed respect to work.

"This time, I want you to smile at the camera more. But it should be an awkward smile, like you don't know why you're even smiling."

"Okay," Ty nodded. "I can do that."

Only a few actors were lucky enough to become famous while having no talent in acting. The list would go on once we listed them, so we might as well not.

Most professional actors study how to control their facial expressions, so some awkward smiles should be expected to be done.

Well, if an actor couldn't even meet the criteria that the director was looking for, the actor might as well pack his bag and leave.

Everest nodded as Ty Burrell left and went to his trailer to retouch his makeup.

"Kazir should arrive in a few minutes now," Everest recalled that Kazir would visit and inspect their filming site. After all, Kazir was the boss, and he had to see if the product they were making was up to standard.

Unlike Game of Thrones, where Kazir filmed the first five episodes, Modern Family had been fully taken over by Everest since day one. Perhaps Kazir trusted Everest, and for that, the new director was thankful.

"I recall that there's a scene where Kazir will have a cameo. But that should be around episode 8, at least a month from now."

Kazir decided to do some cameos in Modern Family. In fact, he also had plans of doing a cameo in Game of Thrones, perhaps as a soldier who would get burned alive by a dragon... Might be a unique experience.

Everest took a deep breath, mentally preparing for Kazir's arrival. He knew that the boss had high expectations; this project cost millions, and it had to be successful. Though Kazir trusted him, there was always that underlying pressure to deliver the best work possible. Everest checked the schedule again, ensuring everything was on track for the day's filming. In fact, they were actually four days ahead of schedule. That was something he could brag about to Kazir.

Kazir had been known as one of the most consistent and also fastest filming directors. As long as the scene met his criteria, he wouldn't ask for a reshoot. He also didn't need to experiment or film unnecessary scenes; he just stuck to his plan.

In filming, around 30–40% of the filmed content was usually cut. That was a huge waste of time. In a way, Kazir's 'detailed plan' prevented unnecessary scenes, so he could finish his movies faster than the average directors who were unsure which scenes would be included in the final cut.

Everything that Kazir filmed would be included in the final.

Everest recalled what he learned as he looked around.

The crew of Modern Family was working efficiently, but he couldn't shake the feeling that they were still slow. At least, after his experience with Kazir's team, where jobs were moving so fast that filming a lot of scenes in just a day was the norm, it felt that way.

As Everest was lost in thought, Ty Burrell returned from his trailer, a perfect awkward smile plastered on his face. Everest gave a nod of approval. The show was coming together, that was for sure. He was satisfied with the cast as of now.

While they were filming, a group of people showed up to inspect their filming site. They were none other than Kazir and his entourage.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 580

Most of the time, whenever Kazir left his house, he was surrounded by his bodyguards. There were four tall men around him, making sure that he was safe at all times.

Three years ago, this was not the norm. But after almost dying due to a failed assassination attempt, Kazir felt that having a few people following him around was better than dying.

So even though it was uncomfortable having people follow him, he decided to go along with it. Besides, he was now used to it.

Now, he had this untouchable aura around him, since there were literally four bodyguards surrounding him. No stranger could even get within two meters before being apprehended.

"Stand ready for my arrival, worms."

Kazir weakly muttered... Yeah, he might be larping. He had been eager to try saying that line for quite a while now, but he couldn't find the right moment or the right context.

Anyway, he might as well say it now, just like how Conquest said it in Invincible.

Thankfully, no one heard what he said. Even the bodyguards thought Kazir was just mumbling something random.

Kazir stepped into the house. The location they were in was a house, the filming set where the Dunphy family lived in the show. One of the reasons why their expenses were low was because the show was mostly filmed in a few places.

Such as now, the crew members were filming in a house. If everything went well, they could probably use this house for a decade to film Modern Family, a very cheap expense. Of course, they also had two other houses they had to film in, which were the homes of the Pritchett family and the Tucker family. Anyway, the three houses were close by, so the crew didn't have to travel far to film scenes.

Kazir adjusted his sunglasses as he surveyed the set. His eyes caught the details of the layout and found that everything was on the right track.

Everest quickly approached Kazir, giving a professional nod. The crew members, sensing the presence of the boss, worked even more diligently. Most of them were newly hired workers, so they weren't used to Kazir. However, some of the female crew members couldn't help but steal glances at him.

Kazir was a famous director, and he was also handsome. Now that they met the director in person, they confirmed that he was indeed attractive.

Kazir didn't speak much while Everest explained the situation. He simply observed. His gaze passed over the cameras, the lights, and the actors in position.

Today, the crew had a few scenes to film, and all of them were about the Dunphy family. Naturally, the members of the Dunphy family were present.

The five members of the Dunphy family were:

Phil Dunphy -- played by Ty Burrell

Claire Dunphy -- played by Julie Bowen

Haley Dunphy (the eldest daughter) -- played by Sarah Hyland

Alex Dunphy (the middle daughter) -- played by Ariel Winter

Luke Dunphy (the youngest son) -- played by Nolan Gould


The cast couldn't help but look at the boss. Kazir was more famous than them, so they were starstruck. Now they realized that Kazir had the vibe of a superstar.

After a short conversation with Everest, Kazir walked around the house. He was then greeted by the cast. The two young girls shyly greeted him while the young boy awkwardly followed. Then Ty Burrell also expressed his appreciation. As for Julie Bowen, who played Claire Dunphy in the show, she shook hands with the director while blushing.

9 out of 10, an actress would find Kazir attractive, and this checked out.

Fortunately, Kazir had no idea about that. He was just focused more on the project.

Kazir valued efficiency and professionalism, traits he demanded from anyone who worked under him.

After a few moments, Kazir gave Everest a small thumbs-up, a rare gesture of approval. Everest exhaled in relief, feeling the weight on his shoulders lighten just a little. God knows how many sleepless nights he had suffered lately.

Kazir then moved to the monitor station, where an assistant was replaying the last filmed scene. He was now acting like a supervisor. Well, this year, most of his jobs were about supervising movies and TV shows.

He leaned forward, watching Ty Burrell's awkward smile performance. A small approving smirk appeared on Kazir's lips. As expected, keeping most of the original cast was the best decision.

Because Modern Family was released early in this timeline, some of the original cast couldn't be found. Heck, one wasn't even born yet. Because of that, they had no choice but to look for other actors to fill the missing spots.

Kazir watched Phil Dunphy's scene.

The scene had the right tone, matching the mockumentary style he "envisioned."

"Aight," he simply said. His voice was calm but full of authority. The crew members exchanged quick glances, their nerves easing slightly. At least the boss seemed positive about the project.

Kazir's approval meant they were doing something right. After a final round through the set, Kazir patted Everest lightly on the shoulder.

"Keep up the pace. Don't get complacent," he said before heading out.

Everest nodded and led him to his limousine. Everest was acting like he was working under Kazir, which was the truth.

Once Kazir was in his car, he asked Anderson about his schedule.

"Sir, tomorrow you will go to Blue Sky Studio to check out Wall-E. Then two days after that, you will visit Paranormal Activity. A week after that, you have to give a speech to the new graduates of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)," Anderson listed.

UCLA had a film school, which was the School of Theater, Film, and Television. This year, the university had invited him to give a speech.

"At least my schedule is not packed this month," Kazir weakly smiled.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 581

Kazir didn't have much work to do this year. Most of the time, he only spent four hours doing his job. After that, he was free to do anything.

At first, Kazir was not used to this kind of schedule. He was the type who couldn't sit idle with nothing to do. But as time passed, Kazir felt like having fewer jobs was not that bad. He could spend more time doing what he loved.

So when he heard that his schedule this month was not packed, Kazir felt relieved. Perhaps he had started hating the workaholic life that he once had.

He began using his free hours to read more books, watch old classics, and occasionally play video games to have fun and spend time with Scarlett. Last week, the couple went to the shopping mall to buy stuff for babies.

Sometimes, he would stroll through the studios of 20th Century Fox just to observe, offer some advice, or simply enjoy the creative atmosphere. He became a supervisor even though those projects were not related to him.

He also took time to write scripts for future projects, some were realistic, others pure fantasy. This would become his leverage; as long as he had chips to negotiate, he could maintain his status.

For once, he didn't feel pressured to chase deadlines. Kazir even started cooking at home again, trying out recipes from books he had bought years ago but never touched. He cooked for Scarlett, and the woman was impressed.

This slower pace, surprisingly, brought him a sense of peace. Maybe, he thought, balance wasn't such a bad thing after all.

"Sir, we have arrived," Anderson said to Kazir, and the director looked out the window.

Since Kazir had done his job for the day, he decided to return home early.

Kazir thanked Anderson and went inside. Even though Kazir was fine with four bodyguards following him around when he was outside, he preferred to spend most of his time in his house in comfort. So he didn't let them guard his house, that part should be the responsibility of the security guards. Once Kazir was done with his job for the day, his four bodyguards were free to go.

Kazir recently hired three security guards for his house instead. These security guards spent most of their time at the entrance and at the back of the house.

An incident happened last month where an aspiring director climbed the wall to personally deliver his job application to Kazir. Kazir still had no assistant director at the moment, so some people were going crazy to get the position.

Because of that, Kazir had to hire some security guards... He was actually not comfortable hiring security guards because he preferred a quiet place. Thankfully, the security guards were professional, and they were practically invisible... I almost wrote [Title Card].

Kazir entered his home, and the quiet ambiance immediately washed over him like a warm blanket. The soft hum of the air from the air conditioning, this white noise, further proved that he was home.

He looked around. No one was in the house except him. Today was not a cleaning day for the maids, and the chef had a day off. The house was quiet, and Kazir appreciated it.

Scarlett was not home yet. She was probably still at the prenatal yoga class she had recently joined. Kazir loosened his collar and exhaled. He threw his necktie on the couch like a lazy bum.

He headed to the kitchen and opened the fridge. He stayed away from alcohol most of the time unless there was a special occasion. Naturally, he preferred drinking water or tea. He decided to drink cold water this time.

After that, he pulled out ingredients for tonight's dinner. Something light but special, maybe salmon with a citrus glaze. Cooking had become a soothing ritual for him. He was confident in his skills.

As he began prepping, he glanced at the clock. For once, time felt like his ally, not his enemy. Cooking was a chore that he found relaxing...

Although cleaning utensils and dishes was not. Anyway, most people probably hated washing dishes, so it was understandable.

As the salmon sizzled in the pan, the aroma of citrus and butter slowly filled the kitchen. Kazir moved with ease, chopping herbs, timing the glaze, and plating with surprising finesse.

After cooking and letting the dish cool, he wiped his hands and grabbed a book from the counter.

There was a new novel he had been reading. He found a book about the entertainment industry where the main character was a talent agent who could discern people's talents. He was so engrossed in reading it. Unfortunately, Kazir realized that the novel was incomplete, and he was eager to read Book 2. Too bad, because the author suffered from procrastination and had a hard time writing it.

Kazir thought of contacting the author and urging him to write more. If he met him personally, he would probably slap the author's face to wake him up from his laziness.

Perhaps he could promise the author that he would adapt his novel into a movie.

The idea floated in his mind. Just then, he heard the soft click of the front door. Scarlett was home. Perfect timing.

Kazir smiled and embraced Scarlett.

"I've cooked some salmon. Let's eat."

"Right timing, I'm hungry," Scarlett replied.

"Then let's eat. I'm sure you're going to love it."

"You're too confident." She giggled.

"Of course. I'm confident in my culinary skills."

+++++

[Author's Note: Lately, I've been reading a CN MTL novel about fishing, and I became interested in writing a slice-of-life novel about fishing and getting rich... Unfortunately, I probably have to postpone that idea since even one chapter a day is already tough to write. I miss the days when I could write 3 to 4 chapters a day. That was my peak performance.]

[Edit: I already started writing this fishing novel last week. I'll probably post it in a few days.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 582

Kazir stepped onto the stage at the hall, and the soft murmur of students died down as he approached the podium.

The vast auditorium, with its arched ceilings and warm lighting, turned silent as Kazir introduced himself. Most of the students practically knew him.

Despite being a director, Kazir was famous. Furthermore, UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) had a film school, which further enhanced Kazir's status at the university. Most of the students who wanted to pursue filmmaking aspired to become like him, a director recognized by the whole world.

Kazir adjusted the microphone. He was a bit nervous since this was his first time giving a speech to new graduates... He also had no experience regarding college graduation since he never finished college.

He took a brief moment to scan the crowd. Some had eager faces, some had notebooks ready, although most students didn't seem to give a fuck. After all, Kazir was a human just like them. There was nothing to be excited about. They were not some crazy fanatics who would go batshit worshipping celebrities. They wouldn't step that low, right?

"Good afternoon, everyone," Kazir began, his voice steady. He had faced much tougher things than this, so he easily recovered from his nervousness.

"First of all, thank you for welcoming me here today. It's an honor to stand before such an active and curious group of students at UCLA."

A ripple of polite applause followed, then silence.

"I was asked to speak about success," he continued.

"About what it means, how to find it, and maybe, how to hold onto it. But if I'm being honest, I think we too often ask the wrong questions about success. We believe it's an endpoint. Graduate school. Get a job. Buy a house. Then bam, success. But the real question is... What are you willing to struggle for to acquire success?"

He paused, letting that sink in... He had actually hired a writer to help him write his speech because he had no idea what to say. This was different from writing a script... First of all, the scripts he wrote were not originally his. So he understood that he actually had no talent in writing. But of course, he participated in writing the speech since it was his speech in the first place.

Kazir leaned in slightly, reading the speech he had prepared, and then his gaze swept the room again. Some students were staring at him, waiting for his continuation, while some were just waiting for the time to pass.

Kazir might be a famous director. But it didn't mean that he was a great speaker. Students were also not sure if he could make some jokes to entertain them.

"Because the truth is, everything worthwhile demands something from you. Your time, your energy, your sanity sometimes," he said with a wry smile.

"Filmmaking, for me, isn't about chasing fame or fortune. It's about telling stories that matter, or not, but they are stories that kept me up at night. That gave me the perseverance to create films that I can show to the world. But it was not that easy. Sometimes I experienced tough obstacles that I barely passed through. Every struggle shaped me more than any success did. So I ask you today... What's worth the fight for you?"

The students listened... while others yawned. What Kazir said were some basic encouraging sentences that P.E. teachers tell their sports teams.

Thankfully, Kazir was so absorbed in his speech that he didn't feel that the crowd was getting bored. Today, it was proven that despite his talent in filmmaking, Kazir was not good at giving speeches or encouraging people...

If it were a one-on-one conversation, perhaps Kazir could make some sense, but a whole crowd of young people was tougher to convince.

"Boring..."

"Man, I wonder if Tyrone will be free tonight, he said he wants to play Smash."

"Skibidi toilet."

"Who would win between 100 men versus 1 Silverback Gorilla?"

But then, the students started having their own conversations, and murmurs were everywhere.

Kazir caught their not-so-enthusiastic expressions.

He exhaled softly and looked down at his notes. For a moment, he hesitated. Then, with a small bitter smile, he set the paper aside. The microphone caught the soft thud as Kazir set aside the paper.

"Alright," he said, his voice more relaxed now, "I'm going to be real with you all."

His tone and way of speaking changed. Perhaps it was better to say what he wanted to say instead of following the speech he wrote.

His change of demeanor caught the attention of some students.

"I have been up here reading a speech someone helped me write. Because, honestly, I had no idea how to inspire a room full of students like yourselves. But here's the thing, I'm not here to sugarcoat you guys. Being a director, being successful in this industry... it's brutal. It's torturous, you probably have to bleed some blood or something."

More students listened.

"You'll pour everything you have into a project, only for it to fall apart at the last minute. You'll get into scandals if you make enemies. You will face rejection so many times you will lose count. And the truth? Out of all of you sitting here today who dream of becoming directors, maybe only a handful will make it. Perhaps none of you will even become one."

Kazir remembered that he was a billionaire. He was also a successful director. He had no reason to impress these students; he had already proved himself. He might as well say what he wanted to say.

The room was quiet now, really listening.

Kazir gave a mocking smile.

"But let's talk about the pros. If you successfully make a huge hit movie, the rewards can be incredible. The money? You can make millions if you film a box office hit. I've made millions from a single movie. And yeah, it changes your life, like literally... But more than that, for me, it's about seeing your vision come alive on screen. Knowing millions of people around the world are watching something that started in my head. That feeling... It's priceless. Like I'm in everyone's mind."

He grinned.

"So, if you're in this for the fame, or the money alone, you might burn out fast. But if you truly love filmmaking, then you can survive this dangerous industry. Be ready to fail, and fail hard. But don't let that stop you. Because every now and then, someone lucky breaks through. And it might just be you."

The students stood up and started clapping their hands.

This further proved that Kazir was not a motivational speaker.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 583

Kazir stepped down from the stage. The sound of students clapping their hands echoed, although Kazir was not sure if they appreciated his speech or if the students were just happy that Kazir was done with it.

Anyway, Kazir didn't care much. He had already said what he wanted to say. Whether they felt it or not didn't matter. Kazir did his job.

He stepped down and found Erica crossing her arms and shaking her head, perhaps disappointed? She was amused but also felt bad for the students.

"What do you think of my speech? Pretty great, right?" Kazir couldn't help but chuckle. He knew he had been truthful about what he said in the latter part of his speech.

"Sir, I think you destroyed their dreams of becoming movie directors," she said honestly and sighed.

"They're already adults. They should understand that it's not easy to become successful in the entertainment industry. We can't babysit them."

"Well," Erica Mendez glanced at the students who were still clapping. Most of them had serious expressions, while the rest were happy that the graduation ceremony was about to end.

"It's indeed true that you woke them up to reality. They'll probably remember it. Having a successful career in Hollywood will be tough. They need connections, networking, talent, luck, opportunity, and work ethic. Talent and work ethic are simple, almost everyone in Hollywood has those two factors. But connections take time to build, while luck and opportunity are the hardest things to find."

Indeed, having a successful career in Hollywood was never easy. These students were too innocent if they believed that they could become successful just because they graduated from UCLA. No fucking way.

Once they stepped into the real world, society would crush their egos. They would realize that their grades and performance in school were nothing compared to reality. These students had to compete against hundreds of thousands of people with the same or better talent than them.

It was better to tell the truth now, better now than later. Otherwise, these students might lose hope.

So Kazir might as well give them a pep talk about what they would experience, especially those who were interested in working in the entertainment industry. This industry was treacherous.

To be fair, if his speech made them lose hope, then they might as well find another career. Because the entertainment industry was a dirty place, and weak-minded people wouldn't survive in that environment.

Even good-hearted people had witnessed things in Hollywood that they couldn't fathom were possible, despite the U.S.A. being seen as a representation of freedom and opportunity... Perhaps the country was just hiding its dirty laundry.

Well, there was a rumor that a certain president's family was part of a certain flight log. So yeah, rumors, rumors, allegedly, allegedly, the flight log couldn't be trusted, the owner killed himself in the prison cell, conspiracy, conspiracy, blah blah blah.

Kazir slipped his hands into his pockets. He touched his wallet, which had a few hundred dollars and some credit cards.

His gaze lingered on the students who had stopped clapping. They were now waiting for the last part of the graduation ceremony, where their names would be called, and they would walk up to the stage and accept their diplomas.

"You know, Erica," he said after a pause.

"Hollywood isn't just about talent or vision. It's about perseverance. I spent five years being a nameless director before I got my first success. It wasn't easy at all. I was so depressed, I was at the worst point in my life, but I overcame it. It depends on how much shit you can take before you break or if you break at all."

Actually, adding his past life into the equation, Kazir had been a nameless director for over four decades at least. Imagine how painful that was.

Erica gave him a sideways look. She knew about Kazir's story, especially about his ex-wife and the betrayal he had experienced. She was Kazir's assistant, and she didn't have a choice but to learn and understand his life. Honestly, she was impressed with Kazir's determination. She would have broken down if she had experienced what Kazir went through.

"That's... not comforting at all. You're just further showing that Hollywood is tough."

Kazir smirked.

"It's reality. I've seen brilliant people crushed, and average ones thrive just because they outlasted everyone else. If my words today make even one student think harder and prepare better, then it's worth it."

"Let's hope they were listening," Erica nodded thoughtfully.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Nothing much really happened in May, except for the Sri Lankan Civil War and the Lisbon Treaty. This month, Kazir followed his schedule loyally since it was not that hard to manage.

His job was easier compared to the times when he had a movie to take care of. Thankfully, Ninja Assassin had already been completed, and Grey Pictures was just waiting for its release, which was scheduled for November 25. The company was just doing some weak early promotions to avoid wasting its marketing budget.

Aside from that, Kazir also attended business meetings. The company was finalizing the contract regarding the TV network that would broadcast Modern Family. Many TV networks were still showing their cards, hoping to collaborate with Grey Pictures.

Kazir also checked the progress of Wall-E. The production speed of Wall-E was faster than he had expected. If things continued like that, the animated movie might be released next year, around November or December.

Since we're talking about May, of course, we couldn't forget about the new movie releases this month.

In the first week of the month, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and X-Men Origins: Wolverine were released.

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past was a romantic comedy distributed by Warner Bros. that grossed over $128 million.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine was a superhero movie based on the comics and was distributed by 20th Century Fox. It grossed over $487 million.

Both Marvel Studios and 20th Century Fox hadn't expected the movie to perform well, considering that only Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) was in the movie as part of the past X-Men cast.

+++++

[Last night, I learned that Diddy was found not guilty to most of his cases. I think we can all agree that the Justice System is nothing but a joke.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 584

Unlike Iron Man and other characters from the MCU, the whole X-Men franchise was currently under the ownership of 20th Century Fox.

To make it clear, when Marvel Comics was in debt to the bank, the company sold the film rights of X-Men to 20th Century Fox. To make it even sadder, 20th Century Fox got the last laugh since the contract was more in their favor. Marvel Comics didn't have a choice, as they were forced by the bank to sign the contract just to make money.

Because of this, even though X-Men grossed over $480 million, 20th Century Fox would take basically all of the profit while giving Marvel Comics some crumbs to lick.

Marvel Comics only earned money through licensing fees and merchandise-related revenue, but this amount was still small compared to the overall net worth of X-Men.

The analysis was that the net worth of X-Men was around $10–15 billion. $6 billion came from the global box office that the franchise generated. Unfortunately, Marvel Comics could only see a glimpse of that money.

So yeah, 20th Century Fox won that business deal.

Marvel Comics had understandable dissatisfaction regarding that. Even now, despite the two companies collaborating, the contract regarding X-Men still has not changed.

Obviously, 20th Century Fox wouldn't change it since it was a huge deal involving money. The company had to ensure that the money would remain theirs.

This was business. From Marvel Comics' point of view, it was a loss. But from 20th Century Fox's perspective, it was a win.

20th Century Fox and its executives would be crazy if they agreed to a contract that would lessen their profits. So they maintained the status quo and continued to milk X-Men till the very end.

By the way, in the original timeline, one of the reasons why Marvel Comics started its own film studio (Marvel Studios) was because it realized that licensing its characters to other film studios brought limited profit compared to producing films themselves. Of course, Marvel Comics had to shoulder the consequences, but this decision led them to create the best cinematic universe of the era. The Marvel Cinematic Universe was the start of their success. Not even the Spider-Man trilogy gave them that status.

But Marvel Studios' path was not that simple. Even though they owned the movies themselves, they still had to work with a distributor to release their movies. And well, the distributor had to take at least a 40% box office cut.

Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures had around 40–50% box office cuts when they distributed the first batch of MCU movies.

Paramount Pictures distributed Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger.

Universal Pictures distributed The Incredible Hulk. Perhaps this deal was because Universal Pictures originally held the rights to Hulk, but due to the failure of Ang Lee's Hulk (2003), Marvel Comics got the rights back. So maybe, to make it a fair deal, Universal Pictures was the one that distributed The Incredible Hulk.

Honestly, Paramount Pictures had a chance to acquire Marvel since they probably saw the potential of their characters. Perhaps another What-If timeline would happen if Paramount Pictures had acquired Marvel instead of Walt Disney.

To be fair, Marvel Comics only had a few choices. Marvel Studios was a profitable move, but it still needed backing, so being owned by one of the Big Six was probably part of the plan.

Anyway, Sony-Columbia could have been chosen since it had experience distributing Spider-Man and handling merchandise related to the superhero. If Marvel Comics were to choose a mother company, it should have been one that could help their business grow.

Almost every character in Marvel Comics was profitable if licensed to be made into sellable toys. Naturally, Marvel Comics was looking for a studio that could help them sell more merchandise and toys related to their superhero characters.

Sony-Columbia had selling capabilities since they worked with Spider-Man.

Universal Pictures also worked on selling Jurassic Park toys.

Paramount Pictures also worked on selling Transformers and G.I. Joe.

Warner Brothers had DC Comics… God knows how many Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman toys they sold.

20th Century Fox also had X-Men and Fantastic Four to work with.

As for Walt Disney, this was probably the best in this kind of stuff, since Walt Disney had so many kid-related products that they sold to the masses.

The Big Six had distribution channels. Of course, they could distribute toys and other merchandise.

The best choices for Marvel Comics were Warner Brothers and Walt Disney, since these two could help them better than the others.

Unfortunately, Warner Brothers already had DC Comics, so Marvel was not against it when Walt Disney started their acquisition. In their opinion, Walt Disney was the best studio they could lean on. That endeavor was fruitful at first… but capitalism destroyed the reputation of the MCU franchise.

The early partnership between Marvel Studios and Walt Disney was indeed a game-changer, but as the years passed, cracks began to show. With Walt Disney's aggressive push for rapid releases of movies and TV shows, and boring storytelling, critics and longtime fans started to voice concerns about the franchise's lack of creativity. The MCU was becoming stagnant, especially after Avengers: Endgame.

Box office numbers fluctuated, and whispers of "superhero movie fatigue" grew louder. Yes, people were growing tired of watching superhero movies.

When the major characters in the MCU disappeared, the franchise lost its luster.

Still, from a business perspective, Marvel's alignment with Walt Disney was probably the right decision. No other studio could have helped Marvel elevate its status the way Walt Disney did.

+++++

[Yeah, this chapter is just based on my opinion. Don't take it seriously.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 585

In the second week of May, only Star Trek performed amazingly. Star Trek had been a famous TV show before it was even a movie. It was comparable to Star Wars. Or perhaps it followed the fame of Star Wars and became successful... Well, history had to say no.

Because Star Trek was a powerful opponent, the Big Six didn't release their blockbusters in the same week as Star Trek. That would be a disaster for both sides, and they didn't want that.

Imagine if Star Trek and Fast & Furious 3 were released in the same week. The box office sales for both movies would be affected. The two movies would have to divide the market, which was bad. Naturally, to avoid that situation, the Big Six would have some talks and announce the release dates of their top movies. If the other studios were not confident in facing it, then they would let it be and allow the dominant film to take over that week.

As for Star Trek, the movie grossed $579 million.

For reference, Star Trek was released before Star Wars.

The Star Trek franchise began as a television series that premiered in 1966 on NBC, while Star Wars was released in 1977. It was easier to say that Star Trek paved the path for space-type science fiction to become popular.

The original Star Trek only had three seasons. It was canceled because it was not profitable. But in 1979, after the huge success of Star Wars, the series was revived. Perhaps NBC saw the potential, so they revived the series. In the '80s, '90s, and early '00s, Star Trek had a stable run and it had a cult following. It was famous for almost three decades. The franchise had movies and spin-offs.

In fact, the estimated value of Star Trek was $10–15 billion. Anyone would agree that it was a huge amount of money.

Unfortunately, Star Trek: Enterprise, the last TV show of the franchise, ended in 2005 because of lower ratings.

Then, four years after that, the franchise was revived as a film trilogy by Paramount Pictures. Star Trek (2009) was the first movie of the trilogy. Based on its performance, Paramount Pictures was confident that they could film the two remaining sequels with profit on the line.

In the third week, Angels & Demons was released. This thriller/suspense film grossed over $541 million. Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code were actually connected. Both were starred by Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon. The Da Vinci Code was a controversial movie, and so was Angels & Demons. Perhaps this was the reason why it performed well.

Also, these movies were actually part of a trilogy called the Robert Langdon trilogy. They were adapted from the novels that Dan Brown wrote. The trilogy starred Tom Hanks and was directed by Ron Howard.

The movies were:

The Da Vinci Code (2006)
Angels & Demons (2009)
Inferno (2016)

Around the same week as Angels & Demons, Terminator Salvation was released.

Unlike the other Terminator movies, Terminator Salvation was based on the future, where Skynet was the ruling entity and humans were being killed. Sadly, Terminator Salvation didn't have its iconic robot, the T-800, which meant that Arnold Schwarzenegger was also missing. But hey, we had Christian Bale to fill in the missing spot as John Connor. Despite lacking Arnold Schwarzenegger, the movie still grossed $420 million. The movie was distributed by Warner Brothers (international) and Sony-Columbia (domestic).

In the last week of May, Night at the Museum and Up were released.

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian grossed $468 million. Distributed by 20th Century Fox, this sequel of a successful franchise did well at the box office. Also, Night at the Museum was a trilogy, but the third movie would be released in 2014.

As for Up... The first ten minutes of this animated movie were heartbreaking. Walt Disney captured the essence of life by giving us Up. It was not surprising that this movie grossed $1 billion. The movie was just magnificent, majestic, amazing, any kind of adjective you could describe. Overall, Up was a great movie, almost as if you were watching a story about a house flying in the sky using thousands of balloons... Ahem.

May was just the start of the summer schedule, yet Hollywood had already shown their cards. The fact that most of these blockbusters grossed at least $400 million showed the power of the summer. You really earned a lot of money around this season.

.........

......

...

Speaking of Walt Disney, the company was happy that Up was performing well at the box office. However, they were also sad about a certain fact.

"Why is this always happening to us!?" Robert Iger slammed his fists against the table as he glared at the executives of ABC.

They had been doing their best just to collaborate with Grey Pictures. They contacted the studio, they communicated peacefully, they promised them a good timeslot, they promised intense promotion, and they even sent gifts. In fact, they tried to bribe some people just to get the contract regarding Modern Family.

Everyone in ABC did their best, but they still failed. Today, Grey Pictures and 20th Century Fox signed a contract. Modern Family would be broadcast by Fox TV.

"Tell me, are there fourth-dimension entities that stopped us from getting a collaboration with Grey Pictures? Are they voting and determining whether we have a chance to work with Grey Pictures? Tell me-! Speak, or else I might say something that could break the fourth wall."

The executives from NBC shut their mouths as they looked down. They also didn't know. For some reason, even though they did their best, the outcome was still against them. Perhaps Robert Iger was right, there might be entities that voted in a poll to stop them from collaborating with Grey Pictures.

+++++

[Three more days and this series will be done.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 586

The executives from ABC were quiet. Honestly, they couldn't help but feel mad. They believed that they had given Grey Pictures every incentive possible such as licensing fees, co-production funding, primetime slots, rerun opportunities, marketing/promotion, and profit sharing on backend deals.

Unfortunately, Grey Pictures was not enticed. The studio could fund their own projects and didn't like sharing profits. As for licensing fees, Grey Pictures was not stupid enough to sell its licensing rights to other networks. They wanted to keep their copyrights within themselves.

As for backend deals such as distribution, Grey Pictures could find a partnership that was better for them without much hassle. Their products were profitable, after all.

As for other incentives, Grey Pictures was not interested.

The executives from ABC couldn't see that what they offered was also being offered by other TV networks. Even though some parts of the deal were interesting, Grey Pictures decided to work with Fox TV. The two already had a collaboration, and they both had no problems. So they stuck with the TV network they were used to working with. Besides, Fox TV also offered the same deals as the others.

The executives still looked at the floor. They were not brave enough to stare at Robert Iger, who was fuming in anger.

Robert Iger took a deep breath, trying to calm his frustration. He knew that these people were innocent; they did their best. It was just that Grey Pictures was too arrogant. Fuck them!

Once in a while, Robert felt like Kazir should've died three years ago. If that had happened, the playing field would be equal again. Someone like Kazir was a game changer, and Robert Iger couldn't accept that he couldn't control Kazir.

So it was understandable why he wished Kazir had died. Unfortunately, some things didn't happen, and now he had to face the reality that their company might be in danger.

Robert looked at the executives and sighed. He couldn't blame them for every misfortune they encountered.

"Alright, listen up," he finally said, his voice heavier and more serious.

"We lost Modern Family, but that doesn't mean we've lost the game." His sharp gaze swept across the room, looking at the executives one by one.

"We still have Lost, Desperate Housewives, and Grey's Anatomy. They're pulling strong ratings on ABC. And don't forget, Walt Disney has Pixar to milk." The latter part was for his own assurance. He wanted to believe that Pixar would remain the best computer animation studio in the market.

"We should focus on what we have and make it shine."

The executives nodded, reassured. But in the back of their minds, they all knew that missing Modern Family was a painful, strategic blow. They knew in their hearts that they had lost a billion-dollar business deal. They couldn't recover from that fact.

.........

......

...

While others were going crazy over the decision that Grey Pictures made, the one responsible for the craziness was having the time of his life. Some people might want him dead, but Kazir was still alive and kicking.

"What do you think? Isn't it cute?"

Scarlett showed baby clothes to Kazir, and the tall man nodded. Scarlett was already six months pregnant, and her pregnancy was prominent. She smiled as she looked at the baby's clothes. The clothes were for baby boys.

A month ago, the ultrasound confirmed that the twins were a boy and a girl. A boy and a girl. It was a blessing and a miracle that in just one pregnancy, they already had a boy and a girl. Honestly, Kazir sometimes thought that he was in a novel or something.

Anyway, the couple was shopping for baby clothes and other necessities for the babies. They had been shopping so many times that a whole room was filled with baby products.

But to satisfy Scarlett and keep her entertained, Kazir had no problem going to different shopping malls with her to buy baby products. He knew that the stuff they bought was more than sufficient for the babies, but since money was not an issue, Kazir let Scarlett buy anything she wanted. It was clear that Scarlett was excited and happy to have kids.

Kazir also felt the same. He even created a bank account and trust funds for the twins. He also contacted his lawyer to update his will.

As for the paternity test, they already did it. Scarlett was the one who offered to do it. She wanted to give Kazir assurance. The twins were Kazir's.

Kazir smiled softly as he watched Scarlett put baby clothes into the cart... This was the ninth outfit she grabbed today. For her next intention, she went to the girls' section. Even though the twins were still not born, she had already prepared clothes for two to three-year-old babies. She was happily exploring the place, and Kazir followed her with a smile.

Her excitement was contagious, and he couldn't help but feel the warmth in his chest. He placed a gentle hand on her growing belly. He felt the subtle kicks of their children inside. He was surprised, then smiled further. He didn't expect the babies to react.

"...For some reason, I feel like the kids will probably be too active and mischievous."

Kazir murmured, his voice filled with awe. Kids were meant to be mischievous, and he already expected it.

Scarlett turned to him. It was obvious in her eyes that she was happy. She rubbed her stomach.

"Being mischievous is fine. It shows that they are healthy."

"I can already see the future where they will run around the house and perhaps destroy a few appliances."

Kazir chuckled. He was just joking... but what he said was not far from the future.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 587

After shopping for baby products, Kazir and Scarlett went to the parking lot. There were four bodyguards following behind them, but the couple had already forgotten their presence.

This time, Kazir took the driver's seat while Scarlett sat in the front passenger seat. In the back seats were the baby products that couldn't fit in the trunk. The couple had bought a lot. In fact, the bodyguards' car that followed them a few meters away also had its trunk full to the brim with baby products.

In this case, before the twins could even be born, the couple had probably already filled two rooms in their house with baby products. Some were toys, some were gear, and some were essentials.

While Kazir was driving and having conversations with Scarlett, they passed by a filming location.

Hollywood, being the city where showbiz was prominent, had a lot of locations that could be used for filming. Some landlords and hotels even let studios rent their properties to film shows or movies.

While passing by, Kazir caught a glimpse of Mel Gibson lighting up a cigarette. The actor's appearance didn't look good, and it was understandable why.

Mel Gibson had been blacklisted in Hollywood. The major factor behind that was the things he said when he was arrested for DUI. He made some anti-Semitic and misogynistic comments. That happened in 2002.

Despite being a talented and famous actor, Mel Gibson disappeared from Hollywood just like that. If you looked at it carefully, it was scary. It was actually possible to destroy a person's career because they offended a group of people.

Of course, no one could defend what Mel Gibson said as right. Did he deserve to lose his job, though? At the end of the day, it depends on how people look at him. Some people said Mel Gibson deserved it, while others said he deserved a second chance.

Kazir returned his focus to driving. Mel Gibson's appearance showed that the actor was stressed and haggard.

'If I remember it right, Mel Gibson's wife of 28 years will file for divorce this month. Perhaps it already happened, which explains Mel's haggard face,' Kazir recalled.

The divorce cost around $400 million, probably paid by Mel Gibson. The further details were not disclosed, but $400 million was surely a huge amount of money.

Mel Gibson had a hard time these past few years. A successful and famous actor was now a nobody. Truly terrifying, Hollywood ran deep.

Suddenly, Kazir realized that what happened to Mel Gibson could also happen to him.

In fact, Kazir had also suffered from scandals just like Mel Gibson. His scandal was even downright malicious, aimed to destroy his career and image.

But unlike Mel Gibson, Kazir bounced back quickly. After so many scandals were thrown at him, Kazir remained innocent. Perhaps that was also the reason why he didn't disappear from the limelight.

Even when Kazir was in the hospital after the assassination attempt, some studios still blamed him for things he didn't do.

If his enemies had won, he might have been gone by now. He might be just like Mel Gibson, trying his best to live despite the cruel setbacks.

'Mel helped me and reminded me to stay away from disgusting people here in Hollywood, and I followed his opinion. I owe him that.'

Kazir could also relate to Mel Gibson because he had experienced what it meant to live at the lowest point of his life. It wasn't easy at all. Some people did hurtful things to him, and even now, Kazir was still fighting it in his mind.

So, was Mel Gibson a good or bad person? Only people who knew him could decide. But that didn't stop strangers from forming opinions about him. After all, Mel Gibson was an actor, basically a public figure. People were allowed to say the shittiest or kindest opinions about him, simple as that.

Scarlett noticed Kazir's distant look and gently placed her hand on his.

"You okay?" she asked softly.

Kazir glanced at her, then gave a faint smile.

"Yeah, just thinking. I saw Mel Gibson earlier, and it reminded me how fast things can change. One wrong move… and everything you've built can vanish."

Scarlett nodded. She had also seen Mel Gibson, but she didn't think much of it. However, after hearing Kazir, she understood what he was talking about.

"But you're not alone, Kazir. You have me, the kids, and people who believe in you."

He tightened his grip on the wheel and smiled.

"I know. And that's what keeps me going."

They drove past the filming location, leaving Mel Gibson behind in the rearview mirror. But the image lingered in Kazir's mind. This was a reminder of both the darkness of Hollywood and the strength it took to survive it.

'...Should I help Mel or not?' he thought to himself.

Kazir knew that Mel Gibson would make a comeback, but that would be around 2016. Mel Gibson would direct Hacksaw Ridge, and the movie would be successful. It would take years, but Mel would return.

As for the current movie that Mel Gibson starred in, it would be a failure. Mel Gibson thought Edge of Darkness would help him return to Hollywood, but he was wrong. When the movie was released next year (2010), scandals about him resurfaced again. At that time, his conversation with his girlfriend was recorded, where Mel Gibson said some derogatory stuff.

So yeah, Mel Gibson might not be a good person, as some people believed.

So Kazir asked himself again:

'Should I help him?'

+++++

[Yeah, I might make a poll tomorrow.]

[Note: The poll ended. Patrons made a decision not to help Mel Gibson.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 588

June 2009 was eventful. Some important things happened this month such as:

Barack Obama's first international trip as President. Obama attended a summit in London and also visited several European countries.

Somali pirates hijacked a ship and kidnapped a captain. The U.S. Navy SEALs rescued the captain. This event inspired a movie that was released in 2013 titled Captain Phillips.

North Korea launched missiles...

The economic recession was still ongoing. The aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis was still happening, and many people lost their jobs.

These were just some of the events that happened.

Out of all of these, Kazir was concerned about one thing. There was a reported case of H1N1 in the U.S. and Mexico. The H1N1 virus, also known as Swine Flu, was a new strain of influenza.

Kazir was concerned that this virus would affect Scarlett's pregnancy. The couple decided not to travel around this time to stay away from the virus. Kazir knew that H1N1 would spread and that the World Health Organization would declare a pandemic in June.

Thankfully, Kazir now had few things to do and he rarely left home.

Instead, Kazir focused on spending quality time with Scarlett and preparing for the twins' arrival. He also took the opportunity to work from home, finalizing scripts and checking on the progress of other projects through phone calls. He also put some time into farming Bitcoin. So far, the computers were doing well and could handle the computations. He had already earned a few hundred Bitcoins.

The home had become a sanctuary, filled with the soft scent of baby lotion and stacks of unopened packages. Even though these products were in separate rooms, Scarlett opened them at least once a day to see the treasure she had collected. Kazir followed suit and checked the baby gear, such as the crib, stroller, carrier, baby walker, bottle sterilizer, and many more...

By the way, he had already checked them a week ago, but since he had nothing to do, he might as well double-check them. If he found malfunctions or faulty products, he wouldn't return them to the store since it was a hassle and time-consuming. He could just buy another one, fast and easy. Money was not a problem for him.

Scarlett appreciated Kazir's presence, especially now that her pregnancy was entering a delicate stage. Every night, Kazir would read to her, hand on her belly, feeling the subtle kicks of their unborn children. Doctors recommended that parents talk to their babies in the womb. It helped develop the babies' auditory systems, exposed them to language, calmed them, and was a form of bonding.

Though the world outside was uncertain, inside their home, there was warmth, laughter, and the joy of being a family.

Not going to lie, Kazir had already forgotten about his plan regarding Mel Gibson. He was still not sure if he would help the actor or not.

.........

......

...

Even though the world was going through tough times, people were still looking for excitement and entertainment. Around this time, the internet was already a strong form of entertainment, but internet speed was still in its infancy. Watching movies or TV shows would take time.

So of course, people were still interested in watching movies in theaters. Especially now in summer, there were some huge movies released in June.

The Taking of Pelham 123 grossed $187 million. It was an action movie.

The Proposal, a romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, grossed $429 million. The movie was distributed by Walt Disney.

The Hurt Locker, starring Jeremy Renner, grossed $100 million. The movie won the Best Picture Award, the Best Director Award, and many more at the Oscars. Kathryn Bigelow, the director of this movie, was the first female director to win the Best Director Award at the Oscars/Academy Awards.

My Sister's Keeper, a drama starring Cameron Diaz and distributed by Warner Brothers, grossed over $121 million.

The performance of the movies this month was lackluster. Only The Proposal by Walt Disney did well at the box office.

The answer to this oddity was that Kazir changed the timeline. Hence, some major movies that were supposed to be released this month didn't happen.

The first was The Hangover. Kazir had already filmed this movie in 1995, and the movie was released in 1996. Because of this, The Hangover trilogy was released and ended earlier than in the original timeline.

The second was Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. This was the second movie of the Transformers franchise. It was supposed to be released this month. But because of Kazir's interference, Transformers was still in production, and the second movie still did not exist. Honestly, the Transformers franchise in this timeline might never become successful because it was so late. Transformers was supposed to be released in 2007, yet Michael Bay was still filming the movie as of this year. A huge time difference.

As for Fast & Furious 3, this movie, produced by Grey Pictures and released in April, currently grossed $614 million worldwide. The movie had been in theaters for 84 days, and its theater count in North America went down to 1,400 theaters. The theaters that screened this movie would further decrease every week until Cinema Alliance deemed it unworthy and ended its screening.

But overall, the performance of Fast & Furious 3 was satisfying, especially when its budget was only around $100 million.

For a movie to be considered profitable, it should earn 2.5 times its production cost.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 589

Angels & Demons was a movie distributed by Sony-Columbia. Sony-Columbia was also part of the production of the movie, together with Imagine Entertainment, Skylark Productions, and other production studios. The whole Robert Langdon trilogy was produced with the cooperation of these production studios.

There were reasons why some movies were involved with multiple production companies. Some movies wanted to lessen the burden of financial risks by having two or more studios investing. Some production companies also had specialties such as marketing, funding, and distribution.

In this case, Sony-Columbia probably took the job of distributing the movie and perhaps invested a share of the overall budget. As for the specifics, it was unsure.

The film Angels & Demons, directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, was the much-anticipated sequel to The Da Vinci Code. The two movies were recognized as controversial because of the topics they tackled. Perhaps it was one of the factors why The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons were successful at the box office.

The Da Vinci Code grossed over $760 million.

Angels & Demons grossed over $541 million.

Obviously, Sony-Columbia had a reason to celebrate the success.

"... So here I am, attending a celebration of an open-air party," Kazir muttered to himself while looking around.

The atmosphere buzzed with excitement, and the party was glamorous. Champagne, fancy dishes, and ambient lighting set the tone.

Kazir recognized some celebrities, such as Tom Hanks and many more... Tom Hanks was famous, so it was not surprising that Kazir easily recognized him. However, Kazir decided to stay in the corner of this open-space party and let the others have fun. He knew that he was not the star of this party. He greeted Tom Hanks but didn't strike up a conversation. The two were not close.

Kazir Grey received a personal invitation, courtesy of Sony-Columbia. Sony-Columbia had been trying to talk to him about a possible collaboration regarding 21 Jump Street. Kazir was the one who wrote the script for this upcoming project.

Though Kazir's main focus had been family and home recently, Sony-Columbia valued him as both a director and scriptwriter. Of course, they sent an invitation with the hopes of rekindling their relationship... Sounds gay, to be honest.

Kazir's films continued to bring in profit, and Spider-Man alone was still earning money from DVDs and merchandise. No wonder Sony-Columbia was interested.

Walking through the open-space event, Kazir exchanged polite smiles with executives and offered firm handshakes to fellow directors who also attended the party.

He wasn't here to network, but it never hurt to be seen. Scarlett had stayed home to rest, and he promised not to stay out too late.

As he moved toward the refreshment table, he suddenly noticed a strong, majestic presence.

Surrounded by a few bodyguards stood none other than Michael Jackson. The King of Pop looked thinner than Kazir expected. Michael was in formal attire, a suit with his hands covered in gloves.

Kazir was surprised as he didn't expect to meet this legendary figure at this party. In fact, this was the first time Kazir met Michael Jackson in person. He then realized that Sony and Michael Jackson entered a joint venture and created Sony/ATV Music Publishing a few years ago.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing owned catalogs of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Eminem, Akon, Shakira, and many more.

In a way, Michael Jackson attending a party managed by Sony was not surprising, even though Michael Jackson was more active in the music industry than the movie industry.

The movie industry and music industry were two different things, and only a few times did they collaborate. These two industries had their own circles, and it wasn't surprising if actors and music artists rarely interacted with each other... Perhaps they could interact at certain parties, such as the freak-offs and island paradise... You know what I mean.

Anyway, Kazir was surprised to see Michael Jackson. It was an understatement that he was star-struck.

He recalled that in many concerts that Michael Jackson did, the audience would faint and lose consciousness because of his presence alone. Now Kazir understood why.

Kazir wanted to introduce himself. This was a rare opportunity.

Michael Jackson saw Kazir approaching and extended a gloved hand. He offered a soft smile.

"Kazir Grey, right? I've seen your movies. My favorite is Napoleon Dynamite."

Kazir blinked.

"I'm honored. I grew up listening to your music."

Michael nodded slowly.

The two had a conversation. It lasted half an hour before Michael excused himself to talk to one of the executives of Sony.

Kazir realized that he might have overstepped, but he couldn't help it. He was happy to meet Michael Jackson. He liked Michael's music, so he wanted to talk to him, simple as that. No one could deny that Michael Jackson was an amazing music artist. Even his voice had strong originality. Almost anyone could recognize his voice because he was super famous.

In fact, many people in the whole world might know Michael Jackson but not Michael Jordan. His worldwide fame was out of this world.

People might not know who the current president of their country was, but they surely knew who Michael Jackson was.

I'm happy to meet Michael Jackson in this life.

Contemplating, Kazir suddenly realized a shocking truth.

"Wait a minute, today is July 2, 2009."

In his past life, Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009. It meant that Michael Jackson was supposed to die eight days ago, yet the King of Pop was still alive and kicking.

"...Did I just save Michael without knowing?" he asked himself and was elated by the fact. It seemed that his interference in the timeline changed another person's fate. This time, a positive one.

He recalled their conversation earlier.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 590

In their conversation, Michael Jackson talked about a physician who was hired fifteen days ago. Michael was looking for a different way to treat his insomnia instead of using prescription drugs. So far, the treatment had been going well. Kazir gave him some tips, such as being active, doing exercises, and going to the gym, hoping to help.

It was just a short bit of information, but Kazir found the answer. He realized that Michael had stopped depending on prescription drugs in this timeline.

Michael probably thought that relying on drugs might not be a good thing. Perhaps the news about Heath Ledger's overdose affected him.

After thinking about it, Kazir deduced that Heath Ledger's overdose was the reason why Michael Jackson looked for an alternative to treating his insomnia. Of course, Kazir's deduction might be wrong. Perhaps Michael just didn't want to use prescription drugs again.

What happened with Heath Ledger reminded people that using prescription drugs might be bad if used too much.

Kazir sighed in relief. He had done a direct intervention to save Heath Ledger. Perhaps this action caused some events to divert or never happen.

If he was right, that meant that Michael Jackson wouldn't die from an administered propofol. That was the cause of his death, acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication. As for what these drugs were exactly, Kazir had no fucking idea. He just knew that propofol was a surgical anesthetic used to treat chronic insomnia.

The doctor who administered the drugs to Michael Jackson was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to four years in prison after three years of trial.

Now that Michael Jackson had stopped relying on drugs, Kazir felt great. He recalled that he didn't have a chance to watch Michael's live concert in this regression. Kazir had been too busy to enjoy life itself. If Michael Jackson had a concert this year, Kazir would buy tickets for himself and Scarlett. The couple were not that busy this year.

Perhaps after Scarlett's pregnancy...

'I can't believe that directly helping Heath Ledger indirectly helped Michael Jackson... I saved two lives. Although I'm the only one who knows about it.'

It felt great to know that you did the right thing, even if only Kazir recognized it.

Kazir's thoughts stepped away from the unexpected encounter with Michael Jackson. It was a surprising one and something that he would remember forever. He was happy that he had helped the King of Pop.

'I should have asked for a picture or autograph,' Kazir thought.

Kind of ironic, because Kazir was a famous director. Most of the time, people would ask for his autograph instead of the other way around. It meant that Kazir was a fan of Michael Jackson.

Well, almost everyone was a fan of Michael Jackson. At least, Kazir had never heard of anyone who wasn't a fan of Michael Jackson.

"Still, Michael Jackson attending a party initiated by Sony-Columbia is unexpected. I heard Michael and Sony are fighting over the shares of Sony/ATV Music Publishing," he weakly murmured while looking around. It would be awkward if someone heard what he said.

Kazir had heard some rumors that Sony had a hand in the scandal that Michael Jackson was accused of. The two were not on good terms. Michael also accused Sony of sabotaging his album that was released in 2001 (Invincible).

Sony and Michael had a strained relationship despite the initial good impression. And now, they were trying to tear each other apart.

As for the results... Michael Jackson lost. Michael Jackson was isolated in the music industry. His later albums lacked promotion and support. He faced cash flow issues and debt.

Sony was a powerful titan in the music industry. Even though Michael Jackson was an icon, it was tough to face a hegemony such as Sony. Any music artist would fold against Sony.

Suddenly, Kazir felt like Michael Jackson was just like him. Their respective industries were trying to kick them out.

After Michael Jackson's death, Sony completely acquired Sony/ATV, including Michael Jackson's catalog. It was quite sad.

It showed that catalogs of famous musicians had importance. There were many reasons why:

Royalties. Whenever a song was played on the radio, streamed online, used in movies and commercials, or used by other artists, the owner would get a royalty.

Licensing. The owner could decide who could use the songs and under what terms.

Long-term income. Catalogs could generate steady income for decades. This was probably the biggest factor.

These three were just some of the reasons why Sony and other record labels were eager to buy catalogs of famous musicians.

After Michael Jackson's death, his catalog earned $100 to $300 million. Imagine, you're already dead, but a company is still milking you...

Kazir stopped his inner monologue regarding Michael Jackson and Sony. This timeline was different from what he knew, so his knowledge might not be relevant anymore.

Kazir was soon approached by a well-dressed executive from Sony-Columbia. The woman, wearing a comfortable dress that didn't reveal much skin, extended her hand.

"Mr. Grey, I'm Jezebel Salome. Vice President of Sony-Columbia. I'm glad you made it tonight," she said, her tone both respectful and hopeful.

"...Huh?" Kazir was confused.

He was confused about why Jezebel extended her hand for a handshake like they had just met for the first time.

Kazir was also confused that Jezebel was wearing a dress. Most of the time, this serious woman wore formal office attire.

Also, Kazir was confused that she introduced herself as the Vice President.

"Jezebel, are you bragging? You want to brag about your promotion?"

"As expected of you, director. That's right, I'm bragging." Jezebel said flatly and nodded. As expected, talking to talented people was easier. That was why she respected Kazir.

Kazir was surprised by her honesty and shook her hand. Based on this promotion, Jezebel had done a great job these past few years. The Spider-Man trilogy probably helped a lot.

"We're moving forward with 21 Jump Street," Jezebel said without hesitation.

"Your script is brilliant, funny, and fresh. We think it has real box office potential. We'd like you to come and help us. Ideally, as director or at least executive producer."

No reason for sugarcoating. She went straight to the point.

Kazir raised an eyebrow. He had written the screenplay years ago, more as a side project. He didn't expect Sony to greenlight it so quickly.

+++++

[Author's Note: Before the completion of HWI, I just want to say thank you guys for all of your support. I want to say that I never regret writing this novel.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 591

"I'm flattered," Kazir replied. His voice was calm but firm.

"But I'm not sure I want to direct a movie right now. My hands are kind of full with… well, life."

The mention of Scarlett's pregnancy and his newfound appreciation for a quieter lifestyle was on his mind.

He had done the nonstop grind before. He wrote, shot, edited, and attended red carpets. While it brought him success, it also stole time, moments, and energy. He spent so many years grinding on work like he was a non-stop machine.

Now that he had a year of rest, he realized the allure of working less... In fact, he realized the allure of not working at all. Kazir was at the point in his life where money didn't matter. People would die of jealousy just to experience the life that he had, excluding the scandals, attempted assassination, getting cheated on, having his baby aborted, having no mother, and many more.

On second thought, Kazir's life was not easy at all. Because of that, he didn't want his children to experience the hardships he faced. He now wanted to give everything to his growing family.

Across from him, Jezebel Salome, the current Vice President of Sony-Colombia, gave a nod of understanding. She had read the room well and came prepared. She had created many scenarios in her head just for this conversation. She had Plan A, Plan B, and up to Plan F.

Actually, she was already happy that Kazir was even considering the idea of working with Sony-Colombia again.

"We know your time is valuable," she said with a business smile, adjusting her thick glasses.

"That's why we believe executive producer might be a better fit. You can express your opinion regarding the project since you're also the scriptwriter. Sony-Colombia and the production crew will respect your vision for the film. You don't have to worry about the opinion of the director... Your opinion matters the most," Jezebel said.

"That's... that's assuring." Kazir suddenly felt bad for the director who would take this project.

However, Kazir would probably not interfere much with the production, unless needed. He knew that creative freedom was the situation all directors loved.

"You wouldn't need to be on set every day. We already have a list of directors if you choose to pass on the director's position," Jezebel added.

Kazir tilted his head slightly. That did sound more manageable.

He could offer some opinions during pre-production. He could participate in casting decisions, help guide the tone of the filming, and still be at home for Scarlett's prenatal appointments.

"Executive producer," Kazir repeated. He was thinking about it seriously.

"That depends on the negotiation," he smirked.

He wasn't naive. He knew how studios operated. Offering a big title like 'executive producer' didn't always come with a big paycheck. Sometimes it was symbolic.

But Kazir Grey was not a nobody. He was a proven writer, director, and the man behind billion-dollar franchises. Sony-Colombia had to offer him some bling bling to convince him to work with them.

Although to be fair, his position in this production would probably be symbolic. Still, money was needed to convince him.

"The least I could earn by being an executive producer is $5 million," Kazir added plainly. He was not trying to be arrogant, he was just speaking the truth.

Jezebel's smile widened, although her eyes narrowed behind her glasses. Of course, she knew about Kazir's usual salary as an executive producer. She did her research.

She was a negotiator, and the game had begun.

"That's fair," she said smoothly.

"We'll discuss it further with your agent. There's flexibility in the contract. Percentage shares from merchandising, DVD and digital sales, perhaps a small cut of the box office depending on the agreement."

Kazir nodded, signaling that he was open to it but not fully committed. He was a bit surprised that Sony-Colombia would offer him a profit share, but he wouldn't say no to that.

"I'll consider it and contact my agent," he finally said.

"My team will handle the setup and negotiation."

Jezebel extended a hand, which Kazir shook firmly.

"It's a pleasure, Kazir. We'll make this one a hit. I really believe in it."

Kazir offered a slight grin.

"So do I."

'Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum... We might have to look for them. But once they hear that I'm the one who wrote the script and will also participate in the production, the two will probably introduce themselves with enthusiasm.'

Both actors were already in Hollywood and had starred in movies. They could easily contact them.

As Jezebel walked away to mingle with another group of executives, Kazir glanced up at the starry night sky.

The open-air party was still in full swing. He watched guests laugh and glasses clink. There were hired photographers snapping shots from the perimeter.

21 Jump Street was officially on track. It was surreal. A script he had written based on an old TV show would have its time in theaters.

Thankfully, Kazir wouldn't have to participate much in this project, so he wouldn't feel exhausted. He was behind the scenes... probably not most of the time.

Anyway, he might make more than $5 million this time. With just a small participation, he would make that amount of money, truly incomprehensible to the eyes of ordinary people.

He sipped his drink and smiled. Hollywood kept moving, but Kazir Grey learned how to sail on his own without following the trend. He could make his own decisions, and people would respect him no matter what. He solidly created his foundation, and people wouldn't easily topple him, unlike before.

As the music shifted to a smoother jazz tune, Kazir took another sip of the alcohol, savoring the moment. He had built this life, brick by brick, script by script, film by film.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 592

On the first day of July, 20th Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios started with a bang.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs was released. The movie was well-received by both kids and adults. They liked the movie so much that it grossed over $1 billion. This was the first time Blue Sky Studios performed so well at the box office that they were congratulated by Rupert Murdoch himself. It was a great achievement.

20th Century Fox realized that they might stand equal against Walt Disney if they kept their performance strong. Especially with next year's release of Wall-E. This animated movie was written by Kazir Grey and directed by Christopher Nolan. It would further enhance Blue Sky Studios' reputation.

On the same day, July 1, Public Enemies was released. It was a drama movie distributed by Universal Pictures. Starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale, the movie grossed over $266 million.

On July 10, a comedy movie titled Brüno was released and grossed $151 million. Starring Sacha Baron Cohen, this mockumentary comedy was distributed by Universal Pictures.

On July 15, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was released. Obviously, Warner Brothers was confident in this franchise. After all, Harry Potter would remain one of the biggest movie franchises in the world, despite many fans hating J.K. Rowling. Just as Warner Brothers and many others expected, Harry Potter performed. Half-Blood Prince grossed over $1.1 billion. This is proof that Harry Potter will stay relevant for a long time.

On July 24, G-Force was released. This movie was about talking guinea pigs trying to save the world. Distributed by Walt Disney, it grossed $357 million.

On the same day, The Ugly Truth was released. This romantic comedy starred Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler. Distributed by Sony-Colombia, the movie grossed over $245 million.

These were the movies that performed well at the box office this month. Out of all of them, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince dominated the month of July.

Kazir didn't do much in July. He spent most of his time at home with Scarlett. The couple was just waiting for the days to pass in leisure. Then August arrived, and Scarlett's delivery was getting close. The couple agreed that they would go to the hospital three days before the due date just to be safe.

.........

......

...

The fluorescent lights of the hospital hallway hummed softly, but Kazir barely registered the sound.

His legs bounced restlessly. His fingers interlocked, then unclasped, then interlocked again. He was sweating despite the cold atmosphere. He glanced at the wall clock, reading the time. He had done this so many times in just an hour.

Every tick-tock of the wall clock felt like an eternity. The white walls of the maternity ward felt suffocating. Kazir was deeply nervous.

"She's been in there for almost two hours…" Kazir muttered. His voice was low and barely audible.

Beside him, his father, Victor Grey, sat silently. His arms were crossed, trying to keep himself calm.

Despite the distance, Kazir's family flew from New York to Los Angeles just to show support. They knew that today was important to Kazir. In fact, Victor had a camera ready to take pictures of this important event. He had done the same thing for the birth of Aaron's children.

The elder Grey might not have been blessed in love, but he was blessed with two sons. They were now successful and could stand on their own. And now, his youngest son would have little lives to take care of, a sign that Kazir had taken another step in the stages of life: fatherhood.

Kazir's older brother, Aaron, leaned forward and glanced at the doors of the delivery room.

"It's normal, right? Twins take time. They told us it could take longer, remember?" he said.

Kazir gave a stiff nod, but his eyes remained locked on the red sign above the doors.

DELIVERY IN PROGRESS.

His eyes moved back and forth between the clock and the doors.

In the hallway, Scarlett's relatives whispered among themselves. They were also waiting for the results.

They weren't loud, but Kazir could feel their presence. Every time they looked his way, he felt more pressure to stay calm. But it was impossible.

He now realized why men were on the edge of their seats whenever their partners gave birth. This was suffocating.

"She's going to be fine," Aaron said again, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder.

Kazir exhaled shakily.

"I know. I know that. But knowing it doesn't stop me from—"

The doors clicked open. A nurse stepped out, visibly exhausted.

"Is Scarlett okay?!" Kazir jumped to his feet.

The nurse gave a warm smile behind her mask and removed her gloves.

"Mr. Grey… everything went smoothly. Congratulations. You're the father of two healthy babies—a boy and a girl... Also, can I get an autograph and pictures? I'm a fan. Can I also get an autograph on my cleavage? I want to make a tattoo out of it, if that's fine with you, of course."

Kazir didn't register what the nurse said in the latter part.

"Uh... Okay."

For a second, Kazir just blinked. The words hit him like a wave. Indeed, boy, girl... He was now a father.

"She… is Scarlett okay?" he asked again, needing to hear it.

"She's resting. A bit exhausted, which is natural, but she's doing great. You can see her in a few minutes."

Kazir exhaled. All of his stress disappeared. His father stood up and steadied Kazir with a firm hand on his shoulder.

Aaron grinned wide. "You did it, bro."

Kazir looked around.

His family, Scarlett's relatives, and the nurse were all smiling.

He felt his heart swelling. For the first time tonight, he didn't feel fear, or stress, or pressure. Just pure, raw gratitude.

"They're really here," he whispered.

"I'm… a dad."

He wiped his eyes quickly, but he didn't care if they noticed the tears.

When the nurse finally gave the go-ahead after hearing the promised autograph (except the cleavage one), Kazir walked toward the delivery room like a man stepping into a new world.

Behind those doors waited his partner, his future, and the two little lives they created together.

And as the doors closed behind him, the hallway erupted in gentle applause and laughter. A new chapter had begun.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 593

The door closed behind Kazir with a soft hiss. It shut out the noise of the hallway. Inside, the world seemed still, quiet, warm, and white. Except for the nurses who were moving, the place was tranquil.

The lights were dimmer and softer. They cast a golden hue over everything.

Kazir's eyes immediately found Scarlett.

She was lying on the hospital bed. Her head rested against the raised pillow. She looked exhausted—her face pale and covered with sweat.

But her eyes were beautiful. They were gleaming, they were alive. She turned to him as Kazir stepped forward. Her lips curled into a small, tired smile.

"I did it," she whispered, her voice weak but full of emotion.

Kazir hurried to her side. There was a lump in his throat that he couldn't explain. He was emotional, a rare occurrence, even for him.

He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Then another kiss to her hand, gripping it gently but firmly.

"You did it," he murmured.

"You're incredible, Scarlett. Thank you. Thank you so much."

She gave a soft laugh, breathy and faint.

"It wasn't exactly a walk in the park. Looks like these kids will be a handful to take care of. They were crying loudly earlier." Scarlett glanced at the baby cribs next to her bed.

She could already predict the future: endless headaches because of two brats... They might have to hire a helper or a nanny.

Kazir followed her gaze to the bassinets beside the bed.

Two tiny bundles. One wrapped in a pink blanket, the other in blue. A nurse was quietly adjusting the clothes around them, but she stepped back when she saw Kazir approach.

He moved slowly and carefully. He was afraid that a sudden movement might shatter the moment and wake the kids, making them cry. He looked down at them...

His children.

The little girl was sleeping soundly, her tiny chest rising and falling. The boy, on the other hand, was awake.

His eyes, barely open, stared ahead, his mouth making the smallest movements.

"Can I…?" Kazir asked the nurse, his voice cracking.

The nurse nodded and gently lifted the baby boy into his arms. Kazir's hands trembled as he took his son, holding him close to his chest.

The baby was so light and yet, in that moment, Kazir felt like he was holding the entire universe. He couldn't explain it. He felt like this little life was so heavy and fragile that he was careful with his movements.

Kazir raised his hand to touch the kid's face.

Then it happened.

The baby reached out and wrapped his tiny fingers around Kazir's pinky.

Kazir froze. He felt like everything in the room stopped moving. His breath stuck in his throat, and before he could stop himself, tears welled in his eyes.

He sniffled, then laughed softly as the tears rolled down his cheeks.

"He's… he's holding my finger. Scarlett, he's…"

"I see it," Scarlett whispered, smiling weakly. She watched the father and son with affection. This moment should be recorded, she thought. This was a rare moment where Kazir showed true happiness.

"He knows you're his dad," Scarlett added.

Kazir looked at her, then down at his son. Kazir could barely see through the blur in his eyes.

"I swear," he said quietly, to the baby, to Scarlett, and to himself,

"I'll protect you. All of you. I'll be the kind of father and partner you'll be proud of."

The baby let out a tiny yawn, still clinging to his finger.

Kazir stepped closer to the bassinet and carefully returned the baby boy. He leaned forward to kiss the baby's forehead. Then he looked at the little girl, still sleeping peacefully. He couldn't wait to hold her too.

Behind him, Scarlett closed her eyes, resting. She had finally completed her mission, and she was happy as she fell asleep.

As for Kazir, he stood there between his partner and his children. He knew without a doubt that this was the greatest moment of his life.

Not a premiere. Not an award. Not a box office number.

This.

This was everything. It took him two lifetimes to realize that this was what he was looking for. The will to live for the people around him. He didn't feel alone anymore. He now had something to protect.

He didn't want to kill himself anymore.

.........

......

...

Scarlett gave birth to twins on August 18, 2009. Two days later, the couple returned to their home with a baby in each of their arms.

They decided to stay in the house the whole month. Even Kazir rarely left the place. They took care of the two babies. They fell in love with them, although the couple admitted that it was tough sleeping at night because the twins usually had a duet of crying.

Kazir sacrificed his night's sleep and changed their diapers and even fed them baby milk formula because he didn't want to disturb Scarlett, who needed rest after a hard pregnancy.

While Kazir was taking care of the twins, Hollywood didn't stop moving.

News of Scarlett's delivery made waves in the entertainment world, though the couple declined any interviews or public appearances.

Paparazzi tried to catch a glimpse of the newborns, but the house remained tightly secured, protected by guards.

Inside their quiet home, Kazir found joy in the little things, such as bathing the twins, rocking them to sleep, and humming lullabies. Heck, he probably memorized almost all of the baby lullabies.

His day and night were repetitive, but he didn't complain. Every yawn, every diaper change, every tiny smile made it all worth it.

As Scarlett recovered, she often caught Kazir sleeping on the couch with a baby on each arm. Her heart melted every time.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 594

August, despite being the last month of the summer schedule, still released some of the big movies this year. Some kids and teenagers might already be attending school this month, but it didn't stop Hollywood from releasing box office hits.

On August 7, G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra was released. This movie was based on the action figure toyline of Hasbro. Kazir received an invitation to direct this franchise, but the director declined, he didn't even bother to entertain it. Starring Channing Tatum and distributed by Paramount Pictures, the movie grossed $391 million.

On the same day, August 7, the film Julie and Julia was released. Starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, this comedy film grossed $185 million. The movie was distributed by Sony-Colombia.

On August 14, District 9 was released. Distributed by Sony-Colombia, the sci-fi suspense/thriller grossed $269 million.

On the same day, August 14, The Time Traveler's Wife was released. This sci-fi drama starring Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana grossed over $138 million. The movie was produced by New Line Cinema and distributed by Warner Brothers.

On August 21, Inglourious Basterds was released. Starring Brad Pitt and Christoph Waltz and directed by the amazing director Quentin Tarantino, this movie was produced by The Weinstein Company and Universal Pictures. The movie was also distributed by The Weinstein Company (United States) and Universal Pictures (International). The movie grossed over $416 million. It was the highest-grossing movie released in August 2009.

Aside from movie releases, Hollywood also tackled some problems, particularly the wildfire that happened in Los Angeles, California, on August 26. Wildfires were common in Los Angeles.

.........

......

...

Harold Witsend was driving his expensive car. Being a producer of many box office hits, Harold was considered rich. In every movie he worked on, he earned at least $1 million per project. It all depended on how much profit the movie earned. Harold might not have had a share in the profits, but it didn't mean he was earning less. Many people would commit crimes just to get Harold's position.

Besides, he knew that most of his success was because of Grey Pictures. To be precise, he owed everything to Kazir. His friend was the reason he reached this status.

Harold knew that if he worked on other projects, the chances of success were not guaranteed. Only Grey Pictures had a high assurance of box office hits. So even though many studios were eager to hire Harold, he didn't leave Grey Pictures, because he knew that most of his success was because of the company.

So yeah, he was rich now. It explained why he was driving a Lexus LS 600h L... Harold had no idea what the name really implied, but it sounded good, so he decided to buy it. He didn't know much about the specifications since he was not a car enthusiast. He just knew that he had to buy a luxury car to impress people, since he was now a top star producer. He bought the car at the price of $105 thousand... Yes, spending $100 thousand on a car was considered a rich move. Only people who earned millions were comfortable spending that amount on a car.

While driving, some people looked at his car with envy and interest. Some women who were basically nothing even tried to flirt with him, but Harold was a married man, so he didn't entertain the idea of cheating. He wanted to maintain the peace.

He visited Kazir a few days ago and found his friend enthralled with taking care of the twins. It was something that Harold didn't expect to witness in his life. It seemed that Kazir could genuinely smile. He was happy for him.

This further strengthened his idea of protecting his family and providing for them.

In his line of work, it was tough to stay loyal because this industry was filled with sexy women who could seduce him. Furthermore, a few years ago, Elizabeth Cohen almost made him fold.

Even though Elizabeth was in her 50s, she was still a bombshell, and she could seduce any man as long as she wanted to. Harold did his best to fight the seduction, and he was successful. In the end, he kicked Elizabeth and Mara Cohen out of Hollywood. As for where these mother and daughter were, Harold didn't give a fuck.

"Man, I can't imagine that I almost fucked my mom's friend. That sounds disturbing if you didn't know the context."

Even if you know the context, it was still disturbing.

This just showed that Elizabeth was a dangerous woman, and she deserved every hardship that was thrown at her.

"I just hope that she will not appear in front of Kazir with the excuse of meeting her grandchildren. Elizabeth didn't even meet Aaron's children, so she doesn't have the right to meet Kazir's twins."

Was this a foreshadowing or not? Nah.

While drinking, Harold recalled the meeting that executives had today. Kazir didn't attend the meeting, so Harold and Stella led the discussion.

In this meeting, they talked about the release date of Ninja Assassin and its possible results. 20th Century Fox and Grey Pictures agreed to release this CCU movie in November, a less popular schedule compared to summer.

But despite being less popular, many huge movies would be released that month. This was the topic that their meeting tackled, what might happen in November regarding the box office of Ninja Assassin?

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 595

Harold tapped his fingers on the steering wheel as he thought about the meeting. Stella brought up concerns about 2012, the apocalyptic disaster movie scheduled for November 13. It had a massive budget and global appeal.

People loved disaster movies. It had been proven so many times, such as Armageddon and Independence Day. Even Godzilla and Jurassic Park were considered disaster movies... Perhaps people loved to see the world burn.

It was not surprising that Stella would be concerned. Even the executives from the Big Six were thinking about 2012 seriously.

On top of that, Stella was also thinking about The Twilight Saga: New Moon. This romance movie would hit theaters just a week later on November 20, targeting the teen demographic. This movie was about a love triangle between a werewolf, a vampire, and a woman...

For some reason, females loved this genre. So much so that they became addicted to reading smut stories about werewolves... Something something Alpha, something something Beta, something something knotting. Twilight might be one of the biggest factors why this genre became so famous with young female demographics. Heck, even adult women loved reading this genre.

Anyway, both 2012 and The Twilight Saga: New Moon were two of the toughest opponents of Ninja Assassin in November.

Both could threaten Ninja Assassin's performance. However, Harold remained optimistic.

"We're offering something different," he said during the meeting. He trusted Kazir. His friend never let him down.

"Raw, bloody martial arts. Pure adrenaline." Stella nodded in agreement, adding that Kazir's name alone would bring in curious viewers. They had strong marketing.

Ninja Assassin was part of the Continental Cinematic Universe. That alone was enough to attract more people. CCU was now a household name that even kids knew about. Grey Pictures even created trading game cards, and it was a success that made a lot of money.

"Instead of 2012 and Twilight, we should think about fighting The Princess and the Frog. Walt Disney probably has the same thoughts as us," Stella added, and the people in the meeting room nodded.

They started thinking about the plan.

Ninja Assassin was set to be released on November 25, the same day as The Princess and the Frog. This Disney animated movie was the direct opponent of Ninja Assassin in the same week.

Harold stopped thinking about the meeting. They still had three months to think of a contingency plan in case Walt Disney attacked them or something.

After all, Walt Disney had been holding a grudge against Grey Pictures for quite a while now. Their 3D animation department was having trouble competing with Blue Sky Studio, and Kazir Grey was one of the reasons why that was happening.

Walt Disney felt threatened and might do something.

'If we can't find a solution, perhaps Kazir has one. That guy might not have the motivation for managing a company, but he knows what to do.'

Harold parked the Lexus in the driveway. The engine hummed, dying as he pulled the key out. The sun was already dipping low, casting a golden hue over the suburban neighborhood.

He sat in the car for a moment, staring at his house. Despite his wealth and status in Hollywood, it was this, his family, his home, that gave him true peace.

He was thankful and happy that he didn't throw away his family in exchange for having sex with Elizabeth. He acknowledged that Elizabeth was a bombshell of a sex woman, and he was proud of himself for overcoming his lust.

As soon as he opened the door, two boys came charging toward him.

"Dad!" his oldest son shouted, a toothy grin spreading across his face.

"Dad's home!" the younger one echoed, clinging to Harold's leg with his tiny arms.

Behind them, his daughter showed up. She smiled warmly.

"Hi, Dad. Mom made chicken parmesan."

"Nice."

Harold chuckled, ruffling his two sons' hair.

"You guys miss me already? I was only gone for a few hours."

The kids nodded vigorously.

Harold laughed. This was what mattered. The stress of studio meetings, the mind games of Hollywood politics, none of that could compare to this feeling... His job was absolutely stressful.

He entered the living room, the kids trailing behind. His wife was on the couch with a book. She looked up as he entered, and a smile lit up her face.

"Welcome home," she said, setting the book down.

Harold walked over and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Thanks. Smells like heaven in here. Chicken parmesan, right?"

She nodded, patting the seat next to her. He sat, letting out a long breath.

"Rough day?"

"Not really. Just a lot of strategizing. The executives and I went over the November schedule. You know, trying to predict the future like we're prophets or something."

"Is everything going to be alright?" she asked, resting her head on his shoulder.

"It will be fine. I believe in my boss. Ah, Kazir actually has twins now."

Harold smiled gently.

"Twins, huh? That's amazing."

"I saw him the other day. He looked… different," Harold said, his voice soft.

"He was smiling. Genuinely happy. It was like the weight of the world had lifted off of him."

"You think fatherhood changed him?"

"No doubt," Harold replied.

"I never thought I would see Kazir Grey willingly change diapers, but he did. The guy was up all night feeding them so Scarlett could rest. You could see the exhaustion in his eyes. It's crazy. The guy who was once afraid of love is now loving a family wholeheartedly."

"Sounds like someone else I know." Harold's wife teased.

Harold laughed.

"Maybe. I guess seeing him like that just reminded me of how lucky I am to have this… to have you and the kids."

"You don't have to. You show it every day." She squeezed his hand.

Harold kissed her again. For a while, the two simply sat in silence, grateful for everything they had.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 596


September arrived, and only three movies released this month grossed over $100 million.

First was Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. This animated movie was not produced by DreamWorks, not produced by Walt Disney and Pixar, and also not produced by Blue Sky Studio.

The animation studio that produced Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs was Sony Pictures Animation. Yes, people might be surprised, but Sony-Colombia had its own animation studio, and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs was one of their biggest projects.

To list it down, Sony Pictures Animation produced:

Open Season

Surf's Up

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

The Smurfs

Hotel Transylvania

The Emoji Movie (People hated this movie so much, by the way.)

Spider-Man: The Spider-Verse series

Out of all these, the Spider-Verse series was probably the most successful one.

Anyway, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs was released on September 18 and grossed over $303 million.

The second movie that grossed over $100 million and was released in September 2009 was Paranormal Activity. "Written" by Kazir Grey and starring Tobey Maguire, this horror movie gave a new recipe to the found footage genre. Because of many changes, the performance of Paranormal Activity was better than the original timeline.

The horror movie grossed over $429 million compared to the original, which was $216 million. It was twice the amount. Kazir was not surprised. Paranormal Activity now had him and Tobey Maguire as box office appeals. More people were interested in watching it because of the two famous people who worked on it.

20th Century Fox was satisfied with the performance of Paranormal Activity. They didn't regret buying the script. They only spent a dozen million dollars, and the profit they earned was more than 20 times that amount. The company, being happy, decided to give Tobey Maguire and Kazir Grey some bonuses as appreciation.

With this, Tobey Maguire had now changed his career. He was not just Peter Parker anymore. He now had other box office hits aside from Spider-Man, and more production studios would cast him in their projects. He now had steady jobs to work with.

The third movie that grossed over $100 million and was released in September 2009 was Surrogates. Starring Bruce Willis as an FBI agent in a world where people could control robots while staying in their houses... Yeah, anyway, this movie was distributed by Walt Disney and produced by Touchstone Pictures, which was the live-action production studio of Walt Disney. The movie grossed $136 million.

The executives of Walt Disney blamed Paranormal Activity for the low performance of Surrogates. After all, the two movies were released on the same day and fought for ticket sales, which caused Surrogates to lose. Surrogates had Bruce Willis as the protagonist, so it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. That was just it.

In October 2009, the movies that were released were mediocre. None of them did great; some were just barely doing well. There were no movies that could be defined as blockbusters.

On October 2, Zombieland was released. Don't be deceived by its title or premise. Zombieland was not a horror movie. It was a comedy. Perhaps people loved this unique blend of zombie + comedy, so the movie grossed $156 million. Zombieland was produced and distributed by Sony-Colombia. Sony-Colombia's business strategy was to produce mid-budget movies and release them on different schedules, hoping that they would make money.

Well, their business strategy seemed to be doing alright because they didn't suffer bankruptcy.

On October 8, a romantic comedy titled Couples Retreat was released. The movie grossed $219 million. It was distributed by Universal Pictures.

On October 16, a thriller/suspense titled Law Abiding Citizen was released. Starring Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler, the movie grossed $166 million. The movie was distributed by Overture Films, one of the lesser-known movie distributors in Hollywood. This company was founded in 2008 and ended in 2010. It was very hard for a film distribution company to survive in this business because the Big Six would do everything to destroy them. That was one of the factors why this company didn't last.

In this industry, a studio company that could distribute movies was a threat that needed to be taken down. We have so many examples, such as Orion Pictures, Carolco, and Relativity Media. New Line Cinema and Miramax might be part of the topic since they lost their wings after they were acquired by the Big Six.

Only some studios that were heavily funded and protected could survive the purge in Hollywood, such as Lionsgate and A24. Even DreamWorks couldn't last with its live-action and animation departments. In 2009, only DreamWorks Animation would remain. As for the live-action department, it was acquired by Paramount Pictures (Viacom), and the company ceased to exist after Steven Spielberg left.

On the same day, October 16, Where The Wild Things Are was released. This movie had the genre of adventure, but it was also an animated film since there was heavy CGI in the movie. This movie was based on a children's book that had the same name. It was about a boy who sailed to an island where creatures called Wild Things lived. The movie was distributed by Warner Brothers and it grossed over $135 million.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 597

"Leave this place now! I don't want any Japanese in my film! Get the fuck out!"

"But I'm not even Japanese! I'm Korean!"

Enzo explained to the director, who was livid and clearly in a bad mood. The small-time director was fuming as he held his storyboard in a rage. He was crumpling his storyboard without care.

"Japanese, Korean, Chinese, or whatever the fuck you are! Get out! All of you look the same anyway. I don't want any of your kind in my movie. It will dirty my masterpiece!"

The so-called masterpiece in question was a small-budget horror movie that didn't even last a week in theaters before getting pulled out.

"What your people did in World War II is disgusting! You should be ashamed!"

"Again, I'm not Japanese. I'm Korean. Also, World War II happened almost seven decades ago. That's so long ago, and people today shouldn't be blamed for what happened in the past," Enzo explained.

"It doesn't matter! Fuck you, chingchong motherfucker!"

"Why are you so mad about the Japanese anyway? Was your grandfather a soldier in World War II?"

"Not at all. I just hate your people."

"..."

Enzo was speechless. He looked at the other people in the audition room. This was a small-budget movie, so they couldn't afford to hire a casting director. Because of that, there was no filtering, and actors could just visit the audition address.

Some of the people in the room kept their silence, while others were having fun watching the humiliation.

"I repeat, get the fuck out of my movie! You don't have a future here in Hollywood!"

"... You curse too much." Enzo left the place with disappointment.

.........

......

...

This was not the first time Enzo was rejected because of his race.

.........

......

...

"Your name is Hae-Won Park, right?" The director looked at Enzo's résumé.

Actually, it was Park Hae-Won, but this was the United States, and the surname was placed at the end, unlike in Korea, where the surname was in front.

"I'm sorry, Hae-Won, but we're not looking for an Asian actor, not even a Korean. The role is meant for a Caucasian man with blonde hair and blue eyes."

"But you didn't give any description when my agent got the script."

"Yeah, I just made the criteria right now," the director simply said. There was no reason to hide it anyway. He was the director, and he was in control of the creative aspects of the project. Not even the producer could stop him from making that decision.

"..."

"Your appearance doesn't fit the aesthetic."

.........

......

...

Enzo opened his eyes and groaned. He sat up and massaged his forehead, which was throbbing in pain. He then realized that he had been sleeping on the floor.

"That explains why my body aches..."

Unlike sleeping on a comfortable mattress, the floor was nothing but a cold, tough surface that didn't provide any solace.

He had been drinking last night until he couldn't get up. So instead of going to his bedroom, he decided to sleep on the floor instead. He was too drunk to think clearly.

He frowned as a throbbing pain hit his head.

"Tch..." He clicked his tongue in annoyance.

He couldn't believe that he had dreamt about his past. The endless rejections had been a trauma that he would never forget.

He stood up and confirmed that his body was mildly aching. Anyway, he didn't have the time to think about it. Today, or to be precise, this midnight, was important to him.

After a month of endless preparation and promotion, the important date had arrived.

Today was November 25, 2009, the release date of Ninja Assassin.

Enzo went to the bathroom and took a cold shower to wake himself up. After that, he drank two glasses of water to stay hydrated.

He was hungry and decided to cook a cup of noodles by microwaving it... You couldn't really call that cooking, to be fair. Enzo didn't have the energy to cook anything else, but he was also too lazy to call for food delivery.

If his acquaintances could see him right now, they would be surprised. Because the Enzo they knew was a strict and hardworking person.

Well, that Enzo and this Enzo were different but also the same. Enzo was a strict and hardworking person, but he was also a lazy guy who didn't like cooking and preferred drinking alone at night.

While waiting for the noodles to cook, Enzo checked his mailbox by the door and found that the newspaper had been delivered. Being a celebrity, he read the showbiz section.

Some movies released a few weeks ago performed well at the box office.

Disney's A Christmas Carol, released on November 6, grossed $85 million as of November 25 at the North American box office.

2012 was released on November 13. The movie grossed over $116 million at the North American box office.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon was released on November 19. In just six days, this movie about vampires and werewolves grossed over $178 million. The Twilight era was quite strong around this time. Fans were either Team Jacob or Team Edward.

The Blind Side was released on November 20. The movie grossed over $50 million after five days of screening.

While reading the newspaper and the box office results of these movies, Enzo was thinking about how Ninja Assassin would perform against these blockbusters. Well, today was the time to find out.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 598

Enzo stepped out of the limousine, and people screamed his name. He had experienced this so many times after becoming a part of the Continental Cinematic Universe. However, something was different tonight.

This was not the usual cheer that he received. Something was different, but it wasn't because of the fans. It was about Enzo Park himself. He had changed. He now realized that he was accepted. He was accepted by Hollywood.

He genuinely smiled and waved his hands. He was the last person to show up on the red carpet. He was the main event. Director Grey had already gone into the theater.

Enzo received so much love tonight and confirmed that he had made it. He could now say that he had found his place in Hollywood. He worked hard just to reach this status. And for that, he was thankful to everyone who helped him.

.........

.......

...

The screening of Ninja Assassin started around the same time as The Princess and the Frog. Both studios were in a bind and didn't know if they would make a move or not.

Especially Walt Disney, they knew that The Princess and the Frog had a weaker stance against Ninja Assassin because CCU was more popular. Thankfully, the two movies had different genres, so they wouldn't conflict that much.

Walt Disney wanted to make sure The Princess and the Frog wouldn't flop. They even thought of sabotaging Ninja Assassin and spreading bad rumors about the cast. The plan was approved by Robert Iger himself.

However, their plan didn't even start when they realized that they had fucked up. They were trapped.

The Big Six was not a harmonious organization. Each one of these studios would tear the other apart if given the chance.

And this time, Walt Disney was in a pinch.

Lucasfilm was a famous production studio that produced box office hits such as Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Furthermore, Industrial Light & Magic was under Lucasfilm.

There was a reason why Walt Disney was eager to acquire the studio. Lucasfilm was perfect for Walt Disney, especially when Walt Disney was losing its power over live-action movies. Even their 3D animation films were struggling now that more animation studios were showing their strength.

So Lucasfilm was important to Walt Disney. Unfortunately, a certain person decided to use the information against them.

Kazir understood that this was a business move that could determine and change the trajectory of the future he knew. Also, Kazir was not fond of Walt Disney despite their many interactions. When scandals about Kazir surfaced, Walt Disney would always partake in destroying his image.

So Kazir didn't feel any guilt spreading the news.

He personally made a statement. It was also recorded. In an interview, Kazir said that if a studio successfully acquired Lucasfilm, unless he didn't have a good relationship with that studio, he would sign a trilogy contract to direct the continuation of Star Wars.

Everyone in Hollywood knew that Walt Disney and Universal Pictures didn't have a good relationship with Kazir. Furthermore, Walt Disney was currently doing its best to acquire Lucasfilm.

Kazir's statement was broadcast, and many fans became excited. If Kazir became the director of Star Wars, then the new trilogy would be a masterpiece for sure.

Not only the fans but even the other studios were excited, particularly 20th Century Fox and Paramount Pictures. These two studios had a close relationship with Lucasfilm. 20th Century Fox distributed Star Wars, while Paramount Pictures distributed Indiana Jones.

'As of now, Walt Disney is still flirting with Lucasfilm, but Lucasfilm is hard to get, and they still haven't dated yet. And if 20th Century Fox decided to court Lucasfilm, then it means Walt Disney has to show more and spend more just to win Lucasfilm's heart. Especially when Lucasfilm and 20th Century Fox had a past. Everyone knew that Lucasfilm birthed Star Wars while 20th Century Fox took care of the baby even though they didn't own it. How sweet is that?' Kazir had diabolical metaphors. How could he even cook something like that?

Anyway, 20th Century Fox and Paramount Pictures publicly announced that they would also aim to acquire Lucasfilm.

Kazir had already promised 20th Century Fox and Paramount Pictures that he would direct a Star Wars trilogy if one of them acquired Lucasfilm.

Either of the two would be fine. As long as Walt Disney failed to acquire Lucasfilm.

Kazir even signed a contract. Now, he was legally bound to keep the promise.

'Even if the other studios fail to acquire Lucasfilm, it would start to hurt Walt Disney. In the original timeline, Walt Disney bought Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion in 2012. But it would be different this time.'

In Kazir's estimation, Walt Disney would have to bleed and spend around $7 to $8 billion now that 20th Century Fox and Paramount Pictures publicly announced their intentions. That was a painful punch to the balls for Walt Disney, and they deserved it.

'You tried to destroy my career, so I'll prevent your plan from happening.'

Walt Disney failed to get Marvel.

Walt Disney failed to get Pirates of the Caribbean.

And now, Walt Disney might fail to acquire Lucasfilm.

No wonder Walt Disney was getting weaker every year. All of its important foundations were gone.

Robert Iger was probably livid right now. His plan to buy Lucasfilm might not happen. His position as the Chairman of the Walt Disney conglomerate was still steady, but he could see that the company's edge was vanishing. The executives would blame him for that, and he would suffer the same fate as Michael Eisner.

++++

[Author's Note: If my calculations are right, I can end this novel in two more chapters. I've already tackled every important plot related to Kazir, and he's already a better man now. All of his traumas are gone. There's no reason to give him another hardship. As for the side plots such as Wall-E, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Modern Family, and Avengers, I think we all know they will become successful. But I'll write the results of their productions just to give closure.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 599

Because of the attacks that Grey Pictures launched, Walt Disney had a hard time reacting. Walt Disney's intention to cause problems for Ninja Assassin failed.

It was too late to respond when they realized that the entire charade was actually Grey Pictures attacking them.

When Walt Disney figured out the truth, they spread rumors about the cast of Ninja Assassin and tried to smear its performance. Unfortunately for them, the news about the Lucasfilm acquisition was far stronger than any scandal Walt Disney tried to push. No one even gave a fuck about their gossip. Most of the trending topics in the news and on social media were related to Lucasfilm, Star Wars, and Indiana Jones.

The internet collectively agreed that the only director who could continue the legacy of Star Wars was Kazir. So when they heard that Walt Disney wanted to buy Lucasfilm, the fans rioted in front of their building.

Lucasfilm had a weak reputation in this timeline when it came to live-action movies. Furthermore, people who kept up with celebrity news understood that Walt Disney and Kazir Grey couldn't work together. The two had bad blood after many years.

So yeah, Ninja Assassin had a smooth performance while everyone was distracted by the buzz about Lucasfilm's acquisition.

In just three days (November 25–27), Ninja Assassin grossed over $41 million. The movie performed well, but some were skeptical of the box office numbers because this movie was directed by Kazir Grey. If anything, the movie should have earned at least $50 million within three days. People forgot that Ninja Assassin was an R-rated film filled with blood and gore. Even if kids wanted to watch it, they couldn't. The box office was affected because of that.

In the same three days, The Princess and the Frog grossed over $27 million. The magic of hand-drawn animation was vanishing. Walt Disney could see it, and they were saddened by it. Their company had survived for decades because of hand-drawn animation. It was painful to see it lose its edge. But they had to accept the truth.

The last hand-drawn animated movie by Walt Disney was Winnie the Pooh (2011). After that, Walt Disney moved on and focused on 3D animation.

Ninja Assassin and The Princess and the Frog continued their rivalry, but it was obvious that the animated film was losing.

After 30 days of screening, Ninja Assassin grossed over $156 million, while The Princess and the Frog only grossed $91 million.

With that, Grey Pictures proved that they couldn't be taken lightly anymore. They now had a solid foundation. The fact that they could threaten Walt Disney was a feat that was hard to achieve.

..........

.......

...

"Muah, muah, Daddy loves you guys. You're so cute!"

While all this was happening, Kazir was showering the twins with kisses. The twins giggled as they enjoyed the affection. The kids were now four months old, and they were adorable.

"… I can't believe I'm seeing you act like that."

Stella Willow was shocked. This was the first time she had witnessed Kazir acting like a completely different person… She was a little jealous of the fact that Kazir had children before her. Stella Willow was still searching for her Mr. Right.

"My kids are so cute."

"I know, I know. You don't have to repeat yourself."

Stella was annoyed. She had visited Kazir because their plan against Walt Disney had actually worked. And now, she was asking her boss about his next plan.

"Kazir, what's your next plan?"

"Let's see… For the next three years, I'll only focus on filming two movies."

"Oh, what are they?" Stella was curious to hear his answer.

"The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers," Kazir smirked. Two movies within three years was easy for him… He had no intention of filming one movie per year anymore. He was now a better man.

.........

......

...

Days passed.

Weeks passed.

Months passed.

Three years passed, and it was now 2012.

From 2009 to 2012, so many things happened.

Ninja Assassin grossed over $814 million, while The Princess and the Frog grossed over $267 million.

The Continental Cinematic Universe also introduced two new franchises: The Expendables and The Hitman's Bodyguard. Both were considered blockbusters and grossed $791 million and $826 million respectively. This further solidified that the CCU was still going strong.

Wall-E, produced by Blue Sky Studio and directed by Christopher Nolan, was a masterpiece and grossed over $1 billion. Christopher Nolan was now a super in-demand director. Wall-E also won Best Animated Feature Film in 2011. It defeated Toy Story 3.

Modern Family and Game of Thrones were also doing well. Modern Family had consistent production, while Game of Thrones was in its fourth season. Both TV shows were profitable.

The Dark Knight Rises was released in 2011. After months of screening, the final part of the Dark Knight trilogy grossed over $1.11 billion. It was critically acclaimed, and fans agreed that the Dark Knight trilogy was one of the best trilogies in the history of cinema. It had high ratings on IMDb.

You might think Kazir's life was smooth sailing at that point, but nope. Since Kazir's reputation was growing stronger and it was becoming harder to bring him down, Walt Disney and Universal Pictures joined forces once again to try and destroy his career.

They accused Kazir of grooming, claiming that his then-wife, Scarlett Johansson-Grey, had been groomed by him. It was a tough situation since they were being blasted on social media, especially when the couple had just recently gotten married.

However, no matter what scandal was thrown at Kazir, he always recovered. On top of that, people were now getting tired of hearing about his scandals, so the grooming accusation didn't last long before it vanished. People weren't stupid, they knew that this was just an attempt to overthrow Kazir.

Overall, Kazir's three years weren't bad, aside from some scuffles.

++++++

[Author's Note: Next will be the last chapter, and it has two versions. I will also post an Afterword just to say my thanks and opinion regarding this novel.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 600 (Final Chapter)

VERSION 1

"Yippee!!"

A young girl excitedly jumped out of a limousine, followed by a young boy. The two were twins, and they almost had the same appearance, except one was a boy and the other was a girl.

The two kids were holding brand-new toys in their hands as they entered their house.

Kazir chuckled as he stepped out of the limousine. He opened the door for Scarlett, and the couple smiled at each other.

The twins were now 2 years and 9 months old. There was never a time when the house was quiet because of the two. Yet, despite their mischievous antics, the couple still loved their children very much.

"Kids, don't run around. You might trip."

While holding hands with Scarlett, Kazir called out to his children, who were happily running into the house. They sat down in the living room and began opening the boxes. Each kid had two expensive toys.

It had been a week since the release of The Avengers. Kazir and Scarlett decided to take their kids to watch the movie. The kids were super happy when they left the theater. They started asking their parents for toys, and Kazir had no choice but to pamper them. His family was always his soft spot.

The Avengers was the most awaited movie of the MCU in the past few years. Every movie of the MCU would intersect with The Avengers. So, when the seven-day screening grossed over $270 million, no one was surprised. Especially since the director was none other than Kazir Grey.

Everyone could see that The Avengers would gross over $1 billion without a problem. Even international audiences were excited about the movie, the international box office grossed over $218 million in just seven days of screening.

In just 7 days, The Avengers had grossed over $418 million. It was a massive achievement. It was the fastest-grossing movie of all time, as of now. Kazir always delivered, and everyone who benefited from him would agree with that.

As for Lucasfilm, before of Kazir's intervention, no one still acquired this studio.

"Kids, let's eat first before you play with your toys. It's getting dark now. You don't want to sleep late," Kazir said to his kids.

"Fine."

The twins reluctantly put down their toys. The family ate a hearty dinner.

Their daily activities were monotonous and almost repetitive, but Kazir placed great importance on them. He knew that one day, his kids would grow up and have their own families. So he wanted to cherish every moment he had with them.

He was happy. Truly happy. He had achieved happiness. He might still experience hardship, but he knew he could overcome it. He had a reason now. He felt fulfilled.

After a few hours of playing with their toys, the kids grew tired and fell asleep on the couch. Kazir sighed, while Scarlett giggled at the kids' lovable sleeping posture.

Kazir turned off the lights in the living room. He also turned off the lamp that shone bright yellow.

He carried the twins. They were getting heavy now, and he knew there would come a day when he couldn't carry them anymore.

"Goodnight."

He placed them in their bed while Scarlett tucked them in. The couple gave them forehead kisses before leaving the room.

Kazir and Scarlett looked at each other and shared a passionate kiss.

"So, the kids are getting older now… I was wondering, how about another one?"

"Babe," Scarlett giggled, but she didn't answer. Instead, she hugged his arm as they walked to their bedroom. As for what happened after that, Kazir could say that it was amazing.

The End.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 600 (Final Chapter)

VERSION 2

"Yippee!!"

A young girl excitedly came out of a limousine, followed by a young boy. The two were twins, and they almost had the same appearance, except one was a boy and the other was a girl.

The two kids were holding brand-new toys in their hands as they entered their house.

Kazir chuckled as he stepped out of the limousine. He opened the door for Scarlett, and the couple smiled at each other.

The twins were now 2 years and 9 months old. There was never a time when the house was quiet because of the two. Yet, despite their mischievous antics, the couple still loved their children very much.

"Kids, don't run around. You might trip."

While holding hands with Scarlett, Kazir called out to his children, who were happily running into the house. They sat down in the living room and started opening the boxes. Each kid had two expensive toys.

It had been a week since the release of The Avengers. Kazir and Scarlett decided to take their kids to watch the movie. The kids were super happy when they left the theater. They started asking their parents for toys, and Kazir had no choice but to pamper them. His family was always his soft spot.

The Avengers was the most awaited movie of the MCU in the past few years. Every movie of the MCU would intersect with The Avengers. So, when the seven-day screening grossed over $270 million, no one was surprised—especially when the director was none other than Kazir Grey.

Everyone could see that The Avengers would gross over $1 billion without a problem. Even international audiences were so excited about the movie that the international box office grossed over $218 million in just seven days of screening.

In just 7 days, The Avengers had grossed over $418 million. It was an achievement. It's the fastest-grossing movie of all time, as of now. Kazir always delivered, and everyone who benefited from him would agree with that.

As for Lucasfilm, 20th Century Fox acquired the studio this year and Kazir would keep his promise.

"Kids, let's eat first before you play with your toys. It's getting dark now. You don't want to sleep late," Kazir said to his kids.

"Fine."

The twins reluctantly put down their toys. The family ate a hearty dinner.

Their daily activities were monotonous and almost repetitive, but Kazir placed great importance on them. He knew that one day, his kids would grow up and have their own families. So he wanted to cherish every moment he had with them.

He was happy. Truly happy. He had achieved happiness. He might experience hardship, but he knew that he could overcome it. He had a reason now. He felt fulfilled.

After a few hours of playing with their toys, the kids grew tired and fell asleep on the couch. Kazir sighed while Scarlett giggled at the kids' lovable sleeping posture.

Kazir turned off the lights in the living room. He also turned off the lamp that shone bright yellow.

He carried the twins. They were getting heavy now, and he knew there might come a day when he couldn't carry them anymore.

"Goodnight."

He placed them in their bed while Scarlett tucked them in. The couple gave them forehead kisses before leaving the room.

Kazir and Scarlett looked at each other and shared a passionate kiss.

"So, the kids are getting older now… I was wondering, how about another one?"

"Babe," Scarlett giggled, but she didn't answer. Instead, she hugged his arm as they walked to their bedroom.

However, before they could leave, the lamp in the living room started flickering.

Kazir turned around and tilted his head.

"Babe, return to our room first. I'll just turn off the lamp," Kazir said to Scarlett.

"Okay, I'll wait for you."

Kazir nodded and approached the lamp.

"Strange, I thought I already turned it off."

As he got closer, he took a serious look at the lamp and realized something. His eyes slowly widened and...

The End.

[Author's Note: It depends what version of ending you want it to be.]