Chapter 255: Eagerness

Chapter 255: Chapter 255: Eagerness

"No, how is that possible? Could I really have such a big impact?" Rachel couldn’t believe it. She felt Irene’s words were too hyperbolic, but a voice deep inside kept saying: What if Irene was right? Then what future would she have in Hollywood?

Irene patted her shoulder.

"What I said is just a possibility. Maybe the movie won’t fail, maybe no one will look for you to take the blame, but you’re in a rising phase right now.

There’s no need to gamble on a movie that’s destined to be controversial and might even lose money. Better to wait for a more suitable script, even if it’s low-budget. As long as the character and story are good, it’s better than a ’hot potato’ like this big production."

Rachel was silent for a few seconds, the conflict in her heart gradually dissipating. She knew Irene; she never spoke without reason. Since Irene was so certain, there must be a reason.

"Okay, I’ll listen to you." She took a deep breath, her eyes becoming firm. "I’ll call my agent back tomorrow and turn down this movie."

"That’s right," Irene said with a smile. "With your acting skills, you don’t have to worry about lacking good resources. In a while, I’ll keep an eye out for reliable scripts for you. If there’s a good project, I’ll definitely look for you."

"Really? That’s great!" Rachel immediately beamed, her previous hesitation swept away. "With your word, I can rest easy."

While they were chatting, Adelaide Griffin walked over with a wine glass and said with a smile, "What secrets are you two beauties whispering about? Mind if I join?"

"Of course not," Irene smiled and raised her glass. "We were talking about Rachel’s upcoming work plans. She just turned down a script and is looking for new opportunities."

Adelaide raised an eyebrow at Rachel. "Oh? What script could make you give up? If there’s something suitable, I might be able to help introduce you."

Rachel smiled and thanked her. She didn’t dare say the movie she was about to turn down was Kingdom of Heaven, which Fox wanted to produce.

"I still need to say a few words to Reese. You guys chat." Fearing she might say something she shouldn’t, she hurriedly left.

After Rachel’s hurried departure, only Irene and Adelaide were left by the island. The evening breeze blew in from the terrace, carrying a hint of coolness. Adelaide took a sip of champagne, her gaze falling on Irene’s face, and said casually,

"By the way, what script did Rachel turn down? Fox has also been looking at historical themes lately. If she thinks it’s unsuitable, maybe we can avoid a pitfall."

Irene’s heart stirred. She knew Adelaide likely didn’t know the specifics of Kingdom of Heaven yet; after all, the project was still in the preparation stage, and internal information might not be fully synchronized.

She smiled vaguely. "I don’t remember the specific name too clearly. Rachel said the script logic was a bit messy and the emotional lines were too tangled. She was afraid she couldn’t handle it. But you know, actors choosing scripts depends a lot on intuition. Maybe she just wasn’t meant for that project."

Adelaide nodded and didn’t press further.

She had only mentioned it in passing; her core purpose for seeking out Irene today was never script gossip. Changing the subject, her tone became solemn.

"Let’s not talk about Rachel. I came today mainly to talk to you about the promotion and distribution plan for Pirates of the Caribbean, as well as the follow-up plans."

Irene’s hand holding the sparkling water paused. Sensing the urgency in Adelaide’s tone, she followed her lead.

"I’ve seen the first draft of the promotion and distribution plan you sent me before. The thinking is fine; just focus on highlighting Captain Jack’s uniqueness and the sense of fantasy in sea adventures. Why, is there something that needs adjusting?"

"The promotion details are easy to handle. The Fox team can take care of it." Adelaide shook her head, a flash of complex emotion in her eyes—unwillingness mixed with a bit of anxiety.

"What I’m more concerned about now is, what do you think about the follow-up for Pirates of the Caribbean? Will it actually be made into a film series?"

They had briefly discussed this before, but Adelaide’s current urgency clearly had another reason.

Sure enough, before she could respond, Adelaide spoke up herself. "I just chatted with Matt Damon. Back then, I went against all odds to pull him into filming The Italian Job, just to bind him to Fox’s ship. For the subsequent sequels of Pirates of the Caribbean, I originally wanted him to take the lead, but..."

She sighed heavily, her tone full of jealousy. "Universal intercepted him and had him film The Bourne Identity. You’ve seen how good the response to that film is now. It’s a hit in both word-of-mouth and box office. Universal is already preparing a sequel. Matt Damon has now completely become their trademark."

At this point, Adelaide’s gaze became exceptionally firm.

"Fox can’t wait any longer. We must come up with a blockbuster film series, or the market will eventually be squeezed out by them.

As long as the box office and word-of-mouth for the first Pirates of the Caribbean are good and Johnny Depp establishes Captain Jack, this will be our best chance.

Give me a straight answer: after the first one is released, we’ll immediately start preparing for the sequel. I’ll give you top-tier script, funding, and team. We must make this series Fox’s trump card and surpass Universal’s The Bourne Identity!"

Irene looked at Adelaide’s eager expression and couldn’t help but find it amusing. These movie company executives were always competitive. It seemed Matt Damon’s "defection" and the success of The Bourne Identity had touched Adelaide’s sore spot. But no matter how urgent her mood was, waiting a few more months wouldn’t hurt.

"Serialization is definitely going to happen." Irene put down her glass.

"The character of Captain Jack is too charming, and Johnny Depp’s performance is irreplaceable. If we weren’t going to film several parts, why would I have pressured those actors to sign multi-picture deals?

Besides, there are still many stories to be explored in the sea adventure genre—whether it’s new curses, mysterious islands, or more powerful villains, they can all support subsequent plots."

Hearing Irene’s words, Adelaide immediately felt relieved. The anxiety on her face was swept away, replaced by unconcealed excitement. "So, you actually already have some ideas in mind?"

"I have some thoughts." Irene thought for a moment and said, "The end of the first film left some foreshadowing, such as Captain Jack’s Black Pearl being recovered, and the emotional line between Elizabeth and Will can also continue to advance.

The sequel can introduce new conflicts, like finding a more powerful villain—not necessarily a pirate, perhaps a mysterious force at sea, or an enemy with an old grudge against Captain Jack."

She paused and added, "Additionally, I want to add more fantasy elements to the sequel—not just curses, but also mythical creatures and mysterious waters, to make the entire story’s scope larger.

Of course, the core is still Captain Jack’s adventure and growth. We can’t ignore the character for the sake of special effects."

"That’s a good idea!" Adelaide nodded repeatedly. "Fantasy elements + personal adventure—it both continues the style of the first film and offers new highlights. Regarding the script, I’ll immediately arrange for the best screenwriting team to polish it according to your ideas and strive to produce a first draft as soon as possible."

"No rush." Irene waved her hand.

"The first movie hasn’t even been released yet. Let’s do what’s in front of us first. Besides, I still have Million Dollar Baby waiting to be filmed, and Facebook is about to go online.

My energy is limited. Preparation for the sequel should wait until the first part, The Curse of the Black Pearl, is released. Moreover, I anticipate that filming the second and third parts together at that time can save a lot of costs."

"Good, good, good, as long as you have a plan." Adelaide also knew Irene had a lot of work on her hands right now, but she was under a lot of pressure too. However, getting Irene’s verbal commitment finally put her somewhat at ease.