Chapter 368: Intense Collision

Chapter 368: Chapter 368: Intense Collision

This remark was like lighting a fuse, and more shareholders joined the ranks of those questioning the management.

Some demanded a change in management, some proposed selling off non-core IP to generate cash flow, and others suggested seeking merger cooperation with major studios.

Isaac tried to explain, but his voice was quickly drowned out by the shareholders’ dissatisfaction.

He could no longer maintain the calm on his face, which was replaced by unconcealable embarrassment and irritation.

His gaze subconsciously swept toward Irene, his eyes carrying a hint of complexity.

Perhaps he hoped she would stand up and speak a word of justice, or perhaps he anticipated she would kick him while he was down, seizing the opportunity to fan the flames and make the situation even worse.

After all, she was the largest individual shareholder of Marvel and a "competitor" he had rejected multiple times; this was undoubtedly the best time for her to launch an attack.

However, Irene remained silent throughout.

She just sat there quietly, the pen in her hand occasionally recording something in her notebook, her eyes calmly sweeping over the arguing shareholders and the embarrassed Isaac, as if she were merely an observer detached from the situation.

She knew that launching an attack now might damage Isaac’s prestige, but it would be of no use in solving Marvel’s fundamental problems and would instead make the situation more chaotic.

The purpose of her trip was not to stir up trouble, but to gain control over the film adaptation rights for the superhero IP and push for reform at Marvel.

The shareholders’ meeting lasted for three hours amidst the controversy and finally ended hastily under Isaac’s forced summary.

Most of the shareholders left with dissatisfaction, not forgetting to cast questioning glances at Isaac as they departed.

The venue gradually emptied, and only then did Irene stand up and walk toward Isaac: "Mr. Perelman, may I have a word with you in private?"

Isaac was taken aback, clearly not expecting her to talk to him at this time.

He glanced at Peter beside him, suppressed the complex emotions in his heart, and nodded: "Please follow me."

Isaac’s office was located in the corner of the floor, with a wide view overlooking the bustling streetscape of Manhattan.

The office was decorated in a minimalist yet luxurious style, and the bookshelves were filled with Marvel’s classic comics and various trophies, showcasing the company’s glorious history.

Peter brought a cup of warm black tea for Irene; the tea was rich and fragrant.

Irene took the teacup, sipped it gently, and did not sit down.

Instead, she stood by the window, looking at the scenery outside, and spoke slowly

"Mr. Perelman, first I want to express my admiration. During Marvel’s most difficult times, you insisted on stopping the sale of core Hero copyrights. This decision was very forward-looking."

She turned to look at Isaac, her tone sincere: "When the Perelman family sold the copyrights back then to alleviate financial pressure, although they obtained cash flow in the short term, it also caused Marvel to lose the core assets for independently developing film and television projects. This was a painful lesson. After you took over, you withstood pressure from all sides and kept the remaining IP. This left hope for Marvel’s future development and allowed me to see the value in investing in Marvel."

Isaac clearly did not expect her to say such things.

The vigilance on his face relaxed slightly, but he still kept his distance: "Ms. Coppola is too kind. This is my duty as CEO."

"Duty is often the hardest thing to uphold." Irene smiled, her tone softening significantly,

"I know that many shareholders are questioning your management ability now, but they may not necessarily understand the considerations behind your actions. However, just holding onto the IP is clearly not enough. If Marvel wants to shake off its current slump, it must find new growth points."

She paused and cut to the chase: "I would like to know, Mr. Perelman, does Marvel have any specific development plans going forward? Regarding the remaining Hero IP, do you intend to continue holding them, or do you have other arrangements?"

Isaac leaned back in his office chair, crossing his arms over his chest: "The company’s current plan is to continue deepening our comic publishing and toy licensing businesses, while simultaneously trying to cooperate with small film companies to launch low-cost animated series, gradually accumulating experience in film production and cash flow."

"Low-cost animated series are certainly safe, but it is difficult to achieve breakthrough growth." Irene shook her head and proposed her own idea,

"Mr. Perelman, perhaps we can change our thinking. Currently, most superhero movies in Hollywood are single Hero independent narratives, but if we break with tradition and link up different Heroes to build a shared story universe, letting Heroes like Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America appear in the same story, might that not spark something unique?"

She explained further: "Every Hero has their own fan base; after linking them up, we can achieve fan superposition and expand the audience base. Moreover, the interaction between Heroes and team collaboration to fight villains—this plot model itself is extremely compelling and can generate sufficient buzz and market heat.

More importantly, through linking up, we can enhance the IP value of individual Heroes, forming a ’1+1 > 2’ effect. Whether it is film production, toy licensing, or other derivative businesses, we can obtain greater commercial returns."

Irene considered that she had spoken quite tactfully; she had neither forced the other party to accept, nor put on the airs of a shareholder, but had simply offered suggestions in the posture of a collaborator.

She noticed a flash of light in the eyes of Peter, who was standing to the side; he was clearly interested in this proposal and even subconsciously leaned forward, as if wanting to learn more details.

However, Isaac shook his head without hesitation, and a hint of disdain even appeared on his face: "Ms. Coppola, I understand what you mean, but this simply won’t work."

He said in a firm tone: "Every Hero has their own unique personality, background, and storyline; these are the source of their core charm. Iron Man is a billionaire and genius inventor; Thor is the Prince of Asgard and a descendant of gods; Captain America is a WWII veteran and a super soldier. Their worldviews and behavioral logic are completely different. Forcibly merging them into the same story will only make the characters lose themselves and become unrecognizable."

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of mockery: "Marvel’s Heroes are not Hollywood traffic stars; they do not need to rely on flashy things like ’chasing trends’ or ’shipping characters’ to grandstand. We should stick to the essence of the Hero, focus on polishing the stories of individual characters, and not engage in these opportunistic crossovers."

"This is not opportunistic, but innovation based on market trends." Irene’s face darkened; she had not expected Isaac to be so stubborn,

"Mr. Perelman, the times are changing, and the aesthetics of the audience are changing too. Independent stories of a single Hero are already difficult to satisfy market demand; the audience needs a grander worldview, more complex plots, and richer character interactions. What you call ’sticking to the essence,’ in my view, is nothing more than being stuck in your ways and unwilling to adapt."

"Ms. Coppola, I don’t think there is any need for us to continue this discussion." Isaac’s tone also became hard,

"Marvel is a company supported by the Perelman family, and I will not allow anyone to destroy its traditions and foundation. If you just want to interfere with the company’s operational decisions through your status as a shareholder, I’m afraid you will be disappointed."

Looking at Isaac’s stubborn face, the last shred of patience in Irene’s heart vanished completely.