Nipping it in the bud

"Indeed," Renly replied calmly to Andy's inquiry, lightly tucking his jaw as he recalled Paul's visit in the afternoon. He couldn't help but chuckle. "So, if I have the opportunity to continue filming the sequel, I'd be more than happy to take on the challenge. But if I regretfully miss it, there won't be much loss."

The "Fast & Furious" series had always adhered to the same formula. The fifth installment was acclaimed as the pinnacle of the entire series, with the best reviews. Afterward, the story had lost its meaning, simply pushing boundaries in various ways, defying the laws of physics, and indulging in all sorts of high-speed racing. The spectacle grew grander, the thrills intensified, but it was gradually becoming more like a "Transformers"-style spectacle of chaos and explosions.

Of course, commercial films often suffered from this pitfall. Series like Christopher Nolan's "Batman Begins" and the pinnacle of motion capture technology, "Planet of the Apes", maintained a central theme throughout, structured as a trilogy, progressing step by step and concluding perfectly. Such commercial films were few and far between, and "Fast & Furious" did not fall into this category.

As Renly had said, if he continued to act, it would be a pleasant filming experience—relaxing, enjoying the thrill of entering the racing world. If he chose to opt out of the sequel, there would be nothing to regret. Missing out on one popcorn movie meant there would always be another. As for salaries, exposure rates, recognition, and industry status, these weren't as important to Renly as they might seem.

"As for Paul, he visited the set this afternoon, but his true purpose was to apologize. He believes that Vin is taking advantage of the situation, and he feels responsible," Renly said with a chuckle, teasing, "I think he's worried about me, but he should be more concerned about himself. Vin's squeezing him out of screen time."

In the fifth installment, Vin's role had grown more significant, to the point where the dual protagonists were almost becoming a single protagonist. Vin's personal heroism was vividly portrayed in the script, thanks to his role as an executive producer. If it weren't for the fact that Paul had been collaborating since the first film, had good relationships with the screenwriter and producer, one couldn't even begin to imagine how the plot would have developed.

"Did I mention earlier that the agreement includes a spin-off movie? With Hobbs as the main character?" Andy paused for a moment and asked.

Renly pursed his lips. "Does it make a difference?" The focus wasn't on whether it was a spin-off or a sequel but rather on the core ideas of the entire production team and their execution.

A simple retort left Andy's lips curling up involuntarily. He turned to Roy, a hint of helplessness in his eyes, and asked, "Our own actors have no ambition at all. Do you think that's a good thing or a bad thing?"

Roy shrugged nonchalantly. "People with capability are called aloof; those without it are called arrogant. There's just a thin line between the two. Do you think he falls into the former or the latter?"

Andy chuckled softly, narrowed his eyes as if in contemplation, tucked his jaw slightly, and didn't answer Roy's question. Instead, he continued, "At least, for agents like me, the workload has lightened considerably." Then, Andy turned to Renly. "In any case, with this, the situation has completely shifted, and the strategy is starting to look different."

The reason Universal Pictures displayed such an attitude was simple: they were in a seller's market.

In their view, no actor would want to miss the opportunity to be part of the lucrative "Fast & Furious" franchise. This was especially true for newcomers like Renly, who had made a name for themselves through the series. Now, they saw the chance to rise to the ranks of A-list actors. All they needed to do was secure the package deal for the next three films before Renly ascended to stardom, and then they could count their money at their leisure.

Not only Renly but also actors who had appeared in the previous four "Fast & Furious" films harbored hopes of returning to the series, catching a bit of the spotlight. Undoubtedly, Universal Pictures now held the decision-making power and could choose freely.

All their chips were based on the premise that "Renly desires to participate in the sequels." But what if that premise ceased to exist? The situation would be turned completely upside down.

At the moment, Renly was a hot commodity. Both the media and the audience viewed his involvement in "Fast 5" positively and eagerly anticipated his performance in the sequels. While his importance to the series might be overshadowed by Vin and Paul, who were the absolute main characters, it was undeniable, especially in the midst of such a hot topic.

Under these circumstances, if Renly were to absent himself from the sequels, if the spin-off movie fell through, if rumors of internal conflicts emerged – at that point, Universal Pictures would truly be in a bind.

Of course, Universal Pictures could always replace Renly with an actor like Dwayne Johnson, minimizing their losses. However, would they rebuild the character from scratch or cast Dwayne as Hobbs? Would they rewrite the story or continue from where the fifth film left off? What about the character development for the new actor? Would they be likable, and would they succeed? Everything would start from square one again.

Hollywood loved sequels precisely because they were predictable: a relatively stable audience, a relatively stable story framework, a relatively stable narrative development, and a relatively high chance of success.

But if Renly, who had already achieved success in the fifth installment and become a trending topic, suddenly announced his departure – that was an absolute headache for Universal Pictures.

In short, what had originally been Andy seeking Universal Pictures had now, due to Renly's stance, reversed the situation, with Universal Pictures seeking Andy instead. This move was like pulling the rug out from under them, completely changing the playing field.

"I thought you would advise me to continue acting and strive for a higher salary," this time it was Renly who felt surprised. Andy, who was accepting the situation so calmly in front of him, seemed strangely abnormal. Had something happened at Universal Pictures?

"A higher salary is only natural!" Andy maintained a warm smile, but the determination and confidence in his words were incredibly strong. "However, Hollywood is not just Universal Pictures, and there's more than just the "Fast & Furious" project worth participating in."

"More importantly, it's not just one project that Renly hopes to be a part of now," Roy's words interjected abruptly. It was clear that he, too, was adapting to his role as a manager, showing his abilities and actively participating in Renly's career management and planning, aiming to become a truly qualified manager.

Andy didn't mind Roy's interjection, maintaining his friendly smile and nodding in agreement. "Indeed, that's true. But even if there are no ongoing projects at the moment, I'm not worried. In the independent film arena, Renly is no small player."

Thanks to "Buried" and "Like Crazy", along with "50/50" on its way, Renly had undoubtedly built a solid reputation in the independent film circuit. Additionally, his work in "Detachment" had connected him with industry heavyweights like Tony Kaye and Woody Allen. Andy's words were far from empty.

Leaving aside commercial films, Renly could easily take a long break and then carefully select artistic projects. This was where Andy had the most confidence: Renly was an actor with limitless potential for the future. He was still on the rise, and Universal Pictures' biggest mistake was comparing Renly to Chris Evans.

When Chris signed on for "Captain America", why did he settle for just $300,000 and commit to six films?

The reasons weren't complicated. First, "Fantastic Four" was a collective effort, and Jessica Alba was the standout star among the four main characters. Chris couldn't claim credit for the box office success. Second, after the success of "Fantastic Four", Chris appeared in eight consecutive films with some supporting roles as well, including the ill-fated "Fantastic Four 2".

Before signing on for "Captain America", Chris's career was in a struggling state. He could have refused the role, but he couldn't see a turning point in his acting career. In other words, at that time, $300,000 was too low, but committing to six films meant Chris was tied to the Marvel bandwagon, securing his future. It was a fair trade.

But Renly now wasn't the same as Chris back then.

So, Andy was brimming with confidence, without a trace of worry.

"This time coming to New York, apart from the "Fast & Furious" sequel matters, I've prepared several different plans," Andy continued. "Even if Renly agrees and is physically able to participate in the "Fast & Furious" spin-off and sequel, it doesn't mean that these are his only choices. As long as Renly agrees and is physically capable, we can explore various options."

Don't put all your eggs in one basket; Hollywood was no exception.

Andy wiped the sweat from his forehead, then looked around, searching for something with a bewildered expression. It was quite amusing, and Nathan couldn't help but inquire, "Are you looking for your briefcase?" After Andy nodded, Nathan retrieved a briefcase from the corner of the room and handed it to him.

Andy realized his own lapse and chuckled, "I must be overheated, just like Joe and Jerry when they saw Sugar Kane."

These three characters were from the classic comedy "Some Like It Hot", with Marilyn Monroe playing Sugar Kane.

Andy's self-deprecation elicited laughter from everyone. He then pulled a stack of scripts out of the briefcase – a thick pile that, at first glance, numbered at least six or seven. It was an unprecedented sight, and even Renly couldn't help but be mildly surprised. Wasn't this number a bit too much?

Andy placed the stack of scripts on the table, revealing a wide grin. "This is just the first batch. After I return from Warner Bros. tomorrow, there will probably be a second batch."