Chapter 88: The $300 Million Licensing Fee

"Impossible!"

Two hundred million dollars may not be a big problem for Six Flags, a qualified amusement park operator. However, wanting a share of the amusement park's profits was simply wishful thinking. That was an absolute no-go for any amusement park company, and they would never allow others to touch it.

Bang!

The door was rudely pushed open.

"We, Disney, agree!"

Juliet barged in, seemingly having overheard Kevin's recent proposal, and immediately gave her approval.

The two receptionists from the front desk arrived shortly after, looking somewhat aggrieved.

"They forced their way in, and my sister and I couldn't stop them..."

"It's okay, you can go back to the front desk," Kevin waved his hand, allowing them to return while silently contemplating the need to hire some security guards.

But the current situation wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

After giving up on his own amusement park plans, Kevin naturally began to consider how to sell the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. And the highest bidder would undoubtedly be Disney.

As the sole giant in the amusement park industry, their offered price would surpass that of any other amusement park.

With the departure of the two receptionists, the atmosphere in the office immediately changed.

Faced with the aggressive advance of Disney, the Six Flags representatives couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. In terms of strength, resources, and money, they couldn't match Disney. If Disney set their sights on a project, the probability of Six Flags winning the competition was low.

After everyone settled down, Juliet continued with her previous statement:

"While Six Flags is willing to pay $100 million for the licensing of Pirates of the Caribbean, Disney is willing to offer $200 million, along with the 10% net profit from the Caribbean project, as you proposed."

"I think, Kevin, there should be no doubt about whom to choose, right?"

The Six Flags representatives interjected, "We, Six Flags, are willing to offer $250 million in cash, along with an equal profit-sharing agreement."

In fact, everyone could see the potential of Pirates of the Caribbean. Disney was not the only one who conducted inspections in the Caribbean town. The previous offer of $100 million was merely an attempt to take advantage and offer a low price. They didn't expect Disney to arrive so quickly, catching them off guard.

Upon seeing Disney's offer, they discussed internally and reluctantly decided to present their highest possible price. If they could secure the rights, it would be great. If not, making Disney bleed a little more wouldn't be a bad outcome for them.

Upon hearing Six Flags' counteroffer, Juliet casually stated, "Disney offers $300 million plus a 10% profit share to purchase the licensing rights for Pirates of the Caribbean!"

"You--"

The representatives from Six Flags were speechless and immediately turned and left Dawn Entertainment. Based on Disney's offer, it was clear that Six Flags had no chance of winning the Pirates of the Caribbean project. There was no need for them to stay here and embarrass themselves.

Juliet merely smiled faintly as she watched them leave.

For Disney Parks, maintaining their position as the sole giant was of utmost importance. As long as their position remained unshaken, the billions of dollars in annual revenue would securely flow into Disney's pockets. Therefore, paying $300 million was not a big issue.

This meant that other amusement parks would not be able to secure such a high-quality project like Pirates of the Caribbean. Disney would continue to dominate the largest share of the amusement park market.

The amount offered by Disney surprised Kevin. Although he was confident that Disney would not suffer losses from this project, the fact that they had such foresight was a testament to their success.

After seeing their competitors leave, Juliet spoke again, "Director Kevin, Disney is willing to pay this price for Pirates of the Caribbean, but there are a few conditions. I wonder if you can agree to them."

Kevin knew immediately that the real deal was coming. The key was the conditions. If he could agree to them, then the price mentioned earlier would be no problem. If he couldn't, the price would likely be heavily discounted. Kevin was well aware of these negotiation tactics commonly used in business negotiations.

"What are the conditions?"

"The first condition is that there must be four or more sequels for Pirates of the Caribbean."

Juliet proposed this condition to maximize the franchise's impact. Only with multiple sequels could the influence of Pirates of the Caribbean be spread to the fullest extent. For Disney, it meant prolonging the longevity of the IP.

Kevin pondered for a moment and replied, "That's definitely not a problem. I have long-term plans for Pirates of the Caribbean, and having four or more sequels is completely feasible."

Juliet nodded and continued, "The second condition is that each film must have a box office revenue of no less than $100 million, and the interval between each film's production cannot exceed five years."

Kevin nodded again. These two conditions were not excessive.

"I agree to both conditions."

"Great!"

Kevin readily agreed, and Juliet didn't dwell on it any further. The remaining details would be handled by their respective teams and lawyers.

After concluding this matter, Kevin instructed Dawson to find a few editors to adapt the Pirates of the Caribbean script into a novel to expand its influence. Since becoming a boss, Kevin had been gradually learning about the workings behind the scenes of the film industry. After a film's success, various means such as novels, animations, TV series, comics, and more could be used to expand the IP's influence. Through accumulative efforts from multiple aspects, the Pirates of the Caribbean IP could truly stand the test of time.

...

This enormous deal naturally couldn't escape the attention of those in the know.

News about the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise earning $300 million just in licensing fees quickly spread throughout Hollywood, and Steve Kevin once again became a highly sought-after director among numerous actresses.

As a wealthy and influential director who could elevate someone's fame, which female star wouldn't want to claim him as their own? Even Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie, who had the most rumors with Kevin, became targets of jealousy from other actresses.

However, the two women didn't feel uncomfortable at all; on the contrary, they enjoyed the feeling of being envied.

On the other hand, Warner Bros., as the investor, began internal discussions on this matter.

...

Warner Bros., high-level internal meeting.

A white man with a face full of arrogance expressed his dissatisfaction, saying, "Robinov, how could you let Steve Kevin have such a significant share of the Pirates of the Caribbean rights all to himself? As investors with a 30% stake, we should also receive 30% of the income from all Pirates of the Caribbean rights, not just 30% from Pirates of the Caribbean 1."

"The licensing fee from Disney, amounting to $100 million, should be ours."

Greed was evident in his words.

Other executives also voiced their opinions on the matter.