Chapter-65: Meeting James Cameron

Jurassic Park roared into theaters with a successful first-day run, earning a whopping $100 million in just one week. The film reigned supreme at the top of the box office for three consecutive weeks. This was until it was dethroned by James Cameron's action-packed flick, "The Last Action Hero." The film premiered on June 28.

On the night of the Last Action Hero premiere, Ric made good on his promise to attend. James was thrilled to see the young man arrive and personally welcomed him as he stepped onto the red carpet.

"Ric, I am so glad you came!" James exclaimed as they made their way to the entrance of the hall.

"I promised I would," replied Ric with a grin.

The media personnel present at the place couldn't help but take notice of the pair's interaction and quickly shifted their focus from the movie to the two men. James and Ric didn't seem to mind, with James letting out a chuckle and Ric flashing a charming smile that won over many of the girls in the crowd before they headed inside.

As for the movie itself, he found Last Action Hero to be a solid addition to the 90s action comedy genre. Arnold Schwarzenegger was the perfect fit for the comedic action-hero role, but even he wasn't without his flaws.

After the movie ended, Ric and James decided to continue their evening at a high-end restaurant. They engaged in some light conversation before delving into a more serious topic.

"So, what do you think about Spider-Man?" James asked, prodding for Ric's opinion.

Ric took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding, "Tell me something. Why are you so interested in Spider-Man? Do you have a script ready already, or is this just a plan for next year?"

James gave a wary smile and leaned back in his chair. "No, I don't have a script prepared. What I do have is an idea or concept," he explained. Ric raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go on," he urged.

James took a sip of his wine before continuing, "I was thinking of exploring the darker side of Spider-Man's character. You know, delving into his internal struggles and conflicts."

Ric nodded thoughtfully. "Ah, showing more Peter Parker than Spider-Man."

"Exactly. I'm glad you understand," James replied.

Ric shook his head with a small smile, taking a moment to ponder the concept. "Interesting concept; I can get on board with that," he finally said.

James was about to speak, but Ric beat him to it. "But here's the snag," Ric said, pausing for effect. "The current technology just isn't mature enough for a good Spider-Man movie. The fact is it's not suitable for any superhero movie that requires a high level of special effects."

Ric took a sip of his juice before continuing. "And even if we wanted to make it next year or the year after, I can't. I already have a film in the queue for shooting next year and also have a tight schedule in the year ahead. Plus, if you've seen my work during the 1980s, you'll know that I don't usually work on more than two films a year."

James sat in silence, playing with his food with his spoon. "You're right," he said slowly. "I was being too hasty. Seeing you show interest in the project made me excited, but you're right. Currently, technology isn't mature enough for my liking. I guess we should wait a few more years."

Ric nodded in agreement. "That's what I'm saying. But I don't mean that we won't work on Spider-Man. It's a huge franchise, and there are a lot of things to take into consideration. Bringing the superhero to the big screen requires a lot of work, planning, and preparation. How about this? Let's make a draft or a rough script by 1995, then work from there. What do you say?"

James smiled, feeling relieved. "That sounds like a great plan," he said. "Let's do it."

"I am interested in this project," Ric replied eagerly. "As you know, I always work with a long-term plan in mind, and your idea for this film fits perfectly into my plan as an actor."

James nodded, recalling a rumor he had heard about Ric's work ethic and long-term planning skills circulating in the industry in the past. "That's great to hear," he said.

"Speaking of future projects, do you have anything lined up for next year?" Ric asked.

"I have a draft of my next film ready, but I haven't started pitching it yet," James admitted. "Would you like to take a look?"

"Sure," Ric said with a shrug.

James proceeded to give a basic rundown of the film, and Ric was intrigued. "I like it," he said. "But I'll need to see the script. If it's good enough, I think we can get it greenlit."

"Great, I'll finish the sketch and send it to Feather Columbia," James said happily. "But I should warn you. I have some pretty strong demands."

Ric raised his hand. "Don't negotiate with me," he said. "I'll do what I can to pull the strings in your favor."

James grinned. "That would be more than enough," he quipped.

During their lunch, Ric suddenly brought up an interesting idea. "Oh, one more thing," he said, catching James' attention. "For the role of the daughter of the main character, I was thinking we could reserve it for Drew Barrymore."

James raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Drew Barrymore? The kid from ET and Matilda?" he asked, trying to recall.

Ric nodded, confirming James' suspicion.

Curiosity piqued, James couldn't help but ask, "Why? Is she your girlfriend?" He wiggled his eyebrows playfully.

Ric remained calm and straightforward as he answered, "Yes."

James responded astutely, "Okay."

After departing from James Cameron, Ric made a beeline for the Blizzard studio. They were putting the finishing touches on Lost Viking 2, and after playing it for a bit, Ric was thoroughly impressed. It was decided that the game would be released in October. While he was there, they also showed him a game they were currently working on.

To Ric's delight, the game was an RTS, which happened to be his favorite genre. He immediately took a look at the current development, and unlike the game that came out in his previous life, this one was much more polished. Playing it brought back a flood of memories for him.

Satisfied with the progress they had made on this future project, Ric inquired about the release date. He learned that it was set to be released in August of next year.

Before leaving, Ric suggested the name Warcraft for the game, as it had yet to be properly introduced other than being referred to as an RTS game of humans vs. orcs.

After he visited Blizzard, Ric headed to FCBS. While he was playing the game, Iger called him with some exciting news. Ric had made some progress regarding the TV series they were working on.

"Wow! Ric exclaimed as he eagerly approached Robert Iger. The anticipation was palpable as he hoped for good news. And as soon as he met Iger, he knew that his hopes were about to be fulfilled.

"Good news, boss!" Iger exclaimed, leading Ric to a room that was buzzing with activity. It was the planning room for TV serials, and Ric couldn't help but feel excited about what was to come.

Iger wasted no time in showing Ric the progress they had made. "A few of the preparations are done," he said, pointing to a whiteboard filled with photos of different locations. "We've chosen the location for the Pilot episode."

But that was just the beginning. "Staff that will work with the series are employed," Iger continued. "A lot of props for the series have already been created; some medium or large props are left. Also, castings for all minor roles are already secured. All that's left is to secure casts for the major roles."

Ric was thrilled with the progress they had made. "Great, how long will it take for the shooting of the pilot to take place?" he asked eagerly.

Iger had good news once again. "Auditions are already in motion. If all the necessary preparations are done, the program could be aired by January of next year."

Ric couldn't contain his excitement any longer. "By the way, boss, which role will you play?" Iger asked.

"Luke," Ric replied casually, but inside, he was bursting with excitement. The future was looking bright, and he couldn't wait to see what was in store for their new TV series."

After all, this is a completely original piece of content that didn't exist in his previous life.