Chapter 440: Change If It Doesn't Work

Starting in late November, the time frame that launches important award-contender Hollywood films and aligns with the Christmas season has always been an important period, second only to the summer release window.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, a sequel produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount, opened in North America with $63 million, earning over $100 million in ten days in the North American market.

The 22nd James Bond film Quantum of Solace, produced by MGM and United Artists and distributed by Sony Columbia, opened in North America with $67 million!

In a private room at the Caribbean Pirate-themed water restaurant in Disneyland, Charles Capet was enjoying the scenery outside and the food with Alexandra Daddario.

Alexandra Daddario was sitting on the sofa, reading a newspaper. "It says Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is really coming out next summer. We won't get to see it this year!"

Charles put down his coffee and glanced at her, "You really like the Harry Potter series?"

"Yeah, I do," Alexandra Daddario nodded directly.

Charles put his arm around her waist. "Didn't you say you liked Twilight? It's releasing tomorrow!"

Alexandra Daddario moved closer to Charles with a smile on her face. "I like both! I've read the Twilight novels, and they're pretty good."

Charles pinched her cheek. Alexandra Daddario's sapphire-like eyes were indeed beautiful.

"Your chest really can't get any bigger, otherwise it might be inconvenient, right?" Charles said while fondly pinching.

Alexandra Daddario teased him, "Don't you like it?"

"Of course, I do," Charles said and then leaned down to kiss her.

In the afternoon, Charles and Alexandra Daddario encountered Robert Iger, the chairman and CEO of Disney, inspecting the park.

Charles and Alexandra Daddario, dressed casually, observed Robert Iger and his entourage from a distance.

"Let's head back; there's nothing much to see," Charles said, aware of Disney executives' tradition of inspecting Disneyland.

Starting from Walt Disney himself, up to Michael Ovitz, Disney executives liked to inspect Disneyland, especially since the California Anaheim Disneyland was designed by Walt Disney himself, making it the first Disneyland.

"I saw a poster for Disney's animated feature film Bolt, which also releases tomorrow," said Alexandra Daddario, hugging Charles when they returned to the Marriott Hotel.

"Can Twilight withstand the competition?"

After all, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa had been out for half a month, and Quantum of Solace for a week.

"Don't worry. You have to trust the spending power of female audiences," Charles smiled, knowing that Twilight's primary audience was women.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa had a production budget of over $150 million, and DreamWorks Animation was known for its lavish spending on promotion.

As for Quantum of Solace, it had a staggering production cost of $200 million and was globally renowned.

How could Twilight, with an investment of less than $40 million, compare to these two films?

However, Charles knew that the box office performance after its release would surprise everyone.

After spending two days and nights with Alexandra Daddario in Anaheim, Charles returned to Los Angeles.

Alexandra Daddario, feeling content, returned home to New York and then joined the Percy Jackson & the Olympians project.

In Burbank, outside the Capet Pictures theater, the main cast of Twilight walked the red carpet, eliciting cheers from numerous fans.

"Charles, you here for the excitement?" Donna Langley said happily in the theater's lounge, chatting with Charles.

"I heard many fans came early to this area to wait. I never expected so many people," Charles was genuinely surprised, as Twilight had no major promotional campaign and mainly relied on its huge reader base from the novels.

After all, the director and actors were mostly Hollywood newcomers!

"Stephanie Meyer's novels are more popular than expected. The first film Twilight received great feedback at media screenings," Donna Langley said.

"This year, Stephanie Meyer also published the fourth book, Breaking Dawn. Capet Pictures has gained a new franchise," Charles noted.

"We've already scheduled The Twilight Saga: New Moon for release next year," Donna Langley said, frowning. "Director Catherine Hardwicke seems to have a different opinion. She thinks the release is too rushed and wants to add some artistic elements to the script!"

Charles's expression remained unchanged. "The budget for Twilight was only $40 million. Even if the sequel's budget increases, it won't be by much, primarily due to higher actor salaries. Twilight is a fantasy romance primarily focused on box office success!"

"We have other director candidates. Twilight's plot is very simple and not difficult to film," Donna Langley, a seasoned Hollywood producer, attributed Twilight's success mainly to the novel's influence.

Charles nodded. "Warner Bros split J.K. Rowling's seventh Harry Potter book into two movies. I think that's very creative. So, if the series performs well, we can split Breaking Dawn into two parts!"

Donna Langley's eyes lit up, "Let's see if Stephanie Meyer might publish a fifth book?"

Although the fourth book was said to be the last, the author might get new inspiration?

"After Twilight's release, let's talk to Catherine Hardwicke again. For New Moon, we must stick to our schedule for a November release next year," Charles added one more thing. "If it doesn't work, we'll get another director. The Twilight series is much simpler than the Marvel series!"

Charles didn't like directors getting carried away, especially female directors who always liked to introduce new ideas in sequels.

*****

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