Chapter 187: Confirming Director

Without waiting for Martin's reaction, Anne Hathaway's agent, Maha, boldly declared that love had become a relic of the past.

Agents are astute individuals, well-versed in the art of discretion. They revealed to the public only that Martin and Anne had divergent personalities and had mutually agreed to part ways following a heated dispute.

Martin, naturally, remained tight-lipped, needing no prodding to keep his silence.

A peaceful breakup remained the most prudent choice for celebrity couples. Engaging in a public spat would leave both parties with tarnished reputations.

The paparazzi renewed their relentless pursuit, determined to uncover the true reason behind the couple's split.

The tabloids and gossip columns seized the opportunity to sensationalize the news once more.

In Hollywood, garnering attention mattered more than the news being positive or negative. Even A-list celebrities relied on visibility.

Following the weekend, "The Hills Have Eyes" grossed a staggering $71.51 million at the North American box office.

Simultaneously, the film launched in various international markets, including Latin America, Europe, East Asia, and Australia. The success in North America had a ripple effect, leading to $22.47 million in overseas earnings within just one week.

As the number of viewers for "The Hills Have Eyes" continued to rise, Martin's fanbase grew exponentially.

With the backing of Martin and Thomas, the West Coast Fan Club was formally established, with Rachel at the helm and Jessica and Emily as her deputies.

Their primary platform remained the fan section of Martin's blog.

Initially, Martin contemplated creating his official website, but the costs and maintenance deterred him, given his current financial commitments to the "Wanted" project.

The project's director had a plan in mind, with Ali-Emmanuel recommending a candidate.

Martin made a special visit to WMA and arrived at Thomas' office, where his assistant, Natasha, promptly greeted him.

Bruce, another colleague, offered, "You're welcome. A cup of coffee?"

Natasha set off to fetch the coffee.

Martin entered the office and took a seat.

Thomas began with good news: "The company has recommended you to join the cast of 'The Departed,' and Ali Emmanuel have personally discussed this with Martin Scorsese. WMA places great importance on your career."

Large talent agencies held distinct advantages. Martin understood this well and inquired, "How will the production team respond?"

Thomas elaborated, "The cast hasn't been finalized yet. You've passed the initial screening and will proceed to the second round of auditions. But be aware, Scorsese is no ordinary director, and when bringing investors on board, certain procedures are inevitable. You'll also need to participate in the third round of auditions. Without Scorsese's approval, securing a role will be challenging."

Martin had long been aware of this: "Rest assured, I'm well-prepared."

Negotiations between Pacific Pictures and Warner Bros. were in their final stages, and he had no doubts about securing the necessary funding for the project.

Yet, given the nature of this Martin Scorsese venture, competition was inevitable.

Thomas harbored concerns, not about Martin's competitiveness, but about another matter: "This is a high-stakes game, and Scorsese takes it very seriously. According to Ali's conversation with him, he has his sights set on an Oscar. He's gearing up for another shot at the Best Director category. Anyone who disrupts this project risks becoming an enemy of Martin Scorsese."

He cautioned, "Competition is expected, but in such an elite arena, resorting to underhanded tactics could backfire. Scorsese boasts nearly four decades of industry experience. He's seen it all."

Martin concurred, "The competition is fierce, and even if I were to resort to unsavory means and succeed, the repercussions could outweigh the short-term benefits."

"That's true," Thomas added. As his rapport with Martin deepened, he couldn't help but wonder if the incidents during the House of Wax and The Sisterhood of Traving Pant shoot were mere coincidences.

First, the primary competition was eliminated by Adrian, and then Adrian met an untimely end in Australia. The Traveling Pant shoot incident couldn't be dismissed as mere chance.

Who stood to gain from these occurrences?

Thomas glanced at his closed office door, lowered his voice deliberately, and cautioned, "What transpired at the house of wax and on the traveling pant set affected specific individuals. If the agency decided to withdraw, they did so willingly. After all, they aren't genuine stars. But when it comes to bona fide celebrities, the stakes are much higher, and stakeholders won't relinquish them easily."

Martin understood this well and affirmed, "My intentions were never to stray down that path."

He then inquired, "Who are the current competitors?"

Thomas shook his head, stating, "We've made inquiries through various channels, but there's no information yet. So far, Leonardo is the only confirmed actor for the project. Casting for the remaining roles hasn't begun, so we'll have to wait. However, one thing's certain: Scorsese's films never lack heavyweight star actors."

This matter needed to commence with Warner Bros., so Martin decided to inquire about another project. "You called me and mentioned that there's a director in the company interested in directing 'Wanted'?" he asked.

Thomas nodded and replied, "Ali and Jim jointly issued an announcement, and several agents recommended their director clients." He then handed some information to Martin, saying, "There's Pierre, a photographer, who lacks solo directing experience, and Michael Davis, a director-screenwriter whose latest film is 'Monster Truck.'"

Martin carefully reviewed the profiles of these two directors, both of whom were unfamiliar to him despite his time in Hollywood.

Thomas continued, "There's also Louis Leterrier, a French director whose recent film 'Unleashed' was released in Europe in February with a somewhat average response."

Martin recognized Leterrier's name and, after perusing his past work, saw a series of films - "Transporter," the first two of which were directed by Leterrier.

Martin strained to recall these movies. He vaguely remembered Jason Statham's involvement but couldn't recall much else.

The series had helped establish Statham as an action star, known for his action and cool performances, making him a good fit for "Wanted."

Martin thought it over again. He usually didn't pay much attention to directors when watching movies unless they were top-tier Hollywood directors.

Nevertheless, it was clear that Leterrier was well-versed in directing action films.

Observing the Europa Company label on "Transporter," Martin inquired, "Is Leterrier currently in Los Angeles?"

Thomas responded simply, "After finishing 'Unleashed,' he shifted his focus to Hollywood. He had already signed a management contract with the company before that film."

Martin studied Leterrier's information, picked up the phone on Thomas' desk, and called Aja.

Since Aja had come from France to North America for Martin's career, he might have insights on Leterrier.

During the call, Martin briefly explained the situation to Aja.

he offered her insight, stating, "As you saw during the filming of 'The Mountain Has Eyes,' I'm not great with action scenes. Leterrier, on the other hand, excels in this area. While his storytelling might be lacking, he's skilled in crafting large-scale scenes that focus on visual enjoyment and a cool aesthetic. In the French film industry, he's recognized for his ability to handle action and create a stylish look."

After the call ended, Thomas declared, "I think he's a better fit."

Martin needed a director with proven experience in this genre, and Leterrier seemed to be the ideal choice.

He instructed, "You should contact Leterrier's agent. If he's interested, arrange for him to visit the 'Wanted' studio as soon as possible. Louise and I, along with the screenwriter and action director, will interview him."

Thomas dialed the number of a senior agent, held a conversation, then covered the phone and asked Martin, "What time works for you?"

Martin suggested, "This afternoon or tomorrow morning."

Thomas replied into the phone, "This afternoon."

The other end confirmed, "Alright, Louis and I will be at the studio at 2 o'clock this afternoon."

Thomas hung up and informed Martin, "It's set for this afternoon at 2 o'clock."

Martin glanced at his watch and invited, "You're welcome to come along."

While agents typically couldn't participate in film preparations, shooting, or production, observing the process offered them valuable insights. Many top entertainment agents eventually transitioned to senior executive roles within the major studios.

Agents were regarded as a downstream service in Hollywood.

Martin had originally planned to visit Ali Emmanuel but reconsidered, as Ali was out of town on business. It wouldn't be appropriate to visit another agent while Thomas was his current representation. Instead, he decided to express his gratitude to Ali once he returned.

With the selection of the right director, Martin felt optimistic. As he left the office, he noticed Bruce engaged in a lively conversation with Thomas' assistant, Natasha.

He observed Natasha closely and concluded that she didn't possess striking looks.

As they descended the stairs, Martin asked, "Are you interested in Natasha?"

Bruce shook his head, remarking, "She's rather plain, not my type." They moved ahead as others passed by before Bruce elaborated, "Natasha is Thomas' assistant, and she holds a wealth of information about him. I figured if I establish a good rapport with her, it might offer us multiple information channels if Thomas decides to pursue something unusual."

Martin applauded Bruce, saying, "You truly are a professional."

Bruce replied with a smirk, "I told you that I'd watch your back, and I've got your back."

In the afternoon, Martin arranged a meeting with Louise, screenwriter Brandt, and action director Chad Starsky to meet French director Louis Leterrier.

Both parties exchanged their ideas and visions regarding action sequences and stylistic elements. Leterrier also reviewed the initial script for "Wanted" and engaged in a comprehensive discussion about the film's direction.

While their visions weren't entirely aligned, the differences were manageable, and they were able to find common ground.

Both parties expressed their desire to collaborate, and experienced producer Louise made the decision to bring Leterrier on board as the film's director.