HWI 324

Hollywood What If Chapter 324

"How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" is a 2003 romantic comedy film starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. The plot revolves around a magazine columnist who bets that she can make a man fall in love with her and then break up with him in 10 days, while the man simultaneously tries to make her fall in love with him to win a bet of his own. It's a hilarious and heartwarming story full of comedic situations and romantic moments. (Chat GPT)

This was the plot of How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days in Kazir's original timeline. The movie did very well at the box office.

So Kazir recommended the script to Angelina instead.

Kate Hudson lost the role to Angelina because Angelina had a stronger box office appeal. Of course, the production studio had to pay Angelina a higher salary than Kate Hudson, who was just starting her career in recent years.

Paramount Pictures paid Angelina $12 million for her role alone. Her team actually wanted a share of the box office, but Paramount gave them a high salary instead.

The production cost of How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days was $50 million, yet Angelina already took more than 20% of the budget.

Besides, Matthew McConaughey was also a famous actor and his salary was not that small.

The reason why production costs kept going up was because of the actors/actresses. Their agents would go to the studio and ask for huge salaries and the studio couldn't help but say no. After all, the actors and actresses were the faces of the movies. Studios couldn't hire unknown actors off the street, even if they wanted to, or else their movies wouldn't sell.

Angelina and Kazir walked into the theater together. Usually, the male and female leads would appear together to promote the movie.

But Angelina was not comfortable with this. She and Matthew were just co-workers and didn't have a relationship. Paramount had no choice but to agree. They didn't want to upset Angelina and Kazir.

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle Of Life was still being filmed and it would be detrimental to Paramount if Angelina decided to stop cooperating.

So they decided to let the couple attend the premiere together.

"Nice to meet you, Director Grey."

"Nice to meet you, too."

Matthew McConaughey greeted them. He was more interested in Kazir than Angelina, to be honest. Rumor had it that Kazir wanted to make a pirate movie and Matthew was interested.

All of Kazir's movies since 1995 have been successful. Even though it was a pirate movie, as long as Kazir was directing it, the chances of it being successful were higher.

The Revenant was already running out of gas and had only screening in a few countries. The film grossed more than $512 million at the worldwide box office.

While that was less than his last two films, Wanted and Spider-Man, it didn't change the fact that The Revenant was a success. Making over $500 million at the box office is a success no matter how you look at it.

So obviously Matthew McConaughey was interested in Kazir's next project. It didn't have to be $1 billion. As long as Kazir's next project made more than $500 million, that would be enough for Matthew to take it seriously.

Matthew decided to hide the awkwardness as he greeted the director. Matthew and Angelina had kissing scenes in the movie, so of course it would be awkward to meet the real boyfriend.

Luckily, Kazir was a professional. He knew how to keep work and relationships separate.

"I know it sounds like I'm overstepping my bounds, but can I get a copy of the script for your pirate movie, director?"

The title of the project was still unknown, only a few people knew about it.

"I'm sorry, Matthew. I'll be honest with you, I have a role suitable for you, but someone else got the part."

"I see... Is that so?"

Matthew McConaughey excused himself. It seemed that he had been rejected. He was a little disappointed.

"Did you reject him for that reason?"

Angelina whispered after Matthew was gone.

"What do you think? I turned him down because I'm jealous?"

"I didn't even say anything." Angelina laughed.

"Well... That's one of the reasons."

He admitted. No matter how professional Kazir was, it was still uncomfortable to talk to Matthew because he knew that Matthew and Angelina had kissing scenes... And yes, he was jealous.

As for other reasons, Kazir preferred Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow. Johnny Depp and Jack Sparrow were meant to be and he didn't want to destroy that if possible.

Kazir knew that Matthew McConaughey was a great actor and he could probably do an amazing version of Jack Sparrow, but Kazir didn't need any of that.

A few minutes later, the premiere of How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days began as the lights dimmed and the screen lit up.

......

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The next day, the movie's results were tallied. On the first day, the movie grossed $7.96 million. February was not a good month to release movies, so it was amazing to see How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days earn that much.

On the second day (February 8, 2003) the movie earned another $10.05 million.

On Sunday, February 9, the film grossed $5.75 million.

Combining the first weekend box office, How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days grossed $23.77 million. A success for Paramount Pictures and Angelina Jolie.

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[Yeah, this chapter doesn't have much. I'm just giving a little lee way before the Oscars, because that's the main plot before the shooting of Pirates Of The Caribbean. The next chapter would be the announcement of the Oscars nominations... Will Kazir be nominated for Best Director? Nah, I'm not heartless enough to deny him that, am I?]