Me: Are you considering Ryan Gosling for one of the major roles in a franchise?
Tobias: We're in talks. Kevin offered him Hawkeye first, but Ryan's ambitious and wanted a name movie, like Captain America. I declined that request since he isn't American. After that, he agreed to do Thor. We'd have signed him already, but he's asking for a higher salary than what you approved.
Me: And why wasn't I told about it? You know he's a friend of mine.
Tobias: Ryan asked us not to involve you. He said this was professional and wanted to keep his personal and professional lives separate.
Me: How much are you offering him, and how much is he asking for?
Tobias: He's asking for $3M, but your dad approved $2M. I would've asked you, but Steve insisted you were far too busy with everything in your life to approve actors' salaries. And honestly, you were, with the play. I called you once, but Benji picked up. You never called back.
I shook my head as I read the message, leaning back in my chair and staring at the ceiling for a moment. I knew Dad's intentions were in the right place, so I didn't mind it. Ever since I'd made him CEO of the production and distribution company, he'd tried to shield me from trivial decisions so I could actually enjoy my life.
Still, this wasn't trivial.
I picked up my phone and dialed Ryan immediately. It rang twice before he answered.
"Hey! Troy! How are you?" he asked, his voice cheerful as ever. "Is this your way of inviting me to be one of your groomsmen?"
I laughed. "Unfortunately, no. This is work-related. I was talking to Steve Carell recently. He offered me a role in a rom-com that he'd apparently offered you first. When I read it, I could really see you in the movie, so I got curious. Why'd you reject it?"
There was silence on the other end for a few seconds.
"You already know, don't you?" he finally said.
"I was hoping you'd tell me yourself," I shot back.
He sighed. "Yeah. I'm considering accepting Thor. I didn't want to involve you because money can ruin friendships."
"Do you actually want this role?" I asked bluntly. "Your answer's going to decide what I do next."
"Yes," he said without hesitation. "I… I've been struggling lately. I made a string of serious films and got too deep into the characters. I even had a nervous breakdown on set once. I went to therapy, and my doctor told me I needed to step away from heavy roles and do some lighter stuff. After watching [Iron Man], I realized I could do something like that. I met Kevin, Tobias, your Dad, and Kenneth Branagh, and I just knew this role was perfect for me. It's a mix of comedy and action, with no depressing plotlines."
"Are you sure you need to do any role right now?" I asked. "You don't have to push yourself."
"I'm sure," he said firmly. "The doc says I should keep working. I just need to choose better movies."
This was a dilemma I was facing for the first time. I absolutely loved Chris Hemsworth as Thor, but if one of my closest friends wanted the role, I didn't want to be the one telling him no.
Then there was the uncomfortable truth. Ryan was simply a better actor than Hemsworth, and at least for now, a bigger star too. If he was asking for $3 million upfront, it was a fair reflection of his stardom.
"So what's the problem then?" I asked. "You want to do it. Everyone at Marvel wants you to do it. Why haven't you signed already?"
"My agent," he replied flatly. "And honestly, he's not wrong. I was paid $1 million for [The Notebook] seven years ago. Today, after everything I've done since then, they offered me the same amount initially. That's not fair. Especially when I agreed to a ten-picture deal. Even Steve Carell agreed to pay me more than that for the rom-com."
I understood where he was coming from, but I also had to think like a studio head. There were other actors involved, and one person couldn't be paid disproportionately more than the rest.
"Ryan," I said carefully, lowering my voice, "if you do this film, you'll gain a massive worldwide fanbase. Something you'll never get from indie films or rom-coms. Don't think of this in terms of salary for one movie. Think long-term. Superhero movies are the future of cinema. That ten-picture deal they're offering you? It will happen. And when it does, you'll be earning tens of millions very soon. You'll regret it for the rest of your life if you walk away from this now."
He didn't respond immediately. I could almost picture him pacing on the other end, weighing every word I'd said. After a full minute, he finally spoke.
"And what if the film flops?" he asked. "What if there's no sequel?"
"Then I'll personally pay you double your salary for this movie," I replied without hesitation. "I promise. Remember when you once asked me how I choose my roles so none of my films flop? I might not have given you a satisfying answer back then, but know this. If I hadn't just come out of a franchise myself, I'd have taken a role in the MCU without thinking twice."
That seemed to settle it.
"Alright," he said. "I'll agree to the terms your father proposed."
"Glad to hear it," I replied. "Just don't tell him we talked about this. Or about our little side deal."
"I won't," he said.
"What about the rom-com?" I asked. "You won't mind if I take it?"
"Knock yourself out," he laughed. "I won't have time to do it even if you don't. The Thor schedule's going to be insane. Then there's [The Avengers], and I'm told they'll start shooting as soon as [Thor] wraps."
That was one of the main reasons I'd stayed away from the MCU myself. I was already the highest-grossing actor of all time by a wide margin, and I didn't need to attach myself to every major franchise in existence.
As I ended the call, I placed another one immediately.
"Hello, Benji?" I said, pressing the phone tighter to my ear. "I've received a script from Steve Carell. It's a rom-com, and I want to do it."
"Oh?" he said, clearly surprised. "I thought you didn't have time for another project, given everything that's going on in your life right now."
"That's exactly why I need your help," I replied. "Scarlett's due in August, and at that time, we would have moved to LA. I need to be there for her during that month, no matter what. That's non-negotiable. Call Steve and ask for the shooting itinerary. Also factor in [Game of Thrones] and [Hacksaw Ridge], and see if it's feasible for me to do all three while still making enough time for my family. I've already told Evan that [Hacksaw Ridge] will be shot entirely in LA so I can come home at the end of the day."
"Alright," Benji said after a brief pause. "I'll take care of it."
"And don't forget pre-production," I added. "For the rom-com, I'll need a more buff physique compared to the other two roles. Confirm with James Cameron what kind of build he wants for my [Game of Thrones] role, then put everything together in a report."
"Man, I feel like I'm back in school again," he joked with a chuckle. "Don't worry, boss. I'll handle it. Anything else?"
"Not right now," I said. "How's everything at home? Are your parents doing okay?"
"They love the new place I bought for them," Benji said, sounding genuinely happy. "I tried convincing them to move with me to Los Angeles permanently, but they're happy staying in the Upper East Side. Mom was so thrilled about your engagement that she tried setting me up with this snobbish rich girl who lives one floor below her. She wants me to settle down just like you did with Scarlett. Seriously, that woman."
I laughed softly. "You really need a serious girlfriend," I said as an afterthought. "How long are you planning to keep sleeping around with my fans by promising them they'll get to meet me?"
There was silence on the other end for a moment.
"Actually," Benji said carefully, "I am dating someone now."
"Oh?" I asked, immediately curious. "Who?"
"It's Ashley," he replied, hesitant, like he was bracing for my reaction.
"Wait. Ashley, as in your high school ex?"
"Yeah," he said. "We had an unofficial get-together with some old school friends last week. One thing led to another, and I woke up at her place the next morning. Believe me, it wasn't just a one-night thing. I realized I'd been missing something all these years with all that meaningless sex. With her, my life feels complete. I can actually see myself settling down with her someday."
"Does she know you'll be moving to LA soon?"
"Of course," he said. "She's graduating in a few months. She already has a job offer from JP Morgan, and they let you choose your location. She's picking LA."
"Congrats, man," I said with a grin.
Benji was loyal to a fault. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better assistant. I used to think Tobias was incredibly efficient, but after working with me for so long, Benji understood me in a way not even my parents did. He handled everything seamlessly, whether I was shooting on location or traveling the world on a press tour, always right by my side.
That kind of life made long-term relationships difficult. Tobias had gone through the same thing when he first took the job.
Eventually, he'd settled down with his better half only after taking on [Twilight]'s production in Canada. Even that wouldn't last forever. Soon enough, he'd be moving back to LA full-time, just like Benji and me.
"I think we need to get me another assistant," I said after giving it some thought.
There was silence on the other end for a few seconds. "Why?" he asked cautiously. "Did I do something wrong?"
"Oh no," I assured him quickly. "Nothing like that. I meant more like an assistant for you. Or a backup assistant for me. That way, you won't always have to sync your life to my schedule, and you'll actually get some free time."
"Okay, we can get one," he agreed. "But I really don't mind handling this on my own."
"I insist," I said firmly. "Look for some potential candidates, vet them properly, and then I'll interview the shortlist you put together."
"It'll be done," he said, and I ended the call.
(Break)
"Rihanna!"
A journalist suddenly shoved a microphone toward her face just as she stepped out of a high-end clothing store in LA.
"How do you feel about the news of Troy's engagement to Scarlett?"
Rihanna felt the familiar urge to roll her eyes and smack the man across the face. She resisted. Barely. This wasn't the first time someone had asked her that question, and she knew it wouldn't be the last. Ever since the very public and very bitter end to her relationship with Troy, people seemed desperate to see her crumble over losing him. But never the other way around.
She wasn't going to give them that satisfaction.
And even if she did shed a tear or two, it would be in private, where no one could see.
"I'm very happy for them," she said, her voice calm and collected, a stark contrast to the storm inside her. "I wish them all the best in their life together, and nothing but happiness."
"Do you regret breaking up with Troy?" the journalist pressed.
"For the record, he broke up with me," Rihanna replied, a defensive edge creeping into her tone. "And it's been far too long for me to keep dwelling on one of my exes. We buried the hatchet and moved on. We're still friends, and I have no regrets. I've met Scarlett at one of Troy's concerts, and she's a sweetheart."
In truth, Rihanna had moved on in many ways. Since Troy, she'd dated five different men, hoping one of them would make her feel the way he once had. None of them did. She never admitted it out loud, but she hated the fact that Troy had found someone permanent before she had.
Then again, of course, he had.
When Troy loved someone, he loved them completely. Any woman would be foolish not to hold on to him for dear life.
As her car pulled away from the curb and headed toward home, she leaned back in her seat and muttered under her breath, "I really was a fool back then. Fucking Jay-Z."
(Break)
"Congratulations, Emma, Robert," a reporter greeted them enthusiastically as cameras flashed. "You two seem to have claimed Valentine's Day for yourselves. How many more years are you going to rule the holiday with your films?"
Emma laughed. "Just two more years. After all, the world's ending in 2012."
The reporter chuckled before steering the conversation back on track. "Audiences absolutely love you two. You're couple goals for everyone. I mean, you've been together for five years now, right?"
"Yeah," Robert said with an easy smile. "Give or take."
Emma felt the familiar knot form in her stomach. She wanted to correct him, to correct all of them, but she didn't. Keeping up this farce for a few more months was exhausting, but it was necessary. When she'd signed on for the [Twilight] series, she'd never imagined one of the biggest downsides would be pretending to be in a loveless relationship, especially when she and Robert had mutually ended things just last month.
She knew no one at Phoenix would object if they announced the breakup now. Still, people would worry. [Breaking Dawn] was still in production, and that made everything delicate. Once filming wrapped, she planned to tell the world she was single again and free to date whoever she wanted.
"Speaking of couple goals," the reporter continued, "you two are close friends with Troy Armitage. What do you think about the news of his engagement to Scarlett?"
"We're incredibly happy for them," Robert said. "I owe Troy my career. He saw my screen test for [Echoes of You] and personally chose me out of hundreds of applicants. He also gave me [Twilight] when he could've gone with someone far more experienced. He's great, and so is Scarlett."
"Troy's my best male friend," Emma added. "If I ever needed to call someone at three in the morning during an emergency, he'd be the one because I know he'll drop everything to be at my side. He's just that kind of person. And Scarlett brings out the best in him even more. Together, they really do feel perfect."
As the words left her mouth, a sharp thought followed.
That could've been me.
She'd never forget that night, the one where she'd turned Troy down when he asked her out. What if she'd said yes? How different would her life be now? Would she still have done [Twilight]? Or would Troy have ended up playing Edward instead?
She'd never know.
And now that she was single again, the questions came back to her head more often than she cared to admit.
(Break)
"Did you see this?" Brad Pitt asked Jonah Hill, holding his phone out as they waited for the set to be prepared. Crew members moved around them, adjusting lights and checking camera angles. "Apparently, Troy and Scarlett have been the biggest news on the planet for months now. First their engagement, and now people are speculating about a pregnancy. You worked with Troy on [Superbad], didn't you? What's he actually like?"
Jonah shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "I don't know, man. I haven't really talked to him in a long time."
"Oh," Brad muttered, clearly disappointed. "I've wanted to work with him for a while, but I worry he might be a little arrogant. I mean, if I'd achieved even half of what he has at his age, I probably would be."
"Oh, he's definitely arrogant," Jonah said, a hint of bitterness slipping into his voice. "I've been working on an idea for a film adaptation of [21 Jump Street], but he won't even take a meeting with me. I would have gone to some other studio, but Phoenix has the adaptation rights ever since they bought Sony Pictures."
"Why do you need to involve him directly?" Brad asked, genuinely curious. "You could reach out to any senior executive at Phoenix. I've had a few meetings with them myself, and they all say Troy isn't involved in day-to-day management. That's how I sold the rights to [Moneyball] to them."
Jonah swallowed, his jaw tightening. He already knew that. He'd tried. What Brad didn't know was that Jonah had been quietly blacklisted by Phoenix. Not formally, but informally. It meant he was no longer a first-choice actor for their projects and would only be considered if no one else fit the role. On top of that, he'd been barred from pitching film ideas to the studio altogether.
Before he knew about it, the situation had been confusing. Despite having a three-picture deal with Phoenix and delivering a blockbuster like [Superbad], no one had approached him about a follow-up project. He wouldn't have discovered the truth at all if not for his agent, who happened to know someone high up at the studio. Even [Moneyball] had gone through only because Jonah was already attached when the project was pitched to Phoenix by Brad.
"It's something between Troy and me," Jonah muttered. "Something I need to sort out."
Brad didn't look convinced, but thankfully, he didn't press the issue. Just then, the assistant director called them to their marks. The conversation ended as they stood up and stepped back into character, the cameras ready to roll once more.
____________________
AN: Check out my second story, 'Swimmer to Superstar (A Hollywood SI)'.
Link: www(dot)fablefic(dot)com