Martin chose The Matrix, a massively successful commercial film, as his breakthrough project. He had long anticipated criticism from movie critics but didn't care. In Hollywood, despite its many issues, one thing always prevails—profits. For the sake of money, Hollywood can glorify Bruce Lee's kung fu, elevate African Americans, and more. As long as it brings in revenue, critics have no sway over Martin's standing in the industry.
Take Tom Cruise, for example. Despite years of harsh criticism from critics, he remains a megastar, bombarded with offers. With the rise of the internet, where everyone can voice their opinion, critics' influence is on the wane.
"Neo, have you ever had that feeling, where you can't tell if you're awake or dreaming?"
"Let go of selfish thoughts, discard your fear, doubt, and rejection—free your mind!"
"This dialogue is brilliant!" Looking at Lawrence Fishburne's performance on the monitor, Andy Wachowski whispered to his brother.
"Yeah, Martin really nailed it. He writes exactly what we were thinking!"
Larry Wachowski glanced at Martin and thought to himself, A kindred spirit—too bad he's such a straight shooter.
[TL/N: So.. i remove a few paragraph here again, why? The author altered the Japanese dojo from the original film to a Chinese-style grand hall. I'll touch the author wife if this happen again.]
In July, an unusual guest arrived in Sydney to visit The Matrix set.
"Mr. Lucas, what brings you here?"
Seeing George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, made Martin a bit surprised. He thought, I don't have any direct connection with him.
Lucas, however, was very at ease. When he saw they were still shooting, he waved it off and said, "Continue filming, I'll just watch. We'll talk once you're done."
Martin, being open, smiled and replied, "Sure!"
After finishing his scene, Martin sat down with Lucas, curious to learn why he was there.
"George, what's up? What brings you here today?"
Lucas smiled and said, "I actually have a favor to ask. I'd like you to help me write a script."
Martin blinked, surprised. "A script? Don't tell me it's for Star Wars?"
"That's right," George nodded. "I've seen every film you've written, and I think you really understand the pacing of Hollywood films. You have an incredible ability to arrange story beats, building suspense and drawing audiences in."
And a touch of magic, Martin thought to himself.
Lucas continued, "So I want you to write a script for Star Wars. At first, I was worried about your sci-fi writing ability, but after seeing The Matrix, I realized I was wrong. This is the most creative sci-fi script I've ever read. You've created an entire universe!"
"Honestly, I'm more worried that you might not want to take the job."
Martin, now amused, thought it almost sounded like a marriage proposal. He weighed his words carefully before asking, "George, I know you wrote the first two Star Wars scripts yourself. Why not do the same this time?"
Lucas gave a wry smile. "To be honest, my storytelling skills have always been average. You can see that in the first Star Wars film. What set it apart was the groundbreaking special effects."
"By the time the second film came out, people started criticizing the weak story. But I used visual spectacle to distract from that weakness."
"Now, with special effects technology so advanced, and so many films focusing on them, it's hard to grab people's attention with just visuals. More and more people are focusing on story again."
Lucas shook his head. "Storytelling is my weak point. So I want to find a reliable screenwriter for Star Wars: Episode III, and Martin, you're my first choice."
Martin paused. He didn't want to write for Star Wars. The series was already so tightly linked to George Lucas. If the film succeeded, Lucas would take the credit; if it failed, Martin would inevitably share the blame. It just wasn't worth it.
After thinking for a moment, Martin responded, "George, I really appreciate the offer, but you know my stance. Whenever I write a script, I always invest in it, and I don't like anyone changing my work—not even in editing. If that's a deal-breaker for you, we might not be able to work together."
Lucas paused, considering. He was willing to accept Martin's investment, but only with a share of the box office profits, not merchandise rights. As for script changes, that was fine, but the editing control was a deal-breaker for him.
Shaking his head, Lucas stood and extended his hand. "It's a pity, Martin."
"I agree, George," Martin shook his hand. "Perhaps we'll work together in the future."
Lucas smiled. "I hope so."
On his way back, Lucas couldn't shake the feeling that he and Martin would never collaborate. Analyzing Martin's words and looking at his past films, it became clear that Martin had a strong desire for control over his projects. His films rarely allowed for significant input from directors; his vision was always paramount.
Lucas, similarly a director with a vision, wondered if they could work together without clashing. If we did, I'd probably be the one getting pummeled! He chuckled to himself at the thought.
𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧