Martin didn't pay much attention to the production of Mean Girls. Apart from recommending Wentworth Miller, he didn't interfere with the crew's operations.
He had far more important matters to attend to.
In just three days, the premiere of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was set to take place.
Before that, Martin had a meeting with Warner Bros. President Alan Horn. The meeting was arranged by Horn himself.
They met at a café located in the lobby of Warner Bros.' headquarters.
"Alright, Alan. Why the sudden invitation to meet?" Martin got straight to the point.
Alan Horn replied just as directly, "Martin, would you be interested in acquiring shares in Warner Bros.?"
Martin's eyes widened in shock.
Was he some kind of chosen one?
First Disney shares practically landed in his lap, and now Warner Bros. shares were being offered as well...
When did acquiring shares in the Big Six of Hollywood become so easy?
Martin eyed Alan Horn suspiciously, quietly activating his magical powers.
"Alan, why would Warner Bros. offer me shares?" he asked.
Horn replied, "We at Warner Bros. hope to establish a closer relationship with you."
(True, Martin's powers confirmed.)
Martin continued, "Are there any strings attached?"
Horn shook his head. "No conditions. You'll even have full autonomy over voting rights for the shares."
(True, Martin's powers confirmed.)
"How many shares are you offering?"
"5.21%. Warner's shares are quite dispersed, and this is the maximum we can offer."
"Ten billion dollars," Horn replied.
"Is that the lowest price?"
"It's the lowest we can offer."
Martin nodded. Warner's market value was indeed higher than Disney's, so the shares being more expensive made sense.
Based on his magical detection, Martin could tell that Horn was being completely honest and sincere. Warner Bros. truly intended to sell him shares.
Martin couldn't hide his delight.
He had been looking for a way to spend his money, and this opportunity came at the perfect time. Ten billion dollars? Even if it were double that, he could afford it.
Still, he couldn't resist asking, "Couldn't you offer a little more?"
Horn laughed, clearly pleased. This showed that Martin wasn't deeply tied to Disney despite being its largest individual shareholder.
After some thought, Horn replied, "Sorry, Martin. Warner's pool of available shares is limited. Offering any more might upset other shareholders. In fact, 5.21% is enough to make you Warner's largest individual shareholder."
"Alright, I'll take the shares!" Martin said, working hard to maintain his composure. "When can we sign the contract?"
Horn chuckled. "The shares are ready. We can sign anytime."
"Then I'll send my team over tomorrow."
Martin didn't want to waste any time and risk something going wrong.
A 50-person team from PricewaterhouseCoopers, who worked closely with Martin, arrived at Warner Bros.' headquarters in Burbank.
Transferring shares wasn't as simple as signing a contract. Financial audits, debt reviews, and detailed examinations of equity agreements all had to be completed beforehand.
Fortunately, Warner Bros. was a publicly traded company with transparent finances. The team from PricewaterhouseCoopers was confident they could complete their work within a day.
By 9:30 PM, Martin and Warner Bros. finalized the deal.
Now, in addition to being Disney's largest individual shareholder, Martin was also Warner Bros.' largest individual shareholder.
The news broke across North America the following day, sending shockwaves through Hollywood.
As Hollywood Business put it:
"Martin has firmly secured a place at the pinnacle of Hollywood's power structure. His influence now surpasses the CEOs of the Big Six studios, allowing him to go toe-to-toe with the true hidden power players behind the scenes."
On the evening of June 28th, in Los Angeles, a life-sized replica of Hogwarts Castle was built in front of the TCL Chinese Theatre. Aurors in wizarding robes stood on either side of the red carpet, wands in hand, like royal guards awaiting the arrival of their king.
After a year and a half of anticipation, North American fans were finally treated to the premiere of the live-action Harry Potter film.
A massive banner featuring the "Golden Trio" hung above the theater's entrance, heralding the dawn of a magical era.
Over the next several years, adaptations from the series would continue to grace the big screen.
Of course, this depended on the first film meeting Warner Bros. and Meyers Pictures' box office expectations.
Martin wasn't worried about that.
When Martin appeared on the red carpet holding Lindsay Lohan's hand, the crowd erupted into cheers loud enough to shake all of Hollywood.
The shouts of "Martin! Martin!" seemed to reverberate across Los Angeles, reaching as far as San Francisco.
The clicking of cameras was drowned out by the deafening cries, their flashes lighting up the night like a sea of stars. Under the brilliance, the dark formalwear Martin and Lindsay wore seemed to shimmer with silver.
Lindsay squinted slightly, unaccustomed to the bright flashes.
Martin, as if by magic, pulled two pairs of sunglasses from his pocket. He put on one pair himself and handed the other to Lindsay.
"Is this okay, Martin?" Lindsay whispered.
"Relax, no one will say anything," Martin replied with a smile.
Indeed, no one dared to criticize him. Martin was now one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood's elite circle.
His playful action, combined with his mischievous grin, only endeared him further to the crowd.
The chants of "Martin! Martin!" grew louder, occasionally accompanied by cries of "Lindsay Lohan!" Fans clearly extended their love for Martin to those close to him.
"In today's Hollywood, only Martin can cause such a sensation. Even Tom Cruise wouldn't receive this kind of reception," a reporter in the crowd remarked.
"Who would've thought a 15-year-old could become the largest individual shareholder of both Disney and Warner Bros.? His influence is unparalleled," another journalist added.
Someone else gestured toward Lindsay in her deep-cut evening gown. "She's one lucky girl. Growing up alongside Martin, with him protecting her every step of the way, her Hollywood career is set for success."
"Martin's feelings for Lindsay are extraordinary. He even offended Universal's top executives for her and helped her escape her troubled family. It's like a real-life prince and Cinderella story."