"When society pushes you to a dead end, don't forget there's one path left: crime. And remember, there's no shame in it!"—Miyakovski. On June 2, the Joker strikes. Stay tuned.
"Martin's new film, The Joker, hits theaters on June 2, 2009. Can this rare Hollywood anti-hero film kick off the summer season with a bang?"
"Iron Man grossed $343 million in North America, $644 million globally. District 9 earned $186 million domestically, $301 million worldwide. Wanted pulled in $283 million in North America, $435 million globally. That was Martin Meyers' stunning 2008 scorecard. This year, he's directing just one film, The Joker, a unique villain-centered story. Will it succeed? Let's wait and see!"
The Joker's promotional campaign roared to life, as did Inception's production.
By mid-February 2009, a seismic event shook Hollywood, overshadowing even the Oscars: Disney acquired 68.72% of Marvel for $4 billion.
Martin was aware of Disney's move. Truthfully, the best time to buy Marvel was around 2000, when its stock hit rock bottom. Now, it had skyrocketed fiftyfold. Martin had missed that window, distracted at the time. Buying Marvel now could still be profitable, but he had bigger fish to fry: West African minerals and Middle Eastern oil. Those industries offered far greater value than Marvel's potential.
Besides, Disney wasn't exactly a stranger. If their acquisition boosted Marvel's stock, Martin's shares would soar too.
For Martin, the entertainment industry had a clear purpose: harvesting charm. Money was secondary—irrelevant, even. As a former incubus, he knew wealth was just a metric. What mattered was the influence, power, and status his ventures brought. Entertainment fueled his charm; real industry and energy sectors secured his dominance. Profit was just a bonus.
Disney's Marvel acquisition was monumental in Hollywood but barely impacted most industry players, serving more as gossip fodder.
Brad Pitt and Quentin Tarantino, for instance, were chatting about it.
After the maid scandal, Pitt had spent a fortune to smooth things over. His popularity took a hit, but he weathered it, partly thanks to Harvey Weinstein's own sex scandal dominating headlines, deflecting attention from Pitt's woes.
The scandal cost Pitt opportunities, but he wasn't down for the count. North American audiences were forgiving, especially toward male stars' indiscretions. A few good roles, some solid films, and he'd claw his way back. If Robert Downey Jr., a former addict, could stage a comeback, why couldn't he? Pitt even slashed his fee by $2 million to land gigs.
"Quentin, let's talk about our film," Pitt said. "Inglourious Basterds hits theaters in June too. Will The Joker hurt us?"
Tarantino eyed the weary actor, recalling Pitt's once-vibrant energy. Both had been part of Harvey Weinstein's family, with Tarantino as the veteran. After Harvey's downfall—partly thanks to Tarantino's own moves, which earned Martin's favor—Pitt's troubles escalated. Rumor had it Pitt's ex-wife, Jennifer Aniston, was now with Martin, explaining why Pitt's attack on her triggered a cascade of bad luck.
In Hollywood, mistakes were fine; crossing the wrong person was fatal.
Tarantino hadn't wanted Pitt for Inglourious Basterds, but Universal's female VP, Maria, backed him—likely after Pitt pulled some strings. Universal was the film's biggest investor, so Tarantino grudgingly agreed, even giving Martin a heads-up.
Did Martin schedule The Joker for June to mess with me? Tarantino wondered, feeling like collateral damage.
He shook his head inwardly but said calmly, "No choice. We locked in June first, and early promotion's already out. Changing now would flush our ad budget down the drain. But don't worry—I'm confident in our film. It won't bomb, just a question of how much we'll make."
Pitt's expression softened, even sparking a flicker of ambition. Maybe we can beat Martin's film. I hear The Joker is dark and oppressive, with a villain lead—not exactly summer fare.
"Brad, you're tight with Maria," Tarantino said. "Get her to boost our marketing budget. We're definitely clashing with Martin's film unless she's willing to shift our release."
"I already asked about moving the date—it's a no-go," Pitt replied. "But I'll talk to her about more promotion funds. That should be fine."
Tarantino smirked inwardly at Pitt's confidence. Must've worked hard to please Maria—she's pushing sixty, all wrinkles. How does he stomach it?
Pitt sensed Tarantino's judgment but shrugged it off. Climbing the ladder by any means is Hollywood's norm. You've licked plenty of investor ass yourself, Quentin. Who are you to judge?