The creation of this company didn't go smoothly. In the beginning, they could still tap into Ovitz's connections to recruit talent, but gradually, the resources at their disposal lost their vitality, and they couldn't squeeze out much more. Ovitz couldn't find anything new to replace them, which made the company's operations fall far short of his expectations, and it was even starting to show signs of decline recently.
It can be said that Ovitz had made CAA so outstanding that it left little room for new talent agencies. He didn't care about the potential retaliation from the Moran family and signed Roy for a do-or-die battle, hoping to breathe new life into his business. It was either survival or death, and he had no more opportunities.
Indeed, Roy's addition had provided him some breathing room. Many people, seeing Roy being snatched from Laila's hands, had a high regard for his abilities and joined the company. But gradually, they realized there were significant issues with the company's operations, such as A-list actors not getting the roles they desired, and even the background extras in the films were not particularly eye-catching.
Ovitz was helpless. He had too few resources at his disposal now. The few resources he had given to those who were best known in the company, while the lower-tier actors had to rely on their agents. However, in the increasingly competitive world of Hollywood, getting a satisfying role wasn't easy. In this vicious cycle, Ovitz felt increasingly powerless.
Although the combined cost of acquiring both companies should be relatively low, Quentin still felt that they weren't suitable acquisition targets. The constraints of Marvel itself made it difficult for him to see a profitable direction, and the future of AMG Artist Management Company didn't seem bright either. Laila taking on a challenge even where Ovitz had failed - could she handle it? After all, he was once the number-one agent in Hollywood.
Laila knew her decision might seem like a hasty one at the moment, but she was well aware of how things would develop in the future. She couldn't change her decision based on whether Quentin saw it as a good or bad idea.
"First, tell me if I have enough money to acquire them?" Laila inquired.
Quentin furrowed his brow and calculated in his mind. "I've assessed the two companies before. The total cost should be within $500 million. If we're lucky, maybe even $400 million will be enough."
This was an unexpectedly "affordable" price. Remember, in the future, Disney spent over $4 billion to acquire Marvel! However, upon closer inspection, it didn't seem strange. In the future, Marvel would be an obvious goldmine with limitless potential, and it was struggling right now, even resorting to selling the rights to their superheroes to survive.
As for the AMG Artist Management Company, it was even less valuable. Apart from the artist contracts they currently held, they seemed worthless to investors.
"Go ahead with the acquisition," Laila said without explaining further. "I want those two companies, and they must be acquired before May." She added with a slightly wicked smile, "If you wish to be working overtime during Janet's delivery, it's fine with me."
"...Thank you! I won't need to. I'll get what you want by May!" Quentin agreed unequivocally. He also made a decision: the future children must limit their interactions with her as much as possible so that the pure little angels wouldn't be influenced by her darkness.
Hundreds of millions of dollars acquisition, spearheaded by Laila, was something the media couldn't be happier about. Shortly after Laila confirmed the acquisition, a company reported the news that she was acquiring both Marvel and AMG Artist Management Company.
As with Quentin's initial thoughts, many people found it hard to understand why she wanted to acquire these two companies. Wall Street's elites assessed her decision from various angles and weren't very optimistic about the acquisition either.
But not everyone was critical. At least some comic book enthusiasts strongly supported Laila's acquisition of Marvel. The present Marvel was too financially strapped, wasting countless creative ideas. With Laila's wealth and intelligence, she could lead Marvel to greater success in the future.
And let's not forget that she was a famous Hollywood director. Having her around meant that comic book fans and superhero enthusiasts might see more superheroes on the big screen. She had publicly expressed her love for comics during the "Victor Event" last year, so announcing the acquisition of Marvel didn't seem strange.
Marvel was relatively less noticed, and the focus of public attention was Laila's acquisition of AMG. Why? Because many believed that she wanted to acquire AMG for revenge!
Revenge for Ovitz taking Roy from her!
Many people in Hollywood knew that Roy was the star she had single-handedly nurtured. The effort she had invested in him was visible to anyone. He endorsed luxury brands, played lead roles in films, and even sang at the Super Bowl, thanks to her meticulous efforts to create this rapidly rising star.
Unlike other stars who gained instant fame through a single role, Roy didn't rise to stardom based on a particular character. It was a combination of factors, carefully arranged, that propelled him to stardom. This way, he wouldn't be typecast in a particular role, nor would his handsome face be categorized as that of a mere pretty-boy actor.
Those who became overnight stars thanks to a specific role weren't so lucky. For instance, Leonardo DiCaprio, known for his role in Titanic, couldn't escape the shadow of his character. Building Roy up required a lot of hard work, and anyone with a bit of sense could see how important he was to Laila. But Ovitz had silently taken him away, and regardless of being a millionaire or a commoner, anyone would feel a loss of face, right?
So, when AMG was acquired, aside from the initial surprise, once people "understood" her motivations, they didn't find it strange. The young lady was wealthy and had suffered some humiliation. Why couldn't she acquire his company?
Seeing such a narrative being spun and amplified by the media, Laila felt a bit wronged. She hadn't even known about Roy when she made the decision!
Unfortunately, not many believed this story, not even Ovitz himself.
So, in the third week of the acquisition, Laila sat down with Ovitz.
"Is it really because of Roy?" he asked.
"No," Laila sighed softly, not bothering to explain a question she had already answered several times.
Clearly, Ovitz didn't believe her.
Today, he looked significantly more haggard than during their previous meeting. He was impeccably dressed as usual, but the expression on his face didn't exude the same enthusiasm as last time.