If possible, he certainly hoped to defeat Laila with his own film.
He had always looked down on Faiza from the beginning. If she weren't the daughter of the boss, he would have probably left her forever in the desert. But even if she was a foolish woman, she was the boss's daughter. Regardless of whether her actions had caused some problems, or forced the boss into making a decision that would make him sad, in his eyes, what Laila Moran did was one of the most unforgivable things.
Previously, it was at the boss's instruction that he stayed in Hollywood, all to teach Laila a lesson. If this film could truly accomplish that, he could offer the boss the best gift.
But from the several encounters they had before, it didn't seem easy to win against her. If he loses again this time, it will cause the boss unbearable distress.
"How confident are you in winning against her?" he asked the director he had poached from Moran with money. Honestly, he despised people like him. They had no loyalty, and a little money could make them betray their own company. He believed that if someone offered more money, this person would leave without hesitation.
However, he had given the director the job for one reason, and that was because Laila had chosen him. That woman's judgment was highly regarded throughout Hollywood. Look at the actors, directors, and various talents she had discovered. Almost everyone she favored had outstanding achievements. So Joseph had likely earned her trust because of his capabilities.
Ironically, they both wished for Laila's demise, but they had confidence in the director and the script because of her decisions.
Joseph felt a surge of excitement. Since the boss had asked, there must be room for negotiation.
"I have a great deal of confidence. First of all, our subject matter is better suited for the summer season than theirs. They're just making a movie based on a children's story. I've seen the script; it's about a group of kids and a magic school. Even if it's beautifully done, how much appeal can it have for adults? Even if some parents accompany their children to watch it, it won't be as popular among young adults as our subject matter."
Faaris nodded, agreeing with what he said. Children's movies, even if they are popular, are limited by their subject matter, and they can't expect extraordinary box office numbers. Comic book adaptations, on the other hand, have shown enduring success, such as Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, and even X-Men. With his investment, they could make stunning special effects, and they could profit from the vast fanbase of comic book enthusiasts.
"Go on," he gestured for Joseph to continue.
Joseph saw that his argument was accepted, and he became more confident and assertive.
"Let's talk about the cast. We've hired Halle Berry, who is currently the most charismatic and popular actress. Look at their cast; aside from a group of kids with no acting experience, they have a bunch of old relics. Maybe they had their glory days in the past, but they're old now, and no one wants to see their old faces."
Saying such things outside would surely get him pounced on by the older actors' fans, but there were no outsiders here, so he boldly spoke his mind. As long as he could get the boss to agree to his demands, even if he had to degrade those people to the dirt, it was just a matter of words.
"Anything else?" Faaris asked, genuinely considering his suggestions now.
The gap between the two sides was too obvious to ignore. With countless comic book fans supporting superhero films and some readers backing children's fantasy films, it was clear that the more financially capable superhero genre held the advantage. Moreover, Halle Berry was genuinely beloved by many fans, and in a previous survey, fans showed great interest and support for her portrayal of Catwoman.
On Laila's side, a group of children, no matter how talented and good at acting they were, couldn't compare to what?
If the opponent weren't Laila, he would have agreed to Joseph's proposal long ago and crushed the competition in the most straightforward and audacious way. Unfortunately, the opponent was indeed Laila, a director who had created many miracles in Hollywood through her films.
Joseph's eyes darted around as he tried to find more convincing arguments. While he had confidence in his abilities, he couldn't be too arrogant about being better than Laila at this moment. After all, compared to her, who already had significant works to her name, he didn't have much to boast about.
After thinking for a moment, he came up with a strong reason: "Boss, when I joined the crew, everyone started paying attention to the production of both of our films. If we back down now, what will others think? They won't see our caution, and they won't see our efforts. They'll only mock our cowardice!"
In his estimation, the wealthy Saudi boss would surely want to regain his lost face on the previous failed films. What could be more satisfying than directly defeating their competitor? And the sudden influx of wealthy investors into the film industry was also about gaining prestige, wasn't it? As long as he made the boss realize that not engaging in this battle would be a disgrace, he believed the boss would agree to his proposal.
His thoughts were on point, and Faaris was truly considering his suggestion. However, he was not as impulsive as Faiza and decided to think it over for a while.
Just then, Louise and Laila's news offensive began.
They never reported news that could reveal their intentions on Moran's media. This time was no different. Louise used her connections to find many media outlets that wouldn't reveal their identities and allowed them to say what they wanted.
The content was quite simple, something any movie enthusiast could explain. It was likely the same as what Joseph had told Faaris, but the tone was more aggressive, direct, and provoking.
In the United States, there was a common understanding that any news related to Laila would receive the most attention from readers. Whether it was about her losing a strand of hair or eating a slice of pizza at noon, it could boost newspaper sales.
Now they had a piece of news they could exploit, and the media outlets were more than willing to help stir up trouble, even if they weren't paid.
As a result, the side of "Catwoman" was ruthlessly attacked. They were ridiculed for being timid and afraid to compete with Laila's movie. It was said that they were making such a bad movie because they lacked confidence in themselves.
In short, they were being labeled as the most cowardly group in American history if they didn't release their movie alongside "Harry Potter"!