The announcements regarding the casting choices for the lead roles in the film "Transformers" sparked intense discussions among fans.
Gal Gadot had been pre-approved for the role without any auditions or competition. While some fans were upset, questioning why Keira Knightley, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston, or Nicole Kidman weren't chosen, there wasn't much uproar.
Eric was baffled reading such comments. Nicole Kidman was already 35 years old, and while her beauty was undeniable and he wouldn't mind working with her, she just wasn't right for this role. Imagining Nicole Kidman driving a race car was like picturing her in a carriage, and she was currently considered box office poison.
Gal Gadot faced less criticism than Chris Evans. Despite his attractive looks, Chris Evans didn't have the fame of other young actors in Hollywood. Thus, he faced harsh criticism, and even his few fans remained quiet.
Chris's agent and friends tried to support him, advising him to ignore the criticism and focus entirely on preparing for the role. They even hired a dietician to help him reduce his muscle mass.
A few days later, other roles were announced. Ryan Reynolds got the main supporting male role, followed by young actors James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Tom Hardy, and Ben Foster. Though these names didn't create as much buzz as the lead roles, they still drew attention from fans, especially women, and even slightly boosted the viewership of the series "Band of Brothers."
The only major role still unannounced in "Transformers" was the director.
At the MGM building, discussions were underway regarding the release date of "Transformers."
Bordeaux brought up a table on the screen: "These are the films with already announced release dates for the next two years. The ones marked in red are those that the marketing department believes pose the greatest threat. I suggest we avoid these dates."
Eric slowly drummed his fingers on the table as he looked at the chart.
Choosing a release date is crucial for a film. Different dates attract different audiences, and the number of viewers can vary significantly. Just as China has summer holidays, national holidays, and the New Year, the USA also has distinct seasons.
The two most popular seasons of the year are the summer and holiday winter seasons.
The summer season runs from May to September and is the favorite time for commercial blockbusters, as around half of the annual box office is gathered during this period.
The winter season is shorter but includes important holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas and approaches the Oscar season, making it the choice for artistic films and highly anticipated blockbusters.
Bordeaux continued, "Transformers" won't be ready for the next summer season. The marketing department suggests planning the release for the summer season of 2004. Currently, there are no major releases scheduled for June and July, so this is the best time."
Charlie Cooper looked at his son: "Eric, what do you think?"
Eric frowned, "Too late. Summer 2004 is too late and could affect MGM's overall strategy. We need time. Also, the issue of returning funds is important. If we release the film in June 2004, we'll see the first revenues only by September."
"In the current situation, MGM can't wait that long, so our only choice is the winter season."
He knew MGM's situation: everything looked great on the outside, but those who knew the internal situation understood it was just an appearance.
The Coopers were well aware they owed the bank $2 billion, and the annual interest on this loan was a huge amount.
Moreover, it was necessary to invest in new films and projects. Even more importantly, there were agreements with Hasbro to consider – time was pressing!
"Eric, will we make it?" his father asked.
"No problem, I guarantee it," Eric confidently replied.
"Good. What date do you suggest?"
"The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" will be released on December 17. We've already coordinated with Peter Jackson, so we need to release the film earlier.
"The Last Samurai" is scheduled for December 5, "The Matrix Revolutions" for November 5, "Elf" for November 7, "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" for November 14, and "Kill Bill" for November 27.
After a short consideration, Eric pointed to the screen:
"November 16. 'The Matrix Revolutions' is the final part of the trilogy, and it will have a strong opening, at least two weeks that we can't match. Better not to overlap directly with it. 'The Last Samurai' is a major Warner Bros. project with Tom Cruise, which will also have high box office returns. I want to leave 'Transformers' three weeks for a good start. So, we'll release on November 16. By the way, which companies are releasing films competing with us around that time?"
"New Line, Miramax, and Universal," Bordeaux quickly replied.
Eric smirked:
"The question is moot. Regardless of the company, we have no choice."
He met his father's gaze, then resolutely said:
"We're setting the release date for November 16. Announce it officially."
Fans were thrilled by the news: "Transformers" would hit the screens in just a year. Competing companies, on the other hand, panicked. MGM's actions broke the unspoken rules – the number of dates was limited, and every new player increased competition.
Typically, major studios agree on release dates in advance to avoid clashes. If a conflict arises, one company yields this year to secure a good date next year. It rarely happens that they 'move' each other – this always leads to mutual losses.
But MGM hadn't warned anyone; they just chose the date and announced it. If it had been a low-budget film, no one would have paid attention. But "Transformers" promised to be a box office hit, and this worried competitors.
Miramax suffered the most, with "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" and "Kill Bill" scheduled for November. Neither Quentin Tarantino nor Russell Crowe could stand against the metallic giants.
At the Cooper household, Charlie Cooper was talking on the phone on the balcony. His voice gradually grew louder. Returning to the living room with a stern expression, he said:
"Father, another company?"
"Miramax. Harvey Weinstein."
"We've already refused him."
"Yes, but now he's involved Disney as a mediator. The conversation was not pleasant."
"Will there be problems?"
His father smirked:
"This is just regular commercial competition. We can't change the release date. If they're scared, they can come up with something."
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