Mr. & Mrs. Smith was a hit, so White Films naturally needed to double down. William White's target, of course, was the 007 series.
Due to the acquisition, many historical 007 films never saw the light of day. In fact, William White had no plans to let them appear.
Fleming's novels were indeed fantastic, but they had their limitations. They were good as novels, yet they might not be suitable for direct adaptation into a screenplay.
Readers felt a sense of immersion when reading. However, that feeling might not translate well to film. William White believed this needed to resonate with the times. Since the latest enemy was the Soviets, why not carry on with that?
The news that White Films was rebooting the 007 series truly surprised everyone. Ever since White Films acquired the rights to the 007 series, they hadn't produced any films.
Many speculated about William White's intentions behind the acquisition. Was he trying to bury the series because he had a disdain for the Brits?
Readers of that era were still very fond of spy genres. Several famous novels had emerged during that time.
If you thought about it, it was obvious. Since it was the Cold War, things were bound to get underhanded. Were you really expecting a fair fight?
The decision to shelve 007 by White Films would surely lead to discontent. Fortunately, White Films clearly stated that their upcoming movies would no longer adapt Fleming's novels.
At the time, this information caused quite a stir. Those book fans were quite dissatisfied. They believed it was already inappropriate to adapt without consent; completely discarding the source material was even worse.
William White wanted to convey that all he needed was the framework of 007, just the character's design. Once that was in place, you could make as many installments as you wanted.
...
White Films' big move made waves not just in Hollywood. In a way, 007 and Mr. & Mrs. Smith were quite similar; these types of films could easily incorporate product placements without feeling forced.
Many saw this potential. Even if they weren't sure about the 007 brand, they believed William White wouldn't let them down.
"Lucas, have you thought this through? Many are still hesitating, you know?"
"Hesitating, my foot! Those guys are idiots. If they just see how many advertisers are interested, they won't lose money." William White chuckled bitterly; that was the truth.
"The investment is sizable, at least fifty million. And let me tell you, it's not going to have the same buzz as the Mr. & Mrs. Smith or E.T. That's just a one-off, there's no way to replicate that."
"Ha, I didn't know that? If every film required such budgets, there wouldn't be just a few studios investing in movies, would there?"
"Okay, okay, just make sure your effects company doesn't start demanding crazy prices. Here's the script," he said, sending folks packing. He still had to finalize his cast.
Of course, the lead was going to be Pierce Brosnan. In fact, this 007 was the most quintessentially British of them all. As for others, they really didn't seem any different from cowboys.
...
William White was troubled because the back office seemed a bit unsettled. Sophie had become a major star overnight, and she didn't care at all. Everyone knew that a Bond girl was just eye candy, and her current status meant she couldn't be relegated to that role anymore.
While she was indifferent, other actresses were paying close attention. Especially Nastassja; a role as just eye candy suited her perfectly.
After thinking it over, she seemed the most suitable choice. The decision was easy, but calming others down proved to be a headache. Someone returned to their villa, sore and stressed after signing innumerable lopsided deals.
William White felt a bit down. Shouldn't he learn from the old Hollywood guys? Just have his staff handle everything directly; why put himself through endless hustle?
...
Upon hearing the news, Pierce Brosnan was, of course, thrilled. His acting career was going well enough, but he had just broken into the big screen and was mostly known for television before this.
The new 007 project was launched, and immediately they began comprehensive planning, from the film's soundtrack to various props -- things were wonderfully busy.
Other people had no sway over this lead choice. In fact, William White's films rarely involved genuine casting calls.
"Pierce, I know you're in need of cash, but don't go chasing after every ad deal."
"I got it, Henry. Can you check with White Films?"
"Sure thing, as long as they finalize their advertisers and there are no conflicts, you're good to go. Truthfully, those companies might just come looking for you. I don't know why you're so anxious."
"Sorry, I don't have much experience."
"Remember, you've landed an enviable opportunity, so don't mess it up. If anything's unclear, just ask me first." Pierce Brosnan's agent was flabbergasted but also understanding. A kid from a single-parent home definitely had his challenges.
However, people had been fired for taking on too many ad deals, and he wasn't the first. Agents knew the reasons well. For instance, since BMW put down a lot of money this time, the lead had to avoid other ads.
The film companies weren't going to take advantage of you, but you still had to be smart. Whatever the norm usually was, it's best not to drive a Benz to the set.
This rule originally came from White Films, but now many companies had similar expectations.
...
"Will, it's been ages since we connected."
"Didn't you know? I've been super busy lately. Ugh, you seem awfully desperate."
"Ha, nowadays in Hollywood, who would dare to mess with me? I've been labeled, so if I'm not desperate, what's the deal?"
"Okay, okay, my bad. You said producing was pretty decent; why the heck still be a pretty face?"
"I'm just afraid people might forget me." After a deep sigh, the chatting ceased, replaced by some strange cat meowing sounds. It was hard to tell just how many little kitties the rich man kept.
William White had no answer for Nastassja's comments. If he were deemed fickle, it might hold a grain of truth.
Well, maybe just a grain. To be precise, William White was more of a case of being fickle yet fond of the old. Like a greedy kid wanting to bring all his toys home, even when he didn't have enough time to play with them.
*****
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