West Cotton, the global marketing director and head of distribution at 20th Century Fox, had once gotten into a heated argument with Tom Rothman over scheduling issues for *The X-Men*.
But the boss's word was final, and West couldn't budge him. *The X-Men*'s release got bumped up by two weeks, putting it head-to-head with *Mission: Impossible*.
Later, Tom regretted it and wanted to tweak the schedule again. West shot him down hard. The prints were already out, theaters had their plans locked in—how could they shift things now?
The result? Predictable chaos. West took another tongue-lashing from Tom.
This time, Disney struck first, launching a smear campaign against *The X-Men*. It tanked the film's box office projections and spooked theaters into cutting its screen share by 5%.
Tom was livid. He hauled West into his office and tore into him. "What the hell are you doing? We just lost another 5% of our screens—are you trying to watch me crash and burn?"
West sulked, his tone stiff. "The buzz is bad right now. Fans are let down, analysts slashed their forecasts, and theaters adjusting screens is just how the market reacts."
"Normal?" Tom laughed, but it was pure fury. "West, is this how you do your job? I want results—solutions—not endless excuses and whining!"
"Solutions?" West frowned. "Every star in Hollywood's got some dirt. If we wanna hit back at the competition by digging up scandals, it's a double-edged sword. That's the best play here."
"Bullshit!"
Tom slammed his desk, his voice booming with rage.
As a seasoned movie guy, he knew exactly what West meant.
Disney had thrown out the rulebook, digging up Drew Barrymore's old scandals to hurt *The X-Men*'s hype. It worked—big time.
If Fox fought fire with fire and smeared *Mission: Impossible*, Disney would sit up and take notice.
Then, to avoid mutual destruction, both sides would have to talk it out, kill the gossip storm, clear the air, and save their films' reps.
*The X-Men*'s crisis would blow over.
But in this mess, did Tom dare take on Disney? Could he even show his face after that?
He was the one who dragged *Mission: Impossible* into this mess in the first place. Now that the box office was tanking, Disney pulling some self-preservation moves made sense—how could he blame them?
If Tom went nuclear now, he'd not only lose all credibility in Hollywood, but torching Disney would leave him isolated on the Fox board.
Disney knew that too—that's why they'd swung so hard.
Tom's face darkened. "Get on it with Drew's agency—spin this, keep the damage low!"
West's lip twitched into a smirk, dripping with sarcasm.
This guy was running 20th Century Fox?
Professional ethics? What a joke!
When it came down to company vs. personal gain, Tom picked himself. Anyone with a brain could see that explaining things away was weak—hitting back was the only way out.
Seeing West's mocking look, Tom exploded. "West, I'm warning you—if this movie flops, you're out on your ass!"
Every big film flop needs a fall guy.
*The X-Men*'s failure had crushed Bill Mechanic. If *Mission: Impossible* tanked too?
Tom's eyes narrowed to slits.
He wasn't about to let someone use his own old tricks against him.
He'd plan ahead.
And West Cotton—arrogant, cocky, and full of himself—was the obvious scapegoat.
…
Stirring up trouble wasn't easy for Dunn.
Everyone in this circle knew each other too well. But at the very least, he could shake things up a bit.
America's all about personal freedom—until it comes to family values. Cheating in a marriage? That's a big deal.
Bruce Willis dating a young model and splitting from his wife? Instant tabloid gold.
Ever since last year's "Golden Club" fiasco, Bruce's star had faded fast. Now this cheating scandal shoved him back into the spotlight.
And Disney's thriller flick starring Bruce Willis? It was feeling the heat too.
But that wasn't all!
To kneecap *The X-Men*'s pull, Disney unleashed a gossip blitz, hyping up Drew Barrymore's old scandals— even hinting at her wild days at just 11, messing around with multiple guys.
Meanwhile, Columbia Pictures was mid-production with Drew's company on a new film. Cameron Diaz was the lead, Drew the second star, with a budget nearing $100 million!
Amy Pascal had taken over as Columbia's president last year and stepped up to chairman this year. She was a powerhouse, but her footing was shaky. She needed this female-driven blockbuster to prove women could hold their own.
Now, with Disney and Fox's rivalry dragging Drew into the mud, how could she just sit there?
Columbia, under Sony Entertainment, didn't have Disney or Fox's PR muscle. But as an old-school Hollywood player, it still had tabloid connections and insider clout.
And this time? Great minds thought alike!
Tom Rothman, guarding his own interests, wouldn't dare challenge Disney right now. But Amy Pascal? She had no problem giving him a nudge from behind.
If dirt on *Mission: Impossible* hit the market now, most folks would assume Fox was pulling strings, right?
Amy, a woman new to the top and still finding her balance, couldn't take Disney head-on. Columbia wasn't what it used to be either. Playing it smart—stirring the pot—was her best move!
Soon, after Bruce Willis and Drew Barrymore, the gossip vortex sucked in another big name: Nicolas Cage!
Last Christmas, the band ULT threw a concert.
Nicolas Cage showed up with his wife. But the crowd got nuts—too many fans—and his bodyguards started swinging, punching their way through to clear a path for the "hero" of the screen.
The crowd booed like crazy, but Nicolas just shrugged it off, acting like it was no big deal. Classic diva move. It sparked a brief uproar, but his PR team smoothed it over quick.
Now, with *Mission: Impossible* about to drop, that old story resurfaced. Anyone with a functioning brain knew it was a targeted hit!
…
Dunn had just wrapped three meetings.
One was a script brainstorm with the production, writing, and marketing teams. Another was a distribution talk with Universal about Nolan's new flick. The third? A phone call with Marvel Entertainment, sketching out the "Hasbro Alliance" storyline.
Now, slouched in his boss chair, eyes half-closed, Dunn let Isla Fisher gently massage his temples from behind.
Reese Witherspoon stood in front, grinning ear to ear, waving a stack of newspapers. "They're fighting! It's really happening!"
Dunn perked up, suddenly all ears. "Disney and Fox?"
"Who else? They're the loudest yappers in Hollywood right now!" Reese squealed, practically giddy with victory. "I can't believe it—your little trick, and they're already tearing each other apart. It's hilarious!"
Isla kept rubbing his head, her face full of admiration. "I knew it—Dunn's the best!"
None of them realized the real puppetmaster was Columbia's powerhouse, Amy Pascal.
Dunn didn't care about the how—just the what. Thinking of Bruce Willis, Drew Barrymore, and Nicolas Cage drowning in scandal, he felt a rush of triumph.
Bruce Willis? Old foe of Dunn Films. A musclehead like him was easy to squash.
The other two? Heh, let Disney and Fox rip each other to shreds!
The worse *Mission: Impossible* and *The X-Men* looked, the better *Spider-Man*—releasing alongside them—would shine by comparison!
Disney and Fox…
Heh, tripping over their own traps. This might just be Hollywood's biggest joke of 2000!
Dunn's mood soared. He could already picture *Spider-Man* dominating the global box office, etching its name in film history. With a sly grin, he glanced at Reese and Isla. "How about tonight? The three of us—you two can see some of my *real* skills!"
Reese shot him a playful glare. "Oh, bring it on. You think I'm scared?"
Isla huffed with a smirk. "Exactly, Reese. Tonight, we team up and take this guy down—he's always picking on us!"
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