Though it was just a private dinner, Dunn and Michael Ovitz were the decision-makers for Legendary Pictures, and Barry Meyer, Warner Bros.' CEO, was the perfect guy to handle the business side of things.
Their casual chat sealed the deal between the two companies.
Negotiations went off without a hitch.
Over the next two years, Legendary Pictures would invest $240 million in three phases, backing 40 Warner Bros. films with a 20% stake.
Warner would take a 10% distribution fee off the top of future profits, splitting the rest with Legendary based on their shares.
Legendary would hold 20% of the copyright and future earnings for those 40 films, plus oversight during production and some say in key roles—think producers, directors, and lead actors.
No need to keep the talks under wraps, so Dunn brought Penelope Cruz along, oozing that vibe of wielding power while lounging with a beauty.
Penelope was over the moon. Watching Dunn hold his own with Hollywood titans like Ovitz and Meyer, her starry eyes brimmed with admiration.
He was four years younger than her!
But Dunn was a miracle—you couldn't help but forget his age around him.
Every time Penelope lay in his arms or melted beneath him, she felt like a fragile little thing, while he was this towering, rugged mountain!
For someone so young to build such a name and go toe-to-toe with Barry Meyer? It was mind-blowing.
Up close, she felt like she was back in her teenage crush days—heart racing, butterflies fluttering.
"If only I could be his girlfriend," she mused, eyes misty. "Even if he had a thousand, ten thousand lovers out there, I'd be fine with it!" Then she sighed softly.
She could tell Dunn was only into her physically—no interest in anything deeper.
And she knew, compared to Natalie, she didn't stand a chance.
The private dinner wrapped up quick.
Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. hashed out a prelim portfolio deal.
Once they ironed out the fine print and got the lawyers' green light, it'd be official.
Wouldn't take long—probably a press conference by early October.
Barry Meyer was in high spirits. Watching Dunn, all smug and whispering to Penelope, he suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right, Dunn—you mentioned two requests? First was roles for Ms. Cruz—I'm good with that. What's the second?"
Dunn blinked, waved it off, and grinned. "Second one's not really a request—just a heads-up for Warner."
"Oh? What's up?"
"So, when I snagged the Harry Potter rights, Warner helped out a bit. Dunn Films signed a priority deal—if we ever made Harry Potter, Warner got first dibs on investing."
Barry Meyer caught on fast.
Back then, Dunn Films was small-time—weak funds, needing outside cash for a big commercial hit like Harry Potter.
Now? Different story. Dunn Capital was flush, and Dunn Films was riding high off Spider-Man's monster haul!
He didn't have exact numbers, but past trends suggested Spider-Man would net Dunn Films at least $500 million in the next year—box office, TV rights, VHS sales, you name it!
Dunn Films had grown up—money wasn't an issue. With Harry Potter hotter than ever, Dunn didn't want Warner in on the series anymore. He was going solo!
Barry wasn't thrilled.
Sure, it was just a priority deal—legally, if Dunn Films didn't take outside money, Warner couldn't touch Harry Potter.
But Hollywood had its unwritten rules. Warner helped Dunn snag those rights—Dunn owed them a piece of the pie.
Basic etiquette!
Ovitz clocked Barry's sour vibe and jumped in with a chuckle. "Far as I know, Dunn Films and Warner are already teaming up on The Chronicles of Narnia, right? Seems about the same to me. Dunn's poured his heart into Harry Potter—even slipped ads into Spider-Man. That's dedication!"
Barry got the hint—Dunn wasn't messing around with Harry Potter. It was his baby.
"Priority deal's a priority deal—stick to the contract, huh? Haha, Warner's not like Disney, bullying folks. Besides… we're partners now, right?"
"Exactly!"
Dunn laughed, feeling on top of the world.
The portfolio plan was a killer move!
It didn't just dodge Disney's ban—it hooked Warner as a shield and sorted out the Harry Potter mess.
Originally, Dunn figured he'd hand off Narnia to Warner after the first film hit big—smooth their ruffled feathers so he could keep Harry Potter to himself.
Narnia was a weird one.
In his past life, the first film crushed it, but the second tanked. Disney dumped the rights on Fox, and Fox's third film flopped even harder.
Plain and simple—Narnia was a trap!
Dunn grabbed it to cash in on the first film, then planned to offload the sequels—profit big while screwing someone over.
Now, with Warner playing nice and Barry granting his two wishes, Dunn didn't need to shaft them.
Maybe…
He could dump it on Disney, whose movie game was slipping?
Dunn's eyes lit up—solid plan.
…
That night, Dunn headed home early.
Penelope pulled out all the stops—her softest touch, her wildest moves, giving him a night to remember. She even shyly handed him some lube, offering a new flavor for the taking.
Her body was unreal—high chest, wasp waist, perfect curves.
Sure, Dunn trashed Barbie's look hard, but a figure like that? It drove men wild—way more than the "healthy, free" builds of a Kardashian or Beyoncé.
After the storm settled, Dunn held her sculpted frame, basking in the afterglow. "You've got some fame in Spain, but in Hollywood, you're a newbie. Keep your head down, stay humble. Don't think my backing means you can strut around all high and mighty—that's a bad look."
Penelope rested her pale chin on his chest, nodding fast. "I know—I'd never act like a diva."
She had a sweet personality—Dunn knew that. He gave a soft "hmph." "Warner's greenlit two leads for you, but don't get your hopes up. They'll be eye-candy roles—nothing too meaty."
"Huh?"
Penelope froze, a flicker of disappointment crossing her face.
Dunn pinched her nose with a grin. "Relax—you're such a good girl, I won't let you flounder. Do the two Warner gigs, get your face out there. When the time's right, I'll set you up with something big. Maybe even give you a taste of Oscar glory."
"Oscar?" Penelope gasped, her face lighting up with uncontainable excitement. "Me… really?"
"If I say you can, you can!" Dunn's tone was calm but brimming with confidence. "A nomination's easy. Winning? That's on your chops."
"Oscar… Oscar…" she murmured, dazed.
"What? No faith in yourself?"
"No—I can do it! Dunn, just give me the shot, and I'll make it happen!"
"Shots aren't handed out—you grab them yourself, got it? This is Hollywood. No one's crying over your sob story!"
"I get it."
Penelope took a deep breath, sensing something in his words. Tentatively, she asked, "Dunn, have you been to Spain?"
Dunn raised an eyebrow. "Went to Madrid with Nat during Cannes—caught a Real Madrid game. Why?"
A dreamy look washed over Penelope's face. "I've got some great girlfriends back in Spain—gorgeous actresses. If you're up for it, I could introduce you…"
Dunn's heart skipped. "That's a wild leap!"
He knew what she meant—not about pushing her pals into Hollywood. One Penelope Cruz was plenty.
She bit her lip, fangirling hard. "To me, you're like a god—you can have it all. I'm sure they'd love to meet someone like you."
"A god?" Dunn laughed. "That's over the top."
"No, I mean it." She was dead serious. "Dunn, if… I mean, if you wanted, I'd have your kid—illegitimate, whatever, I don't care. There's this British actress, Kate Beckinsale, raising a love child and doing fine."
Dunn jolted, glaring at her. "Don't talk crazy!"
"Okay."
Penelope pouted.
Dunn frowned. "That's a huge deal. I'd need to think it over—and I wouldn't hide it from Nat."
"What?"
Penelope gaped, speechless.
He'd tell Natalie about a kid like that? An illegitimate one?
Dunn and Natalie's relationship was weird!