The Departed

Mid-September.

A five-star hotel in Burbank, Los Angeles.

Today, Universal Pictures, one of Hollywood's Big Six studios, was holding a celebration here to mark the huge success of The Bourne Identity, and had invited well-known figures from all walks of life.

"A five-star hotel, a red carpet, and look at all these reporters... Tsk, tsk. Universal must have spent a fortune on this!"

Gustav, the Canadian banker and owner of Lionsgate, said.

Hearing this, Patrick, one of Summit Entertainment's three top executives, scoffed. "They certainly spent a lot. They're using The Bourne Identity's celebration to tell the world that Universal Pictures is still strong and won't be affected too much by its parent company, France's Vivendi Group. Their goal is... pretty obvious to all of us."

Many people nodded in agreement.

In June 2002, the crisis that hit the French Vivendi Group had taken it from a media giant worth more than 140 billion euros to a company with a market value of barely 800 million euros in the space of a single month.

It was staggering.

Countless people had gleefully devoured the drama!

At the same time, Universal Pictures, a very important part of the Vivendi Group, had inevitably been caught up in the disaster.

More than two months had passed, but the Vivendi Group still hadn't recovered. It could only keep selling off its assets to weather the crisis.

And so, Universal Pictures... had become a target many people wanted to get their hands on!

"There are probably quite a few buyers," Gustav said with a sigh.

"Of course there are. Even a sinking ship has nails worth salvaging, let alone Universal Pictures."

Patrick, one of Summit Entertainment's three top executives, smiled. "Don't forget, Universal owns the rights to Back to the Future, Jurassic Park, The Mummy, Frankenstein,