Preview Screening Ends

The more than 70% stake he had acquired for nearly $90 million had undoubtedly brought him several times that return.

Highly optimistic about Marvel, he was now ambitiously seeking better development for the company.

A famous director's sudden arrival gave him a flicker of inspiration.

"Hello, I'm Steve Kevin."

Ronald Perelman nodded with a faintly arrogant smile, the confidence and assurance wealth had given him.

"What did you want to see me about?"

"I'd like to purchase part of Marvel Comics' shares."

Ronald Perelman was somewhat stunned, then nearly laughed.

"For shares, you can just buy them directly on the stock exchange. Why come here looking for me?"

Kevin smiled softly.

"Sorry, I was being presumptuous."

With that, Kevin left.

Ronald Perelman was utterly bewildered, having no idea what Kevin's sudden move was meant to accomplish.

But a director and Marvel...

Ronald Perelman began entertaining the idea of making Marvel films.

After leaving Marvel Comics, Kevin recalled the informant he had just planted within the company.

He found an ordinary employee and, for an extra $2,000 a month, had her regularly relay Marvel's news to him.

Marvel went bankrupt in 1996, but its declining performance had actually begun alongside the rise of the internet and television media in 1993.

Kevin, who intended to swallow Marvel whole, had merely set up his plans in advance.

However, after what he had just learned, Kevin began to grow anxious as well.

After Ronald Perelman took Marvel Entertainment public, it was now worth at least around $500 million—a true behemoth.

Even if it went bankrupt, he would need $200 or $300 million before he could even dream of getting his hands on it.

Of course, acquiring some of the IP rights would not be a problem, but that was not what Kevin wanted.

What he wanted was the Marvel universe, which would be worth tens of billions in the future, not some single IP.

It was the biggest piece of the pie Kevin knew of.

There was a saying Kevin had always kept firmly in mind: don't make money beyond the limits of your understanding. When it came to finance, Kevin could not compete with others.

As for Bitcoin, it was merely a game of passing the parcel among the rich.

If the big players who created Bitcoin could not secure the greatest profits, they could destroy Bitcoin in minutes and make it worthless.

Kevin did not even want to touch such things.

Stocks were the same, another game for the rich.

Without sufficient connections and resources, most people who joined the stock market would only become chives for the big players to harvest.

Having suffered huge losses trading stocks in his previous life, Kevin had no interest in them whatsoever.

Unless he became one of the big players himself.

Then, within the film industry, the biggest piece of the pie Kevin knew was Marvel.

No one understood the power of Marvel IP better than he did.

With Marvel's successful formula in hand, as long as he acquired Marvel, he could perfectly replicate everything.

Inside a Warner Bros. screening room.

Get Out had finished screening. Judging by the critics' expressions, as a commercial film, Get Out was already above the passing line.

At the very least, these middle-aged white men had not felt overly uncomfortable because the male lead was Black.

Instead, they had been drawn into the plot, following the protagonist as he discovered the horrors hidden in Get Out and finally escaped from it.

The next day, countless newspapers simultaneously published glowing reviews.

"Get Out is a rare low-budget gem. Director Steve Kevin continues his uniquely thought-provoking style. If Saw taught people to cherish life, then Get Out thoroughly reflects the pride buried deep in the hearts of white Americans, that discrimination hidden beneath the surface."

"With the thoughts of God in his mind—this is Steve Kevin. In my view, Get Out is absolutely more than just a commercial film. It contains Director Kevin's reflection on the unjust fate of Black people on this land."

"Awesome. This is a must-see film for Black people. White people need not watch it, but if Black people do not, then I can say that you have betrayed your race. Speak up for Black people, and Black people will absolutely support you. Keep it up, Director Kevin."

"A thriller mixed with black humor and horror elements. The plot constantly hints at white people's unconscious discrimination against Black people—the belief that Black people should be physically strong. Isn't that itself a form of prejudice?"

"."

Inside Kevin's villa, Angelina Jolie lay happily beside Kevin, reading him the reviews from the newspapers.

As he stroked Jolie's body and felt her smooth skin, Kevin's post-coital clarity was gradually fading.

This young body possessed endless energy, and paired with white women's stronger needs in that regard, both Kevin and Jolie could be satisfied.

Salma Hayek, meanwhile, was busy moving among various film crews.

With Salma Hayek's looks, it was easy enough for her to land supporting female roles in lower- and mid-budget productions. As for leading roles, she still needed a breakout work.

Kevin had already planned that out for her as well.

But now was not the time.

Reading the newspaper's praise, Angelina Jolie, as the female lead, could not help smiling.

More positive reviews meant the box office would not be too bad, and as the female lead, she would finally have a representative work of her own.

It might not seem difficult.

But in truth, the vast majority of Hollywood actors could never cross that threshold in their entire lives.

Only dozens, perhaps a hundred films were released each year, and very few of them made money.

Having a representative work meant an actor had truly put down roots in Hollywood.

With this role, Angelina could make a living as an actress for the rest of her life.

Seeing Jolie's expression, Kevin deliberately said, "You only see the positive reviews. Do you know that Warner Bros., New Line Cinema, and I spent a million dollars on public relations for them?"

"This is only part of the film's marketing."

Jolie was dumbfounded. Only through Kevin did she truly understand what Hollywood was—everything was merely a transaction of money.

"Of course, that only works when the film has a certain level of quality. If a film is too terrible, then for the sake of their reputations, the most they can do is remain silent."

Jolie immediately rolled her eyes at him. So, after all that, Hollywood still had to follow some basic rules.

Then again, that made sense.

Audiences were not fools. They had their own ability to judge. Forcibly praising a terrible film as a good one would only ruin one's reputation.