From Sony Columbia's perspective, every actor is an independent individual, and contract renewal negotiations should be handled separately. Often, actors themselves do not disclose their contract statuses to one another.
It's very rare in Hollywood for actors to band together in negotiations, like the cast of Friends did, making it a nearly unique case.
However, Sony Columbia hadn't anticipated that Anson had a close relationship with James Franco and Kirsten Dunst. Not only did they frequently meet in private, but they also hoped to work together on the sequel.
They firmly believed that maintaining the stability of the cast was the foundation of ensuring the sequel's quality.
Therefore, Anson knew that Sony Columbia had not yet signed James or Kirsten, and they also knew that the company was engaged in a tug-of-war with Anson's agent.
Hearing Anson's words, Edgar took a deep breath and held it for a long time before slowly exhaling.
"The current pace of things is what I don't like," Edgar said.
"There's no script, no actors signed on, yet the production has already started building sets, and they're negotiating with New York City officials to secure shooting schedules."
"To me, this seems rash."
"Of course, I know this is just how Hollywood operates. Every part of the production process is just one piece on a conveyor belt. Nothing is irreplaceable. Even though you're at the top of your game, and Sony Columbia is eager to have you return, if negotiations fail, they won't halt the sequel. They'll find another actor and move forward."
"But the current chaos is unsettling."
Anson knew Edgar was right.
In a past life, Anson recalled that Tobey Maguire portrayed Peter Parker, and Spider-Man became a historic success. During negotiations for the sequel, Tobey sought to increase his salary and gain a share of the profits, taking the opportunity to break into Hollywood's A-list.
Sony Columbia began negotiations, but after several discussions, Tobey claimed he had injured his back during training and might not be able to appear in the sequel. Meanwhile, his agent secretly leaked the news, and the media frenzy that followed garnered public support for Tobey.
Sony Columbia quickly recognized this as a power play by Tobey.
Outwardly, they continued negotiations, trying to persuade Tobey to perform despite his injury. Tobey's side stood firm on salary demands, and as it seemed Sony Columbia was backing down, Tobey believed he was close to winning.
However, behind the scenes, Sony Columbia made a strategic move and reached out to Jake Gyllenhaal, persuading him to take over the role of Peter Parker.
It wasn't until the media reported that Sony was ready to sign Jake that Tobey panicked and rushed back to the negotiating table.
In the end, Tobey signed on for Spider-Man 2 for a $15 million salary, and his "back injury" no longer seemed to be an issue.
Of course, in hindsight, Tobey got what he wanted. Though he didn't make it into the $20 million club, he did break into the $10 million range for the first time in his career, finally establishing a foothold in Hollywood.
But the repercussions were far-reaching.
Tobey's chaotic bid for the $20 million club cost him the advantage he had built. In Hollywood's eyes, he was left with a reputation of being "weak." This emboldened studios to be tougher in negotiations.
By the time of Spider-Man 3, Tobey demanded higher pay for the fourth installment, as the series' lead. But Sony Columbia refused to comply, and the two sides parted ways.
Sony Columbia then rebooted the franchise with a new Peter Parker, resulting in The Amazing Spider-Man.
Thus, the key to negotiations wasn't just Tobey's agent; it was also Tobey himself. Timing was crucial, and it wasn't as simple as it seemed.
Now, the situation was much the same.
Sony Columbia was scheming, and Anson was calculating as well. The question was: who would come out on top?
Anson nodded lightly and nonchalantly said, "If the negotiations fail and I miss out on the sequel, it's no big deal."
Cough.
Edgar was so shocked he nearly choked. "Are you serious?"
Anson: "Of course."
Anson's straightforwardness caught Edgar off guard, and he stammered momentarily before regaining composure. Softening his tone, he said, "Anson, we can't afford to miss this opportunity."
Edgar thought hard about how to explain to Anson that this was a golden opportunity to skyrocket to stardom. If they could finalize the deal with Sony Columbia, Anson's status would be cemented, and every future project would use this as a benchmark during negotiations.
But before Edgar could finish organizing his thoughts, Anson spoke again.
"Captain, do you have no confidence in me?"
Edgar: "What?"
Anson repeated, "Captain, do you have no confidence in me?"
Edgar: ...
Anson: "Even if it's not Spider-Man 2, you should trust that I'll still succeed."
Anson raised the script in his hand and flashed a light smile.
Edgar's concerns were clear to Anson, but Anson knew that if they were thinking this way, Sony Columbia must be aware of it too. So, while Edgar hoped to use Sony Columbia's tactics to gain leverage over other studios, Sony Columbia could do the same in reverse.
It was all about calculations.
As an agent, Edgar leaned on these calculations to maximize gains.
But Anson wasn't familiar with nor good at this kind of maneuvering. So what should he do?
Settle things purely as an actor?
No, Anson wasn't ready for that; he was still figuring out the actor's craft.
Anson decided to use his advantage of being a "seer." Even if Spider-Man 2 wasn't his next project, he could still ensure his next one would be a resounding success—at least in the world he remembered.
This was Anson's confidence. It could become a key bargaining chip in their negotiations with Sony Columbia, giving them the advantage.
Edgar was momentarily stunned, replaying Anson's words over and over in his mind. Gradually, his frustration and anxiety began to settle.
Finally, he found calm.
Do you remember the words Edgar used to convince Anson that he was the best agent for him?
Those weren't just empty words.