This congressional hearing didn't just catch Hollywood's eye—it grabbed the attention of the tech world too.
Companies like Google, Microsoft, Oracle, Apple, and Dell—basically anyone tied to the internet—were all under some suspicion of infringement, big or small. Even in America, the internet giants weren't free of their own "original sin."
Steve Jobs and Michael Eisner had a famously rotten relationship. Still, as Pixar's chairman, Jobs was tight with Roy Disney, the head of Disney's animation department, and Thomas Schumacher, the studio president.
"Pick it, make it, burn it!"
When Jobs heard Michael Eisner publicly toss out that slogan during the congressional hearing on TV, he nearly spat blood in rage!
He immediately dialed Thomas Schumacher, practically roaring into the phone, "Do you have any idea what Michael just did to me?"
The fury in his voice hit like a wave of heat.
Thomas, startled, stammered, "I don't know—what happened?"
He'd been swamped with work and had no clue about Eisner's speech.
Jobs bellowed, "Michael spoke at Congress and attacked Apple! This is a provocation—I could take it as a declaration of war!"
"Steve, calm down first," Thomas said, trying to soothe him. "I had no idea about this. I'm sure the board will give you a satisfying answer. Honestly, I can't believe it's real—would Michael really say something like that? It's shocking!"
"I'm not compromising on this!"
Jobs let out a cold huff, hung up, and called Pixar. He bluntly told John Lasseter that as long as Michael Eisner was running Disney, he'd never renew their contract—ever!
When John asked why, he was floored too. He quickly rang Thomas, just as furious. "What the hell's going on? Eisner sold Jobs out! He publicly smeared him at Congress!"
Thomas replied, "I'm handling it. I just texted the chairman and I'm waiting for his response."
Right then, a message from Michael Eisner popped up: "It's a misunderstanding. I didn't say anything."
Thomas raised an eyebrow, a flicker of doubt creeping in. "John, this might be a misunderstanding on Mr. Jobs' part. The chairman just replied—he says he didn't say anything at Congress. There's some mix-up here."
"Is that so?"
John Lasseter felt a twinge of confusion too.
It was hard to wrap his head around. Michael Eisner was a top-tier exec—why would he blast Jobs at Congress? Pixar was Disney's biggest partner right now, and Jobs was its head honcho!
A few minutes later, John called back, shouting just like Jobs had. "I've got his speech transcript right here! That bastard!"
"No way!"
Thomas was stunned, glancing again at Eisner's text.
John, fuming, read aloud, "Here's what he said: 'They use this slogan to sell computers, encouraging kids to pick it, make it, burn it. In other words, if they buy this computer, they can use it to steal and share the stolen stuff with their friends…' You hear that? He's saying Steve stole his product!"
Faced with that transcript, Thomas was left speechless.
…
Lately, Zack Snyder was riding high.
His Resident Evil had been out for two months, pulling in $67 million in North America and $78 million overseas—a global haul of over $140 million, way beyond expectations.
Plus, Saw II, which he produced, was directed by a newbie but raked in over $40 million in North America in just a month. For a B-movie with a $4 million budget, that was another massive win!
Even better, Ghost Rider was officially greenlit, and—no surprise—he was tapped to direct.
This $150 million blockbuster was shaping up to be the biggest opportunity of his life!
Sure, Nicolas Cage passed on playing Ghost Rider, but Marvel Studios had launched a wide-open casting call, overseen by Nina Jacobson, Kevin Feige, and the Snyder couple.
The final pick would come down to Dunn Walker, the big boss, since this was a major long-term franchise—too important to leave to chance.
Still, having a say in the lead was already a huge deal for Zack Snyder.
One day, Dunn called him into the office.
Zack assumed it was about Ghost Rider casting and jumped in first. "I've got my eye on an actor, but Nina's not sold. She thinks we should go with a British one."
Dunn nodded.
He trusted Nina Jacobson to handle things. The lead for Ghost Rider was basically a ticket to A-list stardom. Given Dunn Studios' current position, strengthening ties with the British film scene made sense.
With the Golden Globes losing their shine, what's next?
Industry chatter was all over the place. The likeliest bet? The British Oscars—the BAFTAs—would surge in importance, stepping in as a key Oscars companion.
Dunn Studios needed to plan ahead.
As Marvel Studios' president, Nina Jacobson clearly grasped Dunn Studios' strategy better than Zack did.
Dunn didn't shoot him down outright. "So, who'd you have in mind?"
"Ben Affleck!" Zack said.
Dunn frowned and shut it down fast. "Nope, not happening."
"Huh?"
"That guy's not in Dunn Studios' plans."
Zack suddenly got it—Ben Affleck must've ticked off the big boss somehow.
Dunn waved it off. "Anyone else? Just Ben Affleck?"
Zack replied, "Auditions aren't done yet, but we've narrowed it to two actors… uh, both British. One's Gerard Butler, the other's Clive Owen. They're mature, tall, built, with solid acting chops. And their paychecks won't break the bank."
"Gerard Butler… Clive Owen…" Dunn mused, tossing Zack a playful glance. "Which one do you lean toward?"
Zack thought it over. "Gerard Butler, I'd say. His beard gives him a bit more flavor."
Dunn chuckled.
Of course!
In his past life, Gerard Butler had starred in 300.
"I know both of them—solid picks," Dunn said with a nod. "Set up a meeting; I'll audition them myself. Honestly, who plays Ghost Rider isn't the big deal—it's the film's vibe and pacing that matter. I'll say it again: I want a serious, dark, epic feel."
Zack straightened up. "Got it. We'll match it to Daredevil's tone. As long as the script's solid, I'm good."
That hit Dunn right where it counted.
Zack Snyder's strength was visuals—big, bold, oil-painting vibes. With a killer script, he could deliver jaw-dropping results like 300 or Watchmen.
But when he meddled in scripts himself, the visuals stayed stunning, yet the stories tanked hard.
"Zack, everyone's got strengths and flaws—it's about knowing them," Dunn said, locking eyes with him. "I'll be straight: directing's your gift, scripts are your weakness. Play to your strengths, and your career's gonna soar."
It was a clear message: Stay out of the Ghost Rider script—let the writing team handle it.
Dunn Studios' writers were handpicked by Dunn through his "Sunglasses System"—script geniuses on par with Jonathan Nolan. Their skills left Zack in the dust.
Zack nodded quietly from the couch.
Dunn smiled, satisfied. "Alright, enough movie talk. I called you here to chat about something else—MVs."
"MVs?"
"You've shot a few for singers before, right?"
"Five or six, yeah."
"How long does one usually take?" Dunn asked.
Zack shrugged. "MVs are way easier than movies—basically long commercials. Usually a week or two. Even the super strict ones don't go past a month."
"A month?" Dunn grinned. "Sounds like plenty of time."
Zack blinked, confused. "What're you…"
Dunn waved him off, pulled a cassette from his drawer, and popped it into a Sony player in the corner.
Soon, electronic beats filled the room—smooth and catchy. Just the intro hooked you in.
"I've read old tales, legends vast and mysteries deep
Like Odin and his spoils of war
Like Thor with his thunder's roar
Spider-Man's web in hand
Daredevil's fists that stand
I clearly can't measure up to them…"
Zack caught a few lines—a duet—and the guy's voice sounded crazy familiar. When he heard "Odin," "Spider-Man," and "Daredevil," it clicked.
This was a Marvel anthem!
And the singer? None other than the big boss himself!
"She asked me, where are you headed next
How many storms will you chase through yet
I Dunn't crave Ghost Rider's fiery flair
No need for a hero's invincible air
Or myths of joy so rare…"
Zack felt a pang, stunned, staring at Dunn in disbelief.
Because he'd just clocked the female voice—Natalie Portman!
Dunn hit pause with a grin. "The original lyrics had 'Captain America,' but I figured that's years off, so I swapped it for 'Ghost Rider.'"
Zack looked up, dazed, his face twisting. "Can I… hear the rest?"