Chapter 52: An Overnight Sensation! Have I Really Become a Superstar?

Xu Can likes performing, no doubt about it—it's both his hobby and his dream.

But he doesn't like waiting around like other actors for some director to come find him; that would be far too passive.

Xu Can would much rather play the roles he himself wants to play.

Having been given a second life, if he can't do as he pleases and live freely, wouldn't the rebirth have been for nothing?

During the filming of "Spider-Man," those flashy fight scenes gave him a real thrill,

so Xu Can had no plans to rush into an art-house film to chase an Oscar just yet,

he wanted to have a bit more fun first.

So from the wrap of "Spider-Man" all the way until its release, Xu Can didn't sit idle.

Apart from going on dates with Sister Stone and writing screenplays, he spent most of his time preparing to start his own company.

That's right—Xu Can plans to open his own film and television production company.

In the early stage it will only handle production; distribution can rely on Columbia's theater chain.

Ever since "Spider-Man" was released to rave reviews, Xu Can has already become deeply bound to the Spider-Man role.

In the parallel world, Xu Can is essentially this life's Toby Maguire.

He is Sony's money tree; Sony North America chairman Stringer would love nothing more than to put him on a pedestal.

He believes the distribution and theater-chain side can be negotiated into a decent deal with Sony Entertainment.

The key still lies in the production—if the film's quality is high enough, everything else will fall into place.

Suppose "Spider-Man" really manages to cross $800 million; Xu Can would get around $15 million in salary and box-office share.

Add in a loan, and he could probably pull together roughly $20 million in production capital.

Xu Can figures that, for this investment bracket, there's one film that would be a perfect fit!

That would be the niche action popcorn flick released in 2013, starring hunk Keanu Reeves.

"John Wick"!

Also known as "Give Me Back My Dog"!

It's the story of a retired hitman whose dog meets with a tragic accident, and who then carves a bloody path of revenge.

From start to finish the man is a man of few words—the whole point is clean, no-nonsense action!

Summit Entertainment hadn't held out much hope to begin with; investing $20 million and breaking even would have been a win.

They never expected the final box office to top $88 million, with great reviews—decent little profit.

So afterward "John Wick" was made all the way through its fourth installment, giving rise to the uniquely styled "John Wick Universe."

As a startup surrounded on all sides by Hollywood heavyweights, being able to build a successful IP means Xu Can would be fully able to establish himself in Hollywood!

What's more, with his golden finger—god-tier acting—filming will surely see a major boost in efficiency.

The cost might not even reach $20 million.

"Sorry about that, Summit Entertainment. This one's mine now."

Xu Can kept recalling, kept refining, and finally got the screenplay wrapped up during this period.

"Happy, how's it going?"

"The office renovation's all done, and the staff have been hired. It can barely get up and running—want to come take a look?"

Agent Happy Hogan has by now become Xu Can's general manager, handling all operational matters on his behalf.

Happy may look chubby and burly, but when it comes to getting things done, he really puts Xu Can's mind at ease.

"In a couple of days. Today's Christmas, and I still have to go to Sony for the Qinggongjiu Society—I can't wriggle out of it, it's so annoying."

The very thought gives Xu Can a headache.