Chapter 338

Han Sanping instantly became interested, because Star Wars‑type movies really have a market.

The most classic is naturally the Star Wars series created by George Lucas, whose status in Americans' hearts is basically equivalent to that of Journey to the West in Chinese people's hearts.

By the time Jiang Heng was reborn, the series had already released eleven films, with a global box office total reaching as high as 10.2 billion US dollars.

At this moment, it is also one of Haolaiwu's several most classic film series.

As a film industry mogul, saying he has no interest in Star Wars‑type movies is obviously impossible.

But this genre's threshold is really too high, making it too difficult to replicate.

Whether it's script conception, filming technology, or director ability, all require top‑level capability.

If another director said they wanted to make a Star Wars‑type film, Han Sanping's first reaction would surely be to spit and say, "Do you even have that kind of ideology?" But when Jiang Heng says he wants to make it, it will definitely get made.

It's not that he's superstitious about Jiang Heng; it's that the global peers and audience all believe in this! "Is it your own script idea?"

Jiang Heng shook his head, "No, it's a web novel I bought, preparing to adapt it for film and television!"

Upon hearing that, Han Sanping became even more curious.

It's already shocking enough that the Chinese literary world could produce Three Body; how could there be a Star Wars‑type web novel online? And how could Jiang Heng take a liking to it? Aren't those novels rather crude?

In fact, in the eyes of Chinese people in 2009, web novels were indeed hard to enter the refined hall, and the craze for film‑and‑television adaptations only began to rise around 2015.

Therefore, the biggest advantage is that basically no one competes with Faction: Outstanding Rising Film Company for the rights, and they have bought a huge pile of web novel rights.

In a few more years, Jiang Heng will consider bringing web‑novel classics such as Battle Through the Heavens and Buddha Is the Dao onto the big screen.

"What web novel, still having Star Wars‑type material?"

Although Han Sanping knows Jiang Heng won't lie, his tone remains doubtful.

"Legend of the Little Soldier, quite interesting!"

After Jiang Heng finished speaking, he handed over a physical book; this was still the one he had ordered people to buy after preparing to adapt the script.

After Han Sanping took it and flipped through it casually, it really was a Star Wars‑type story.

"You're preparing to create China's own Star Wars, right?"

Jiang Heng laughed and said, "More or less, I'll have to make seven or eight of them!"

Upon hearing that, Han Sanping looked astonished.

"Seven or eight films—that ambition is too great; even Hollywood over there doesn't have such a long series, right? 'Will it cost a lot of money?'"

Jiang Heng nodded, "For the first part, I'm preparing to invest five hundred million, US dollars!"

"Five hundred million, US dollars?"

This number really shocked Han Sanping; at this moment the world's most expensive film is Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End, with a total investment as high as 342 million US dollars, which has already astonished people.

An investment of five hundred million US dollars is truly something people dare not even imagine.

He originally wanted to ask whether he could participate in it.

But this investment amount of five hundred million US dollars made him hesitate.

Finally he said, "Is there anything you need help with?"

Jiang Heng laughed and said, "Not for now!"

Han Sanping couldn't help but ask, "Do you currently have that much cash flow?"

Jiang Heng said, "I still have a game company—League of Legends and Accursed Sword, both very profitable!"

Han Sanping was speechless upon hearing that, because he knows those two games really do make a lot of money, comparable to a money‑printing machine.

Especially League of Legends, after its international server went live it quickly became popular worldwide, bringing Jiang Heng a steady stream of profit; spending five hundred million US dollars to make a film seems not really a problem.

Thinking of this, Han Sanping unconsciously sighed. At this moment, Jiang Heng has grown to the point where he no longer needs the protection of China Film Group.

"If you need anything, just call anytime!"

"Good!"

Han Sanping lost some interest, chatted a couple of sentences, and then left.

Jiang Heng then lit a cigar, sat in the boss's chair, and silently took two puffs.

As the saying goes, there is no banquet that never ends; previously, being isolated and unstable in position, he cooperated with China Film Group, openly giving up benefits.

But now, the company has grown, with many employees and abundant talent, even giving rise to factions.

Continuing to give benefits to China Film Group would no longer be appropriate!

The next day, Jiang Heng summoned the company's screenwriting team and formally began the adaptation of novels into film and television.

His first demand of the screenwriting team was to read through the original novel, then to design a major story framework.

Planning to film seven or eight installments is certainly not just talk; Jiang Heng truly intends to create a classic of interstellar war.

Therefore, the "foundation" aspect must definitely be solidified first, and only then the story adaptation for the first part.

After the tasks were assigned, the screenwriting team's morale was lifted—this is a big project!

Li Xiaoping immediately came over, saying the screenwriting staff is insufficient and there are still several TV scripts waiting to be written!

"Hire people—the company isn't short of money, just hire!"

Jiang Heng waved his hand—it's a matter of not considering cost at all.

And the several companies under his name are also famous for their good benefits; each recruitment drives a large number of job seekers.

However, saying that Faction: Outstanding Rising Film Company urgently needs screenwriters naturally draws industry attention.

Rumors began to spread in the streets, with some saying Jiang Heng is resentful over the overseas box‑office failure of A Chinese Ghost Story and is preparing to make a super‑big film.

Some guessed Three Body 2, some said Heroic Soldiers 2, others speculated Pacific Rim 3, and still others said it would be a disaster film, an even more awesome disaster blockbuster than 2012.

Subsequently, a major piece of news came out, saying Jiang Heng would make history by investing five hundred million US dollars to film this movie.

As soon as this news was released, it instantly shocked the entire Chinese‑language entertainment circle.

Five hundred million US dollars, at the current exchange rate of 6.8, that's 3.4 billion RMB! Forget using 3.4 billion, even just one-tenth, 340 million, is definitely a big production!

The bigwigs first discussed just how much money Jiang Heng actually has.

Over the years he's filmed more than ten special-effects blockbusters, with global box office earnings of several billion US dollars; the share that ends up in his hands is no less than one billion US dollars.

Besides, there are other revenues: special-effects firms, game companies, tech companies, and even Outstanding Rising Film Company has gone public...

Jiang Heng's net worth may not be twenty billion US dollars right now, but he definitely has seventeen or eighteen billion, and it's solid, tangible wealth.

If we calculate it that way, coming up with a five-hundred-million-US-dollar investment is no problem for Jiang Heng.

It's just that his courage is too great—spending that much money on a single film, if he loses money, several years of work would go to waste.

Huayi Company—Wang Zhonglei sighed and said, "This Jiang Heng, his courage is truly enormous; he actually dares to invest that much!"

Chen Guofu, sitting opposite him, took a sip of tea and laughed, saying, "Really, he does have that kind of capital. I heard his *League of Legends* made over ten billion in revenue last year!"

Upon hearing that, Wang Zhonglei's expression turned to shock; he held his teacup midair, motionless, and asked, "Over ten billion? That much?"

Chen Guofu nodded firmly, "Indeed, he has that much—it's like a money-printing machine!"

Hearing that, Wang Zhonglei grew even more annoyed: "Jiang Heng, being skilled at making movies is one thing, but casually throwing together a game and being that good too!"

(End of chapter)