Chapter 485: I'll Bring My Own Truck and Run Him Over

"Although I'd quite like to, I probably won't have time, Uncle Long. I've been quite busy since returning to the country." Zhou Yi, determined to decline, promptly pulled Jiang Wen out as a shield.

"Are you really not going to consider it, A-Yi? Disney can offer you extremely high compensation. I can help you negotiate further; six million US dollars is quite possible." Cheng Long sounded somewhat surprised.

You must understand, this is Disney, a true giant.

Zhou Yi had already formed a connection with Disney through "Pirates of the Caribbean"; wouldn't doing this again be adding kinship to kinship?

"Forget it, I'll tell you the truth, Uncle Long."

"You don't know, Disney has too many rules, especially for such a big production..." Zhou Yi complained about the flaws of these big companies, complaining about the long list of conditions producer Jerry had initially proposed to him.

He was able to secure "Pirates of the Caribbean" because the original score was excellent, but the score for the film "Around the World in 80 Days" was not excellent. With his current status, bringing it out would only result in Disney pinning him to the ground and tormenting him over and over again.

If he changed to other songs, he didn't know if Disney would be satisfied; if they weren't satisfied, he'd have to change them again and again.

He didn't want to work overtime; it wasn't worth it.

"Forget this money, I won't take it; I prefer peace and quiet. You know, I'm not short of money."

Wu Yanzu, who had been sitting quietly nearby, almost spat out the champagne in his mouth—

What the hell, this is a small amount of money!

Six million US dollars counts as—oh, it seems he really isn't short of money...

Thinking carefully about this person's terrifying track record, the copyright licensing income from his albums probably exceeded that figure alone...

Cheng Long, who understood how stubborn Disney was regarding control, also understood Zhou Yi's sincere complaint.

Given Zhou Yi's personality, it was normal that after suffering once, he wouldn't want to be a doormat again.

"In that case, are you interested in acting? I'm planning to return to the country to shoot a new film called 'New Police Story'." Regarding the issue of control, having understood Zhou Yi's concerns, Cheng Long switched to another topic.

In terms of importance, "New Police Story" is his major project for next year.

Because many people had requested him to return to Hong Kong to shoot it, and he himself wanted to consolidate his domestic base, after some negotiations, he naturally agreed.

For this, he also prepared to co-found a new company with Yang, the big boss of Ying Huang, in Hong Kong in two or three months; the first film the new company would release would be this "New Police Story".

That is why he wanted to invite Zhou Yi.

"No, wouldn't my acting on the big screen just be pure comedy?"

Zhou Yi waved his hand and flatly refused: "I'd better not go up there and make a fool of myself."

"I thought your acting in the music video 'In the Name of the Father' wasn't bad?" Cheng Long had obviously done his homework.

"That was tortured out by Jiang Wen; I'm not going to endure that suffering again."

Zhou Yi had a very clear understanding of his own tolerance for hardship.

Although Cheng Long had initially helped him break into the European and American markets on his own initiative, even when he had no English achievements to back him up, he acknowledged this favor. But he really didn't want to touch acting, especially Hong Kong cinema which demands such intensity.

Making a cameo as an extra, appearing as an Easter egg, that would be fine.

For instance, appearing directly under his real name, then holding a concert in Hong Kong or something similar.

Wu Yanzu, who was still a complete unknown, felt increasingly uncomfortable the more he listened...

Is this Zhou Yi's treatment?

He had secured the villain role of A-Zu in "New Police Story" only because he had signed with Cheng Long's company and had trained his acting skills for several years, yet Zhou Yi, who had no real big-screen experience, had the freedom to pick and choose roles at will.

He had no doubt that if Zhou Yi had taken a liking to his A-Zu, Cheng Long would have immediately handed over the contract.

Although Cheng Long was reluctant, because he knew Zhou Yi's personality very well, he temporarily dropped the topic and started chatting about romance and leisure again.

The old pervert who was also having a great time with female stars in Hollywood had quite a bit of insight when it came to critiquing them.

Until the banquet ended, Cheng Long, carrying his only regret, returned to his hotel and met with his agent—

"How did it go?"

"Not really. A-Yi truly doesn't want to act; it's not fake."

"If we want to invite him to appear just to add some hype, I'm afraid the only option is a cameo as an extra. But that would require redesigning an extra role that could catch people's eye; can this be added to the script?"

For his work returning to the domestic market after so many years, Cheng Long was very responsible. The reason he so strongly wanted to invite Zhou Yi was that Zhou Yi's box office drawing power in the domestic market had already been proven once by "Hero".

He really could expand the box office base.

But after the so-called "good songs, bad movies" public opinion, inviting Zhou Yi to write a song separately would likely lose its appeal to fans.

After hearing Cheng Long explain everything in detail, his agent suddenly slapped his thigh—"That's not right, don't we just happen to have a role that can serve as an Easter egg? That truck driver."

At the end of the "New Police Story" script, to embody a sense of fate—or rather, drama—the screenwriter arranged a scene of a convenience store robbery—

The father of the male second lead was run over and killed by a large truck because he stole bread to feed his child.

A very simple scene.

If the male second lead's father needed a bit of acting, then this truck driver, who didn't even need to show his face in the script, was a pure extra who needed no acting skills at all.

"Zhou Yi is actually a law student; cameoing in such a role in the movie could add even more dramatic conflict."

"... Hiss."

Cheng Long thought carefully for a moment; it actually made some sense?

But...

"But is this time commitment a bit too small? Zhou Yi is such a big star..." The agent, realizing this belatedly, lacked confidence.

Even if Zhou Yi himself was willing, Warner Bros. would probably not release him, unless Zhou Yi himself expressed a very strong willingness.

So, here comes the question: how to make Zhou Yi firmly decide to come for a cameo?

Suddenly, Cheng Long thought of some past news, thought of some of Zhou Yi's comments.

Three minutes later, it was already morning in the Imperial Capital.

Jiang Wen, who was eating, received a call from Cheng Long; the other party was inviting him to cameo in next year's new film—a minor character father who, after stealing something to feed his child, was instead run over and killed by a car.

"Sure, no problem, it's a piece of cake."

Jiang Wen laughed heartily.

Anyway, he had nothing to do and was bored; helping out with a movie cameo was something he was very familiar with.

"Cheng Long's new movie? You're going to make a cameo?"

At home, Jiang Wu, who had come to visit his older brother, heard this and exclaimed in surprise: "Isn't he in Hollywood?"

"Hong Kong is facing a shortage of talent; they just want him to come back and lend some prestige. The company has already finalized the plan."

Jiang Wen, cracking melon seeds, smiled and said indifferently: "It's just a minor role of a few minutes. I've been cooped up at home for so long, it's a bit stifling. I'll just treat it as a trip to relax."

He still loved the film set.

Just consider it a change of mood.

Thirteen minutes later, in New York, Zhou Yi, having just finished the victory banquet, received a call from Cheng Long.

"Hello?"

Slightly tipsy, Zhou Yi returned to his hotel suite and, under Scarlett's service, took off his coat: "What did you say?! A cameo as a truck driver, opposite Jiang Wen???"

Scarlett Johansson, who was about to fill the bathtub, was drawn by Zhou Yi's suddenly raised voice. Where her gaze fell, the latter sat upright on the sofa with a carp leap—

"No problem! I can go! I can even bring my own truck to ram him!"

(End of this chapter)