The Best Entertainment Era

The box was quiet, as if isolated from the hustle and bustle of the outside world, only Stan Lee's not too loud voice sounded: I have been away from Marvel for a long time, and I seldom participate in Marvel's affairs. Recently, Marvel's management is not very clear. , I just remember that in the past few years, Marvel has survived by selling copyrights and sharing revenue from film adaptations.

Bernard Eisinger echoed Stan Lee's words: Movie revenue is a very important part of any comic book company today.

Joan Clare-Lee said: I heard that many comic companies are counting on the revenue sharing of film and television adaptations to maintain.

Marvel also attaches great importance to this. Bernard Eichinger said naturally: Recently, people from Marvel Entertainment have been urging for two X-Men series at 20th Century Fox. The revenue share for the first half of the film ... Oh, yes, and Sony Columbia Pictures, the revenue share of the Spider-Man movie is even higher.

Stan Lee somewhat understands the status quo of the comics market: Relying solely on the publication of comics, the income is too low. He looked at Bernard Isinger: You are at 20th Century Fox, if you can, help Marvel a little bit more. .”

Bernard Eisinger said with a smile: One of my tasks in New York this time is to get Marvel Entertainment to sign the second revenue share of X-Men 2.

Stan Lee took the water glass from Joan Clare Lee, took a sip, and said, Thank you.

You are too polite. Bernard Eisinger said: Stan, to put it bluntly, the current Marvel Entertainment is no longer the former Marvel.

Stan Lee shook his head: No matter how the equity changes, it is Marvel after all.

Bernard Essinger said specifically: Stan, don't worry, the share has already arrived at Marvel Entertainment's account today.

Keya Morgan, who had been silent all this time, suddenly interjected: Did the film share arrive? Or is it the second payment? Why hasn't Marvel Entertainment notified me and Stan?

Stan Lee looks to his lawyers and business representatives.

Keya-Morgan added: No, nothing.

Bernard Essinger deliberately put on a very curious gesture: You are talking about...

Oh, that's what happened. Keya Morgan said simply: Marvel signed an agreement with Stan back then. If every character that Stan initiates and creates is made into a movie or TV series, he will get a contract from Marvel Corporation. 10 percent of the profits derived therefrom.

It must have been too long, and after being reminded by the lawyer, Stan Lee remembered: It seems that there is such an agreement.

At the right time, Bernard Eisinger asked: So that includes Spider-Man and the X-Men?

Keya-Morgan replied: Yes, absolutely.

Bernard Essinger seemed not to have heard what Keya Morgan said before, and asked again: Spider-Man's box office and peripherals are selling well. X-Men paid a lot of share to Marvel Entertainment, Stan You should also get a lot, right? There are still dividends after retirement, which is enviable.

Stan Lee looked at Keya Morgan and asked, Is there?

Keya Morgan replied very definitely: No!

No? Bernard Eichinger's face was full of surprise: Why not? As far as I know, Sony Columbia Pictures has paid Marvel three times for the Spider-Man film share, Spider-Man 2 Also paid once, Twentieth Century Fox...

Stan Lee rubbed his forehead, and before he could speak, Joan Clare Lee said: Marvel never mentioned this to us! Never!

Bernard Eisinger said quickly, Sorry, I don't know much about it.

Stan Lee waved his hand: It's okay.

Joan Clare Lee asked, Father, is Marvel going to renege on this?

It shouldn't be. Although Stan Lee left Marvel, the relationship with Marvel management is not bad: Maybe Marvel is more difficult in terms of funds.

But they can't deprive us of our legal income, Joan Clea Lee screeched.

Hearing his daughter's voice suddenly raised, Stan Lee reminded: This is my legal income.

Yes, it's yours. Joan Clare Lee never quarreled with Stan Lee in front of outsiders: Father, I am concerned about the protection of your rights.

Keya Morgan chimed in: Marvel Entertainment is in default.

The assistant's cell phone rang, and after connecting it, he said something, and then handed it to Bernard Eisinger. Bernard Eisinger stood up and went outside to answer the phone, and soon returned to the box.

For some things, it is enough for him, an outsider, to bring up the topic, and for others, the people around Stan Lee need to work hard.

Therefore, Bernard Eisinger timely offered to leave on the grounds that he had something to do temporarily.

Inside the box, it became the three of Stan Lee again.

Stan Lee asked directly: Koya, hasn't Marvel contacted you about the split?

No. Keya Morgan said without hesitation: Never.

Although his feelings for Marvel are extremely deep, Stan Lee is still quite uncomfortable when it comes to huge revenue sharing.

This is human nature, and everyone will have emotions.

Joan Clare Lee couldn't wait to say: Father, your legal rights have been violated!

Stan Lee remained silent, feeling rather complicated, and for a while did not know how to resolve this dispute that would inevitably cause trouble.

The box office of Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2 is frighteningly high, and it is said that the income from peripheral products has exceeded the box office. Seeing that there are no outsiders, Stan Lee hesitated in silence again, and Joan Clare-Lee was anxious: There are two more. The first X-Men, Universal Pictures' Hulk, Marvel Entertainment owes us too much!

She went on and on: We can't just let it go, this is more money than my trust fund...

Hearing Joan Clare Lee's words, Keya Morgan quickly gave her a hint with his eyes.

It was only a short time before Joan Clea Lee was about to say that she needed money to buy a big house.

Joan Clare Lee has been gnawing for so many years, gnawed out experience and wisdom, and quickly shut up.

Keya Morgan, as a lawyer, is much smarter than Joan Clare Lee: Stan, we can't pretend this didn't happen.

Stan Lee said: I'm old, maybe Marvel thinks I'm useless.

This has nothing to do with age. Keya Morgan continued: Marvel has dozens of well-known superheroes, and your legal rights are involved. If we back down this time, Marvel Entertainment may treat you as the original author who never existed. , All subsequent gains are suppressed, and our future losses may reach tens of millions of dollars.

Stan Lee trusted Keya Morgan so much, he asked, What do you want to do?

Joan Clare Lee almost couldn't help speaking out again, but under the gaze of Keya Morgan, he finally maintained a rare silence.

Keya Morgan said: Tomorrow I will send a letter to Marvel Entertainment, and then contact Avi Arach to have an interview with him. If Marvel Entertainment still ignores our legal rights, we can only resolve it through legal channels. .”

Stan Lee frowned slightly: I have worked in Marvel for more than 50 years, this is not good.

Joan Clare Lee finally couldn't help it anymore: They don't care about you, why do you care about their feelings? If they really value you, they will withhold your salary or not give it? Did they forget? Is it possible?

You signed a contract with Marvel. Keya Morgan said: This is because Marvel Entertainment breached the contract. We just took up legal weapons to protect our legal rights.

It's their fault, Joan Clea Lee said.

Stan Lee thought for a while, and said to the female lawyer: Keya, you will be solely responsible for this matter.

Okay. Keya Morgan responded naturally.

Stan Lee reminded his uneasy daughter: Don't participate, be calm, the current Marvel Entertainment is not the previous Marvel.

Joan Clare Lee was not reconciled, but after Keya Morgan reminded her with his eyes, he said, I see.

With such an accident, Stan Lee lost interest in watching the drama, stood up and said, No, let's go back.

Keya Morgan raised his arm: Don't worry, I'll take care of it tomorrow.

Joan Clare Lee followed, thinking about how much he could get after the hundreds of thousands of dollars from 20th Century Fox?

The two drove Stan Lee home and got into the same car outside the apartment building.

What are you going to do? Joan Clare Lee asked.

Keya Morgan said calmly: Send a lawyer's letter to Marvel Entertainment, and then sue them in Stan's name.

Joan Clare Lee asked again: Won't Marvel Entertainment give it directly?

No. Keya Morgan said: Maybe Marvel's new parent company doesn't know the situation, but Marvel's management must know about it, at least Avi Arad knows, but has been holding back. Give, why? As you said, forgetting is impossible, and it’s not an excuse, the only reason is that the management of Marvel Entertainment doesn’t want to give it!”

Joan Clare Lee finally said something very sensible: When people retire, their influence is gone.

Marvel probably thinks that Stan is not in good health, and Stan may not be around after a few years. Keya-Morgan believes that this possibility is quite large: When Stan is gone, the money may be saved.

Joan Clare Lee said: They thought well! And me!

Keya Morgan smiled, but did not speak, because Stan Lee did not authorize Joan Claire Lee, and if that happened, the follow-up would be very troublesome.

He won't let Marvel go, right? Joan Claire Lee was worried.

Keya Morgan said: Absolutely not, with me here, he won't give up.