Chapter 347: Forty Pairs of Long Legs

"Have you read the original book, Cate?"

Pulling his gaze from the white clouds outside the corporate jet, Duke looked at Cate Blanchett sitting opposite him. "If you have, you'll understand why I said Queen Galadriel is one of my favorite characters."

Cate Blanchett tucked a stray strand of blonde hair behind her ear, a faint smile gracing her distinctively contoured face. "Of course I have. It's essential preparation for an actor. Still, I don't quite understand why you like her so much. I think Aragorn and Gandalf are both great, and even among the elves, King Elrond is a good choice."

"Galadriel has the ability to see into people's hearts. She is incredibly merciful and understanding, yet slightly arrogant and willful."

Duke picked up his coffee cup, took a sip, and set it down. "She is the leader of the Noldor elves and the last of them remaining in Middle-earth. She conquered her desire for power and territory, withstanding the temptation of the One Ring..."

"Is there more?" Blanchett asked.

"She loves all the just and good things in this world," Duke said.

Blanchett tilted her head, studying Duke thoughtfully. After a moment, she said, "But I get the feeling that isn't the main reason you like this character."

"The main reason?" Duke tapped his finger lightly against the coffee cup resting in its holder. "All right, I admit it. The main reason is that Queen Galadriel is a female elf!"

Duke raised an eyebrow at Blanchett, as if asking if she was satisfied. Blanchett let out a soft, clear laugh that drew the curiosity of Nancy, who glanced back from her seat near the front.

She quickly turned back around, however. Duke was her most important client; as long as he was happy, these female clients were of little consequence.

"Judging from some of the descriptions in the book, if you count the time she lived in Aman," Cate Blanchett joked, "Queen Galadriel should be around eight thousand years old..."

"That is a problem." Duke pinched his chin, pretending to consider it seriously. "When I was writing the first draft of the script outline, I actually considered pairing her up with Gandalf."

"Her and Gandalf?" Cate Blanchett's eyes widened. "Was there a romance between them?"

"No, but some of the descriptions do make it easy for the imagination to run wild," Duke replied.

Hearing this, Blanchett quickly asked, "Which parts? Why didn't I notice that when I read the book?"

Duke dropped his joking tone and switched to a theatrical cadence. "In Lothlorien, in the Golden Forest, in that wood rarely visited by mortals, few have ever seen that light, that eternal, dazzling, and unyielding light. Galadriel! Galadriel! Clear is the water of your well, white is the star in your white hand, unmarred and noble is the forest. In Lothlorien, in the Golden Forest, in that beautiful wood beyond mortal understanding..."

As his aria-like recitation came to an end, Duke looked at Cate Blanchett. "Your esteemed Majesty, once we arrive in Sydney, will I have the honor of inviting you to a party?"

"A party?" Cate Blanchett asked in confusion.

Duke broke into a warm, enthusiastic smile. "May I have your contact information? I can give you a call."

After hesitating for a few seconds, Cate Blanchett opened her handbag, took out a business card containing only her name and a phone number, and handed it over.

As for the details and the time of the party, Duke didn't specify, because such a party didn't actually exist yet.

The plane landed in Sydney. After walking out of Smith International Airport, Duke saw Cate Blanchett off before getting into the waiting car. Nancy Josephson climbed into the same vehicle.

"Nancy, I recall there are quite a few Australian actors working in Hollywood," Duke said.

Nancy nodded immediately. "Yes. Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Naomi Watts, Russell Crowe..."

Duke thought for a moment before adding, "Before we leave Sydney, organize a party. Hmm... under the guise of hosting Warner Brothers' management. We can also extend invitations to Hollywood's Australian Gang..."

Nancy Josephson immediately understood his intent. "I'm on it."

Since Wellington wasn't too far from Sydney, the flight hadn't taken much time. Once the car arrived at the Hilton Grand Hotel in Sydney, Duke went straight to a reception room to meet with Doug Walter, who was there on an inspection tour.

Accompanying Doug Walter and the other Warner Bros. executives was Zack Snyder, who had arrived earlier.

"Zack?"

After sitting down, Duke first looked at his deputy. Zack Snyder was about to strike out on his own as an independent director.

"Doug and I have already toured the city of Sydney," Zack Snyder said.

Glancing at Doug Walter, Zack Snyder adopted Duke's habit of getting straight to the point. "I believe the latter two films should still be shot in Sydney and the Fox Lot. For one, Sydney's architecture better fits the crew's requirements. Second, the Sydney City Hall has guaranteed us access to a newly constructed highway for filming."

Doug Walter sighed. "I still hope the crew can head to Warner Movie World on the Gold Coast."

"If we go there, how do we solve the highway issue?"

This was going to be his first time independently directing a blockbuster, and Zack Snyder didn't want any surprises. "We contacted Queensland, and they refused to provide a highway. Meanwhile, not only is the highway Sydney is offering brand new, but they are only charging a nominal maintenance and rental fee."

"But here, we'd have to rent the soundstages at the Fox Lot," Doug Walter stuck to his opinion. "Ever since the studio facilities at Warner Movie World were completed, they've been lacking a heavyweight production to move in..."

This clearly wasn't the first time the two had argued over this. After listening for a moment, Duke raised a hand to cut them off.

He waved to the side. Tina Fey stood up and handed a large document envelope to Doug Walter.

"This is the calculation I had someone run for the highway expenses," Duke said as concisely as possible, watching him open it. "If we shoot in Queensland and can't find a suitable highway, we'll have to build one ourselves. Tina specifically had someone calculate the cost based on Queensland's labor rates. The estimate comes to around fifteen million dollars. Leasing one in Sydney, on the other hand, will only cost three hundred thousand dollars."

Cost control was a vital factor every commercial enterprise had to consider. As the controlling shareholder of Duke Studio and a major shareholder holding nearly eight percent of Warner Bros. stock, Duke certainly couldn't ignore it.

"There's also the matter of taxes," Duke added bluntly. "Doug, I understand your desire to rely on a heavyweight film to put Warner Movie World on the map. But have you ever wondered why Hollywood crews are unwilling to go to Queensland, where labor is cheaper, and instead choose the Fox Lot in Sydney?"

Doug Walter put the documents down. "Tax incentives."

"New South Wales, where Sydney is located, can provide a 12.5 percent tax rebate for the film," Zack Snyder chimed in. "Queensland only offers four percent!"

"So, Doug."

Duke stood up, walked over to the map in the reception room, and looked at Queensland on the map of Australia. "The first thing Warner needs to do is figure out how to convince Queensland to give more tax incentives to crews going to Warner Movie World. If they can offer the same tax treatment as Sydney, we'll definitely go shoot where the labor is cheaper."

Sitting there, Doug Walter fell silent for a moment before finally nodding.

Zack Snyder breathed a sigh of relief. Unless absolutely necessary, he didn't want to butt heads with Warner Bros. executives either. Besides, rumor had it that Jeff Robinov was highly likely to be transferred to Time Warner to serve as the group's president, and Doug Walter had the highest chance of taking over as CEO of Warner Bros.

Duke had flown to Sydney from New Zealand specifically to resolve the disagreement between Doug Walter and Zack Snyder.

Although Warner Bros. had accepted his proposal and agreed to let Zack Snyder direct the latter two films of The Matrix, they certainly wouldn't give Zack as much creative control and authority as they had given Duke.

Having worked together for so many years, the two were good friends. Zack Snyder had been deeply influenced by him, and Duke had faith in his abilities. Otherwise, he wouldn't have handed the remaining two films over to him instead of seeking out that pair of brothers.

The total investment for the final two films of The Matrix reached a staggering 250 million dollars, and they would be shot back-to-back.

Doug Walter had some objections regarding this approach as well, but he generally trusted Duke's cinematic vision; his concerns weren't directed at Zack Snyder.

"Duke, I think we need to hurry up and finish the second movie first."

Seeming a bit anxious, Doug Walter stood up and paced a few steps. "The fans of The Matrix are too crazy. After hearing there was no news of Warner Bros. releasing a Matrix sequel in the next two years, over a thousand of them gathered to blockade the Warner Building in protest. Even Duke Manor got surrounded. If you hadn't been away from Malibu, you definitely would've been hounded by their petitions."

Turning back around, Duke smiled helplessly. The Matrix, which he had appropriately spiced up, had an influence that far exceeded its original counterpart, forging a massive legion of fanatic fans.

"The anticipation for a sequel has already been pushed to incredible heights by the fans," Doug Walter continued. "If we launch a sequel in a timely manner, it's bound to trigger a frenzy in the market and alleviate the pressure Warner Bros. is under."

Frowning slightly, Duke considered it for a moment. This was indeed an objective reality.

"Doug, I have a proposal. Doesn't Warner Bros. have an animation studio? We can produce an animated film that expands on the world-building. This will satisfy the fans' demands, continue driving merchandise sales, and simultaneously boost the promotion for the sequels."

Doug Walter thought for a second and said, "That's a great idea. I'll get in touch with Los Angeles tonight."

The two sides discussed a few more details before today's meeting came to an end.

As they walked out of the reception room, Duke invited Doug Walter, "I'm planning to throw a party..."