Chapter 357: The War Between Sauron and Galadriel

Ever since Harry Potter Studio was established, a prolonged promotional campaign had helped the Harry Potter series shine across Europe and the Americas. Just as many critics had noted, the books might lack great literary value, but they perfectly captured market demand. Their daydream-like narratives not only captivated minors but also wielded massive influence among young adults.

All the market data indicated that the time to adapt the series to film had arrived.

Although letting the hype ferment for a few more years might yield an even more explosive result, Harry Potter Studio had already poured massive capital and resources into the series. Capital inherently existed to chase profit; from Duke Studio to Warner Bros., everyone wanted to see a return as quickly as possible.

After Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions were greenlit, preparations for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone were also placed on the agenda.

Duke had flown back to Los Angeles from Sydney precisely to finalize the film's most critical details.

As an incoming investor and producer, as well as a top-tier director who consistently proved his cinematic eye, Time Warner Group strongly requested that Duke participate in the series' preparation and production.

Joanne Rowling, the other key figure of the franchise, had also arrived in Los Angeles from London. When Duke once again saw the author and single mother—whose journey was nothing short of inspirational—he noticed a monumental shift in her demeanor. Her past caution was entirely gone, replaced by obvious confidence and shrewdness.

Anyone with Joanne Rowling's current fame would undergo a similar change.

Rowling's transformation was partly due to her own continuous efforts, but opportunity mattered more. She was effectively the new generation's top publishing star, manufactured by Time Warner Group's massive media resources.

"Jo, you look even more beautiful."

Walking into Harry Potter Studio in the Warner Building, Duke shook hands with Joanne Rowling, greeted Doug Walter, Robin Grande, and the others, then took a seat alongside Tina Fey.

The people seated here would form the initial decision-making core for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, resolving everything from investment scale to the choice of director.

Among them, Joanne Rowling's speaking weight had increased the most.

This was perfectly normal. Just like it had been for Duke, rising status and influence naturally brought an increase in power.

Even if Duke and Warner wouldn't follow all her opinions, they still had to grant her appropriate respect.

Rowling and Warner also shared a tacit understanding in certain areas—such as their persistent desire to have Duke direct the series.

"Duke..."

Joanne Rowling made no effort to hide her thoughts. "I think you are the most suitable candidate for director."

Doug Walter immediately agreed. "You know, Duke, that has always been my position as well."

"Jo, Doug, you've both seen my schedule. I have to direct The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and I'm producing Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions..."

Before Duke could finish, Doug Walter interjected, "And Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. You must be the producer."

If possible, Doug Walter would have wanted him to produce every single Warner Bros. film.

"A person's energy is limited." Duke spread his hands helplessly. "I can't put all my focus on Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and I'm just not suited for the family-friendly style..."

None of his excuses were as persuasive as that last sentence. Joanne Rowling and Doug Walter exchanged a glance and temporarily fell silent.

As the future production manager who would oversee the crew, Robin Grande spoke up at the right moment. "I think I have a say in this. I've worked with Duke since Speed, and his style really isn't cut out for family-friendly movies."

"Everyone, you've all seen my films," Duke added smoothly. "If I make Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone PG-13, it's bound to cause a lot of trouble."

Doug Walter frowned and sighed. "Duke, you're the director who gives us the most confidence..."

With the conversation reaching this point, a clear consensus had formed. The people sitting here weren't fools. Duke had never produced a G or PG-rated film, and even his PG-13 projects were extremely rare. Most of his released works were R-rated.

The rating was crucial for a project like Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

"Rowling, what's your opinion?" Doug Walter looked toward Joanne Rowling.

Jeff Robinov was already confirmed to transfer to Time Warner as executive president once his term ended. If he wanted to vie for the CEO position, Duke and Rowling were his most important pillars of support.

"It's a genuine shame that Duke cannot serve as director," Joanne Rowling said thoughtfully. "I think Director Spielberg would be a good candidate."

The two works that had truly pushed Spielberg onto his pedestal were quintessential family-friendly films.

Looking across all of Hollywood, Spielberg was indeed a highly suitable director for Harry Potter, but Duke didn't want to see him take the job.

"I object." Duke was a businessman as well as a director, and he immediately offered a reason compelling enough to make Warner back off from Spielberg. "DreamWorks is in considerable trouble right now, and Spielberg has been looking for the right project to save them from their slump. What if he demands a stake in the film's investment?"

That wouldn't affect Rowling, but it would certainly impact him and Warner Bros.

With almost no hesitation, Doug Walter took Duke's side. "Jo, I think we need to be cautious."

Joanne Rowling was no fool, and the agent sitting next to her offered a timely nudge. She immediately understood that this touched on Hollywood factional politics, so she dropped the subject.

"The film's production budget is as high as 130 million dollars."

Such a figure was enough to make anyone cautious, ruling out directors without sufficient qualifications entirely. Therefore, Robin Grande said, "We need a director with enough successful experience to take the helm."

"Let me recommend someone." Duke, of course, remembered the name of that director. "Does everyone remember the Home Alone series?"

Doug Walter immediately understood Duke's implication. "You mean Chris Columbus?"

Duke nodded. "He's been Hollywood's most successful family-friendly director since the nineties began."

This was only a proposal. Without conducting proper vetting and negotiations, Duke and Warner wouldn't be foolish enough to finalize a director. After all, making a suggestion was one thing; whether Chris Columbus would accept was another.

Securing a director for a production with such a massive investment couldn't be settled with just a few words.

Afterward, other Warner executives suggested Tim Robbins and Casper's director, Brad Silberling. Both were added to the candidate shortlist.

Having confirmed the investment scale and listed the directorial candidates, the meeting shifted to an equally important and vastly more divisive topic—the film's shooting location!

The primary clash was between Rowling and Harry Potter Studio.

"I insist that the film be shot in Britain." Joanne Rowling's attitude was quite firm. "And the lead roles must all go to British actors."

Duke glanced at the heavily frowning Doug Walter and realized this wasn't the first time the two sides had clashed over the issue.

Doug Walter, in turn, looked at Duke, clearly hoping he could persuade Joanne Rowling.

Truthfully, Duke was completely dismissive of Rowling's demands. The film's investment was colossal; shooting in English-speaking countries like Australia, New Zealand, or Canada would save the production a substantial amount through tax incentives alone. As for insisting the lead actors be British...

One could only say that while literature and film had no borders, writers and directors certainly did.

Whether the actors were British was of no concern to Duke. The Harry Potter series was a classic case of characters making the actors. Once the franchise concluded, the value of those leads would plummet, and they might spend their entire lives failing to shake off the labels it stamped on them.

Those former child actors were undeniably memorable, but it ultimately didn't matter who was missing from the cast. Without the Daniel Radcliffes or Emma Watsons of the world, Harry Potter would still be Harry Potter.

Besides, the actors Joanne Rowling originally handpicked had basically all grown up unappealing. Including the main trio, they had practically become Hollywood's textbook examples of child stars maturing awkwardly.

And that wasn't even the main issue. As they aged, those three leads' acting skills never improved; instead, they continually regressed. Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint aside, even Emma Watson, whom countless people regarded highly, basically had zero acting chops. It eventually reached a point where audiences begged for someone to teach them how to actually act.

Recalling those three leads, Duke suddenly realized that Emma Watson was practically a British clone of Natalie Portman. Her media reputation was always decent, but an observant person would easily notice that the sheer number of boyfriends she dated, and the rapid frequency with which she swapped them, were well above the normal Hollywood standard.

The noble and pure goddesses of this industry were nothing more than fan fantasies.

Duke believed that if he hadn't come to Los Angeles, and had just stayed over there watching for a few more years, he would have seen far more exciting gossip regarding Emma Watson. Her acting career would have either displayed a constant downward spiral or she would have stripped off her clothes in an effort to transition her image.

Hollywood's teen idols inevitably walked that path; some just succeeded, while others failed.

However, given the deep brand of Hermione on Emma Watson and her utterly atrocious acting, barring a miracle, her life's highest peak would always be Hermione Granger.

These thoughts flashed rapidly through his mind. Duke turned back to Joanne Rowling. He could agree to demands like shooting the film in Britain, but empty words possessed no persuasive power.