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Chapter 1478: Riding the Wave  

Spider-Man 2 was about to hit theaters, and all the underlying issues were slowly bubbling to the surface.  

What the outside world didn’t know yet: Sony Columbia was already drafting scripts for a third and fourth installment.  

In other words, regardless of how the second film performed at the box office, the sequels were a done deal. This was the cornerstone of Sony Columbia’s five-year plan—a heavy hitter they were banking on, with spinoff projects orbiting the Spider-Man franchise. They’d modeled it all after Warner Bros.’ playbook.  

Warner had leaned on juggernauts like Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and The Matrix to anchor their slate, fueling rapid growth and claiming the top spot among Hollywood studios. Sony Columbia wanted a piece of that golden age for themselves, and they were borrowing the blueprint.  

So, it was set in stone—  

No matter what happened, no matter the circumstances, the Spider-Man follow-ups were moving forward. New director, new cast—didn’t matter. It was happening.  

Naturally, Amy Pascal and Michael Lynton, the two big shots, were jockeying to steer the Spider-Man sequel train. Whoever came out on top would likely snag the CEO chair. It wasn’t a lock, but it was damn close.  

The board had their eyes glued to this fight, after all.  

Spider-Man was the hill both sides were ready to die on.  

But reality? It was a little messier.  

With Spider-Man 2 still a ways off from release, talks about the third film’s cast and crew were already heating up.  

One big question loomed: Anson.  

Would they keep him as Peter Parker for Part 3?  

For Amy, there was no fallback. She was all-in with Anson—her success or failure tied to him completely.  

Michael, though? He had options. He could play offense or defense.  

He could stick with Anson, woo him over—after all, in business, “no permanent enemies, only permanent interests” was gospel. But if Michael wanted to take Amy down head-on, cement his own power base at Sony Columbia, and topple her, ditching Anson was the sharpest, deadliest move.  

So, Michael’s judgment, his watch-and-wait game, his next step—it could very well shape Sony Columbia’s future. At the same time, how he handled this mess was his audition to prove he could hack it as CEO.  

But the rank-and-file employees and mid-level execs saw things differently from the top brass.  

To them, it was simple: Anson was Team Amy, Michael was Anti-Anson. Lines were drawn, camps were clear.  

That’s why every move Anson made drew scrutiny. Sony Columbia, top to bottom, was watching like hawks.  

Now, with Warner Records locking Anson into that historic deal, hot on the heels of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, his influence was spiking—not just in North America but globally. This superstar’s wattage was undeniable, and for Michael’s camp, it was bad news.  

Last summer, they’d tried to swap Anson out and got burned by fan backlash. That plan flopped hard. If they didn’t play this smart and pissed Anson off again without a solid strategy, Michael might not survive a second failure.  

The tide was turning toward Amy Pascal.  

No wonder the conference room felt heavy with tension right now.  

But was it really that straightforward?  

Michael Lynton sat there, a faint smile tugging at his lips. No one could pin down what he was thinking. That grin was a mask, hiding him perfectly, his calm confidence yanking the room’s restless energy back to earth.  

“No need to do anything. We just ride the wave—go with the flow.”  

“Right now, Ms. Pascal’s probably scrambling to hype Anson up. We don’t need to stop her—no, we should look like we’re trying to stop her. Act furious, anxious, desperate. Make them think we’re terrified of where this is heading.”  

“But behind the scenes? We fan the flames. Push Anson’s momentum to new heights.”  

“I recall Anson pitched a premiere idea. We’ll voice our ‘concerns’—but in the end, you’ll ‘override’ me, greenlight it behind my back because you couldn’t sway Pascal.”  

“We keep spending. We keep playing along. Don’t skimp on the promo budget. Anson wants to be the genius driving this campaign? Fine—let him shine as the superhero everyone’s watching.”  

“We don’t just go along—we spend big. No need to pinch pennies for him.”  

In short: overpraise him to death.  

Right now, the world’s eyes were locked on Spider-Man 2.  

On one hand, the first Spider-Man had set an insane bar—expectations for the sequel were sky-high from the jump.  

On the other, Anson’s star power was massive. He was practically Hollywood’s top dog, every move shaking the industry—  

And not just with fans. Insiders were hooked too.  

Naturally, the hype had gone off the charts, then off the charts again.  

With all these factors colliding, people were waiting for another miracle.  

But miracles don’t come cheap. If they happened every other day, they’d just be background noise, not miracles.  

For any other movie, $200 million or even $300 million in North America would be a triumph worth shouting about. For Spider-Man 2? Maybe not.  

Plus, they were pouring more and more into marketing, jacking up costs. That was a hurdle to profits. For every million bucks spent on promotion, people might expect $10 million—or even $30 million—in extra box office haul.  

Truth is, those marketing calls were all Sony Columbia’s doing—Anson had no say. But with him riding this wave, everyone just assumed it was his burden, pinning the costs and the payoff on him. They expected his pull to make it all worth it.  

That’s human nature for you.  

If it underperformed, Michael would be ready to settle the score.  

So, when Warner Records and Anson stirred up this storm, Michael wasn’t fazed—he welcomed it.  

Perfect timing!  

And that’s exactly why they needed to throw Amy’s camp off. Quietly stoke the fire while pretending everything was going to plan for her—then let her eat the fallout.  

Whispers and murmurs rippled through the room as people started hashing it out. Then someone looked at Michael and piped up.  

“But what if the movie’s a hit? Wouldn’t we just be shooting ourselves in the foot—handing them a win?”  

In an instant, silence. Every chatter, every rustle—snuffed out. 

Chapter 1479: A Web of Heaven and Earth 

In an instant, the room falls dead silent. The air in the meeting room tightens like a strung bow. 

The voice that asked the question falters, a flicker of hesitation clear as day. He swallows hard and tacks on a quick follow-up. 

“I mean, what if. What if!” 

“Because, you know…” 

The words barely start before he realizes he might’ve just cracked open Pandora’s box. He cuts himself off, body rigid, holding his breath. 

Michael Lynton’s still all smiles, his fingers pausing their light tap on the table. He’s calm, unrushed, picking up the thread to finish the thought. 

“Because it’s Anson Wood.” 

“Because he’s pulled off miracle after miracle. Even a Charlie Kaufman script somehow raked in a hundred million in North America. What’s impossible for him?” 

“Right?” 

The room collectively shivers. 

Michael’s still grinning, but the vibe’s ice-cold. 

He shakes his head lightly. “No need to worry. These are just facts. If I couldn’t even see that much, what right would I have to stand toe-to-toe with Ms. Pascal?” 

“That’s why we need to hype him up even more—push Anson to this invincible pedestal. Make it seem like Spider-Man 2 could casually hit a billion in North America because of him.” 

Gasp! A billion? 

Every single person in the room sucks in a breath. Michael’s loving the reaction, giving a small nod. “Exactly. I want that kind of ridiculous expectation—an impossible bar.” 

“In the end, no matter how well the movie does, it’ll still ‘fall short’ of what people expect from Anson. That’s our opening.” 

“But.” 

Michael’s eyes slide toward the guy who raised the doubt. 

“What if.” 

“You’re right—what if? What if Anson pulls it off?” 

“Then it’s our win. When that happens, the ones who ‘opposed’ the hype but still pushed the promo plan step up. We claim the credit. Ms. Pascal’s ideas were too wild, too risky—we’re the ones who swooped in, steadied the ship, and gave the smart, sane advice.” 

Success? Michael’s glory. Failure? Anson’s fault— 

It’s that simple. 

Of course, the real test is in the how—the execution. That’s where Michael’s skills come in. 

Otherwise, it’s just talk. Convincing the board with hot air? Too risky. 

The room buzzes with tension. 

Some relax a bit—they trust Michael’s got it all figured out. Others stay on edge—they don’t buy that Amy hasn’t noticed or prepped for this. Michael’s “overhype-to-sabotage” play could still go a dozen ways, and it’s not fully under control. 

Michael catches it all. He didn’t climb to Sony Columbia’s co-CEO spot—going head-to-head with Amy Pascal, who’s been entrenched for years—relying on looks. That’s someone else’s game. 

“And.” 

He speaks again, pulling every eye back to him. 

“I’m going to convince the board Anson’s a threat.” 

“He’s too strong, too big—he’s slipping out of our grip. If we keep making sequels, Anson’s leverage will only grow. Soon, he’ll have us by the nose—not just on salary and bonuses, but on creative control too.” 

“We’re not building the Spider-Man franchise to let a wolf in the door or hand it over to someone else. We’re doing this to grow, to profit, to find a way to outshine Warner Brothers. If Anson gets cocky and chokes us out, what do you think the board will do?” 

Cut him loose! 

This isn’t rocket science—anyone can see the play here. 

That’s Michael’s real strategy. 

Offense or defense, he’s untouchable. No matter how Amy Pascal squirms, she won’t escape his web. 

Spider-Man 2 flops? Michael’s got a plan. Spider-Man 2 kills it? He’s got a plan for that too— 

Modest win? He’s ready. Massive hit? He’s ready. 

Anson’s got nowhere to run. 

Don’t forget the setup: the board brought Michael in as co-CEO to check Amy because they don’t trust her. There’s already a rift between her and them—otherwise, Michael wouldn’t have had a shot. 

Now, all he needs is to flex his chops, widen that crack, and pull Amy down. 

In this war, Michael’s already got the upper hand. 

The room’s vibe lightens up—you can feel it. Faces, gestures, words—all leaking a bit of relief. 

They believe victory’s Michael’s. They picked the right team. A bright future’s just ahead. 

Watching it unfold, Michael’s lips curve into a faint smile. But his eyes? Cold as ice, not a hint of warmth. 

Last summer. 

That flop, that slap in the face—Michael hasn’t forgotten. Not only that, he’s been sharpening his blade ever since— 

His ambition’s way bigger than this. A measly Spider-Man? Please. He’s aiming to build a sprawling entertainment empire at Sony Columbia—movies, music, TV, games, comics, theme parks. They’ll have a kingdom that outdoes Warner Brothers and Disney. 

He sees what others don’t. He knows Sony Columbia’s got untapped potential—way beyond just films. 

CEO’s just step one in his grand plan. Anson and Spider-Man? Barely a warm-up, a chance to flex his skills for the board. They’re not even real opponents. 

He doesn’t move unless it’s a kill shot—that’s Michael’s style. 

Too bad Anson thinks he’s clever. If he’d been smart last summer and ditched Amy to join Michael’s side, maybe he’d still be Peter Parker. Even if not, Michael would’ve hooked him up—built a few projects around him as a consolation prize. 

But Anson’s arrogance blinded him. He thought he’d won the last laugh, not realizing he’d tied the noose around his own neck. 

A pretty little vase—that’s all he is. Sure, Anson’s riding high now, unstoppable. But this is Hollywood. People love the shiny new thing—until they don’t. One turn, and the vase gets swapped out. Anson’s rise was fast; his fall will be faster. Won’t take long. 

This is Hollywood. Overnight rocket rides to fame are a dime a dozen, thick as flies. But how many stick around after three, five years? 

Barely one in ten. 

The one laughing last laughs sweetest. 

Michael can’t wait to see Anson’s smug mask crack— that cool, self-assured face falling apart any day now.