Chapter 905

No matter what the media said, Adriaan didn't care. Everything had been settled, unless someone could find solid evidence to prove that the Film school had been bribed by him. Of course, whether or not he could find them was one problem, and whether or not he could take them out was another. It was not a big deal for media groups to attack each other or even undermine each other, but it was very targeted. If everyone was involved, it might shake the foundation of the film industry, then it would be courting death.

So after the Oscars, he had been leisurely accompanying his woman and daughter. The only thing that made him a little flustered was the arrival of his two children. Although the due date was around March 5th, Nicole, who was the first to get pregnant, was admitted to the hospital on March 9th. Then, she dawdled for another two days before giving birth. If she had dawdled for another half a day, she would have given birth at the same time as Naomi.

Of course, things like Deva and Juliet, who had different mothers but were born a few seconds apart, could only happen by chance. So even if Adriaan felt a little regretful, it was just a little.

Both of the little ones were daughters. Without any surprise, the Kewell Family's women's soccer team was officially formed. Because there was no reference for Naomi's child, Adriaan used Alice as her name, while Nicole's was called Sandie.

"How can a child's name be 'Sunday'?" Nicole was quite dissatisfied with this.

Of course, for example, another time and space. Adriaan thought so in his heart, but on the surface, he still tried to comfort her. Nicole just complained and didn't insist, so in the end, the little one became Sandie Kidman Kewell.

Kate and the others had long turned a blind eye to this, but Lily began to become more and more dissatisfied. Before she was four years old, she was her father's favorite. Although there were two more sisters after that, it couldn't change the fact that she was the most favored. The problem was that from then on, the number of sisters began to increase. One or two was okay, three or four could also be connected, but when there were more than ten …

Even if Adriaan was the same as always, his attention to the little one would still be divided by his other daughters. In addition, Lily had already figured out the relationship between her father, mother, and other aunts. What was more, the little one would be 11 years old in half a year, and was about to enter puberty.

Adolescent children had always been the most difficult to discipline. On the one hand, their worldview was gradually completed, and they struggled to get out of the control of their parents and face the world alone. On the other hand, their worldview was still very fragile, and they needed their parents to continue to guide them. Every time they encountered a problem, they would subconsciously seek help from their parents.

Such contradictions caused adolescent children to be rebellious and sensitive. If their parents didn't deal with them properly, it was easy to hurt them, so they would rather confide in outsiders than communicate with their parents — this was why it was so easy for Adriaan to win over those young girls.

Well, the topic was off. In fact, it wasn't difficult to solve this problem, as long as parents were patient enough and willing to listen to their children instead of telling them what to do. Perhaps there would be difficulties in communication, but at least the children wouldn't hate them. And Adriaan happened to have an advantage in this aspect. Not to mention his patience, his observation skills were also quite outstanding. In addition, he basically didn't have a job this year, so there was no problem at all for him to accompany his daughter.

In his spare time, he would still flirt with other girls. After all, Lily was not yet 11 years old and had not fully entered puberty. However, he didn't go too far. Apart from pushing Natalie forward to the final moment, he kept pestering Taylor.

After being taken care of by Adriaan in New York, the young girl who had tasted his flesh was almost irresistible to his teasing. She would make out whenever there was a chance. It didn't take long before she did it with Britney, Christina, Avril, and even Katie — in Adriaan's exclusive lounge at the record company. Taylor's long legs, which had basically matured, were very powerful, especially since she didn't quite know how to use her advantages and needed Adriaan's guidance. It felt good to train her, and he could also instill some things into her.

Apart from that, Taylor wrote a song in a short time, just as she said that morning. It was called "the first time." You knew what it was as soon as you heard the name. Although the lyrics were about the feeling of a girl's heart when she first saw a boy, there were all kinds of little hints such as "I moan" and "I scream" everywhere.

"This can reflect my talent." After Adriaan asked, Taylor said with a cheerful look. She really loved to play.

Of course, the two tacitly did not mention Adriaan's threatening words that morning. Maybe it was because Taylor felt that their relationship was good now, or maybe it was because she had not found a way to verify it. It didn't matter. Adriaan would show her, as long as the time was right.

But although a leisurely life was good, as Argan said, life was like chocolate. You never know what the next one tastes like.

※ ※ ※

"… In short, as long as we decide on the male lead, we can start making the movie version of 'Iron Man.'" In the large office, Kevin Figo, who was in charge of the movie at Marvel Comics, said to several senior executives present.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Dan Buckley, who was in charge of the publishing business and was also the COO.

"There is no suitable candidate." Editor-in-chief Joe Quesada sighed. "There are three candidates for the audition so far, but each has their own problems."

"I think Robert Downey Jr. is very suitable. All aspects are combined, and he was also recommended by Mr. Kewell." Tom Brevut, who was currently in charge of the "Iron Man" comic, interjected.

"He's too short." Quesada retorted, "And he also plays an important role in 'Two and a Half Men,' and is one of the highest-paid TV actors."

"This is indeed a problem." Axel Alonso, the deputy editor, nodded. "We've been planning this for a long time, and it's a big series, so we have to control the pay. I'm inclined to use newcomers and sign as many film contracts as possible. We can't let Tobey Maguire raise the price again."

"Newcomers?" As the one who understood the movie production process the most and was also the producer himself, Figo smiled helplessly. "What kind of newcomers are we going to use? A newcomer over thirty years old? "

The few of them fell silent. Among the few confirmed superheroes in Marvel Comics' series, Tony Stark was a successful businessman and a rich playboy. It was impossible for a young actor in his twenties to play such a role. However, it was not easy to find an actor over thirty or thirty-five years old who had good acting skills, was cheap, and was popular enough to take on the leading role.

"Stan, what do you think?" Barkley suddenly asked. The few of them immediately looked down. Old man Stan Lee, who was sitting there in boredom, was about to fall asleep.

"What? Me? " Stan Lee opened his sleepy eyes, adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose, and then waved his hand slowly. "This kind of thing is up to you to decide. I have no opinion. You will definitely be able to do it well."

This kind of complete shirking of responsibility made the few people present a little depressed. Barkley sighed and said again, "Anyway, Stan, as a veteran and the father of these superheroes, you have the responsibility and obligation to express your opinion, don't you? Maybe your opinion can give us a new revelation. "

"… Well," the old man smacked his lips. "To be frank, I do have a suitable candidate, very suitable."

He said with a sly smile, "I can guarantee that he is very suitable in all aspects. It just depends on whether you can persuade him."

※ ※ ※

"… Sorry, can you repeat it again? You mean … me? " Wearing swimming trunks and a bathrobe, Adriaan, who was sitting leisurely by the pool, took off his sunglasses and looked at the two people in front of him with astonishment and disbelief.

"Yes, Mr. Kewell." Dan Barkley glanced at Stan Lee next to him, then said in a calm tone as he tried to say, "We think you are the most suitable to play Tony Stark."

Even though he tried hard to control his emotions, in the end, he still blushed slightly.

"Well … This …" Until now, Adriaan had not reacted until a voice said, "Hey, Eide, why are you here?"

Then, a young girl in a bikini, with a strong but well-proportioned figure, hair and body still dripping with water, appeared in front of them and looked at Barkley and Stan Lee curiously.

"Hi, Maria, I'm really sorry, I have a guest." Adriaan immediately smiled, grabbed her hand and kissed it, then introduced her.

"This is Dan Barkley, COO of Marvel Comics. This is Stan Lee, the father of superheroes. Most of the superheroes that you see on the screen belong to Marvel Comics were created by him." Adriaan first said to the girl, then looked at Barkley and Stan Lee. "This is the most talented and outstanding female tennis player in today's tennis world, Maria Sarah Pova. She was the Wimbledon women's singles champion in 2004. I bet that this year's US Open women's singles champion will still be her."

"Thank you!" Sarah Pova, who was very happy with this sentence, immediately leaned over and kissed him heavily on the cheek.

However, she obviously had no interest in Marvel Comics. She only greeted Barkley and Stan Lee out of courtesy. Similarly, Barkley and Stan Lee had no interest in tennis, so they also responded with a few polite words.

"Alright, since you have something to do, I won't disturb you. But remember, I'm waiting for you to teach me the butterfly stroke." Sarah Pova said as she kissed Adriaan's face again, then walked to the other end of the pool.

"She's really tall, about the same height as you? If she wore high heels, she would definitely be taller than you. When did you get interested in such a woman, Eide? " After waiting for Sarah Pova to leave, Barkley hadn't said anything, but the disrespectful Stan Lee suddenly said this, even winking at Adriaan.

"A petite woman has the taste of a petite woman, and a tall woman has the beauty of a tall woman," Adriaan answered casually. By the time he reacted, it was already too late. Obviously, he had a good time last night, and then he still couldn't recover from the previous news.

However, Adriaan was Adriaan after all. He immediately put on his bathrobe and asked, "You just said that you want me to play Tony Stark in Iron Man? Are you sure you're not joking? April Fool's Day is still a few days away. "

At the same time, he sat firmly on the recliner, not intending to go into the room to talk.

Barkley and Stan Lee didn't mind. Barkley immediately said, "No, we just hope that you can play it, Mr. Kewell."

"I can't think of anyone more suitable than you," Stan Lee followed. Stan Lee added, "A genius, a billionaire, and — a playboy."

He dragged out the last sentence, and the feeling of mockery was very obvious. At the same time, as if to illustrate his words, there was a splash from the pool. Sarah Pova, in a bikini, had already jumped into the water. Although her swimming skills weren't that great, she still glided gracefully in the water for some distance. Her fit and beautiful body sparkled under the sunlight, creating a unique flavor.

Adriaan raised his eyebrows, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Just because of this?"

"What else do you need?" Stan Lee spread his hands matter-of-factly. From his previous statements, it was obvious that the old man was the main lobbyist, and Barkley was more of a representative of surprise and support. Of course, this was also because he had the best relationship with Adriaan in all of Marvel Comics. Even Barkley had to call Adriaan Mr. Kewell, but he could call him Eide.

"I'm a director, a producer, not an actor," Adriaan said, annoyed and amused.

"Is that so?" Stan Lee smiled slyly. "But 'The True Story of Argan,' 'Elizabeth,' 'Shakespeare in Love,' 'The Matrix,' 'The Lord of the Rings,' and other movies have your name on the list of actors."

"That's just …" Adriaan rolled his eyes and wanted to refute, but the old man didn't give him a chance and continued, "This is just a superhero movie, a big-budget commercial movie. He doesn't need you to have the acting skills of an Oscar -level Best Actor. Even though your acting experience comes from cameos, it's enough. Just like that character in 'The Matrix,' oily, sarcastic and exaggerated. Didn't you act well too? "

"You sound like you're being sarcastic?" Adriaan gritted his teeth.

"No, I'm complimenting you." Stan Lee's expression didn't change. "Anyway, you've already won the Best Director Award three times in a row. You definitely won't be doing anything during this period. Even if you have any plans, you'll have to wait until the second half of the year. Besides, you used to produce two movies a year. There's no situation where you can't handle it."

Adriaan started to suck in a breath of cold air. "You've done a lot of preparation, Stan. But you have to know that this is a commercial production. As a director, I can attract a lot of people to the cinema, but as an actor, I'm not sure how much box office appeal I can have."

"As a movie that the famous miracle director thinks highly of, I believe that 'Iron Man' will definitely sell well." Stan Lee raised his eyebrows proudly.

"Not all movies that I'm optimistic about will sell well." Adriaan gritted his teeth and continued to refute, "For example …"

"Of course, of course. We all know very well that some movies or TV series or programs that you casually mention naturally won't all be able to sell well, but as long as they accept your advice and have been modified according to your suggestions, they'll basically be very popular." Stan Lee was even more pleased with himself. "Besides, just the fact that it's a genius billionaire and a playboy, and that he's personally acting as a genius billionaire and a playboy, is enough of a gimmick. As long as the publicity keeps up, people will be willing to go to the cinema to see how the super director, who can always create miracles, plays a superhero."

He had to admit that they were indeed very well prepared.

"This last sentence is your real intention." After a long while, Adriaan said this through his teeth.

A genius billionaire and a playboy in real life, personally playing a genius billionaire and a playboy in a movie, this was something that had never happened before. This gimmick alone was enough to attract countless people to the cinema, not to mention the continued influence. This could be seen as a sign that the chairman of AC Media fully supported Marvel Comics.

"And you were the one who encouraged us to prepare this series. Shouldn't you shoulder some … small responsibility?" The old man blushed, which was rare for him. "Why don't you let everyone see what unexpected achievements the miracle director can make?"

Adriaan snorted softly and did not speak.

"You should know who Tony Stark is based on, right?" Stan Lee stopped smiling. "Howard Hughes is really a rare genius, an unyielding fighter and a great engineer, as well as … a super rich man and a playboy. You also said that you admire him very much. Frankly speaking, after so many years, the only one who can be as good as him, who can surprise and make the whole world look sideways, is you, Adrian Kewell. Scorsese's' Flyer 'should invite you to be the lead actor, so … "

The old man spread his hands and did not say anything else.

After a long silence, Adriaan suddenly said, "… I'm not as good as Howard Hughes." He was a little lost in thought.

But before the two men in front of him could ask, he immediately put on a smile and looked at Barkley. "Dan, what if I ask for a salary of 20 million?"

"Well …" Barkley glanced at Stan Lee and seemed to have expected this. "You're the boss, of course you can give yourself a salary of 20 million, even if … you break the rules."

Hearing this, Adriaan could not help but grind his teeth again. Everyone knew that he was most particular about abiding by the rules, so how could he refuse now?

"It's not impossible for me to agree …" After a moment, Adriaan, who thought of something, said slowly, "As long as one person is willing to play the role of Little Pepper."

He had a mysterious smile on his face, as if victory was already in his hands. Unfortunately … sometimes, when some people were too complacent and thought that some things would definitely develop according to their ideas, they would often be reversed by the truth.

"… Sorry, can you repeat it again? You said you … agreed?! " Adriaan looked at the man in front of him, dumbfounded. His expression of shock and disbelief was exactly the same as that day by the pool.

"Is there a problem?" Charlize, who was dressed in a suit and had his long legs crossed, leaned against the high-back chair with one arm on the back of the chair. He raised his chin and asked in a light tone, as if this was a matter of course.