Chapter 1568: Black Widow

Zhao Fusheng didn't want to work for others' benefit and let Disney get the bargain.

But the problem was, without Disney, it wouldn't be easy for Marvel to revive.

Even with the first Iron Man, if Kevin Feige hadn't used his connections as a former producer to persuade Paramount Pictures' top brass to help with distribution, Marvel might still have trouble officially greenlighting the project.

You can't swallow the whole cake in one bite. Under these circumstances, how to maximize his own interests was what Zhao Fusheng had to consider.

So far, including the money from Zhou Jianmin and Xue Yuanfang, he had invested a total of one billion US dollars. According to Zhao Fusheng's plan, if Disney wanted to buy his shares, they would have to pay at least three billion US dollars.

After all, in the original timeline, after Marvel made Iron Man, which grossed six hundred million US dollars worldwide, the failure of The Incredible Hulk caused Marvel to be undervalued again, leading to Disney's four billion US dollar acquisition in 2008.

Now, with Zhao Fusheng around, he didn't want that situation to happen.

He could sell the shares, but he also had to make a profit.

Holding this thought, Zhao Fusheng simply stuffed Ye Jing into the crew of Iron Man. As for what effect it would have, he didn't think too much; he would take it one step at a time.

After booking a flight back to the capital, Zhao Fusheng really intended to return to China.

Professionals do professional work. He was quite confident about that. Not everyone had the thick skin of the Golden Eagle Goddess, who could sway through a song to the tune of Jia Boss's singing.

Speaking of which, Zhao Fusheng had to admire her. As an actress who could win the Goddess title with a supporting role, she really sold her face when dancing.

As for those fans who called her fat, Zhao Fusheng could only say, where was she fat?

It was just a persona; only fans would take it seriously.

As for Marvel, Zhao Fusheng believed that Kevin Feige and Shawn Levy, those two, wanted Iron Man to succeed even more than he did, so he wasn't worried.

…

…

However, the day before leaving the United States, Zhao Fusheng received an unexpected visitor.

“Miss Johnson, hello.”

Looking at the beautiful woman before him, Zhao Fusheng's shock was understandable. He really hadn't expected that “Black Widow” Scarlett Johansson herself would appear before him in the flesh.

This was probably that kind of fan mentality.

“Respected Mr. Zhao, hello.”

Scarlett Johansson, with her blonde hair, looked charming and seductive, smiling at Zhao Fusheng.

She started professional acting at age eight, began TV at nine, and film at ten, and her interest in acting had shown early on.

After growing up, Scarlett Johansson attended a performing arts school that trained young actors, and soon after graduation, she performed on small theater stages. Her stage debut was with Ethan Hawke.

In 1994, she made her film debut in a small role, then acted in two lesser-known films, Proper Reasons and If Lucy Fell.

In 1996, Scarlett Johansson played a little girl who lost both parents in Manny & Lo, earning a nomination for Best Actress at the Independent Spirit Awards. In 1997, under thirteen, she played a similar role in The Man Who Cried, receiving critical acclaim and another Independent Spirit Award nomination. In 1998, she caught the eye of director Robert Redford, who cast her as the daughter of the female lead—a girl who lost a leg—in The Horse Whisperer. Though the film received mixed reviews, Scarlett's performance was widely praised, earning her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the “Box Office Bombs” awards and several “Rising Star” titles.

In 2000, Scarlett appeared in Ghost World and American Rhapsody, mostly independent productions. In 2001, she was chosen by the Coen brothers to play the “piano girl” Betty in The Man Who Wasn't There.

In 2002, she starred in the sci-fi horror film Eight Legged Freaks.

In 2003, she starred in Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation, receiving widespread acclaim.

In 2004, she starred in Girl with a Pearl Earring. Both films earned her simultaneous Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress in a Drama and Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical.

In short, at this time, Scarlett Johansson was more of an art-house film star, not the “Black Widow” familiar to later generations.

A media outlet commented: “Scarlett Johansson is like Marilyn Monroe or Sophia Loren in their prime, transported to the new century—the same curves, the same bold style.

She lacks Angelina Jolie's commanding presence or Megan Fox's figure. She is voluptuous, but her height is a flaw, making her proportions slightly off. She never bothered to correct her uneven teeth, nor did she have ribs removed like Monroe for a tiny waist, which makes her seem so real.

Scarlett's figure is exquisite, comparable to Marilyn Monroe's. She is both avant-garde and retro. She has the style of old Hollywood starlets while exuding the confidence of the new generation, blending classical and modern beauty.”

Of course, what truly made Scarlett Johansson famous in China and worldwide was still her role as Black Widow.

This most popular female character in the Marvel film series propelled Scarlett Johansson to become a world-class movie star.

Even that basketball superstar who said “if you can't beat them, join them” publicly declared he would drink Scarlett Johansson's bathwater.

Well, these celebrities have peculiar hobbies.

But regardless, Scarlett Johansson is a beauty, undeniable.

“Miss Johnson, may I ask what brings you here?”

Zhao Fusheng looked at Scarlett Johansson, puzzled.

He was genuinely confused. He didn't know Scarlett Johansson, and if it were about a movie role, that might be possible.

But the problem was, today Scarlett Johansson came alone, without her agent. And as far as Zhao Fusheng remembered, there was no Black Widow role in the first Iron Man.

“Respected sir, my agent told me that if I want to be in Iron Man, you can help me,” Scarlett Johansson said, looking at Zhao Fusheng with respect. “You can call me Scarlett.”

“Alright, Scarlett.”

Zhao Fusheng shrugged, a strange expression on his face. “You say you want to be in Iron Man?”

“Yes.”

Scarlett Johansson nodded firmly.

She was tired of making art-house films. Although she had won many awards, the problem was that critical acclaim without box office success was very frustrating for an actor.

Every actor longs for both fame and fortune.

Scarlett Johansson was no exception. She had a reputation now, but in reality, she hadn't earned much money. This was evident from her salary.

Compared to top-tier actresses like Angelina Jolie, her salary was almost a fraction of theirs.

So, after discussing with her agent, Scarlett Johansson decided to transition; she wanted to make commercial films!

And Iron Man was the film she and her agent had carefully chosen for herself.

The reason was simple: although Marvel had been in trouble in recent years, it still had significant influence. Comics themselves were very popular in America, with many people loving to read them and the superheroes inside. Plus, Marvel's investment this time was substantial. Scarlett and her agent both felt this was a good opportunity for her.

If handled properly, she might break into the mainstream commercial film circle.

Of course, all of this depended on the Eastern man before her speaking up for her.

To that end, Scarlett Johansson didn't even bring her agent. She had already made up her mind; if necessary, she would sacrifice herself once!

Although she found this kind of casting couch disgusting, she had no choice. The longer she stayed in this circle, the more she understood that in front of capitalists, an actor was nothing.

Looking at the blonde beauty sitting before him, Zhao Fusheng smiled. He found it very interesting. Unlike Robert Downey Jr., Black Widow was his favorite character. As a man, no one could dislike Scarlett Johansson's performance throughout the Marvel film series.

Handsome, sexy, stunningly beautiful.

All these adjectives applied to her without exaggeration.

In fact, Zhao Fusheng felt that in Avengers: Endgame, the most regrettable departures were Black Widow and Stark.

And now, she was asking to be in the first Iron Man.

“May I ask, Scarlett, which role are you interested in?”

Zhao Fusheng looked at Scarlett Johansson and asked.

“I want to play Pepper Potts,” Scarlett Johansson said seriously, without hiding it.

Pepper Potts?

Zhao Fusheng blinked, looking bewildered.

As the female lead in the Iron Man series and the love interest of Tony Stark throughout the Marvel films, Pepper Potts was indeed quite prominent.

But the problem was, Zhao Fusheng really couldn't imagine Scarlett Johansson's face paired with Robert Downey Jr.'s as a couple.

If Scarlett Johansson played Pepper Potts, who would play Black Widow?

What about Hawkeye?

What about Hulk?

Who would flirt with Captain America?

With that thought, Zhao Fusheng had made up his mind.