At this moment, Gilbert was leading the main cast of The Lord of the Rings on a nationwide promotional tour across the United States.
Following its record-breaking opening weekend, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring continued its triumphant march forward.
On weekdays, the film's box office decline remained very healthy, dropping only 38% from the previous day and earning $17.44 million on Monday.
After Monday, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring achieved yet another milestone, becoming the fastest film in North American history to surpass the $100 million mark, reaching $107 million in just four days.
Astonishing—simply astonishing.
In this release window, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring displayed an unparalleled dominance. The mystical and vast world of Middle-earth captivated countless moviegoers across the United States.
"The latest nationwide cinema survey results show that the film received an average audience rating of A+, a 96% Popcorn Index score, and an average critic score of 94 from 49 mainstream media outlets.
On online platforms, IMDb recorded over 83,000 user ratings in the past few days, with the score currently stabilizing at 9.6—surpassing The Godfather and The Shawshank Redemption.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film boasts a 90% Freshness rating and is a must-watch recommendation…
Over the past weekend, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring secured $89.27 million at the box office, making it the first film in history to surpass $80 million in its opening weekend.
More importantly, the film faces little competition in the upcoming weeks. Whether The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring can break Titanic's North American box office record is something worth anticipating.
From the time Gilbert began planning in 1998 to the release of this first installment, it took three years for him to bring us a breathtaking journey through Middle-earth.
We have every reason to believe that in the next two years, The Two Towers and The Return of the King will deliver even greater surprises…"
The entire U.S. media was in a frenzy over The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring's astonishing performance. Reports flooded in from every possible angle, further amplifying the film's promotional reach.
By this point in the summer season, all the major blockbusters had already been released. There were virtually no films strong enough to pose a threat to The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
As a result, the film dominated the summer box office with ease.
That morning, Mr. Wood strolled through the neighborhood in high spirits, a proud smile on his face.
He looked toward the affluent district, thinking to himself that the Wood family would soon be moving there—after all, his son had become a big star.
"Hey! Wood, out for a walk this early?" A familiar neighbor drove by, stopping to greet him.
"Yes, just had breakfast. I'm heading to the newsstand," Mr. Wood replied.
"Haven't seen Elijah around. I really like that kid—always knew he had the makings of a big star." The neighbor wore a smug expression, as if he had foreseen Elijah's success all along.
Mr. Wood didn't correct him but instead responded proudly, "Elijah is traveling across the country with Gilbert for the film's promotion!"
He deliberately emphasized Gilbert's name, and as expected, the neighbor's expression immediately became more respectful.
"My daughter absolutely loves The Lord of the Rings. Could I trouble you to get her a signed poster from the cast?" the neighbor asked eagerly.
Mr. Wood, full of confidence, reassured him, "No problem. Elijah gave me several posters—I'll bring you one later.
I even have a solo poster of Legolas with a signature. Ariel will love it."
Ariel, the neighbor's daughter, had been completely enchanted by Orlando Bloom's portrayal of Legolas after watching the film.
"Thank you so much, Wood! I owe you a drink—I've got a fine bottle of liquor saved up," the neighbor said gratefully.
"No problem…" Mr. Wood agreed without hesitation.
Scenes like this played out repeatedly throughout the morning, and when he finally reached the newsstand, it became his personal stage for boasting.
Some people disliked how smug Mr. Wood had become, but what could they do? His son was a big star, while their own children hadn't achieved much. They had no choice but to listen as he bragged.
Even the usually arrogant neighborhood dentist now went out of his way to avoid running into Mr. Wood.
After all, if the dentist did cross paths with him, he would inevitably be subjected to a round of face-to-face taunting, which he simply couldn't stand.
The dentist thought bitterly, Just wait—when your son falls from stardom, I'll still be a dentist. Let's see how arrogant you'll be then.
Unfortunately for him, Elijah Wood remained a big star for now, so the dentist had no choice but to keep a low profile.
Although Orlando Bloom and Anne Hathaway were the two actors whose popularity skyrocketed the most, Elijah Wood and the rest of the cast weren't far behind.
Elijah Wood, in particular, received high praise from industry professionals. Critics lauded his performance as displaying a maturity beyond his years, earning widespread acclaim.
Film critic Kenneth Turan, as usual, criticized Gilbert's work, claiming the battle scenes had too many unnecessary shots.
However, he did praise Elijah Wood's performance, stating that if he had starred in a more traditional drama instead of The Lord of the Rings, he might have had a shot at an Oscar nomination.
Even the notoriously picky Kenneth Turan acknowledged Elijah Wood's acting skills, which spoke volumes about his performance.
Conversely, Orlando Bloom—despite his massive female fan base—was heavily criticized by film critics, who dismissed him as just a pretty face with no real acting talent.
But the truth was, all the film needed from him was to be a pretty face, and that was more than enough.
Just look at the enthusiastic fans—at every tour stop, Legolas and Arwen's presence caused traffic congestion.
During the promotional event in Chicago, the cast was completely surrounded by fans on their way to the venue, resulting in a two-hour traffic jam.
The cast members didn't dare leave their vehicles, fearing they'd be torn apart by their fanatical followers.
Chicago police rushed in to help, only to find themselves stuck outside the sea of fans, unable to intervene.
In the end, it was a Chicago mob boss who stepped in to restore order, allowing the cast to finally escape the overwhelming crowd.
The incident was widely reported by local media, sparking intense public discussion—yet another testament to the immense popularity of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Having finally escaped, Gilbert grinned at the still-shaken cast members and said, "No matter how crazy a fan base gets, nothing beats a devoted fan."
Everyone burst into laughter. Viggo Mortensen turned to Orlando Bloom and said, "Orlando, you're officially an idol now."
Anne Hathaway was also gaining idol-like status, but male fans weren't typically as fanatical as female ones.
And in this case, the ones causing the most traffic congestion were Orlando Bloom's female fans.
In just a few short days, Orlando Bloom had taken the U.S. by storm—his meteoric rise rivaled that of Tom Cruise before he got married.
Of course, nowadays, Tom Cruise was no longer just a heartthrob. He was an Oscar-winning Best Actor, thanks in no small part to Gilbert.
Since there was still some time before the event, the cast relaxed in the lounge, sipping coffee.
At that moment, Gilbert's assistant, Anna, walked in to report on merchandise sales.
"Boss, the latest merchandise sales figures are in. Last weekend, with the film's release, we generated $31.5 million in merchandise sales."
Anna's report immediately caught the attention of everyone in the lounge.
Gilbert nodded in satisfaction and asked, "What are the specific sales numbers?"
"The highest-grossing item is Arwen's Evenstar pendant, which brought in $6.5 million in sales. Next is the One Ring replica, followed by Legolas and Arwen figurines…"
"It seems we're quite popular…" Orlando Bloom chuckled.
Legolas and Arwen were the two most beloved characters, so it was no surprise that their figurines were selling well. However, the high sales of accessory items were quite unexpected.
Arwen's and Galadriel's gowns were also selling well, along with wizard hats, staffs, and Aragorn's sword, all of which ranked among the top ten best-selling merchandise.
What Anna mentioned was only a fraction of The Lord of the Rings' extensive merchandise line. The combined total of licensed products exceeded 500 different items.
Even more unexpectedly, due to the film's massive success, The Lord of the Rings book series had become popular again, re-entering the North American bestseller list at No. 4.
"There's one more thing—the supply of our merchandise is running low. Disney is already arranging factory shipments and working to restock as quickly as possible," Anna reported.
Gilbert stroked his chin in thought. "Anna, after this event, I'll give Bob a call to discuss this matter."
"Understood," Anna noted it down.
Hearing about production and supply shortages, Gilbert immediately thought of the other side of the Pacific. In his previous life, that region had been known as the world's factory.
He hadn't considered it much before due to a lack of familiarity, but now it seemed clear: if North America's production capacity was insufficient and costs were high, why not move the merchandise factories to China?
Labor and material costs there were dozens of times cheaper than in North America, and profits would increase exponentially—it was a surefire win.
Though it was too late for this production cycle, in the following years and beyond, factories in China would eventually replace those in North America for merchandise production.
This plan was a win-win—it reduced costs while also creating local jobs and increasing income. In a way, it aligned with his identity as an international businessman.
With the decision made, after the event, Gilbert returned to his hotel and immediately contacted Robert Iger to discuss the idea.
Upon hearing Gilbert's proposal, Robert Iger fell into deep thought.
"Gilbert, I have a question—do they really have the capability to produce such a large volume of products?" Iger was skeptical.
His doubt was understandable. The traditional stereotype painted China as backward and undeveloped, as if it were still stuck in the early 20th century. Many people truly believed that perception.
Could a place like that really manufacture high-quality merchandise on such a large scale? Iger had his doubts.
However, Gilbert reassured him, "Bob, you need to break out of the traditional mindset. The things I said to the media before were just for show.
"In reality, their industrial development is quite solid, and they have a huge advantage in cheap labor and material costs, which allows us to minimize expenses.
"Plus, their workforce is vast. With the right investment, factories can run at full capacity and churn out an endless supply of merchandise—not just for North America, but for the entire world."
To further persuade Iger, Gilbert added with a smirk, "You know the biggest advantage of their workforce?"
"What is it?"
"They don't insist on weekends off, nor do they demand an eight-hour workday. Offer them some overtime pay, and they'll work until the end of time."
Gilbert chuckled. "Isn't that exactly the kind of workforce we capitalists love?"
"Hahaha, that's true…" Iger agreed. "Alright, I'll convene a high-level meeting to discuss this and then bring it to the board for approval.
"Oh, and what about Warner Bros.?"
"I'll talk to Doug. We'll push for this factory plan together. Plus, I have some government connections over there that might come in handy," Gilbert said.
With that, there were no more obstacles. They had the funds, Gilbert had good relations with officials over there, and the political environment was favorable.
China had just joined the WTO in June, officially opening its market. A company like Disney or Warner Bros. entering the country was something the government would welcome with open arms.
Iger quickly held a high-level meeting to discuss the plan, keeping in close contact with Gilbert to fine-tune the details.
As someone familiar with China, Gilbert provided valuable input to the executives.
Once a viable plan was drafted, Iger presented it to Disney's board of directors, where it received unanimous approval.
Meanwhile, over at Warner Bros., Doug Walter was also convinced by Gilbert's argument. When the proposal was submitted to their parent company, Time Warner, it was also swiftly approved.
With everything greenlit, Disney and Time Warner decided to form a joint delegation to visit China for an on-site assessment in September or October.
Even though Gilbert spoke highly of China's production capabilities, this was a significant business decision, and an in-person evaluation was necessary.
By that time, Gilbert's schedule would be relatively free, so he decided to join the delegation.
To give their hosts a heads-up, Gilbert contacted an old acquaintance, Tian Congming, and informed him of their plans.
Tian was shocked. "What? You're coming to China to set up factories?"
"What's the matter? Not welcome?" Gilbert teased.
"No, no, no," Tian quickly responded. "Of course, you're welcome! To be honest, the government is currently rolling out policies to attract foreign investment. You guys are arriving at the perfect time.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of the governmental formalities. You'll have the green light all the way, no obstacles."
"Okay, Tian. With you handling things, I feel reassured," Gilbert said. "Get ready—we plan to visit in late September or early October."
Gilbert was essentially giving Tian a heads-up to prepare for their reception and ensure a smooth visit.
Tian was grateful for Gilbert's initiative. "Thank you. We'll do our best to secure this project and not waste your efforts."
"No need to thank me. Oh, by the way, my movie is about to be released in your country. You better show your support."
"Of course! I've already encouraged all directors and actors to watch it. After all, it's the first Hollywood blockbuster shot extensively in China," Tian replied.
After wrapping up the major business discussions, the two exchanged a few more pleasantries before ending the call.
Beyond Gilbert's expectations, everything went smoothly on both sides, and the plan to shift merchandise production to China moved forward without a hitch.
As for the factory closures and job losses in North America that would inevitably follow, Gilbert could only shrug and say—labor here is too expensive and comes with too many demands.
Capital flows to where it's most profitable. He was simply making the choice that any capitalist would.
....
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