Michael Eisner lifted the ban on Dunn Pictures quietly, without even giving Dunn's team a heads-up. Dunn only found out through Bill Mechanic.
Hearing the news, he sat in silence for a while.
So, that's it? Victory?
It didn't feel all that satisfying.
But soon enough, Dunn pieced it together. On the surface, sure, he'd beaten Disney and carved out his own space. But Michael Eisner's retreat wasn't a surrender—it was just a compromise after weighing the pros and cons. In other words, Eisner didn't back off because of Dunn; he did it because of Disney's shareholder meeting. If he were truly conceding to Dunn, he'd have at least made a courtesy call to smooth things over.
Instead, what did he do? He sent Anne Hathaway, a minor actress, to deal with it—no formal apology, no real show of sincerity. Knowing Eisner's personality, it's clear Disney's bound to keep clashing with Dunn Pictures down the line. They just won't be as reckless about breaking the rules as before.
Normal market competition? Dunn wasn't scared of that. Bring it on! He might hesitate with dirty tricks, but in a straight-up game of strategy, he'd built a massive network and a hidden empire. Disney didn't faze him one bit.
"Eisner's made his move, Dunn. Let's go with the flow—no need to dig in our heels," Bill Mechanic said. He'd been quietly steering Dunn Pictures, his cautious approach providing a safety net for its rapid growth. Even when their opinions clashed, Dunn respected him. If Dunn Pictures was a high-speed supercar, the gas pedal alone wouldn't cut it—brakes were just as crucial.
"He didn't even tell us, though," Dunn pointed out.
"True, but word's spreading fast. Everyone who's anyone in the industry knows by now. Just this morning, I've gotten over a hundred congratulatory emails."
Dunn grinned. "Sounds like you're in for a busy stretch—lots of parties and dinners coming up."
"Dunn!" Bill's tone grew stern. "You know that's not what I mean. Busy work's one thing, but Disney's still lurking, and that's what's got us on edge. Don't think for a second Eisner's throwing in the towel. That guy… he doesn't give up easy."
Dunn's smile faded as a set assistant rushed over. He waved her off before she could speak. "Bill, my stance hasn't changed. Whatever Disney's up to, Dunn Pictures keeps moving forward, steady and focused on our own game. I've got the confidence to back it up."
"No need to get stubborn about it," Bill said, clearly annoyed.
"Bill, I'm not being stubborn. Call it bold if you want—this is a scenario I saw coming a mile away. Everything's under control. No need to worry."
Bill hesitated. "And Disney?"
Dunn smirked. "We wait and see. They didn't bother telling us, right? So we'll act like we don't know. If they want to admit defeat or apologize, they'd better do it with some guts. What's this half-baked nonsense? Do they think I'm that easy to fool?"
Bill couldn't help but laugh, exasperated. "Alright, Dunn, if you've got the situation figured out, I've got nothing left to say. Just… with this attitude of yours, I'm probably in for some flak from the old-timers in the industry."
Dunn burst out laughing. "Then I'll owe you one!"
After hanging up, he glanced at the Vacheron Constantin watch Natalie had given him, frowning. "Didn't I say a half-hour break? It's only been 15 minutes."
The assistant fidgeted nervously. "It's not the crew—it's a fax from the finance department. It just came in from Dunn Capital."
"Oh?" Dunn's eyes lit up with curiosity.
Dunn Capital mainly handled stock and futures trading, overseen by Scott Swift—Taylor's dad. But Dunn personally managed the investment side. The assistant explained, "It's from Mr. Swift himself. He sent it directly, marked for your hands only. It's about a financing request from GA Entertainment."
Investment decisions were Dunn's domain, so Scott passing the buck to him made sense. What was odd, though, was why a small entertainment company caught Scott's eye.
"A movie studio?" Dunn asked.
"No, a toy company."
Now Dunn was really intrigued. He took the file and skimmed it, his pulse quickening as it clicked—GA Entertainment wasn't just any company. No wonder Scott, a guy obsessed with the stock market, flagged this and sent it his way. Dunn's recent comments about Barbie dolls had caused a massive ripple effect. Mattel had even issued multiple PR statements, promising to overhaul Barbie's look, body, skin tone, and personality. The uproar was so big it reached Scott's ears. And GA Entertainment's financing pitch? It was aimed squarely at taking on Barbie.
Dunn was swamped. He wasn't just a director anymore—he was a social commentator, entrepreneur, and investor. While shooting A Beautiful Mind, he had to dodge surprise visits from feminist groups and carve out time to meet with startups. This time, it was GA Entertainment, an up-and-coming American toy company focused on girls.
It's kind of funny—Dunn never planned to dip his toes into the toy market. But by chance, he'd invested in Hasbro, taken a swing at Mattel, and now might tie up with GA Toys.
That evening, after wrapping A Beautiful Mind for the day, Dunn changed into casual clothes and stayed put at his hotel. He was waiting for someone: Isaac Larian, the founder, chairman, and CEO of GA Entertainment.
Isaac Larian was Iranian, arriving in the U.S. at 17 to study at Cal State. After graduating, he became a U.S. citizen, started a business, and in 1998, teamed up with his brother to launch GA Entertainment. Now, at 46, he was based in LA's San Fernando Valley—close to Hollywood. Flying out to meet Dunn in person showed real sincerity, especially for a guy who'd been in the business game for over a decade. Humbling himself like this spoke to his savvy and grit.
America's been preaching racial equality for half a century, but in a melting pot like this, subtle discrimination runs deep. With his dark skin and Middle Eastern features, Isaac had to pass a thorough security check by Dunn's team before stepping into the room.
Dunn had just finished some dessert in the dining area of his presidential suite. Seeing Isaac, he stood up warmly. "Mr. Larian, sorry about this—I'm swamped with filming lately, so I had to ask you to come to me."
Dunn's humility put Isaac at ease. With a thick accent, he replied, "Mr. Walker, you're too kind. You're a big director, a major investor—it's only right I come to you."
Just then, Nicole Kidman glided over with two glasses of ice wine, smiling. "This is my dad's homemade wine. Hope you like it."
Isaac stood to thank her, taking the glass respectfully. When he looked up, he froze. Wait… isn't that Nicole Kidman? The Nicole Kidman? In her thirties, she had this perfect mix of mature charm and jaw-dropping beauty—every middle-aged guy's dream goddess.
"Uh… Miss Kidman…" he stammered.
She smiled lightly. "You guys talk business—I won't get in the way."
She floated in and out, leaving just a whiff of perfume, like she hadn't even been there. Isaac sat there, dazed, staring at the glass of wine like it was some rare elixir. He took a tiny sip, and it felt like a cool wave washing over him, straight to his soul.
Then he glanced at Dunn, who took a casual swig, spat it back into the glass with a "Pfft!" and grumbled, "This crap tastes like shit!"
Isaac was floored. That… that's wine made by a goddess's dad! You're wasting it! But in that moment, he got it. He might be twenty-plus years older, with over a decade in business, but next to Dunn, he was nothing. Nicole Kidman was his idol, but to Dunn, she was probably just a plaything—there when he wanted her, gone when he didn't.
Isaac settled onto the sofa across from Dunn, taking a deep breath and forcing a smile. "Mr. Walker, I'm here to pitch my company, GA Entertainment."
Dunn watched him, amused. The guy still seemed lost in the glow of Nicole's entrance—an unintentional power move on her part. Hilarious. "GA Entertainment, a toy company founded two years ago. I've skimmed the prelim docs," Dunn said, crossing his legs. His relaxed vibe naturally shifted into something commanding. He waved a hand. "But from what I saw, your company's not exactly killing it, right? I heard your partner's already bailed?"