Entertainment: Starting as a Succubus, Taking Hollywood by Storm-Chapter 449 - 448: Even If It Comes to Blows, Martin Isn’t Afraid
Chapter 449 - 448: Even If It Comes to Blows, Martin Isn’t Afraid
When Martin heard the name Vin Diesel, he immediately shot Spielberg a peculiar look.
This future Hollywood action star had debuted in 1990.
His first theatrical film, Awakenings, had him working alongside heavyweights like Robert De Niro and Robin Williams.
His second film? The massive war epic Saving Private Ryan.
Though his roles were small, his career start was undeniably god-tier.
On the surface, this guy had no industry connections whatsoever!
Most unknown actors grind their way up from B-movie extras.
Even if you had a backdoor deal, at most, you'd get a couple of lines.
Breaking into major studio films—let alone A-list productions—was nearly impossible without years of struggle.
So the question was: Why him?
Vin Diesel's real name was Mark Sinclair Vincent.
His mother was an astrologer and had allegedly worked as a housemaid.
His biological father? A complete mystery—no one knew who he was.
But Hollywood rumors suggested that Vin Diesel was actually Spielberg's illegitimate son.
From what Martin recalled, this guy had a terrible reputation in Hollywood.
After starring in the first Fast & Furious movie, he saw its potential and forced his way into the sequel's production—bringing in his own money and constantly cutting down Paul Walker's screen time to expand his own.
As the franchise continued, Vin Diesel's role grew—from a minor character to a supporting lead, then to a co-lead, and eventually, the main lead.
After Paul Walker's tragic death, he became the sole face of the franchise and even profited heavily from Walker's passing.
Vin Diesel's reputation among fellow actors was abysmal.
He used his investor status to bully actresses and suppress male co-stars.
Most actors who worked with him had nothing good to say about him.
(Side note: Even Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, known for his high emotional intelligence, couldn't stand Vin Diesel after working on three Fast & Furious films together—he straight-up called him out in the media! Jason Statham also had strong negative feelings about him.)
Despite his lack of acting skills, he somehow got his hands on multiple blockbuster franchises: Fast & Furious, Riddick, XXX—all of which he was an investor in.
Now, think about it.
With his background, where did he get the money?
And how did he have such incredible script instincts?
The answer was obvious: he had someone backing him.
Vin Diesel's real identity wasn't exactly a secret in certain Hollywood circles.
Most people gave him face, and Martin wasn't an exception.
As long as he didn't try to cut Martin's slice of the pie, Martin had no reason to block him.
Sure, Vin Diesel bullied small-time actors, but what did that have to do with Martin?
If Fast & Furious was destined to make big money, giving him more screen time wasn't necessarily a bad idea—it would still put cash in Martin's pocket.
But as for letting him buy his way into the franchise?
Martin scoffed. Yeah, dream on.
Right—there was another rumor.
Apparently, Spielberg felt guilty about his "illegitimate son" and treated Vin Diesel extremely well.
Vin Diesel actually started as a writer-director.
His self-made film Multi-Facial received critical acclaim.
And in 1997, his directorial debut Strays even made it into the Sundance Film Festival competition.
But any industry veteran could tell—Strays was way too polished for a first-time director.
It was overflowing with Spielberg's signature filmmaking techniques.
It was like Spielberg was holding his hand the entire time.
At some point, Spielberg must have realized that Vin Diesel simply didn't have real directorial talent.
That's probably why he pushed him into acting instead.
Otherwise, with Strays's level of polish, Vin Diesel could've gone straight into directing full-time.
And in Hollywood, directors held far more power than actors.
Martin's mind processed all this in an instant, but his expression remained neutral.
Smiling, he said, "Steve, this is a small matter. No problem."
Spielberg visibly relaxed and patted Martin's arm. "Thanks, I owe you one."
That night.
Spielberg called his favorite son.
"It's settled. You'll get more screen time. Make sure you do a good job."
A slow, deliberate voice responded on the other end. "Just more screen time? What about investment? I really believe in this movie—it's gonna make money."
"Of course, it'll make money. But forget about investing. This isn't just any production—it's a Meyers Entertainment film. You understand what that means?"
"...Fine, fine, I get it."
"Don't stir up trouble, got it?"
Spielberg clearly knew his "son's" nature and gave a final warning.
"I won't. Come on, you know me—I only mess with people I can mess with."
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That was true.
Vin Diesel had a keen sense for power dynamics.
While actors despised him, Hollywood's true power players found him tolerable.
(Side note: Vin Diesel had a speech impediment. If he spoke too fast, he would stutter or slur his words.)
Martin also received a call from Drew.
"Martin, what's the deal with Vin Diesel? Why are we giving him more screen time?"
"Steve asked me for a favor. It's nothing major, just throwing him a bone."
"Alright." Drew didn't seem too concerned.
She had actually called for a different reason—gossip.
"So... that rumor is true, huh?"
Martin chuckled. "Who knows? As long as neither of them admits it, it's just a rumor. By the way, I heard Diesel's a massive diva. Tell the production team—don't put up with his crap."
"Haha! I'm producing this one myself, you know. I really believe in this franchise. Don't worry—I won't let him cause any problems."
After hanging up, Martin smiled and shook his head.
Drew had a great eye for the industry.
No wonder she would become one of Hollywood's top three female producers in the future.
By this time, Gordon had already driven Martin to the airport.
A sleek Gulfstream jet sat quietly on the tarmac—Martin's newly purchased personal aircraft, used for domestic flights.
Martin was heading to the East Coast for Spider-Man 2 filming in New York.
And, of course, to check in on his "collectibles" on the East Coast.
Despite screwing over Sony Music, his partnership with Sony Pictures remained intact.
Spider-Man was insanely profitable—especially the merchandise.
It was a goldmine.
Even with Sony Pictures, Marvel Studios, and Meyers Entertainment splitting the revenue, each company still raked in huge sums.
Sony's slice of the pie was the biggest—meaning they made the most money.
At times, Martin felt like he was the one working for them.
That was why—even after taking a big loss—Sony still didn't turn on him.
Of course, even if they had, Martin wouldn't have been afraid.
But before heading to the Spider-Man 2 set, Martin had another engagement—
The premiere of The Matrix Reloaded.
It was a franchise film.
He didn't need to stress over it.
Just show up, smile, and let the box office roll in.