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121: Redoing my Life, Fast and Furious
🕑 Added 2024-10-03 10:54:56 +0000 UTCGeneral POV
1 Year Ago
It was early 2011, and Daniel had been invited to one of the most exclusive and elusive parties in Hollywood—the kind of event where the industry's biggest names gathered to let loose, make deals, and indulge in the excesses the public rarely got a glimpse of. The host was one of Hollywood's most eccentric producers, notorious for throwing lavish, over-the-top parties.
Invitations like these didn’t come often, and after his Oscar win, Daniel’s name had been added to the list. The mansion, perched high in the Hollywood Hills, was grand—sleek, modern, and intimidating. It was the kind of place where the divide between the powerful and the rest of the world became all too clear. The location was secluded enough that whatever transpired within its walls wouldn’t make it to any tabloids.
He hadn’t wanted to go at first but decided to attend anyway—he couldn’t avoid them forever. Plus, he couldn’t ignore the networking opportunities such events provided.
As Daniel walked in, the sights and sounds of the party immediately hit him. Music thumped through the house, a pulsating beat that reverberated off the marble floors. The interior was opulent, filled with an eclectic mix of Hollywood’s directors, writers, actors, and studio executives mingling in luxurious surroundings. Glittering chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the crowd. Some guests huddled in small groups, whispering conspiratorially, while others lounged on plush couches, drinks in hand, oblivious to the world outside.
Daniel recognized a few familiar faces—high-profile actors and actresses mingling with studio heads and producers. The night was young, but it already reeked of hedonism. This was the kind of place where the line between work and pleasure blurred, where scripts were pitched over glasses of champagne, and other illicit activities happened behind closed doors.
He waded through the crowded living room, trying to avoid being pulled into the chaos. A group of partygoers, already drunk, laughed loudly near the entrance, while others danced, their movements erratic, lost in the music and alcohol.
Daniel decided not to linger too long indoors and made his way outside, into the sprawling garden. The air was cooler out there, and the noise of the party was more muted. The vibe was more relaxed, with guests chatting calmly as they sipped their drinks, some standing near the edges of the garden, taking in the breathtaking view of the city below.
He began mingling with the guests—studio executives and producers—many eager to discuss potential projects and collaborations. Some seemed genuine, but others gave off a more questionable vibe—people he wanted to avoid. After what felt like forever, even after speaking with the host, Daniel had had enough.
He approached the bar for one last drink, feeling ready to call it a night. He ordered his drink, and the bartender swiftly prepared it. Just as he was about to take a sip, he heard a voice behind him.
"Not an alcohol guy?" the voice asked.
Daniel turned around, holding his drink, to find an Asian man standing there with a friendly smile. He looked vaguely familiar, but Daniel couldn't immediately place him.
"No, not really," Daniel replied with a polite smile.
"You're Daniel Adler, right?" the man asked, extending his hand.
"Yeah, that’s me," Daniel said, shaking his hand.
"Congrats on the Oscar," the man said with genuine enthusiasm. "I'm Justin Lin," he added, noticing Daniel’s slight confusion. "I directed the Fast & Furious movie that's coming out in two months."
Recognition dawned on Daniel, and his eyes lit up. "Oh, right! Fast & Furious. Yeah, I love that franchise."
"The next one drops in two months, so fingers crossed," Justin said, grinning.
They spent the next few minutes chatting, with Justin asking about Daniel's recent involvement with the newly formed DC Studios and marveling at how quickly Daniel was rising through Hollywood. He even expressed interest in working together at some point.
"I’d love to work with you, man," Justin said. "You’re killing it right now—DC Studios, Oscar winner, and what? You're not even 20 yet? Impressive."
"Thanks, Justin," Daniel said, smiling. "I’m excited to see your movie too. Been wanting Vin and the others back since Tokyo Drift."
Justin smiled. "I think people are really going to love it."
Daniel chuckled, remembering the later movies of the franchise he'd seen in his previous life. "You know, for the fifth movie, you should turn the street-racing car franchise into a full-on heist-spy-action film. Completely change it up," he said, half-jokingly.
Justin raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the suggestion. "A heist-spy-action movie, huh?" he said, laughing. "That’s actually not a bad idea."
They both laughed, and after exchanging phone numbers, Daniel told Justin he was heading out.
"You're really leaving already?" Justin asked, a bit surprised. "The night’s just getting started."
Daniel chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. "Better to leave parties before the devil gets there," he said with a knowing grin.
Justin laughed loudly, shaking his head. "I like you, Adler. I like you," he said, clapping Daniel on the shoulder before walking off.
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1 Year Later
February 2012
Justin Lin walked into the spacious living room of one of the top Universal Studios executives, Jeremy Knight. Justin had been called in to discuss the sequel to Fast & Furious. The fourth movie in the franchise had done exceptionally well at the box office, and the studio was eager to capitalize on its success. However, there was a looming problem—Chris Morgan, the writer of the last movie, was no longer available.
As soon as Justin entered, Jeremy stood up to greet him with a firm handshake. "Justin, good to see you," he said, though his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, betraying the stress of the situation.
"Good to see you too, Jeremy," Justin replied, nodding politely.
Sitting on one of the sleek leather couches, Vin Diesel turned his head as Justin approached. "Hey, man," Vin said, standing up as well. He extended his hand, greeting Justin with a strong, brotherly handshake.
"Vin," Justin nodded with a smile. They exchanged a quick hug and sat down.
Vin was the first to speak, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees. His gravelly voice broke the silence. "So, it’s true about Chris? He’s in rehab now?"
Justin nodded, letting out a sigh. "Yeah, it’s true. He’s going to be out for a while."
Vin shook his head, running a hand over his bald scalp. "Damn... this could be a long-term thing, huh?"
Jeremy, ever the optimist, chimed in. "We’ll figure it out. We’ll find someone else quickly—someone who can pick up where Chris left off. No need to panic yet."
Justin, however, raised his hand slightly, stopping Jeremy before he could continue. "Before we go down that road, I’ve got an idea for the movie. I’ve been thinking about a direction we could take."
Vin, always keen on hearing creative pitches, leaned back on the couch, crossing his arms. "Alright, man. Let’s hear it."
Jeremy, though hesitant, also nodded. "We’re all ears, Justin."
"You know, before Chris left, he and I had been talking about evolving the franchise—taking it in a different direction," Justin began, leaning forward slightly. "I’ve been mulling over an idea from a conversation I had with someone a year ago. It popped back into my mind recently."
Vin raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued, while Jeremy leaned in.
"We should downplay the street racing elements—at least, put them in the background," Justin continued. "Instead, the next movie should be a heist movie. Turn Dom and his family into fugitives, considering how we ended the last one."
Vin sat up straighter, clearly interested. "A heist movie?" he echoed, as if the concept had struck a chord.
"Yeah," Justin nodded. "We keep the fast cars, the stunts, the action—the stuff people love about Fast & Furious. But now, the crew, Dom’s family—they’re not just racing for pink slips anymore. They’re pulling off a massive job. A big-time heist. We set it up so they’re international fugitives, pulling jobs to survive."
There was a moment of silence, and Justin could see the wheels turning in Vin’s head. Vin leaned back in his chair, a slow grin spreading across his face. "I like it," he said, the excitement slowly creeping into his voice.
Seeing Vin's reaction, Jeremy nodded in agreement. "This is a good idea, Justin," Vin added. "But will you write the script?"
Justin shook his head slightly. "I came up with the concept, but like I said before, it’s an idea I got from a guy I met a year ago. Honestly, I think he can write the script better than I could."
"Who?" Jeremy asked, his curiosity piqued.
"His name’s Daniel Adler," Justin replied. "Huge fan of the franchise, as he’s told me."
Vin’s eyes narrowed in thought. "Daniel Adler… I’ve heard of him. Didn’t he win an Oscar last year?"
"Yeah, that’s the one," Justin confirmed. "The kid’s great. He’s young, but he’s already made a huge name for himself. He’s got the chops to pull this off."
Jeremy, always thinking about the bigger picture, quickly agreed. "Universal would love to have a working relationship with Adler. It’d be a huge asset for us to get him involved."
Vin wasn’t fully convinced yet. "You think he can write this? Like you said, he’s young. What is he, 24? 25?"
"He’s 20, I think," Justin said, chuckling.
"Wow," Vin said, genuinely surprised. "Are you sure he can handle it?"
"I think so," Justin replied confidently. "He’s sharp. He’s got an edge that could bring something fresh to the franchise. It’s a gamble, but I think it’s one worth taking."
Vin rubbed his chin, nodding slowly as he considered the proposal. "Alright, let him write a treatment for us. If it’s good, we’ll move forward with it."
Jeremy agreed. "If Adler isn’t available or can’t deliver, we can always find other writers to move forward with this idea."
"Great," Justin said, relieved they were on board. "I’ll reach out to him and see if he’s interested."
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Daniel POV
February 2012
"Alright," Margot said, facing me and taking a deep breath. "I’m going for it."
"Give it your best shot," I replied, leaning back to give her space.
Apparently, they were remaking Bonnie and Clyde—the classic 1967 movie—and Margot was auditioning for the role of Bonnie. If she landed the part, it would be a huge break for her. Word on the street was that Tom Hardy was set to play Clyde, with none other than David Fincher directing.
Margot turned away from me for a moment, centering herself, and then she was in the zone. Her entire demeanor shifted. With a shockingly good Texas drawl, she dove into the lines.
"You know what, Clyde?" she said, her voice sharp as she spun toward me, fully immersed in the role. "We ain’t ever gonna stop. Not until they put us in the ground. And even then, they’ll remember us."
She dropped her voice to a whisper. "They’ll tell stories about us... Bonnie and Clyde, the ones who couldn’t be caught."
I had to admit, she was nailing it. But I couldn’t resist messing with her a bit. Putting on my best exaggerated southern accent, I responded in a ridiculous drawl, "Well, hot dang, Miss Bonnie Parker, you reckon we’re gonna rob the bank or ride off into the sunset with some barbecue?"
Margot immediately broke character, her face lighting up with laughter. "Oh my God, stop! My accent is not that bad!" she protested, trying to keep a straight face but clearly failing.
Still grinning, I wasn’t done. I leaned into it, hamming it up even more. "Y’all better not be takin' offense now, Miss Parker," I said, throwing in an exaggerated wink.
Before I could finish, Margot was in full-on giggle mode, swatting me playfully on the arm. "You’re the worst!" she giggled, hitting me again.
"It was fine," I said more seriously this time. "You’re really getting there, and by the end of the week, I’m sure you’re going to nail it."
"Thank you," Margot said, settling beside me on the couch and leaning in to give me a quick kiss on the lips.
Just then, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen, surprised to see Justin Lin's name pop up.
Definitely not someone I was expecting.
I picked it up, curiosity getting the better of me. "Justin, hey."
"Hey, Daniel!" Justin greeted me, his voice upbeat. "Hope I’m not catching you at a bad time."
"No, no, it’s all good. What’s up?" I replied.
"Look, I’ll get straight to the point. I was wondering... would you be interested in writing the script for the next Fast and Furious movie?"
There was a brief moment of silence.
I hadn’t seen this coming.
"Daniel? You still there?" Justin asked after a moment of quiet.
I snapped out of it, quickly responding, "Yeah, sorry, Justin. You caught me off guard there."
Justin chuckled. "Yeah, I figured. Remember that idea you tossed out last year? When you joked about turning the franchise into more of a heist-action film? Well, it’s been rolling around in my head, and I think that’s the direction we should take for the next one. I thought we could meet up and talk it over, see what you think."
I leaned back into the couch, still a little shocked. "Wow, yeah. Let’s do it. I’ll have my assistant call you and set up a time for us to meet."
"Sounds good, man. Looking forward to it," Justin said, clearly pleased.
We exchanged quick goodbyes, and I hung up the phone, staring at it for a second before turning to Margot.
"Who was that?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
I smiled and shook my head. "The easiest money I’ve ever made."
