Chapter 138: A Cycle. Magic Battles. And [The Hangover] Four Weeks Run
....
Regal had finally unveiled the studio backing his long-anticipated [Harry Potter] adaptation.
And while some headlines framed it as a surprise, anyone paying close attention knew this move had been simmering beneath the surface for months.
The announcement came late in the day, but its ripple effect carried well into the next morning.
By sunrise, articles had already gone live:
"Red Studio to Produce First Two Films of the [Harry Potter] Franchise"
The headline wasn't exactly earth-shattering, and anyone familiar with the behind-the-scenes chessboard would have guessed the outcome.
The deal was orchestrated by Deonte Maravich, President of Red Pictures Distribution - a man who had been circling Regal for months with increasing intensity.
Deonte had been circling Regal since early in the SDCC buildup, showing more persistence than tact at times. He wanted in - badly. From the moment he saw the early whispers of Regal's campaign, he recognized it for what it was: a power move.
Regal declined the initial approaches, multiple times.
Cordially, but firmly.
That didn't stop Deonte. Each time he returned with a sweeter offer - higher production budgets, increased distribution reach, expanded marketing guarantees. The man wasn't going to walk away empty-handed.