Chapter 209: You're Playing with Fire
Paris — on the Left Bank of the Seine, in a bedroom of a villa near the Quai Voltaire.
Breathing hard, Sophie Marceau suddenly threw back the blanket and gave Aaron a light smack.
"Don't you feel hot at all?"
"A little," Aaron laughed as he rolled onto his back.
"But that's your fault—you're far too tempting. Once you start, it's hard to stop."
Sophie nestled into his arms, her warm, supple body pressing lightly against him.
"Dawnlight's French branch seems to be doing pretty well. The marketing campaign for Four Weddings and a Funeral was handled nicely," she said softly.
"And Dawnlight's international box office numbers keep rising. That's definitely something worth celebrating."
Aaron's lips curved into a smile as his hand rested against her curves.
"I heard that Gaumont is backing Luc Besson to go to Hollywood and make a film."
"Yes," Sophie replied.
"The idea actually came to him a few years ago, when he was preparing Nikita."
"It's a French art-house–style action film, shot using Hollywood methods. The script is called Léon: The Professional."
"It's a co-production between Gaumont and Columbia Pictures. Luc originally wanted to make a large-scale science-fiction film, but the budget he proposed was simply too high."
Luc Besson had hoped to develop a French sci-fi project, but the investment required was enormous, forcing him to seek cooperation with a major Hollywood studio—Sony's Columbia Pictures.
Because of the high cost, the project had to prioritize the American market, and Columbia's suggestion was clear:
cast major Hollywood stars.
And Léon: The Professional was precisely Luc Besson's test run into Hollywood.
How much budget he could secure for that ambitious science-fiction project would depend heavily on how this film performed.
"Léon: The Professional?"
Of course Aaron knew the film—an elegant, French-style action drama that would earn immense international acclaim.
As for that science-fiction project, there was no doubt about it: The Fifth Element.
Luc Besson could be said to be the French director most adept at commercial filmmaking.
---
As The Mask of Zorro opened in 2,500 theaters across North America, it pulled in $22 million over its opening weekend.
Kevin Costner's box-office appeal was, once again, astonishing.
Later in May, the film's main creative team—director Ridley Scott, along with stars Kevin Costner and Catherine Zeta-Jones—attended a grand red-carpet premiere in Madrid.
Given that the story was rooted in the Latin world, holding a premiere in Spain was only fitting. Aaron traveled from Paris to Madrid for the event as well.
He had no particular expectations about meeting members of the Spanish royal family.
Still, without royal participation, Dawnlight would never have staged such an extravagant Spanish premiere—at most, they would have sent a director or actor for appearances.
A superstar like Kevin Costner certainly wouldn't have made the trip otherwise.
---
At the post-screening reception, Aaron sat with Catherine Zeta-Jones on a sofa, smiling as he asked,
"So—does it feel different now that the film's been released?"
"Your beauty alone has already made quite an impression on audiences."
Catherine nodded and leaned in to kiss his cheek.
"Completely different. The media exposure has exploded—interviews, photos, invitations…"
"My agent has been flooded with scripts and endorsement offers. After The Darling Buds of May ended last year, I'd gone a long time without any new projects."
"If it weren't for The Mask of Zorro, I honestly don't know what I would've done."
She had once been just a television star in the UK.
Now, she was the leading lady of a Hollywood blockbuster—her status and visibility skyrocketing almost overnight.
---
"Edward Zwick is preparing a historical romance adapted from a novel—Legends of the Fall," Aaron said.
"There's a female lead with horseback scenes. Since you can ride, you'd be perfect. I want you to take the role."
The project was still in development and wouldn't begin filming until later in the year.
"Edward Zwick? The director of Ghost?" Catherine's eyes lit up.
"Is Dawnlight already moving forward with it?"
"Not yet," Aaron replied.
"He's meticulous with adaptations. It'll likely start toward the end of the year. You can read the novel first."
"Alright," Catherine said, kissing him softly.
"Tonight, I'll stay with you properly… I leave tomorrow, after all."
-
Aaron later spoke briefly with Ridley Scott and Kevin Costner.
After the critical failure of 1492: Conquest of Paradise, The Mask of Zorro had restored Scott's confidence.
As for Costner, he still had Clint Eastwood's A Perfect World set for release that year, and was currently filming Warner Bros.' Wyatt Earp.
---
"Mr. Anderson—do you remember me?"
A sultry Spanish voice interrupted.
"I'm Penélope Cruz. We met at the Venice Film Festival last year."
"Of course," Aaron smiled, embracing her lightly.
"You were unforgettable in Jamón Jamón."
Penélope leaned in close, smiling.
"Really? Then tell me—was my performance to your liking?"
Aaron leaned toward her ear.
"Unfortunately, when I watched Jamón Jamón, my attention stayed fixed on your figure."
"And I hear your other film, Belle Époque, has earned even greater praise."
Belle Époque had won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival earlier that year,
and swept awards at Spain's Goya Awards, surpassing Jamón Jamón in both reputation and success.
"However acclaimed it may be," Penélope said softly, pressing closer,
"it still can't compare to Dawnlight's triumph at Cannes. The Piano and Farewell My Concubine sharing the Palme d'Or—congratulations."
She brushed against him deliberately.
"Film doesn't always capture the full picture," she murmured.
"Perhaps you'd prefer to see—or feel—it for yourself?"
Aaron lifted her chin gently.
"You're playing with fire," he said with a smile.
"Just call me Aaron."