Malibu, Los Angeles – Daniels Studios.
Jet Li arrived at Building One in the administrative district of the studio, accompanied by his agent, Jeremy. Waiting in the lounge outside Simon Westeros's office were two familiar Hollywood names: Doug Liman and Tony Gilroy.
It was Thursday, July 25th, and the group was scheduled for a 30-minute meeting with Simon at 5:00 PM.
Though 5:00 PM was technically the end of the workday, nobody minded Simon's scheduling. When the young mogul dictated the timeline, others simply adjusted accordingly.
As Jet entered, the group exchanged warm greetings. With a few minutes to spare before the meeting, they began discussing the project that had brought them together—one based on an idea personally pitched by Simon and already titled: "Taken."
In Simon's memory, the name conjured a box-office phenomenon: the "Taken" series.
Displeased with the ideas previously submitted by New World Pictures for Jet Li, Simon had stepped in personally. While he didn't have the time to write the script himself, he offered a concise concept. The idea was sparked after Vivendi-controlled Disney announced its upcoming blockbuster "The Fifth Element" in collaboration with Luc Besson. This reminded Simon of the immensely successful action film written by Besson: "Taken", starring Liam Neeson.
Luc Besson, often regarded as the "French Spielberg," had two distinct creative styles. Films he directed—like "The Big Blue," "The Fifth Element," and "Leon: The Professional"—were highly artistic, while the ones he wrote often leaned toward commercial action franchises: "Taxi," "The Transporter," and "Taken." Occasionally, these two styles intersected with varying success, as seen in "Lucy" and "Anna."
Among his projects, "Taken" stood out as one of the most successful franchises from his commercial-action assembly line. Recognizing its potential, Simon adapted it for Jet Li. The story's formula fit seamlessly with Jet's martial arts background.
Interestingly, Besson and Jet Li had collaborated before on "Kiss of the Dragon," but its lukewarm reception kept it off Simon's radar.
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In the lounge, the group chatted until New World Pictures' president, Danny Morris, arrived right on time. Soon after, Simon's assistant escorted everyone into his office.
Simon had just finished a call discussing the results of AOL's recent $3 billion corporate bond issuance.
The bond offering had been a resounding success.
Split evenly between 10-year and 20-year terms, the bonds had slightly lower interest rates than industry averages. Still, backed by AOL's explosive growth and the credibility of the Westeros Group, they sold out quickly to global investors.
Even more impressive, AOL incurred just 1.3% in commission costs, or $39 million, far below the industry standard. Competing underwriters, eager to secure the lucrative Westeros Group as a client, had offered the best possible terms.
Such favorable conditions reflected the ongoing tech boom.
Egret's market capitalization had recently surpassed $400 billion, making it the first company to achieve this milestone. As the NASDAQ continued its bull run, the industry buzzed with speculation that trillion-dollar valuations were on the horizon. Even Simon couldn't predict how far this unprecedented surge would go.
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Welcoming Jet Li, Doug Liman, and Tony Gilroy into his office, Simon shook hands with each of them before they settled into the seating area.
These three would be the creative leads for the revamped "Taken": Jet Li as the star and fight choreographer, Doug Liman as the director, and Tony Gilroy as the primary screenwriter. All three were still early in their careers, making them accessible to Simon and a perfect fit for the project.
Simon had provided the initial concept and instructed the trio to develop the screenplay together. The result was a fresh take on the original, featuring a unique three-protagonist dynamic. However, Simon had concerns.
"I've reviewed the outline and drafts," Simon began. "Your three-lead concept is interesting, especially with its exploration of racial dynamics. But if we go down that route, we'll end up with another buddy-comedy like 'Rush Hour.' That's not what I want. I need a gritty, fast-paced, R-rated action film with Jet's martial arts at its core. Adding extra protagonists slows everything down. Even a dual-lead setup would only work if Jet remains the focus. For the final script, stick to that framework. Understood?"
The trio exchanged glances and nodded.
Simon could sense Jet's hesitation. While Jet had supported the three-lead concept, it was likely out of caution. As this was his Hollywood debut, he wanted the project to succeed and saw the multi-lead approach as a safer bet.
Reading the room, Simon encouraged them to brainstorm new ideas.
With the three-lead format scrapped, the group quickly restructured the narrative:
The story would follow Zhao Qiang, a Chinese immigrant living in the U.S., who owns a small restaurant and has built a life with his wife and child. His younger sister, Zhao Min, arrives from China to pursue her dreams of studying in America. Soon after her arrival, she is kidnapped by human traffickers.
Zhao Qiang's martial arts skills and relentless determination drive him to track her down. Accompanied by his guilt-ridden American best friend, Jack, who inadvertently put Zhao Min in danger, Zhao embarks on a violent rescue mission. The pursuit spans from the U.S. to France, where he unleashes his fury on the trafficking ring.
The film ends with Zhao Min's rescue and hints at a potential sequel.
In Simon's words: "If the film succeeds, we can have Zhao Qiang's daughter kidnapped in the sequel."
Capitalism knows no bounds.
Unlike the comedic style of "Rush Hour," Simon wanted "Taken" to deliver hard-hitting action, distinguishing Jet from Jackie Chan. By emphasizing family bonds, the story could resonate across cultures, much like the original "Taken."
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After a productive 30 minutes, the group left Simon's office. As they parted ways with Danny Morris, Doug Liman suggested continuing their discussions at an industry party that evening. Tony Gilroy and Jet Li agreed.
The party would serve as both a creative meeting and an opportunity for Doug to pitch some of his connections for supporting roles in "Taken." In Hollywood, networking was everything.
Simon wasn't concerned about these behind-the-scenes maneuvers. He simply needed the right cast and crew to make the film a success.
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After wrapping up his day, Simon returned home to find Janet and Jennifer finally back from their respective trips.
Janet was sprawled on the sofa, clearly exhausted from a week of childcare. As Simon greeted her, she pulled him down into an embrace, muttering complaints about how terrifying children were.
Amused, Simon reassured her with a kiss. But Janet wasn't letting him off the hook so easily.
"By the way, Simon," she teased with a mischievous glint, "if you want more kids, you know what to do."
Simon's response? A playful, but noncommittal grin.
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