Director in Hollywood

In the original timeline, Peter Jackson set The Lord of the Rings filming in New Zealand because he was a native of the country.

However, Gilbert had no such connection to New Zealand and could have easily chosen a different filming location. But in the end, Gilbert also decided to base The Lord of the Rings production in New Zealand, primarily due to the country's unique natural landscapes, unmatched by any other region.

To replicate the varied terrains of grasslands, snow-capped mountains, highlands, plains, volcanoes, rivers, and coastlines, Gilbert would have needed to travel the world. While China also offered these types of scenery, logistical and cultural differences made it less feasible.

For others on the production team, China was unfamiliar territory with potential issues in adapting to local customs, food, and filming protocols. Ultimately, Gilbert abandoned the idea.

New Zealand, being a Commonwealth nation, eliminated such concerns. It had all the desired landscapes in one location: mountains, volcanoes, sprawling coastlines, bays, and rainforests.

New Zealand, located in the southwestern Pacific, comprises two main islands, the North and South Islands, along with Stewart Island and several smaller islands. Separated by the Cook Strait, the country has a temperate maritime climate. Its terrain is predominantly mountainous, with small plains and rich forest resources.

The capital city, Wellington, and its largest city, Auckland, are notable urban centers. Other famous tourist destinations include Queenstown on the South Island and Taupo and Rotorua on the North Island.

Gilbert and Cameron Diaz departed from Los Angeles and landed in Wellington, New Zealand.

The pair strolled hand in hand through Wellington's famous sights and streets like any other couple.

Gilbert was particularly impressed by the abundance of street performers, who captivated passersby with their acts. The city was lined with cafes and bars, and as night fell, its streets lit up brilliantly, teeming with well-dressed men and women enjoying its vibrant nightlife.

After exploring the city center for a few days, Gilbert and Cameron took the cable car from Lambton Quay and arrived at a 26-hectare botanical garden teeming with exotic plants.

The garden featured shaded paths surrounded by native flora, making it a refreshing and delightful experience.

"Wow, it's so beautiful here," Cameron exclaimed. She wore a black turtleneck sweater under a white hooded down jacket, paired with fluffy gloves. Her snug fleece-lined pants and white boots showcased her curvaceous legs.

Although it was winter in the southern hemisphere, the regional climate differences meant that while the snow-capped mountains in the distance were a sight to behold, the area they were exploring was lush and vibrant, with birds chirping and flowers blooming.

Cameron wandered among the greenery and frequently turned back to wave at Gilbert, urging him, "Come on, Gilbert, I want to check that out!"

"Take it slow, Michelle. This spot is great—I'll take a picture of you!"

Gilbert held up a camera, capturing scenic views and photographing Cameron to document their experience.

At that moment, Gilbert wished he had a smartphone. Cameras were cumbersome to carry and hold, especially after long hours.

While Gilbert was an accomplished director, he wasn't a camera enthusiast. For him, a smartphone would have sufficed, but such technology wasn't yet available.

The garden was bustling with tourists, and Gilbert followed Cameron as she led the way. Oddly, she maneuvered him toward a quieter area.

Eventually, they arrived at a hedge maze where faint voices of other visitors could still be heard.

Cameron sat on a stone bench and coyly declared, "We're lost."

"Are we really lost?" Gilbert asked, puzzled. "Didn't we just come in from this direction? If we retrace our steps—"

Before he could finish, Cameron threw herself into his arms and silenced him with a kiss. "We're lost, alright."

"Alright, alright," Gilbert conceded. "So, what now? Should we call for help?"

"Darling, you're too hasty. Let's just do something... fun," Cameron teased, her hands slipping downward to unzip his jacket.

Except for a few adventurous encounters with Gwyneth Paltrow, Gilbert hadn't tried anything like this.

Seeing his enjoyment, Cameron was pleased. Her elaborate setup had paid off.

"Take some pictures with your camera, darling. Let's make some memories," she suggested.

"Michelle, isn't that a bit too bold? And it's cold out here," Gilbert hesitated, scratching his head.

"Come on! It's precisely because it's cold that we need to do something exciting to warm up. Besides, no one else will see these—just us." Cameron winked and teased him. "Naomi and Sally wanted to know about our New Zealand trip. These pictures will make them jealous."

Eventually, Gilbert relented and took a few shots as requested.

Cameron, still unsatisfied, asked for dozens more.

Fortunately, Gilbert could process the photos himself; sending them to a third party for development might risk a scandal.

The two eventually left the hedge maze, blending seamlessly back into the crowd. No one suspected that just behind the hedge, a renowned Hollywood director and actress had shared such a private moment.

Back at their Wellington hotel, Gilbert received a phone call and stepped out to meet someone.

Meanwhile, Cameron eagerly scrolled through the photos on the camera, giggling as she shared her antics with Charlize Theron over the phone.

"Guess what, Sally? Gilbert and I did something super fun outdoors today," Cameron teased.

"What was it?" Charlize groggily asked from Los Angeles, having been woken up in the middle of the night.

Cameron recounted the story in vivid detail, keeping Charlize wide awake.

"Michelle, that's outrageous! Don't you know I was sleeping? I'm exhausted from today's training, and now I can't even rest," Charlize fumed.

Still, she added, "When Gilbert gets back from New Zealand, I want pictures too!"

"Sure, sure," Cameron agreed enthusiastically. "Let's get Naomi involved too. We can take group photos and cover the bedroom walls with them. Or maybe even film a video! If we ever run low on cash, we could sell it."

"Michelle, you're unbelievable. Aren't you afraid of getting scolded by Gilbert?" Charlize sighed.

Hearing the word "scold," Cameron's mind wandered, and she smiled mischievously. "Why hasn't he returned yet? I miss him already."

"What's he doing?" Charlize asked.

"No idea," Cameron pouted. "He said he was meeting someone named Peter Jackson."

In the hotel café, Gilbert met with the New Zealand director.

At that time, Peter Jackson was a rising filmmaker, far less established than Gilbert. Understandably, Peter was nervous about the meeting, likely because he had a favor to ask.

As expected, after some small talk, Peter brought up his request. "Director Gilbert I heard you own the rights to The Lord of the Rings novels."

"That's correct. I secured the rights a while ago," Gilbert confirmed.

Peter hesitated before asking, "Do you have plans to adapt the novels? If so, could I be considered to direct? I'm a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings and have always dreamed of directing it."

Peter's eyes were filled with hope as he awaited Gilbert's response.

While Peter's career hinged on The Lord of the Rings, Gilbert wasn't one to be swayed by sympathy. If he were, he wouldn't have "borrowed" so many successful films from his past life.

Gilbert had already planned to direct The Matrix, effectively preempting the Wachowski siblings' breakthrough project.

When the siblings approached Warner Bros. with their idea for The Matrix, they were stunned by the studio's response:

The Warner executive said, "Your script is already outdated. Director Gilbert submitted a screenplay long ago called The Matrix.

The entire story is more complete and far more compelling than what you've brought."

The Warner executive even questioned the brothers, "Did you see Gilbert's script in the Writers Guild database and try to get ahead by writing a similar one?

If that's the case, you've come to the wrong place. This is Warner Bros., and Gilbert is one of our most reliable collaborators."

The Wachowski brothers hurriedly shook their heads and waved their hands. "We're sorry; we had no idea about this. We'll destroy our script immediately and ensure it never sees the light of day."

The Warner executive finally nodded in satisfaction. "You both are talented, but plagiarism is something no creator respects. Don't ever do such a thing."

The Wachowskis walked out of the Warner Bros building, bewildered. Later, they discussed how Gilbert could have come up with the same story as theirs.

They hadn't shared their idea with anyone, and Gilbert's script had been registered with the Writers Guild long before they had even conceived the concept.

Ultimately, the Wachowskis could only attribute this to divine intervention. It was as though God wanted this story to exist and had chosen a better director to bring it to life.

This was the resonance of creators, they thought. To share the same idea as Hollywood's genius director was both a disappointment and a source of excitement for the Wachowskis.

"We're on the same wavelength as the 'Son of God,' the genius director," they said. "This proves that we, the Wachowski brothers, have the potential to make a mark in the film industry."

What the Wachowskis didn't know was that Gilbert was a man who had come from the future.

Had it been Robert Zemeckis, the creator of the Back to the Future series, encountering this situation, he might have suspected something. After all, his work showed a knack for big-picture ideas.

But discussing such matters was pointless now. The Wachowskis quickly gave up on their obsession with The Matrix and turned their attention to planning new projects.

To avoid overlapping ideas with Gilbert again, they specifically checked his registered scripts and projects with the Writers Guild and the Producers Guild.

What they found left them gasping in shock. Gilbert had no fewer than thirty projects registered.

A few of these projects had publicly revealed titles, but most were listed under codenames. The descriptions offered only vague summaries, leaving them unsure of what Gilbert's plans truly were.

However, they did manage to uncover his immediate schedule. The next project to go into production was The Matrix.

The Wachowski brothers then made a request to Warner Bros., asking to visit the set of The Matrix once it began filming to observe and learn.

After some consideration, Warner Bros. agreed to discuss this with Gilbert and potentially arrange for the brothers to visit the set.