The richest actor in Hollywood.

This winter in New York was exceptionally cold, with a heavy snowfall just days earlier. The frigid weather that followed didn't deter the enthusiasm of movie fans. As the weak afternoon sun shone down, fans gathered at Washington Square, passing through the iconic arch and lining up along a long red carpet on Thompson Street, eagerly awaiting the premiere of *I Am Legend*.

The fans were buzzing with excitement, especially when Phyllis Beretta arrived. A large crowd surrounded her, asking questions, and their admiration for their favorite star only grew with her answers.

As dusk approached, the red carpet event finally began. A stream of stars walking down the carpet brought waves of cheers from the crowd.

When a black Mercedes pulled up to the red carpet, the excitement peaked. Matthew, dressed in a black suit, waved to the crowd, which responded with a roar of approval.

The applause and cheers were so loud they could be heard from downtown Manhattan to the Upper East Side.

A photographer, continuously capturing shots, muttered, "Matthew Horner is really popular!"

Another journalist standing nearby added, "Matthew Horner openly shows his love for his fans, so naturally, they love him even more."

The photographer, reminded of the recent house-gifting incident, nodded, "A star like Matthew Horner is rare in Hollywood."

Even if it was all a show, it was a new level of showmanship.

As Matthew walked alone down the red carpet, Washington Square was filled with excitement.

Washington Square, located between Greenwich Village and East Village, is surrounded by a bohemian and somewhat decadent vibe. The west side, Greenwich Village, has long been a haven for writers and artists, while the slightly grittier East Village is known for punk rockers and experimental theater. Within a kilometer radius of Washington Square, there are good cafes, bars, restaurants, and jazz clubs that stay open all night.

Normally, the square is bustling with people—street performers, students from nearby New York University, rollerbladers, photographers, and nappers. But now, the square was completely taken over by outsiders from New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix, and beyond, from all over North America and the world.

However, they all shared a common title—fans of Matthew Horner!

Today's premiere was also being broadcast live, with Warner Bros. making extensive preparations. The pre-sale performance of *I Am Legend* was outstanding, promising a blockbuster opening weekend, which bolstered their confidence.

An ABC Entertainment reporter, standing in front of the camera, gave a brief introduction before urging the cameraman to focus on Matthew Horner on the red carpet.

She continued with a voice-over, "If the term 'free agent' exists in Hollywood, Matthew Horner would certainly be the most sought-after by agents. After all, movie studio executives want to sign actors who can generate the most revenue, and in a Hollywood where Tom Hanks and Tom Cruise's shine has faded, and veterans like Harrison Ford and Bruce Willis have aged, the young Matthew Horner has become a reliable box office draw. From *The Scorpion King*, *300 Spartans*, to *National Treasure* and *Mr. & Mrs. Smith*, every film starring Matthew Horner has been a massive success at the box office."

As Matthew reached the photo zone, the reporter quickly interviewed a few studio executives, focusing almost entirely on questions about Matthew, given his current spotlight in the entertainment world.

Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracker Media By Numbers, commented, "In *I Am Legend*, Matthew plays the last man on Earth, which is very lonely, but in real life, he's far from lonely, as there are countless fans filling theaters to watch his performances."

Dan Fellman, head of Warner Bros. distribution, said, "Matthew is one of the most bankable stars in the film industry today. He can do it all, and the audience's affection for him rivals that of Tom Hanks. The pre-sale figures for *I Am Legend* prove that Matthew is worth every dollar of his salary; he's always a safe bet."

Warner Bros. management was also eager for *I Am Legend* to be a major success, showcasing their foresight and capability to shareholders and the Time Warner Group.

Just two weeks earlier, Warner Bros., along with its subsidiary New Line Cinema, had suffered one of the biggest box office disasters of the new century with *The Golden Compass*. Despite a massive budget of $180 million, the film grossed only $25 million on its opening weekend, and has since struggled to reach $40 million...

This was a huge disappointment and further solidified Nicole Kidman's reputation as box office poison.

"The North American film market is stagnant, like a pond of dead water."

Producer Charles Roven, watching Matthew Horner head toward the interview area, commented to Christopher Nolan, "The audience, hungry like the zombies in the trailer, will devour this film."

Christopher Nolan, however, sighed with regret. "He's unique, with a rebellious and lofty aura. He would have been perfect for the role of the Joker, but he wasn't willing to lose weight."

This remark reminded Charles Roven of another project. "Jonathan is writing the script for that project. Christian Bale can't do it because of *Terminator 4*. We need a big star, and Matthew Horner could be a good choice."

"Hmm." Christopher Nolan nodded thoughtfully, adding, "That project is still a long way off. Let's focus on the post-production of *The Dark Knight* first. We'll consider other projects after its release."

The project's complex plot had caused some doubts among Warner Bros.'s review board, leading to less support from the studio. However, if *The Dark Knight* succeeded at the box office, surpassing *Batman Begins*, Nolan would undoubtedly receive the support he needed.

Charles Roven nodded, dropping the subject, knowing Warner Bros. wanted him to oversee their latest DC superhero movie project, and Nolan's next film might not involve him as a producer.

In the interview area, Matthew was now standing before ABC's camera.

The reporter didn't start the interview immediately but instead gave an introductory speech about him.

"I can't fathom how this man has so much energy—energy in every sense of the word."

The reporter lavished praise, "One, his box office power is immense. Every film he stars in is a massive hit and highly successful. Two, his energy as an actor, a worker, and in life is astounding. How does he stay so enthusiastic about making movies and doing events? Doesn't he get tired? Now, let's ask Matthew Horner."

She handed the microphone to Matthew, asking, "If you were the last person on Earth, what would make you comfortable?"

Matthew, charmingly joking, replied, "A gun because I'd have to end it myself."

He then grew serious, "I would have a childish thought: I wish everyone was gone, and I was the only person left. Although people can be a nuisance in everyday life, if everyone really disappeared, it would be the most tragic experience. During filming, we cleared six blocks of New York. Walking alone on Fifth Avenue was cool, but it was only cool because when we said 'cut,' there were thousands of people watching us from the other side. For me, there's no joy in such loneliness."

Knowing her time was limited, the reporter quickly asked another question, "Are you completely positive about life?"

"Yes, I'm entirely positive. I'm very confident because my life is built on reading and exercise," Matthew replied naturally. "Think about it, billions of people have lived before us. They had problems, solved them, and wrote down the process in a book somewhere—there are no new problems left for us to solve. Every problem has already been addressed in books written a thousand years ago."

He smiled, "Exercise has given me a healthy body, helped me shed my weakness, and keeps me energetic for work and life."

As staff members began to signal her time was up, the reporter hurriedly asked her final question, "Recently, there's been a lot of talk about you giving a house to a fan. Everyone says you're a good person. What do you think?"

"Helping those in urgent need is a core belief of mine."

Despite his ulterior motives for charity work, Matthew felt justified in saying this, as he had helped many people. He continued, "Good and bad can't be simply defined; it depends on one's choices. I've always believed that if you do good, good things happen; if you do bad, bad things happen."

He subtly praised himself, "That's why I always encounter fans who like and support me, and I like them too."

Bella Anderson then reminded him, and Matthew wrapped up the interview, heading to the photo area to join the rest of the cast for pictures before entering the theater.

_________________________

[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!] 

[w w w . p a t r e o n .com / INNIT]

[+50 PowerStones = +1 Chapter]