The richest actor in Hollywood.

The screening room echoed with enthusiastic applause as Matthew, along with producer Akiva Goldsman and director Guillermo del Toro, received congratulations from many notable figures.

"Thank you."

With each handshake, Matthew expressed his gratitude, saying, "It's an honor to have you here."

Suddenly, a face he had only seen in newspapers appeared before him—a brown-haired middle-aged man.

"Excellent performance," the man said, extending his hand. "I hope we can work together in the future."

Matthew shook his hand firmly. "I missed the opportunity to collaborate because of scheduling conflicts." He had indeed used his busy schedule as an excuse for declining a past offer, which was actually true. "Director Nolan, I also hope for a chance to work with you."

They both smiled, understanding that such gatherings weren't ideal for lengthy discussions. Christopher Nolan quickly moved on.

Matthew recognized Nolan as a soon-to-be giant in commercial directing, especially after seeing *The Dark Knight* and understanding the series' acclaim.

After the premiere, Matthew attended the post-screening press conference. Following a brief interview, he left the theater.

"Another busy night."

In the car, he glanced at the trailing entertainment journalists and instructed the driver, "Back to the Waldorf Astoria."

As the car drove out of downtown towards 50th Street, Matthew gazed out the window, the iconic Washington Square Arch illuminated by neon lights, prompting thoughts about the square's history and the eerie idea of "night stalkers" emerging at night.

He recalled Amanda mentioning that Washington Square was once a marshland, later becoming a burial ground in the 18th century for yellow fever victims, with thousands of bodies unearthed. In 1819, it even served as a public execution site. He wondered if these gruesome histories had left any lingering ghosts.

Hanging ghosts? The thought sparked a memory about a horror film involving hanged spirits, possibly related to the horror universe he previously considered. But what was the movie's name, and who directed it?

Could the movie's title be *The Hanged Man*?

He pondered in the car but couldn't recall it. Back when he lived across the Pacific, his interest in horror films was limited to popular franchises like *Final Destination* and *Saw*, preferring typical Hollywood action blockbusters—much like the path he was on now.

This path, however, wasn't favored by everyone, especially not by the critics in New York, known for their harshness, epitomized by Rex Reed, who once infamously kissed a donkey's backside because of him.

But such critics wouldn't sway his chosen path.

He didn't expect *I Am Legend* to receive better treatment from critics than his previous films.

He recalled a conversation with Helen Herman, his agent, early in his career. He had told her, "I want to be the most famous movie star in the world."

Helen Herman had responded, "OK, we can study what other big stars have done and then create a roadmap."

They analyzed the top ten movie stars and the ten most successful films, finding that all ten were special effects films, nine featuring supernatural creatures. This led to an easy decision to star in *The Scorpion King* and *Pirates of the Caribbean*.

Given his background and the blockbuster formula of *I Am Legend*, taking on the project required little deliberation. The challenge was to perform well.

But doing so was no easy feat. *I Am Legend* was, in his view, his best performance yet. If he rated his previous roles a 90 out of 100, he would give himself a perfect score for his portrayal of Robert Neville.

Jerry Bruckheimer had once told him, "If you have the energy to go from zero to ninety, you can reach one hundred. An actor should focus all their energy on achieving that final ten percent."

Lost in thought, Matthew arrived at the hotel, returned to his room alone, and briefly considered calling Miranda Kerr, only to remember that the Victoria's Secret Angels had traveled to London for the annual show.

David Ellison had already secured tickets for the show, which had to change venues from the Natural History Museum due to a theft incident, moving to Somerset House and rescheduling to the end of the year.

Back in his hotel room, Matthew changed out of his formal wear and showered. He then sat at his computer, browsing the blogs and social media accounts of notable New York critics, many of whom had embraced online platforms.

Rex Reed, in particular, not only had a blog but had also gained a certain level of fame on social media through his provocative style.

Matthew found Rex Reed's latest blog post, unsurprisingly critical of *I Am Legend*, written after an advance screening.

"*I Am Legend* is a grandiose title, but the film itself lacks any real 'legend.' The pre-release hype and promotional materials express the film's intended messages more effectively than the film itself. The desolation of being 'the last person on Earth,' vividly portrayed in two trailers, is the most compelling part of the film. The action scenes, mostly showcased in the second trailer, offer nothing new. The deserted New York City, despite being a significant visual, doesn't compare to the allure of the film's promotional posters."

Matthew then read a more balanced review by Richard Brody of *The New Yorker*, who, though typically sharp-tongued, offered a fair assessment.

"The poignant portrayal of a desolate post-apocalyptic world defines *I Am Legend*, with Matthew Horner's performance imbuing the solitary existence with an idealistic hue. However, the film falters in the second half, devolving into a clichéd hero story."

As the film's lead, Matthew rarely agreed with professional critics, but he found Brody's observation accurate. The final third of the film indeed followed a formulaic path, not due to lack of direction but as a conscious decision. With a production budget of $150 million and a marketing budget of $80 million, the film needed to cater to market demands.

Akiva Goldsman and Guillermo del Toro had prepared two completely different endings, ultimately opting for a traditional heroic sacrifice to fit Hollywood's commercial norms.

A more artistic ending might have been more critically acclaimed but also riskier.

No one wanted to take such a gamble, and neither would Matthew if he were making the decision. He was, after all, a commercial star, and Hollywood films were fundamentally a business.

After a while, Matthew checked the time, past midnight, and called Helen Herman. She was on another call, but five minutes later, she called him back.

"I just got a call from Warner Bros. The advance box office numbers are in." She didn't elaborate, adding, "Check your email; I've sent you the details."

Matthew logged into his email to find a brief message with a simple statistic—*I Am Legend* had earned $14.6 million in advance screenings.

Seeing the number, he snapped his fingers, turned off the computer, and whistled his way to bed, confident of a good night's sleep.

Lying comfortably, Matthew's mind buzzed with one thought: could *I Am Legend* break the $100 million mark in its opening weekend?

Last year, his film *300* set a new record for November openings in North America. Achieving a new record in December would feel fantastic.

Moreover, such success would bolster his appeal to potential investors for future projects.

The next morning, as soon as he woke, Helen Herman called again.

"Check out the media reviews," she said calmly. "Your performance is getting high praise."

Matthew immediately had the hotel deliver a stack of newspapers, skimming the entertainment sections.

"Persistence in solitude, subtly touching, utilizing a robust physique... Matthew Horner's superb performance brings a vivid dance of the apocalypse to life in the first half."

"The desolate and overgrown New York is portrayed with a tragic beauty, with Matthew Horner's nuanced and delicate acting making the concept of 'the last man on Earth' convincingly real."

"Even though the film's second half falls into cliché, Matthew Horner's layered performance transcends the typical muscle-bound action role, making his portrayal more compelling than the overused CGI effects."

_________________________

[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]