The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 123

"Universal Pictures and Yahoo Entertainment conducted a joint online poll for The Mummy Returns."

Inside the moving car, his agent glanced at Brendan and explained, "They listed the five main characters—Evelyn, O'Connell, Imhotep, Alex, and the Scorpion King—and asked viewers to vote for their favorite."

Brendan's expression was strained. "And who's the most popular?" he asked.

"Evelyn is number one in the poll right now," the agent said, not waiting for Brendan's next question. "The Scorpion King is in second place."

"And what about O'Connell?" Brendan asked.

His agent answered instantly. "He's in last place for now."

Brendan was stunned. "Even Imhotep and Alex are ahead of me? Are they rigging the votes?"

"I doubt it." His agent shook his head. "Brendan, you need to take this seriously. Give this event your all and remind Universal Pictures what you're worth."

Brendan's expression remained strained. He gave a dismissive wave. "I get it."

The car navigated the bustling streets of Las Vegas to the entrance of the Luxor Hotel, where the cast was holding an exclusive press event. By this point, a huge crowd of fans had gathered in front of the hotel, and several reporters waited at the top of the steps, their cameras ready.As he drew closer, Brendan could clearly hear the almost frenzied screams of the fans.

As the car stopped, a crew member stepped forward to open the door. Brendan emerged and started down the short red carpet toward the hotel entrance. The path was very narrow and lined with fans, as this was a fan meet-and-greet.

This was a deliberate choice by the production team, designed to create a more intimate experience for the fans.

The moment Brendan set foot on the red carpet, fans thrust books and pens at him, asking for his autograph.

While the character of O'Connell wasn't polling well, Brendan was still an established star, after all.

When a fan held out a book, Brendan politely reached for it. But then his eyes flicked up, and he saw the fan was wearing a Scorpion King t-shirt. His mood soured instantly. He dropped his hand, ignoring the offered book, and strode briskly toward the hotel entrance.

"Brendan!"

"Look over here, Brendan!"

"I love O'Connell! Give me an autograph!"

As a star with considerable box-office appeal, Brendan still had plenty of supporters.

But Brendan was in a foul mood and completely ignored his fans. He didn't even spare them a glance as he marched toward the hotel entrance.

"What's with him?" The fan at the edge of the red carpet clutched the book Brendan had almost taken, staring in bewilderment at his retreating back. "Why didn't he sign it?"

A guy next to him who'd seen the whole thing scoffed, "Guess he thinks he's too good for his fans."

Many fans were displeased with Brendan's rude behavior.

...

Just as Brendan was approaching the hotel entrance, another car pulled up to the red carpet.

Matthew gazed out the car window. The drive had taken him past countless miniature replicas of world landmarks. It was his first time in Las Vegas, and the world-famous gambling city intrigued him.

When he saw Caesars Palace and the MGM Grand hotel, he wondered if he should wait until after the event and try his luck at the casinos.

A staffer approached and opened the car door. Matthew smoothed the collar of his shirt and stepped out. The venue was the Luxor Hotel, a lavish pyramid-shaped building with a replica of the Sphinx out front—a location meticulously chosen by the production team to complement the theme of The Mummy Returns.

"It's the Scorpion King!" a cry went up from the crowd. "He's coming this way!"

Matthew looked toward the red carpet, where hundreds of fans were gathered. Many were holding posters, and he was pleased to see a significant number of them featured the Scorpion King.

He flashed the practiced smile he had perfected in acting class and started down the red carpet, waving to his fans with all the sunny, bright, charming grace he could muster.

Seeing his own image on their posters put him in an excellent mood.

The moment he reached the barricades, a fan immediately held out a pen and a book. "Matthew, can I get your autograph?"

Matthew glanced at the fan and saw he was wearing a Scorpion King t-shirt. He eagerly took the pen and book, smiling. "Of course."

He signed his name with a long, bold flourish.

Others passed him their posters, and Matthew took them, signing each one patiently, a friendly and natural smile never leaving his face.

Matthew savored the moment. Having so many fans clamoring for his autograph filled him with an indescribable sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

"Thank you, Matthew!" one fan exclaimed, throwing her arms open. Matthew didn't hesitate, leaning in to give her a gentle hug. As she held on, she gushed, "You were magnificent as the Scorpion King! I loved your performance!"

"Thank you, I'm so glad to hear that."

Matthew maintained a humble demeanor, making it clear how grateful he was for their support.

An attitude like that was bound to win over the fans, and Matthew continued signing autographs nearly all the way to the hotel entrance.

"Matthew! Matthew Horner!"

A shout came from the side. "Over here! Look at me!"

Matthew turned toward the sound. Camera flashes were going off, and someone yelled, "Can you come over for a picture with us?"

"Yes."

He walked to the edge of the red carpet and posed with a pair of fans, who handed their camera to someone else to take the shot. Matthew was patient, moving through the crowd to pose for photos with anyone who asked.

In that moment, he looked every bit the star of the film, greeted by an adoring army of fans.

...

On the hotel steps, Brendan was giving an interview to the press. He wore a plastered-on smile for the reporters, but he could hear the commotion from the red carpet. When he glanced over, he saw that damn Matthew Horner standing in the middle of a throng of fans, clearly the center of attention.

The fans hadn't been nearly as enthusiastic when he'd walked the carpet just moments before.

Brendan frowned slightly.

A tall female reporter with short blond hair, who had been watching Brendan with a sly look in her eyes, stepped forward, held her recorder out to Brendan, and asked deliberately loudly, "Hello, Mr. Fraser, I'm Ilana from Yahoo Entertainment. I wanted to ask you about the Scorpion King character, who became a hit after the film's release. Most fans agree that he was the real gem of the sequel."

Ilana's gaze zeroed in on Brendan. She was known for being blunt, sharp, and brazen, and she pressed her advantage. "So, what are your thoughts on Matthew Horner, the actor who played the Scorpion King? Are you perhaps... displeased with him?"

As if on cue, the fans below the steps erupted in applause, some of them chanting the names "Matthew Horner" and "Scorpion King."

"I don't know him very well." Brendan had enough sense not to take the bait, but Ilana wasn't letting go. "But you said you were friends at the premiere," she pressed.

"How could I be friends with an actor like that?" Brendan blurted out.

The surrounding reporters fell silent. Ilana knew she had him. Like a shark smelling blood, she moved in for the kill. "Are you saying Matthew Horner is beneath you? Have you two had conflicts on set? Don't you think that sounds incredibly arrogant?"

Brendan immediately knew he'd stepped in it. He realized his foul mood had made him say far too much.

Ilana pressed on. "Is it because the Scorpion King stole the main character's thunder? Stole your thunder?"

Brendan had no intention of answering. He turned on his heel and headed into the hotel. Ilana called after him, "You're not answering! Can I take that as a yes?"

Brendan shot her a glare over his shoulder but didn't say a word.

Seeing this, Ilana smirked. "Silent consent it is, then!"

All the reporters nearby stared at Ilana in admiration. The tall journalist was so skilled at her craft; she had turned a run-of-the-mill interview into a bombshell. Tomorrow, they'd all have a story to write.

"Star Brendan Fraser Looks Down on Newcomer Matthew Horner."

"Matthew Horner's Scene-Stealing Scorpion King Draws Ire of Arrogant Co-Star Brendan Fraser!"

In an instant, headlines were already forming in the minds of the other journalists.

Ilana stepped back from the pack, pulling out her phone to check her messages. Her mind was already racing, figuring out how to frame the article.

...

Ten minutes later, Matthew entered the venue. Behaving as he always did, he warmly greeted Rachel, Arnold Vosloo, and Brendan.

Rachel and Arnold treated him the same as always. But after a few minutes of conversation, Matthew got the distinct impression that they had heard the rumors buzzing around. Not that either of them seemed particularly bothered by it—one was already preparing for awards season, and the other's character was unlikely to be resurrected, so they had little stake in the matter.

Brendan, however, was a different story. When Matthew greeted him, he just gave a cold snort. The friendly, big-brotherly vibe he'd projected before was completely gone.

The main focus of the event was a Q&A session with the fans, where the audience would ask questions and the cast would answer.

Whether it was due to his earlier behavior on the red carpet or not, the fans rarely directed any questions to Brendan. Their inquiries were focused almost entirely on Rachel and Matthew. By the second half of the event, the stone-faced Brendan was being practically ignored by the audience.

The atmosphere only soured Brendan's mood further. Unable to wait for the event to officially conclude, he made a quick excuse and left the stage early.

At the end of the event, a large number of fans rushed the stage, hoping for autographs and photos. Matthew obliged every single request, even after Rachel and Arnold, looking tired, made a hasty retreat from the throng.

In the hall outside the event space, Rachel and Arnold were gathering their belongings while they talked.