The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 131: The Premiere of "Band of Brothers"

Standing before the dressing room mirror, the stylist studied Matthew's reflection for a moment before fastening one more button, concealing the defined muscles of his chest.

"Perfect," the stylist said, stepping back.

Matthew glanced in the mirror and nodded, satisfied. It was the same stylist he had worked with before, and she had an excellent eye for men's suits. He was more than pleased with the result.

"Mr. Horner," the stylist said politely, "I'll be on my way. I have another client to get to."

"Of course," Matthew smiled at her. "Thank you."

If his finances allowed for it in the future, he'd consider hiring her as his personal stylist.

Just after the stylist departed, the door swung open and Helen strode in. "Ready to go?" she asked.

Matthew knew she meant more than just his clothes. He tapped his temple. "It's all memorized."

Helen glanced at her watch. "It's time. Let's go."

They left the dressing room together and made their way to the press hall at Universal Studios.Today was the launch event for Universal's "The Scorpion King." After a period of planning, the primary team was in place: the production team was led by Sean Daniel and Stephen Sommers, with Matthew officially confirmed as the lead actor and Chuck Russell as the director.

Although his career had cooled off in the last two years, Chuck Russell was a veteran director in the industry.

According to Helen, Sean Daniel and Universal Pictures had specifically chosen a director on a downswing because of his reliable ability to produce formulaic commercial films.

There was no doubt that "The Scorpion King" was destined to be a standard-issue, assembly-line Hollywood film.

From a risk management standpoint, a film like this would capitalize on proven formulas, sidestep the minefield of audience disapproval, and thus have a far lower chance of bombing than a movie filled with risky, original ideas.

Matthew was fine with that kind of director. If his first film as a leading man bombed at the box office, it was unlikely anyone would take a chance on him again.

He had signed the official contract with the production team two days prior. In addition to a $500,000 salary, Helen had secured a number of perks befitting a leading man.

Additionally, Helen had struck a separate deal with the producers to give preference to actors from the Angel Acting Agency when casting key supporting roles.

Matthew and Helen entered the lobby outside the press room, where Sean Daniel and Stephen Sommers were already waiting.

"Hello, Sean. Hello, Stephen." Matthew took the initiative, walking over to greet them. "Long time no see."

He shook hands with each of them in turn, and Stephen Sommers gave him a once-over. "You look more solid than before," he remarked.

"You're casting me as the star, so of course I can't let you down." Matthew's reply was smooth. "I've been maintaining my physique, and on top of my boxing training, I've been doing some free sparring lately."

Stephen nodded. "Good. That's what I like to see from my actors."

Sean Daniel added, "Like I've been saying, choosing Matthew saves us a lot of trouble."

Matthew smiled, about to make a modest comment, when the door to the lounge opened. The director, Chuck Russell, stepped inside. Until now, Matthew only knew of him from the file Helen had provided. Sean Daniel made the introductions, and the two men exchanged polite pleasantries.

A moment later, a publicist from Universal Pictures escorted the group into the press room and showed them to their seats on a dais facing the gallery of reporters.

The press room held a few dozen journalists—not a massive turnout—and the atmosphere was hardly electric. After all, this was just a mid-budget commercial film, with a director and lead actor who weren't yet big enough names to cause a major stir.

The publicist offered a brief introduction, and then Sean Daniel took the lead, launching into a presentation that was entirely by the book.

In the early days of Hollywood, press conferences like this often involved the crew reading excerpts from the script. But as preserving a film's secrets became a top priority, that practice was, of course, abandoned.

"The Scorpion King" was budgeted at $40 million, with a release date slated for mid-April of the following year to avoid the crowded summer blockbuster season.

Next came the most crucial part of the press conference: the Q&A session. The four men on the dais—Matthew, Sean, Stephen, and Chuck—played off each other seamlessly, despite having had no prior rehearsal.

"Mr. Sommers, I'm Ilana from Yahoo Entertainment."

A tall, slender female reporter rose to her feet. "'The Mummy Returns' has already grossed over $200 million at the North American box office. Could you tell us why, instead of pursuing a direct sequel to the 'Mummy' franchise, you've decided to make a spin-off about a supporting character, starring the relatively unknown Matthew Horner?"

Stephen was ready for this and launched into his well-rehearsed spiel. "After the release of 'The Mummy Returns,' both the press and the audience agreed that the Scorpion King was a standout character. The role was a perfect fit for Matthew, and we all felt we were witnessing the birth of a new action star."

The room was silent, taking in Stephen's effusive praise for Matthew.

Matthew remained poised in his seat. It was the kind of polished lie nearly every film production trotted out for the media, a narrative crafted specifically for these occasions.

Stephen continued, "Matthew amazed us all during his very first scene on the set of 'The Mummy Returns.' Even though his lines were in ancient Egyptian, his performance and charisma were so striking that we started talking about a new film for him right then and there."

According to his telling, the "Scorpion King" project was planned while "The Mummy Returns" was still filming, which was patently false.

However, those in the know, like Matthew himself, would certainly never contradict the official story.

His words finally managed to warm up the slightly chilly atmosphere in the room.

Another reporter stood up and asked, "So, you already intended to make 'The Scorpion King' while you were still shooting 'The Mummy Returns'?"

"The Scorpion King, despite being a supporting character with less than twenty minutes of screen time, is an undeniable highlight of the film."

This time, Sean Daniel, who was equally skilled at handling publicity, fielded the question. "We approached Matthew Horner while we were still shooting 'The Mummy Returns' with the proposal for a film that would be his own."

"Mr. Horner." A journalist finally turned their attention to Matthew. "If I recall correctly, this will be your first time as a leading man in a feature film. Could you share your thoughts on that?"

"I'm very, very excited!" Matthew kept up his bright, sunny smile. "It's a huge honor to have earned the recognition of Sean and Stephen. I've been waiting for an opportunity like this, and it's one I can't afford to waste. I won't let them down, and I won't let down the audiences who love the Scorpion King character."

"I'd like to add something," Stephen unexpectedly interjected. "Matthew's charisma isn't just limited to the big screen; he's also extremely dedicated on set."

He turned to Sean. "Sean and I are both big fans of his."

"Yes, absolutely." Sean knew how to build on the momentum, especially as "Band of Brothers" was gaining more buzz each day. "Beyond the Scorpion King, I'm also a huge admirer of Matthew's performance as Ronald Speirs in 'Band of Brothers.' He's an endlessly fascinating character."

Only then did the reporters in the room recall that this seemingly minor actor had also been in such a prestigious production.

More journalists started directing their questions at Matthew, and he fielded them all with perfect aplomb.

Eventually, the reporters turned their attention to the director, Chuck Russell, who was less of a draw given his recent string of disappointments and his behind-the-camera role.

Chuck gave an excellent performance when a journalist asked why he had taken on the film.

"I've always loved films that cleverly blend wit, action, romance, and adventure—especially old classics like 'Robin Hood' and 'The Crimson Pirate.' I've always been interested in making an old-fashioned action-adventure movie."

Chuck knew how to talk to the press. "'The Scorpion King' is exactly what I've been looking for. Stephen's script and description struck me as a story that would not only deliver thrilling action but also a sense of chivalry and a positive spirit."

He could tell Sean and Stephen were high on their leading man, and that Matthew had been cast before he was hired as director, so he was quick to sing his praises. "I've seen Matthew's work, and he has enormous acting potential, whether as the Scorpion King or in 'Band of Brothers.'"

Chuck, who in reality had never seen a single one of Matthew's films and couldn't have named his characters, declared with feigned enthusiasm, "Whenever one of his characters was on screen, I couldn't take my eyes off him. Matthew pours his entire soul into his performance, and the effect is powerful. I'm confident he's going to astonish many more people with this film."

They were all weaving the most beautiful lies, and down below, the reporters dutifully took notes, as if every word were the honest truth.

Having spent two years in Hollywood, Matthew had developed his own perspective on the business. The entertainment industry, he judged, was like an artificial garden—a meticulously crafted oasis in the midst of a dirty, desolate world. It was filled with exotic creatures and vibrant flowers, all designed to make people forget the troubles on the outside and believe, just for a moment, that they were living in a wonderful world.