The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 202

For C-list starlets in Hollywood, landing a lead role in a project with a production budget of around $25 million was no easy feat. It was a valuable opportunity, especially when a well-known producer like Sean Daniel personally extended the invitation.

But Matthew was different from the average C-list star. Now that he was in Jerry Bruckheimer's good graces, he had already wrapped filming on Pirates of the Caribbean as one of the male leads. If all went well and the movie became a box office smash, he would be firmly in the B-list.

Moreover, he and Helen were eyeing a new project from Jerry Bruckheimer—another top-tier production with an investment of over $100 million.

If Sean and Zack hadn't approached him directly, he would have given Helen a look, signaling her to find a way to decline as tactfully as possible.

Sean had a proven track record. The last four or five films he had initiated and produced might not have been critical darlings, but they were all commercially successful and had launched the careers of several actors.

To Matthew, he was a benefactor. And while this was a world driven by commercial interests, personal connections couldn't be ignored.

As for Zack Snyder, Matthew’s thoughts ran much deeper. Compared to Sean, whose future was a mystery to him, Matthew remembered that Zack's career was incredibly impressive. A commercial director who rose to fame after breaking into Hollywood—that, at the very least, meant one thing: Zack Snyder's first feature film had to have been a success. It must have made the studio a lot of money, or he never would have been given such great opportunities later on.

If Zack's first film had bombed, he would have found it incredibly difficult to get a second chance in Hollywood, even if he was a genius in the world of advertising.

The problem was, he'd never seen Zack’s first film and had no idea what it was about.

But a reliable producer, a director who should be reliable, and a script tailored to a definitive lead role, using him as the model—it all sounded like a good proposition.More importantly, he knew that Zack had an acclaimed action classic under his belt, a very influential one at that. Collaborating with him now would certainly pave the way for future projects together.

His role in Black Hawk Down, for example, had left a strong impression on Jerry Bruckheimer, which had given him a significant edge when he later vied for the part of the young blacksmith.

There were certainly risks, but who could guarantee a film would be a 100% success? Not even Jerry Bruckheimer could do that.

Matthew was still mulling it over. The film didn't have a massive investment and lacked the blockbuster appeal of a $100 million production. But it had an advantage: it would be easier to recoup its budget at the box office. And according to Hollywood's rules, once a film turned a profit, the studio classified it as a success.

A box office success naturally brought great benefits to its lead actor.

However, he kept his thoughts to himself, knowing it would be more appropriate for his agent to voice them.

"Matthew, Helen, we've had a great working relationship."

Sean knew both Matthew and Helen were sharp; he didn't need to spell everything out. He decided a more sincere approach was best. "The reason I came to Matthew, and not someone else, wasn't just because of our past collaboration and the trust between us."

He glanced at Matthew, then at Helen. "We're friends, so I won't hide anything from you. The remake of Dawn of the Dead won't start filming until August or September at the earliest, and it's scheduled for release early next year, right when Pirates of the Caribbean will be in full swing in theaters."

Helen, of course, understood his implication. "Pirates of the Caribbean could flop."

"But from what I can see, the chances of success are quite high." Sean appeared remarkably candid. "Every investment has its risks, but I don't think this one is any riskier than the others."

There was no need to delve any deeper; they were all intelligent people.

Sean seemed to be adapting well to the shift in dynamics. In the past, he held all the cards with Matthew; now, he needed to win him over with sincerity.

In truth, he knew it would be quite difficult to find another C-list actor in Matthew’s unique position.

Although he had essentially admitted he wanted to ride the potential coattails of Pirates of the Caribbean's success, Sean's honesty made it hard to feel any resentment, especially for Matthew.

Faced with an old acquaintance like Sean, Matthew couldn't remain silent. He glanced at Helen, and seeing no objection, he said, "Sean, we're friends and we've been close partners. I hope we can continue to work together."

Helen, who had been sipping her water, suddenly set her cup down on the coffee table with a soft clink.

Knowing she was reminding him to be careful, Matthew added, "But I can't give you an immediate answer without a script. Can I wait until I've seen it?"

Helen remained silent. Matthew's first statement had been a bit too eager, but his follow-up was perfect, showing both sincerity and leaving room to maneuver.

Sean thought for a moment and replied, "Of course. I'll have my assistant contact you as soon as the first draft is ready."

He was well aware that Matthew was no longer the same actor he was during The Mummy Returns and The Scorpion King. He couldn't be judged as a mere C-list star anymore. Matthew was now a quasi-B-lister.

For instance, after The Mummy Returns and The Scorpion King were released, Universal Pictures' market research showed that Matthew's handsome image and charismatic presence were highly appealing to the general public, especially to teenage audiences—the primary consumers in the film market.

Once Matthew became a B-list star, his appeal to audiences would skyrocket, and he could draw much more attention to an alternative film like Dawn of the Dead.

This was the main reason he was willing to risk offending George A. Romero by vetoing his script idea and starting fresh.

Compared to Matthew Horner, who was on the verge of a major breakthrough, George A. Romero had long since become outdated among teenage audiences—who were, once again, the backbone of the film market.

The next half hour was spent in casual conversation until Sean and Zack finally rose to leave. Matthew and Helen walked them to the agency's entrance.

"Matthew," Zack said again before he left, "I really hope we can work together again."

"Me too," Matthew answered, clearly pleased.

Zack was poised for a big future. Not to mention those superhero movies in spandex, even 300 seemed to have incredible word-of-mouth and box office success, and it was a perfect fit for his brand.

He vaguely recalled that the film was still a few years away. And while it was another historical epic, as long as he didn't take on any new period roles in the next few years, it shouldn't typecast him too badly by then.

This was where Matthew had an advantage. Any other C-list star with a golden opportunity like Pirates of the Caribbean and the chance to keep riding Jerry Bruckheimer's coattails might have simply turned up their nose at Sean Daniel and Zack Snyder. But he was more interested in the future.

To become an established superstar, you had to build your career on one successful production after another.

After all, not everyone gets as lucky as Leonardo with his Titanic, which instantly propelled him to the pinnacle of Hollywood.

"Matthew."

Back in the office, Helen cut through his daydreaming. "What are you thinking?"

Matthew sat down on the sofa, crossed his legs, and replied, "It's all a bit unexpected, and they don't even have a script yet. Let's just put it on hold for now and wait to see the screenplay before making a decision."

He paused for a moment, then added, "Sean is a reliable producer."

"I agree." Helen returned to her desk. "Sean isn't a guarantee of success like Jerry, but he's a top-tier producer whose successes far outweigh his failures. His recent work has been consistently profitable at the box office."

"Helen, what do you think?" Matthew asked directly.

"I have three concerns," Helen stated. "First, this director, Zack Snyder, is a complete novice in filmmaking. Second, the film is a remake, and remaking a classic comes with certain risks. Third, zombie movies are not, and have never been, a mainstream Hollywood genre."

Matthew nodded. She was right.

Helen added, "Of course, the advantages are also obvious. First, the producer. Sean is dependable, which is the foundation of a film's success. Second, the movie won't lack an audience. North America has a massive fanbase for zombie films, and if the quality is good, the box office shouldn't be a problem. Besides, given the modest investment, the return will be significant."

She tapped her fingers on the desk. "And finally, if the male lead gives an outstanding performance and the film is a success, it could prove your ability to carry a film's box office on your own—something Pirates of the Caribbean can't do for you."

Matthew seriously considered what Helen said. There were some things he just couldn't tell her. He couldn't very well say he should consider taking the offer just to get on Zack Snyder's good side, could he?

"We'll wait until we get the script," Helen said matter-of-factly. "It would be foolish to give Sean an answer before Pirates of the Caribbean is released."

Then she changed the subject. "In a few days, there's a Disney carnival. Don't forget to attend."