novelraw Chapter 346
Chapter 346
The theatrical cut of Kingdom of Heaven wasn't terrible, but it was disappointingly bland for a film with a $130 million budget. It lacked even the most basic narrative logic, coming across as little more than a string of battle scenes.
Perhaps it was last year’s fiasco with Alexander that plunged 20th Century Fox into a state of panic. The studio, fearing that the slow narrative and epic runtime would bore audiences, took a pair of merciless scissors to the film, ignoring Ridley Scott’s futile objections and cutting out its very soul.
In the end, Kingdom of Heaven was poorly received. 20th Century Fox had done everything in its power to avoid a flop, only to find their efforts had backfired completely.
Over its opening weekend in North America, Kingdom of Heaven grossed a mere $19.6 million, averaging just over $5,000 per theater.
To make matters worse, several industry forecasters, including CinemaScore, were pessimistic about the film's future box office performance, predicting it was unlikely to earn more than $50 million domestically.
It was a Waterloo for Ridley Scott, but his reputation was solid enough that it wouldn't inflict fatal damage on his career.
For its leading man, Orlando Bloom, however, it was a different story entirely.
Now that The Lord of the Rings trilogy was over, the halo of the elf prince Legolas was fading. After the failure of two consecutive A-list productions, Troy and Kingdom of Heaven, he was facing the harsh reality of Hollywood. Whether he liked it or not, the major studios would soon be pushing him out of their top-tier projects.
With the summer season's opening blockbuster turning into a fiasco, the attention of the press and moviegoers quickly shifted to the following weekend's release: Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
The promotional campaign for Mr. & Mrs. Smith was in full swing, utilizing every form of hard and soft advertising. Universal Pictures and Summit Entertainment held no advance screenings, releasing only a few short trailers that showed Matthew and Charlize’s characters falling for each other. This, combined with the reality of the couple’s incredibly high-profile romance, created an irresistible sense of mystery and allure.And just as the film was about to be released, Matthew and Charlize, exactly as planned, poured another bucket of fuel on the already blazing fire of public attention.
On Tuesday, with Mr. & Mrs. Smith still dominating the box office, Matthew and Charlize moved into their newly purchased Beverly Hills mansion under the watchful eyes of countless paparazzi and entertainment reporters.
“Matthew Horner and Charlize Theron Officially Move In Together! Their New Home Worth $28 Million!”
Similar headlines followed across various media outlets, sparking a fresh surge in the sales of entertainment magazines.
...
“What about this one?”
In the second-floor master bedroom, Charlize emerged from the walk-in closet wearing a yellow Dior couture evening gown with a sweeping train. She stood before the mirror, turning her head to ask Matthew, who was sitting on the sofa, “It looks good, doesn’t it?”
“Yes,” Matthew offered the obligatory compliment, adding, “You’re a natural style icon. You look amazing in anything.”
Charlize turned back to the mirror. “You don’t have to say that,” she said. “I might actually start to believe you.”
Hearing this, Matthew got up and walked over to Charlize, wrapping his arms around her from behind. “I’m not lying,” he whispered. “You really do look stunning.”
As he spoke, his hand began to wander downwards...
Charlize sharply pulled away from his grasp. “This is my premiere dress; don’t you dare wrinkle it. Speaking of the premiere...”
She hurried back into the closet and returned with two large boxes. Placing them on the carpet, she opened one to reveal a dark fabric.
“What’s this?” Matthew asked curiously.
“A Dior tuxedo for you,” Charlize explained as she opened the second box. “And the dress shoes to match.”
She stood up and stepped aside so he could get a better look. “Go try it on,” she urged. “Dior couture is a significant step up from that suit you rented.”
Without another word, Matthew took the outfit into the walk-in closet. He changed into the shirt, bow tie, and tuxedo, slipped on the leather shoes, and then stepped out to stand before the full-length mirror.
“Not bad,” Charlize said, walking over to him and nodding in approval. “It’s a perfect fit.”
Matthew grinned, closing the distance between them. He backed her against the wardrobe and murmured, “I don’t mind going to the premiere in wrinkled clothes.”
...
They spent the rest of the morning in the bedroom. Since they hadn’t hired a chef yet, Matthew made lunch himself. They were in the middle of eating tomato and egg noodles when a moving van driven by Lister pulled onto the estate.
The van was filled with Charlize’s belongings, so she went out to personally direct the movers. Matthew stood by the fountain and waved toward the van. “Lister!”
The man who was once his boss at Red Penguin Services hurried over. “Matthew, is there anything else?”
“You know me,” Matthew said, getting straight to the point. “I have no idea how to manage a place this big. The gardens, lawns, fountains, and wooded areas all need regular upkeep. I’m leaving it in your hands.”
Lister nodded immediately. “No problem at all.”
He was pleased, and for good reason. The monthly budget for the day-to-day maintenance of such a luxurious estate would be a significant sum.
“And...” Matthew paused for a moment. “If you know any suitable household staff, I’d appreciate the recommendations.”
Once again, Lister readily agreed. He knew perfectly well that Matthew was at the top of his game, and as long as he didn’t screw up, this would be a long and profitable business relationship.
Besides, Matthew now owned a mansion; he was going to need a lot more services in the future.
Just then, Bella came out of the house and approached Matthew. Lister had the good sense to see she was there on business, giving a small nod before heading back to the van.
“I just received an email from Universal Pictures,” Bella said, knowing Matthew’s preference for directness. She didn't waste any time. “As of midnight last night, the North American pre-sale box office for Mr. & Mrs. Smith has reached $16.3 million.”
Matthew nodded. “Looks like the opening weekend won’t be a disappointment, then.”
“How much do you think it will make?” Bella asked curiously.
Matthew smiled. “We won’t know for sure until next Monday, but based on the pre-sales, $50 million should be well within reach.”
...
Once the van was unloaded, Lister left with the driver and the movers. After leaving Horner Manor, he paid the crew and, instead of returning to the office, drove straight to his home in West Hollywood.
The moment he walked through the door, Lister could hear his son, Brian, on the phone.
“Hey, Maria, it’s Brian. What’s your count?” Brian spotted his father and gave him a quick wave before turning back to the phone. “Thirty-one?”
Lister didn’t go far, just settled onto the sofa near where Brian was talking.
His son continued into the receiver, “I’ve got fifty-two people confirmed who are definitely going to the opening night with us. I’ll contact the theater later and see if we can get a private screening room.”
“Great. Let’s keep reaching out and try to get even more people to support Matthew.”
After a few more words, Brian hung up and smiled at his father. “Dad, you’re home early.”
Lister nodded. “Are you organizing Matthew’s fans for a screening of Mr. & Mrs. Smith?”
Brian scratched his head, a little embarrassed. “Yeah, I...”
Lister cut him off. “Brian, I don’t have a problem with this. Remember when I introduced you to Bella?”
“Yeah, I remember!” Brian recalled instantly. “The woman with the short, reddish-brown hair.”
Lister continued, “Think about what she told you. Managing a fan base can be a real career. If you do this well, you could have a bright future ahead of you.”
Brian froze for a moment, then answered noncommittally, “I’ll think about it.”
Before the official release of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Brian and Maria had contacted hundreds of Matthew’s fans, booked out a theater in West Hollywood for an opening-night screening, and eagerly awaited the film’s debut.