The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 366

In a place like Hollywood, if you want to climb the ladder and achieve success, empty words are meaningless. The best way to prove your worth is to make a statement the world can't ignore.

And for an actor who deals strictly in commercial blockbusters, there is no greater proof of success than box office returns.

After his interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Matthew set aside any concerns about the publicity campaign Helen and Disney Pictures were orchestrating. He dove headfirst into his work on the Pirates of the Caribbean sequel.

Though the script was still being finalized, production on the two Pirates of the Caribbean sequels had been underway since last May. In true Jerry Bruckheimer fashion, construction of the sets and model warships had been in progress for months. The film's massive crew had taken over nearly all of the Disney lot, occupying Studios 2 through 8, while Studio 1 was reserved for auditions and pre-production.

Over in Studio 2, Matthew emerged from makeup, grabbed a prop aluminum sword, and headed to the set, followed by Bella, who was carrying his gear.

The first scene on the schedule for the Pirates of the Caribbean sequel featured Depp, and he was clearly in his element.

Before the camera, Depp was every bit as captivating as he had been in the first film.

After the first film's release, Depp had told Matthew that his portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow was a blend of two inspirations: the rock legend Keith Richards and the cartoon character Pepé Le Pew. The result was a character who was unstable, ambivalent, and utterly chaotic.

As Matthew watched from just off-set, he could see that even surrounded by a vast green screen, Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow still radiated that same languid confidence.

Depp had explained that the heavy kohl around his eyes and the trinkets braided into his hair were symbols of "freedom." To him, the word "pirate" was synonymous with "absolute freedom," and he saw Jack Sparrow as a kind of 18th-century rock star.And so, in his performance, Captain Jack became a shrewd adventurer with a happy-go-lucky, perpetually slurred accent, a cunning tongue, and the swaggering gait of a seasoned drunkard.

"Cut!" Gore Verbinski's voice echoed across the stage. "That's the end of the scene!"

Then he called out, "Matthew, get ready for the next scene."

A makeup artist hurried over to check Matthew's appearance. After a quick touch-up, she gave the director a nod to signal he was ready. Sword in hand, Matthew stepped into the center of the set.

He and Depp exchanged nods. Gore Verbinski and the stunt coordinator then approached them, giving each actor separate instructions on what to focus on during the take.

This was a fight scene: a one-on-one duel between the blacksmith and the captain.

In terms of the action choreography, Gore Verbinski was sticking to the formula from The Curse of the Black Pearl. Jack Sparrow would fight with cunning and flair, while Will Turner—and by extension, Matthew—would be defined by his bravery and athleticism.

In other words, Jack Sparrow was no match for Will Turner in a straightforward fight.

Given the success of the first movie, it was inevitable that the sequel would follow the same formula to guarantee another hit.

This was a quintessential Disney family blockbuster. From the producers down to the director and actors, no one was aiming for high art; they were focused on giving the audience exactly what they wanted.

After the release of The Curse of the Black Pearl, Disney Pictures had conducted extensive market research. The most popular aspects of Captain Jack Sparrow were his look, his personality, and his wit. Will Turner, on the other hand, was popular for his powerful physique, steely determination, rugged good looks, and athleticism.

Therefore, the plan for the two upcoming sequels was to double down on these strengths for both characters.

Matthew and Depp first walked through the choreography with the action director. Once they were ready, the cameras started rolling.

Against the vast green screen, Matthew advanced on Depp, sword in hand.

"Will," Captain Jack Sparrow greeted him. "Brazen as ever, I see."

Matthew drew his cutlass, leveled it at Depp, and said plainly, "Jack, if I remove you, I become captain of the Black Pearl. Is that not so?"

"Is that so?" Depp took a step back, drawing his own scimitar and falling into a ready stance. "You want to fight me?"

Matthew mirrored his stance. "You're no match for me, Jack."

He was tall, powerful, and imposing; Depp, by contrast, was all cunning charm.

The two men were a study in contrasts, even in the way they moved.

"I'm about to attack," Matthew warned deliberately. "Best hold on to that sword of yours."

Depp smirked. "You think I'm going to let you disarm me again? Boy, you—"

He didn't get to finish the sentence. Matthew moved like a flash of lightning, his sword striking Depp's scimitar with a sharp crack that sent it flying from his grasp.

Depp was still reeling in shock as the tip of Matthew's blade came to rest against his throat.

"Well now," Matthew said, paraphrasing a famous line from the first film. "Look what I've caught. The great Captain Jack Sparrow."

Depp played along, first raising his hands in surrender. Then, he extended a finger and delicately pushed the tip of the blade away from his throat. "Well," he declared, "you're the captain of the Black Pearl now."

Gore Verbinski nodded, satisfied. "Cut!" he yelled.

He then added, "Matthew, Depp, keep that energy up."

The shoot had only just begun, but Matthew and Depp were already in fine form, easily slipping back into their roles.

On set, Depp shrugged and grumbled to Matthew, "Were you trying to break my wrist?"

Matthew sheathed his sword. "You're getting soft, Depp," he said.

"That's because I'm a few years older than you," Depp retorted with a show of dignity.

****

When the break was called, Matthew saw Keira Knightley, fresh out of makeup, walking over to join them.

Just as they had on the first film, Depp, Matthew, and Keira formed a tight-knit trio. Whenever they weren't filming, they would huddle together, either discussing upcoming scenes or good-naturedly gossiping about the clumsy extras on set.

Their easy camaraderie had been obvious since the filming of The Curse of the Black Pearl*; the three of them shared an unspoken understanding on set.

While the three of them sat together, filming continued on the main stage, where a group of extras was being arranged to portray British soldiers against the green screen.

The trio kept their voices low so as not to disturb the shoot.

Depp glanced around the set, then a thought seemed to strike him. "Matthew," he asked, "how old are you? Twenty?"

Matthew wasn't sure what prompted the question but answered casually, "I was born in '80."

"Twenty-five," Depp mused, then sighed dramatically. "Ever think about what you'll do when you get to be my age? When your body starts to slow down and you can't do these action roles anymore?"

Keira chimed in, "By then, he'll be established enough to do prestige dramas."

"That's a long way off," Matthew said, completely unconcerned. "Schwarzenegger was still making action movies well into his forties. Isn't that supposed to be an actor's prime?"

The rest of the day was spent filming chaotic group scenes. Around nine-thirty, Matthew, Depp, and Keira returned to the set together to begin shooting scenes that focused on the dynamic between the three main characters.

There weren't many scenes in the sequel that featured all three of them together. An internal power struggle at Walt Disney had caused delays in pre-production, but the studio had already announced a release date for the following July. To meet the deadline, Gore Verbinski had to adjust his shooting schedule, prioritizing scenes to ensure the second film would be completed on time.

The production would remain at the Disney Studios for the next three weeks before moving to Batakas Island in the Dominican Republic for on-location shooting in July.

But before leaving for the Dominican Republic, Matthew had some off-set business to attend to.