The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 400

Matthew had originally planned to invite Eva for a proper chat, but a call from Helen made him change his mind instantly. He bid Eva a quick farewell and walked out of Warner Studios, where a black Mercedes SUV was waiting for him at the curb.

Matthew slid into the car and told Brown Williams, who was behind the wheel, "Take me to the Angel Acting Agency."

Just this week, Brown had resigned from his position at a private security firm to officially become Matthew's personal bodyguard.

Furthermore, thanks to a significant surge in Mercedes-Benz G-Class sales last year—a success largely attributed to his endorsement—Mercedes-Benz had taken back the initial models they provided and replaced them with two new, custom-built SUVs.

Mercedes-Benz had improved the vehicle's handling and redesigned the rear, replacing the standard bench with two individual captain's chairs.

The new seating was completely re-engineered. The back of the SUV was now configured with two independent seats, providing him with significantly more space and comfort.

After a few drives, Matthew found himself pleased with the new vehicles. His biggest complaints before had been about the rough ride and the cramped rear seating, both of which had now been addressed.

The SUV soon pulled up to the Angel Acting Agency. Matthew went inside, headed straight up to the second floor, and walked into Helen's office, where she was waiting for him.

After filming wrapped on Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Akiva Goldsman had reached out, expressing interest in casting him as the male lead in a new project. Matthew had spoken with Goldsman a few times since, and Helen had also made official contact, but because the project was still in its early planning stages, they had only reached a verbal understanding. Nothing official had been signed.

However, the massive box office success of Mr. & Mrs. Smith had clearly solidified Goldsman's confidence in wanting to work with him.Still, the specifics of the new project remained a mystery to both Matthew and Helen. Citing confidentiality, Goldsman had been vague about the details, only promising to send the script to Matthew the moment it was ready.

"Akiva Goldsman's project..." Helen began, her voice trailing off for a moment. "It’s..."

She paused, choosing her words carefully. "It's a science fiction adaptation—and to a certain extent, you could even call it a remake."

Matthew pulled a chair over, sat down across from Helen, and asked, "A remake? Like Dawn of the Dead?"

Helen shook her head. "Not quite."

She slid a thin folder across the desk to him. "Goldsman's new project is titled I Am Legend."

"I Am Legend?" The name immediately brought an image to Matthew's mind: Will Smith.

He'd seen the movie once, driven to it by the near-insane amount of pop-up ads for some online game. He remembered it clearly: the story that started with just one man and his dog.

"What is it?" Helen asked, noticing the odd look on his face. "Have you seen the original?"

Matthew answered honestly, "No."

Curious, he asked, "Is the original a book or an old movie?"

Helen gave a slight nod. "Both, in a way. I Am Legend was originally a science fiction novel by the acclaimed author Richard Matheson, published back in 1954."

She was clearly well-versed on the topic. "The novel is complex and provocative, even by modern standards. It’s widely considered a foundational work of modern horror fiction, influencing not just a generation of writers but countless others who followed. The book has been adapted for the big screen twice before: first in 1964 as The Last Man on Earth, starring Vincent Price, and then again in 1971 as The Omega Man, with Charlton Heston in the lead."

Matthew nodded slowly, processing the information. "Richard Matheson? Is he a well-known author?"

"Extremely well-known." Helen, aware that literary history wasn't Matthew's strong suit, gave him a concise summary. "Richard Matheson has been called one of the greatest American writers of the twentieth century. For die-hard sci-fi fans, he’s practically a deity."

"Sounds like I'll have to find the book and read it," Matthew said, his interest piqued by Helen's description. "And I should probably watch the two film adaptations as well."

"You can always do that after you've read the script," Helen suggested. "Assuming you decide you want to take the role."

She didn't offer a direct opinion on whether Matthew should take the lead in this sci-fi project. The two had been working together for seven years, since 1999, and in that time they had navigated a series of projects, big and small, resulting in a string of successful films with Matthew in the lead.

As a professional agent, Helen was far from foolish. And though she had never fully understood how he did it, she sensed that Matthew had a knack for choosing the right films and roles. The last five or six movies he had starred in were all box office hits.

She didn't press the issue or dwell on it. It was enough for her that Matthew possessed this talent.

The more successful Matthew became, the more successful she would be.

Of course, a certain curiosity was inevitable. It wasn't that she hadn't asked him about it in the past, but he was always tight-lipped on the subject, so she had eventually learned to drop it.

Matthew opened the file. It contained only five pages, which he scanned through quickly.

I Am Legend... he thought. A film I vaguely remember being very popular. I think it got good reviews online back in the day.

A film like that was definitely worth considering.

Besides, Goldsman had approached him directly with an offer for the lead. Under normal circumstances, that meant Will Smith was likely out of the running.

Without Smith as a competitor, his chances of landing the role were practically guaranteed, provided he wanted it.

Of course, even if Smith did decide to pursue it, Matthew had the confidence and momentum to compete. He felt he had a definite edge over him now.

After reviewing the script outline and the handful of character details, Matthew looked up at Helen. "Do you have any more concrete information on the project?"

"Goldsman hasn't settled on a director yet," Helen said slowly. "But there is one thing in our favor if you decide to pursue this: Warner Bros. is set to produce and distribute."

Warner Bros. signed the distribution deal with Skydance Pictures for 300 specifically because of Matthew's involvement as the lead. They have a very high opinion of his box office appeal.

Matthew nodded. "That's good news."

Helen continued, "According to Goldsman, I Am Legend has a production budget of one hundred fifty million dollars. They're targeting a holiday 2007 release, with filming tentatively scheduled from October of this year through February of next. That wouldn't conflict with the schedule for 300."

Resting one hand on his knee and the other on his chin, Matthew considered this. He guessed that Goldsman must have already factored his commitment to 300 into the proposed shooting schedule.

He finished his thought and looked at Helen. "Tell Goldsman tomorrow that I'm interested in his new project. But make it clear that serious negotiations will have to wait until a director is attached."

Even if I've seen the outline, he mused, I can't just jump into this without thinking it through, not when a director hasn't even been chosen yet.

It was far easier for a director to ruin a film than an actor.

The specifics of how to approach Goldsman were matters Matthew left entirely to Helen. That was, after all, an agent's job.

"Do you have a salary request in mind?" Helen asked, getting to the most important question.

Matthew didn't hesitate. "If we can get it, I want twenty million dollars plus twenty percent of the gross."

"That's a big ask," Helen replied soberly, "but I'll do my best."

Then her tone shifted. "You have to know, though, getting a 20+20 deal won't be easy."

"I know." Matthew paused for a moment, then added, "Then let's start by getting me into the Twenty Million Dollar Club."

In Hollywood, the Twenty Million Dollar Club was more than just a number on a paycheck; it was a direct reflection of a star's status, fame, and bankability.

Before heading home, Matthew left the Angel Agency with the script outline in hand. He made a detour to the nearest bookstore to buy a copy of Richard Matheson's novel. Once back at Horner Manor, he settled in and read the book carefully, comparing it with the outline.

The book was about a man's isolated, lonely existence in what had been a modern city. After reading it, Matthew felt the core of the story was about one man forced to fight against the entire world.

Next, Matthew made a point of watching the two previous film adaptations to get a better feel for the material.

So the path forward is more or less set, he concluded. Barring any major setbacks, the plan is to film 300, and then I Am Legend.