The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 484

Despite being flanked by three bodyguards and the security team Marvel Studios had arranged to clear a path, Matthew found himself completely gridlocked in the small plaza before the office building, unable to take another step.

"Mr. Horner, Marvel Studios is a brand-new entity, practically an empty shell that has never independently produced a single film. Why are you investing forty million dollars in them?"

Matthew stood his ground, unable to move as a tidal wave of questions crashed over him.

"Iron Man is considered a second-tier superhero from Marvel Comics at best. Why invest in a Tony Stark movie?"

"No one understands this investment. Can you offer a reasonable explanation?"

"Matthew, do you even know the first thing about investing?"

Hearing the questions, Matthew held back his reply. The scene was pure chaos.

Of course, he had no intention of just walking away. Marvel Studios had briefed him yesterday, anticipating this very scene, and he was prepared to answer a few questions.

Now that he had sealed the deal with Marvel, pouring a staggering forty million dollars into the project, Matthew was also committed to cooperating with the promotion and publicity. His own earnings depended on it.

He clapped Brown on the shoulder. The bodyguard, standing guard beside him, understood immediately and bellowed at the top of his lungs, "Quiet! Matthew has something to say!"Hearing that Matthew was about to speak, the reporters and paparazzi stopped swarming him, and a hush gradually fell over the crowd.

"Everyone wants to know why I invested in an Iron Man movie, right?"

"Yes!"

"That's right."

A chorus of affirmation erupted from all sides.

Matthew raised a hand, pressing it down in a calming gesture. The murmurs subsided, and the scene became surprisingly orderly.

"Because I'm a Tony Stark fan! In the comics world, the Iron Man series is right up there with Spider-Man, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four. The comic has been a hit for decades, cherished by fans just like me. He isn't a biological mutant, and he wasn't bitten by some radioactive insect. He’s just an ordinary man who uses his intelligence to build a suit of armor—one of the greatest inventions of mankind."

He shrugged. "Maybe a lot of people think I'm strange, but I've always found Iron Man to be a fascinating character. With Spider-Man and the X-Men, Marvel and other companies worked together to create heroes with god-like powers."

Though Marvel genuinely lacked experience in in-house film adaptation, Matthew couldn’t admit that. He had to project confidence. "Marvel has a successful and brilliant track record of adapting its superhero films, and I'm certain that Iron Man will work."

"On another note," he continued, "I’ve already spoken with the director and the screenwriters. Iron Man will touch on social issues and the world we live in. It’s a story about redemption, about how ordinary people can become heroes."

****

Inside the office building's lobby, Kevin Feige and Avi Arad watched through a window as the scene unfolded out front. Every single reporter was focused on Matthew; no one was paying the slightest attention to Marvel Studios.

Clearly, the fledgling Marvel Studios was no match for the star power of Matthew Horner.

"He's stealing the entire spotlight," Kevin said, a touch of envy in his voice.

Avi's gaze remained fixed on the scene outside. "We need someone like him—someone who can command attention and generate buzz. Matthew Horner is exactly that person."

Kevin sighed and gave a hesitant nod.

"Look at the recent press and promotion for 300," Avi continued. "Warner Brothers has barely lifted a finger, but thanks to Horner alone, there's already a massive buzz. The movie's name is all over America, and everyone is talking about it."

"Who would have thought..." Kevin smiled helplessly. "The man was born for this."

"We have to play the Matthew Horner card," Avi insisted. "He's worth more to us than just the forty million dollars he invested."

Kevin certainly understood his meaning. "I know what to do," he affirmed.

Outside, the brief interview concluded, and Matthew, escorted by security and his bodyguards clearing a path, finally made his way toward the entrance.

Watching the spectacle, Kevin's conviction grew: the promotion for Iron Man had to be inextricably linked to this Hollywood superstar.

It felt like he’d been following Horner’s career for months, and in all that time, the media frenzy and public buzz surrounding him never seemed to die down.

Kevin mulled it over for a moment, then a slow smile spread across his face. Horner was a genuinely smart star, a master of self-promotion.

Working with someone like that could only be a boon for Iron Man.

Still, should we find a way to generate some news between Horner and the cast of Iron Man?

That was something to plan for.

Avi's voice cut through his thoughts. "He's inside. Let's head to the conference room and get this signing ceremony over with."

The large conference room held only about thirty journalists. To save money, Marvel Studios had opted to hold the signing ceremony in-house rather than renting a proper, larger venue.

Without any preamble, Matthew entered the conference room and sat down opposite Avi Arad. For the benefit of the cameras, they each signed the prepared "contracts," exchanged them, and shook hands. The photo-op was officially complete.

It was a somewhat shabby ceremony for a forty-million-dollar investment.

Matthew made no comment. He knew things hadn't been going well for Marvel. They had seen a slight improvement in the last couple of years, but just to stay afloat, the company had been forced to sell off the rights to some of its most iconic characters.

With the signing complete, Matthew stood with Kevin and Avi for a group photo.

The three of them stood shoulder to shoulder, projecting an image of unity.

It was, of course, a mutually beneficial partnership. Marvel Studios had filled a significant portion of its much-needed budget, and Matthew had secured his investment rights.

After the group photo and some routine press interviews, Matthew followed Avi and Kevin out of the conference room and into a private lounge on the same floor.

Lawyers for both parties and representatives from the Producers Guild of America were waiting in the lounge. It was here that Matthew and Marvel would sign the actual, binding agreement.

Matthew entered the lounge and greeted the legal team, led by his lawyer, Wilson. Helen approached him and murmured, "The contract is solid."

"Got it."

He took the pen Wilson had prepared and, following Avi's lead, signed all three copies of the agreement.

With the signing complete, Wilson collected Matthew's copy of the contract. The others filed out of the lounge, leaving only Matthew and Helen. Avi Arad had also departed—he had a plane to catch back to New York—leaving Kevin Feige to represent the studio.

"Kevin, have you locked in the male lead yet?" Matthew asked, getting straight to the point.

From the negotiations, he already knew a fair bit about the project's current status. The film was in pre-production, with Kevin Feige and Jon Favreau handling the prep work in a hangar-studio at the old Hughes Aircraft Manufacturing Plant.

As for the principal cast, Jon Favreau would also be playing Tony Stark's bodyguard and chauffeur, Happy, while Oscar-winner Gwyneth Paltrow was set to play Pepper Potts, and Jeff Bridges had been cast as the villainous Iron Baron.

Getting a respected actor like Jeff Bridges on board was a coup for Marvel, meant to lend the film some much-needed prestige.

Still, they knew he might have reservations about playing a straightforward villain.

Overall, the Iron Man project was facing a mountain of difficulties, and Kevin Feige was trying every trick in the book to overcome them.

Hearing Matthew's question, Kevin shook his head. "Not yet. Originally, we had three candidates in mind: you, Tom Cruise, and Nicolas Cage, but..."

Now that he had money in the project, Matthew felt a responsibility to keep Iron Man on the right track. "I have a candidate to recommend," he said. "Let's see what you think."

Now that they were in the same boat, Kevin wasn't worried about Matthew causing trouble. He asked curiously, "Who?"

"Remember Robert Downey Jr.?" Matthew said, naming the man who would one day become synonymous with the role. "I think he'd be a perfect fit."

Before Kevin could respond, he added, "Tony Stark is rich, handsome, witty, and charismatic. He makes huge mistakes and eventually finds his way back. It’s Robert Downey Jr.’s life story."

Helen shot Matthew a strange look. She knew for a fact that he had never had any dealings with Robert Downey Jr.

Why would Matthew go out on a limb to recommend someone he had no connection to for the lead in a 140-million-dollar production?

Matthew noticed Helen's glance but offered no explanation for what was, frankly, unexplainable.

"Well..." Kevin considered it for a moment. "I’ll reach out to Robert Downey Jr."

(The information about Jeff Bridges was mentioned in a later interview, possibly for promotional purposes.)