The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 556

In the weeks that followed, the Wachowski brothers continued to generate buzz, touting what an extraordinary project "Cloud Atlas" would be. Matthew’s camp responded in kind, expressing immense interest in the lead role—an interest backed not just by words, but by a series of deliberate, practical actions.

He held several public meetings with the Wachowski brothers to discuss the script and the film’s direction. Then, after learning of their lack of financial backing, he brought in SkyDance Pictures and David Ellison as potential partners.

David, intrigued by the project, personally met with the Wachowski brothers on several occasions before assembling a dedicated team to initiate formal negotiations.

Before long, "Cloud Atlas" had become one of the most talked-about projects in the pipeline for major Hollywood productions.

Several studios, including members of the Big Six, called Matthew to inquire about his involvement with "Cloud Atlas." Matthew's answer was simple: he was interested, but he had already made a deal with David's SkyDance Pictures and was not looking to partner with anyone else for the time being.

By collaborating with the Wachowskis to generate hype, having Helen initiate negotiations, and bringing in David and SkyDance to invest, Matthew had, in just half a month, created the undeniable impression that he was securing the lead role in "Cloud Atlas" and backing it financially.

The trap was set, just waiting for its target, but so far, Brad Pitt had yet to contact the Wachowski brothers.

Matthew wasn't in a hurry. After all, no one makes a rash decision when it comes to such a major project.

Rumor had it that many companies were starting to eye the project, including Brad Pitt's Plan B. Furthermore, reports suggested that Pitt, breaking from his usual drawn-out style, had instructed Plan B to expedite the finalization of his separation from Jennifer Aniston, even making a series of concessions on certain issues.

All of this gave Matthew the distinct feeling that Pitt was, step by step, moving exactly where he wanted him to.But he knew that "Cloud Atlas" wasn't a top-tier Hollywood production. Even if Brad Pitt fell into this trap, it wouldn't be impossible for him to climb back out.

Matthew needed a deeper pit, one from which Pitt could never escape. He didn't find a suitable opportunity until April.

But such an opportunity couldn't be conjured just because he wanted one.

As May approached and Matthew prepared for the promotional tour for "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," set for a Memorial Day release, a couple of pieces of good news finally arrived.

"300" had completed its theatrical run in all overseas markets, and its final worldwide box office tally stood at an impressive $735.4 million.

For a film with a production budget of only $85 million, this was an absolute triumph.

The subsequent DVD release, packed with extra content, was also a massive success in both sales and rentals. The standard edition, priced at $19.90, and the deluxe set at $39.90 sold nearly five million copies in just ten days, generating over $100 million in sales.

The film also secured the second-highest DVD sales in North America for 2006, trailing only "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."

"Pirates of the Caribbean 2" and "300" sold exceptionally well in theaters, on disc, and through merchandise. Even the Spartan-themed line of Armani men's underwear, endorsed by Matthew and released earlier in the year, became a massive hit in the menswear market, earning Armani tens of millions of dollars in global revenue in just a few months.

Both film studios and other businesses could clearly and unmistakably see and feel Matthew's commercial appeal.

The president of Hasbro, one of the two largest toy manufacturers in the country, publicly stated that when Hasbro acquires licenses for movie-related toys, holding the rights to Matthew's characters is a definite advantage.

Perhaps it was because the style of "300" was so testosterone-fueled, or perhaps because Matthew's physique was so striking, but many of his female fans took to Facebook to protest after SkyDance Pictures rejected an adult toy company's bid to buy the licensing rights.

These female fans vehemently protested SkyDance's refusal to sell the rights, demanding that the company resume negotiations to license a doll in Matthew's likeness to satisfy their demand.

Of course, such a license was impossible to secure. The Hollywood industry had long-established rules stating that any licensing of a character's likeness required the consent of the individual actor.

But it was yet another indirect reflection of Matthew's current popularity.

For a star with such enormous commercial appeal, there was no need to worry about roles or work. The success of "300" triggered a series of beneficial chain reactions. Warner Bros. yielded in their negotiations for "Hancock" and officially signed an acting contract with Matthew, resolving the previous huge disagreements over his salary. Since Warner Bros. had made concessions, Matthew's side also offered a corresponding compromise: the final agreed-upon fee was set at $33 million, exclusive of any post-production profit sharing.

"Hancock" was now in pre-production under Goldsman's supervision. Shortly after Matthew signed his contract, Charlize Theron agreed to play the female lead for a $15 million fee.

Warner Bros. also adjusted the project's budget accordingly, increasing it from $150 million to $180 million, and was prepared to bring in a new investor. In return for David Ellison's help, Matthew brought him on board once more.

It was relatively easy for Matthew to bring David in again to handle certain tasks.

Just as he helped Helen whenever he could, Helen had often provided him with services that went far beyond the scope of a typical agent.

There were many other offers and projects that Matthew and Helen considered and subsequently dismissed.

Meanwhile, Matthew's proven commercial value further highlighted his skill in choosing films. Finally, there was movement from Brad Pitt's side. After being introduced by his manager, Corin, Pitt met with the Wachowski brothers three times in a single week.

It seemed he had heard enough to fly to New York for a meeting with Natalie Portman. It was unclear what specific offer he made to persuade her to abandon Matthew and throw her support behind him.

Matthew didn't sit idly by. He maintained close contact with the Wachowski brothers while intentionally allowing Ilana to leak news to the press. He fed the media stories about conflicts in their negotiations, such as Matthew's demands regarding creative control and salary, and the fact that SkyDance Pictures could currently only come up with $60 million of the $100 million the Wachowskis were demanding.

Everyone knew that SkyDance Pictures had just signed an investment deal with Warner Bros. for "Hancock" and was also working on a new installment of "The Fast and the Furious" franchise. It was perfectly natural that they couldn't raise enough money at the moment.

Negotiations between SkyDance Pictures and the Wachowski brothers stalled for a time. However, thanks to the hype and publicity they had generated, the Wachowskis and their backers had built a formidable reputation for the "Cloud Atlas" project, attracting a great deal of attention.

Subsequently, Matthew received word that Brad Pitt had instructed Plan B to form a team to coordinate negotiations and other work related to the Wachowski brothers and "Cloud Atlas."

The negotiations between the two sides were confidential, making it impossible to learn the details. However, from the increasingly cold shoulder the Wachowski brothers were giving him and SkyDance, Matthew could tell that things were heating up with Plan B, and that a deal might actually be within reach.

When May arrived and another summer movie season kicked off in North America, Matthew was consumed by a hectic schedule, promoting "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" and "Transformers," leaving David and Helen to keep an eye on Plan B and the Wachowski brothers.

In mid-May, upon returning to New York from two promotional tours, Matthew met with Helen and learned that the Wachowski brothers had informed the Angel Agency and SkyDance Pictures the day before that they were officially ending their negotiations and had begun exclusive talks with Plan B and Brad Pitt.

"Pitt is clever," Helen told Matthew. "He brought Natalie Portman into the fold, using her as an in with the Wachowskis. However, they're still in negotiations, and it's unclear when they'll reach an agreement."

Matthew nodded. "Alright, let's apply a little pressure. I'll arrange a meeting with Natalie."