The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 630

The film drew to a close with Tony Stark standing at a press conference, facing hundreds of journalists.

But instead of reading from a prepared script, he declared directly to the press, "I am Iron Man!"

The press conference erupted into a sensation. The journalists went wild, the movie became an instant phenomenon, and the audience was immediately captivated.

From the very beginning of the film, the character of Tony Stark had offered a completely fresh take on the superhero archetype. His personal charisma, a defining trait, finally reached its zenith with the revelation of his identity as Iron Man.

Hollywood superheroes, from Clark Kent to Peter Parker and Bruce Wayne, had always hidden their faces and concealed their true identities. Never before had anyone in a superhero film declared themselves so openly.

Traditional superheroes lived double lives, but Tony Stark was a complete departure from that norm.

This departure offered the audience a new experience, a jolt of freshness.

Watching the audience's reaction at the premiere, Matthew was reminded of a scene from 'Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back'. Although he hadn't experienced it firsthand, he'd heard it mentioned countless times: when Darth Vader told Luke Skywalker, "I am your father!", theaters had erupted, the entire audience practically exploding with shock and excitement. Tony Stark's declaration that he was Iron Man seemed to be having a similar effect.

In particular, the scene where Tony and Samuel L. Jackson—as the one-eyed Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.—discussed forming a team to deal with supernatural threats sent a wave of excitement through those familiar with Marvel Comics.

Many instantly understood that the 'Avengers' initiative had just been launched in grand fashion.So, when the Director mysteriously appeared in Tony Stark's mansion and spoke of there being more than one superhero in the world, the theater erupted in applause.

This was an era before superhero films became ubiquitous, a time when their reign over the silver screen was just beginning.

The theater thundered with applause without a moment's hesitation. From the back row to the front, every single person was on their feet, cheering, with joyful smiles lighting up their faces.

The film left them feeling satisfied, entertained, and energized.

For the average moviegoer—few of whom go to the cinema to ponder the philosophy of life—it was enough to satisfy their need for spectacle and entertainment. This psychological fulfillment manifested in broad smiles, high spirits, and a willingness to open their wallets for the film and its related merchandise.

It was a moment of thunderous ovation, repeated in countless theaters across North America.

Matthew applauded along with them, feeling reassured that his forty-million-dollar investment was certain to turn a profit.

Beside him, Charles Roven was also clapping, though his thoughts were on how Marvel Comics had clearly pulled ahead of DC Comics, and that they needed to get their act together.

DC Comics had always held a firm grip over Marvel in terms of film production, thanks to the immense influence of Superman and Batman. It would be no exaggeration to say that before the new millennium, Marvel's superhero films weren't even fit to shine DC's shoes.

But Marvel's 'Iron Man' had given the entire 'Avengers' project a phenomenal start. The film was exciting, witty, funny, and a superb commercial product that would ensure Marvel's plans for the rest of the year went off without a hitch.

And what about DC's 'Justice League'?

Charles knew all too well that the 'Justice League' project needed to be pushed forward as quickly as possible, especially along with 'Green Lantern Corps,' which was in the scripting phase. They had to pick up the pace, lest the superhero film market become the exclusive domain of Marvel.

The two of them went backstage to congratulate the cast and crew, and Charles said to Matthew, "Wait for my call."

Matthew replied casually, "Alright."

He walked down the guest corridor and waited by the door for a moment before Scarlett Johansson slipped out and took his arm. "Let's go," she said.

Instead of a post-screening press conference, the cast was scheduled to hold a large fan meet-and-greet at Nokia Plaza the next day.

"At your service," Matthew said with a flourish, "Agent Natasha Romanoff."

He started walking with Scarlett, exclaiming as they went, "Your character drives men crazy."

Scarlett, however, asked pointedly, "Just the character?"

"Of course not," Matthew smiled. "Agent Natasha and Scarlett are two completely different styles, but both can charm any man out of his mind."

They exited through the back door of the theater hand in hand, and were instantly met by a barrage of flashing lights. A swarm of reporters immediately surrounded them. They couldn't move a single foot, even though Matthew's Mercedes was parked right in front of them.

Several bodyguards reacted quickly, forming a barrier between Matthew and Scarlett and the reporters.

Matthew looked at the hive of reporters, figuring it was likely the consequence of the cast and crew skipping the post-screening press conference.

The reporters peppered them with questions, but the two of them ignored the barrage and simply walked toward the car as the bodyguards cleared a path.

Only when they reached the car did Scarlett Johansson seem willing to offer a few words for an interview; after all, the premiere of her film had just concluded.

"I'm not answering any questions unrelated to the film," she reminded a few journalists trailing her, before answering a question from one of the major newspapers. "Agent Natasha Romanoff was a huge challenge for me, but also an incredibly exciting role. I've never done anything like it before. Getting the chance to be in 'Iron Man' and play the Black Widow is just thrilling."

Matthew stood beside Scarlett like a stone statue. He didn't need to say or do anything. Scarlett had been famous for years and was known in Hollywood circles as a sharp woman; she could handle routine press questions on her own.

Scarlett finished answering and wasn't prepared to say more, giving him a quick wink. Matthew immediately opened the car door, waited for her to get in, and then slid in beside her.

The car, still the focus of the press's attention, didn't leave in a hurry. A full minute passed before it slowly pulled away from the theater's back door.

"Looks like I made quite a splash, didn't I?" Scarlett glanced back at the swarm of paparazzi cars and motorcycles chasing them. "What do you think, Matthew?"

Matthew gently took her hand. "Don't worry. This won't be another 'The Island'."

Scarlett sighed softly. "I hope this film is a box office success. Otherwise, I might have to go to the bank for a loan."

"You won't have to," Matthew said, taking the initiative to change the subject. "Filming 'Iron Man' was easier than your independent literary projects, wasn't it?"

"Easier? Are you kidding?" Scarlett's expression turned serious. "This film demanded far more from me."

She ticked off the points on her fingers. "I spent nearly six months learning combat techniques, did extensive stunt and strength training, and had to walk around in that ridiculously tight suit."

Matthew smiled. "It was a wild feeling, seeing you in that suit for the first time. With all the zippers and the weapons you were carrying, I have to say, the Black Widow is seriously cool."

An idea struck Scarlett, and she said with a sly grin, "How about we borrow Natasha's suit and the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s costume from the set sometime?"

"Good idea." Matthew reached out and tilted Scarlett's chin up. "Then our nights together would be even more... exciting."

"Too bad." Scarlett met his gaze. "We can't get them tonight."

They'd had a few one-night stands over the years, so Matthew added, "We'll have plenty of opportunities later."

Scarlett smiled. "I like your straightforward style."

She wanted nothing more than a physical relationship with her temporary lover, and Matthew's thinking was certainly in tune with hers.

The black Mercedes returned to Beverly Hills under the cover of night and pulled right up to the estate. Scarlett couldn't help but glance back before getting out; dozens of cars lined the road in front of the property, and the paparazzi looked like they were settling in for the night.

---

The following day, the summer movie season officially kicked off in major theaters across North America.

In recent years, comic book adaptations had become increasingly popular, with more and more classic titles making their way to the big screen. 'Iron Man' was destined to be one of the lucky few to benefit greatly from this surge.

Comic book adaptations have a long history, but it wasn't until the movie 'Spider-Man' that they truly became mainstream commercial blockbusters.

In 2002, Sony Columbia scored such a massive box office success with its unorthodox tale of a teenage boy who accidentally gains special powers that studio executives decided the comic book hero craze had been reborn.

As a result, large budgets were allocated for comic book adaptations, and one after another, prominent superheroes burst onto the big screen to entertain audiences, leading to a steady increase in such films over the years.

Of course, this phenomenon also relied on the immense popularity of these superheroes in the United States. When Americans saw the comic book characters they grew up reading come to life, they naturally flocked to theaters in droves to support them.