The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 754

"Hello, Mr. Horner. My name is Ronan Farrow. I'm a reporter with The New Yorker."

Matthew nodded to him. "Hello, Mr. Farrow." He gestured to the sofa next to Brown Williams. "Please, have a seat."

Ronan Farrow walked over and sat down, his gaze unconsciously drifting toward Brown Williams, who was seated nearby. Matthew Horner was being cordial, but also cautious, deliberately seating his guest next to his bodyguard.

Not that he minded—anyone who had survived an assassination attempt would be just as guarded.

Matthew inquired politely, "Did you want to talk to me about the director for the G.I. Joe sequel?"

"Yes." Ronan Farrow knew he needed to be direct when dealing with a man of Matthew's stature. "I received a tip that Paramount Pictures wants to replace Stephen Sommers and hire a man named Jon Chu to direct the sequel."

Matthew nodded.

"I was wondering what your plans are," Ronan Farrow asked, a hint of anxiety in his voice.

The moment the question left his lips, he realized he'd misspoken. Hastily composing himself, he explained with a smile, "As we all know, you and director Stephen Sommers are friends, Mr. Horner. You rose to fame early in your career starring in his films. You two are close, so you wouldn't just stand by while Paramount Pictures pushes him out, right?"

"Oh?" Matthew could tell this Ronan Farrow had ulterior motives for seeking him out. "Do you know Stephen Sommers?"Ronan shook his head. "I don't. I've never met him."

Matthew looked at him but said nothing.

Ronan Farrow felt the pressure and added, "But I do know Jon Chu."

Hearing this, Matthew immediately made his assessment. "Do you have a grudge against Jon Chu?"

"You could say that." Ronan chose his words carefully. "I don't want to see Jon Chu directing such a high-profile project."

He looked at Matthew. "I believe our interests are aligned on this matter, Mr. Horner."

After a moment to adjust, Ronan Farrow stated his case more clearly. "I'm sure you wouldn't want a complete novice with no experience directing a film you're starring in, would you, Mr. Horner?"

His words hit the mark, echoing the same concerns Matthew had previously discussed with Helen.

Matthew, however, brushed that aside and asked, "What makes you so sure I'll support Stephen Sommers?"

Ronan Farrow wasn't sure at all—that's precisely why he had come—but he didn't admit it. Instead, he said with a smile, "I've studied your career, Mr. Horner, and I've found that many people have a deep misconception about you."

Matthew raised his eyebrows slightly. "Oh, really?"

"Yes!" As a reporter, Ronan had his own way of analyzing people and events. "Many people only see how you've overcome your rivals to reach the heights you're at today, but they never see how you treat your friends."

He began to speak more quickly. "You treat your friends with incredible loyalty and integrity, Mr. Horner. Whenever you have the chance to help them, you take the initiative. I've analyzed it specifically. The friends you knew before you were famous, the people who helped you early on... you always... how should I put it? You always give back far more than you ever received."

"Take director Stephen Sommers and producer Sean Daniel, for example, who gave you your big break in The Mummy series and The Scorpion King. Sean Daniel's career hit rock bottom a couple of years ago, and no studio wanted to hire him. Yet it was you, Mr. Horner, who brought him on as a producer for the Twilight series when he needed help the most."

Matthew looked at Ronan Farrow but didn't say anything.

It was, after all, the simple truth. On one hand, Matthew had hired Sean Daniel because he was confident in his abilities; on the other, he had genuinely intended to give him a leg up.

Back then, Sean Daniel and Stephen Sommers had chosen him for The Scorpion King, a decision that had allowed him to take a decisive step on his path to stardom.

Ronan continued, "And according to media reports, it was Stephen Sommers who first officially brought you onto the G.I. Joe project."

His tone was thick with praise. "A man like you, Mr. Horner, so loyal and upstanding with his friends, surely wouldn't sit idly by and watch a friend get pushed out by a new director—especially not by someone like Jon Chu."

Matthew smiled. It was the first time anyone had so clearly told him to his face that he was a loyal and upstanding man.

'Turns out I've been a good guy all along.'

The thought flickered through Matthew's mind, but he didn't get sidetracked. "Tell me about yourself. What's your grudge against Jon Chu?"

Hearing Matthew's question, Ronan Farrow felt a wave of relief. While he still wasn't sure if Matthew was truly on Stephen Sommers's side, the question itself already revealed a certain alignment.

For Matthew Horner to proactively side with Stephen Sommers was, naturally, the most ideal outcome.

Ronan considered the question for a moment before replying, "I really don't like Jon Chu."

Matthew smiled. And that was the reason?

"Jon Chu was recommended to Paramount Pictures by Woody Allen. You could even say that Jon Chu is Woody Allen's protégé." Ronan Farrow knew there was no point in holding back now, so he told the truth. "Woody Allen admires Jon Chu."

A sudden hatred flared in his eyes. "I hate Woody Allen!"

Matthew looked at Ronan Farrow, his eyes filled with suspicion. It seemed this young man was genuinely furious with Woody Allen.

At that moment, Ronan clarified, "My mother is Mia Farrow."

Matthew nodded slowly. "I see."

The feud between Woody Allen and Mia Farrow was notorious in Hollywood, and he had certainly heard about it. It was more than understandable for Mia Farrow's son to hate Woody Allen, his own father.

Matthew didn't press for details, simply remarking casually, "Woody Allen is your father, after all."

"He is not my father." Ronan's expression suddenly turned grim. "Woody Allen should be in prison! All the bastards who coerce women into sex should be sent to the electric chair!"

Matthew looked at Ronan Farrow and suddenly felt there was something interesting about this young reporter.

The son of Woody Allen and Mia Farrow, he had been under his mother's influence since childhood. He'd likely grown up hearing stories about Woody Allen coercing women...

Woody Allen had indeed been embroiled in such scandals for years, but Hollywood in the 1980s and 1990s was a far more chaotic place than it was now.

Perhaps Ronan Farrow's personality and his extreme views were a direct result of having such a terrible father?

Mulling this over, Matthew said nothing more on the subject. "Mr. Farrow, I understand what you're getting at."

Matthew added, "How about this: leave your contact information, and I'll call you if I need your help later on."

Ronan Farrow hastily pulled out his business card and handed it to Brown Williams, saying, "Mr. Horner, you can contact me anytime if you need me in the future, especially regarding the Jon Chu situation."

"Absolutely." Matthew smiled and nodded at Ronan.

Ronan didn't linger. After excusing himself, he left.

"Keep this man's contact information." Matthew stood up, also preparing to leave, and said to Brown, "Tell Amanda and Helen to do a thorough background check on this Ronan Farrow."

Brown put the business card away and replied, "Alright, I'll contact them."

***

Just two days later, Helen Herman and Amanda sent over a detailed file on Ronan Farrow. He was, indeed, an unusual young man.

Matthew filed Ronan Farrow away for future reference, but for now, he had to deal with Stephen Sommers and the G.I. Joe sequel.

Helen was handling the initial negotiations for the sequel with Paramount Pictures and Hasbro. Beyond his salary, Matthew's most important condition was this: if he were to star in the sequel, Paramount and Hasbro had to keep the core creative team intact, which meant Stephen Sommers had to return as director.

This condition was undoubtedly a clear signal to Paramount Pictures and Hasbro.

They could either keep Stephen Sommers, or they would have to find a new lead actor and director altogether.

Furthermore, he had someone specifically look into Jon Chu, a rookie director whose only credit seemed to be some video award from Woody Allen.

Why would he risk working with a novice like that when he already had a relatively reliable director?

In response to Matthew's conditions, Paramount Pictures and Hasbro had yet to reply, telling Helen they needed time to consider before making a decision.

Matthew didn't wait around for them. He immediately contacted Ilana and had TMZ leak the news that Paramount Pictures and Hasbro were planning to replace both the director and the male lead for the G.I. Joe sequel.

***

Note:

Mia and her children before Allen:

Shortly before meeting Woody Allen, the actress separated from her husband, musician André Previn. They had three biological sons (Matthew, Sascha, and Fletcher) and three adopted daughters (Lark Song and Summer Song from Vietnam, and Soon-Yi from Korea). All the children remained with their mother and later moved in with Woody Allen. At the time Soon-Yi met Allen (1980), she was 10 years old.

1992:

Woody Allen and Mia Farrow separated. The reason was his affair with their shared adopted daughter, Soon-Yi Previn. Allen was 57 at the time, and Soon-Yi was 21. A few months after the scandalous breakup, Mia Farrow accused Allen of molesting their other adopted daughter, seven-year-old Dylan.

1993:

The court did not find sufficient evidence to charge Allen with molesting Dylan, but Farrow was granted sole custody of the children—which Allen believes was due to the scandal involving Soon-Yi Previn.

1997:

Soon-Yi Previn and Woody Allen married in Venice on December 22; at the time of the wedding, she was 27 and Allen was 62.