The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 812: Are You Cold?

Summer is the hottest, most competitive season for movies, and this year was no exception. From sentient toys and tech geniuses to martians and an anti-fairytale green ogre, a blitz of fierce advertising campaigns vied for the public’s attention.

The battle reached its climax when Matthew and Christopher Nolan unveiled the long-awaited "Inception"—a film shrouded in Hollywood mystery due to its cryptic title and Warner Bros.' ironclad secrecy surrounding the script.

Matthew walked the red carpet amid the screams of countless fans.

As he reached the media pen, dressed in formal attire, he was laughing and joking effortlessly with Emma Roberts, who wore a short dress. They graciously accommodated the requests of the media and fans, patiently posing for photographs.

Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy followed each other down the red carpet, both in matching black suits that seemed to broadcast their close friendship to everyone around them.

"Inception" had secured one of the last prime summer release dates, and its premiere was held to great fanfare at the Chieftain's Stone Theatre in North America. The creative team, led by Matthew and Christopher Nolan, appeared on the red carpet in its entirety.

Except for one person—Anne Hathaway.

"Why don't I see Anne Hathaway?" Emma Roberts asked while reporters snapped away.

Matthew gave a wave to the crowd before answering, "Christopher Nolan refused to have her on the film."

That incident in London early on had seriously soured Christopher Nolan's opinion of her. If Emma Roberts didn't have such an influential aunt, she wouldn't have been able to come to the premiere either.As for Anne Hathaway, her career was largely unaffected, but Christopher Nolan had no intention of ever working with her again.

Seeing Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy approaching the press area behind them, Matthew and Emma Roberts shared a silent understanding, leaving their spot and heading toward the interview section.

Unlike the quintessential all-American girl like her aunt, Julia Roberts, the petite Emma Roberts was more aligned with his personal aesthetic.

His mind drifted to what happened back in Canada, and leaning in slightly closer to Emma Roberts, he lowered his voice. "Emma," he asked, "have you been cold lately?"

Emma Roberts froze for a moment. How could it possibly be cold in July, with the Los Angeles sun scorching the city?

"Just because it isn't cold outside doesn't mean it can't be cold... inside," Matthew said, his voice full of meaning.

The meaning instantly clicked for Emma Roberts. A memory surfaced—a pleasant sensation of friction and warmth. She replied at once, "Inside... I think it might actually be a little cold."

Matthew smiled. "I'd be happy to help you warm up."

Emma Roberts had already made up her mind. "Okay," she agreed.

Matthew spotted a reporter waving him over. Lowering his voice, he said quickly, "I'll be waiting at the back entrance after the premiere."

Emma Roberts didn't answer, simply giving a small nod.

A female reporter and her cameraman approached him. According to the premiere's schedule, Matthew, as the male lead, was slated to give an interview.

"Mr. Horner, what would you say is the core idea of this film?" the reporter asked.

Matthew considered the question for a moment. "The essence of Inception is that dreams can be shared. Dreams are designed to be realistic, both visually and perceptually, so the dreamer exists within them, blissfully unaware that it's all just a dream. It's in this subconscious state that a person's deepest and most valuable secrets are exposed."

He paused to gather his thoughts before continuing. "The film's central premise is that an idea is like an incredibly resilient parasite; a trace of it will always exist somewhere in your mind. The notion that someone could invade your dreamspace and use that hyper-realistic environment to steal even your most personal ideas—that makes for a captivating narrative entry point."

The female reporter asked again, "What was it like collaborating with director Nolan?"

"It was magnificent! An absolutely amazing journey." Matthew was effusive in his praise for the film and for Christopher Nolan. "The film is a captivating, multi-layered thriller where anything can happen. But at its heart, it's about a protagonist who wants to uncover a long-buried truth and find his way home. The story itself is incredibly original—it's an experience no one has ever had before, let alone been able to imagine."

He smiled and said, "All of this made me incredibly excited to be a part of this film and to work with Director Nolan. He’s an absolute expert at crafting multi-layered stories and making them feel completely real to the audience."

Finally, Matthew made a point of shifting the focus squarely onto the director. "Nolan is an incredibly intelligent filmmaker! I feel unbelievably fortunate to have had the chance to work so closely with such a talented team. We spent a long time discussing the characters, their histories, and their relationships. Director Nolan encourages everyone's input, regardless of the size of their role. He wants each actor to truly merge with their character and contribute their own ideas, so the character and the actor really become one."

For an A-list star like him, forging a strong relationship with another commercial director on the rise was incredibly beneficial.

Besides, Matthew was impressed by the fact that the projects Christopher Nolan seemed to have in the pipeline—science fiction, war films, and the like—were perfectly aligned with his own career positioning.

Looking ahead, the Hollywood landscape was dominated by superhero films and remakes. He didn't take superhero roles, and the leads in the big franchises were already cast, which meant there weren't many original, A-list commercial projects available for him.

Working with Christopher Nolan was undoubtedly one of the best paths forward.

As he approached the sponsor backdrop for photos, Matthew spotted Christopher Nolan, with whom he’d always had a good relationship, and immediately went over to greet him.

"I was actually hoping you might appear in the next Dark Knight film." Nolan’s conversation inevitably turned to movies. "It’s not easy to find a convincing opponent for Batman, and you’d be the most compelling choice."

Matthew held up his hands. "You know I'm not interested in superhero roles." He laughed. "Besides, Chris, casting me as Bane at my salary would throw the whole film's budget out of whack."

Christopher Nolan nodded, "You're absolutely right."

He wasn't just a director but also a producer with his own production company, so he understood Matthew was right.

After a moment's thought, Christopher Nolan added, "I have a few more sci-fi films in my future plans, so I hope we'll have another chance to collaborate."

Great actors need great directors, and great directors need great actors. The power they generate when they come together is enormous.

"I hope we get the chance to work together again, too," Matthew replied calmly.

Some things didn't need to be said. Both men understood where the other stood on a future collaboration.

The film's magnificent, star-studded cast would ensure it reached a wide audience.

Just then, Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy walked up, and Matthew greeted them both with a hug.

"You really caused quite a stir in Rio de Janeiro," Michael Fassbender said, having clearly heard some juicy gossip. "I can't believe you didn't invite me and James!"

James McAvoy shook his head with a sigh. "So disappointing, Matthew!"

"What are you talking about?" Matthew asked, playing innocent.

He took a step back, looking them both up and down before deliberately changing the subject. "Are you two wearing matching outfits tonight?"

The black suits Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy were wearing were nearly identical in style.

"One of you is playing Professor X, the other is Magneto," Matthew teased. "It’s not like the characters are in love with each other, is it?"

He gave Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy a pointed look. "You two aren't actually dating, are you?"

Michael Fassbender slung an arm around his shoulders. "You're overthinking it. There's a whole forest in Hollywood waiting to be conquered!"

"Exactly!" James McAvoy chimed in. "With all the women around, we hardly have time to think about men."

Matthew couldn't help but laugh. Perhaps it was his influence, but both Michael Fassbender's and James McAvoy's love lives had become exceptionally rocky. They cycled through girlfriends one after another, and even James, who had been enthusiastically preparing for his engagement, had called it off for some unknown reason.

Among Hollywood's B-list stars, this pair had also earned a reputation as notorious playboys.

The cast posed for group photos in front of the sponsor wall, first by themselves and then with the event sponsors. Nearly twenty minutes passed before Matthew finally followed the others into the Chieftain's Stone Theatre.

There were no other big-budget films opening that weekend, and none of the movies already in theaters posed any real threat to "Inception."

"John Carter," released two weeks prior, was a textbook example of a weak debut. Half a month into its run, it had barely crossed the $30 million mark in North America. With its box office numbers plummeting, a total domestic gross of over $50 million was looking like an impossible dream.

"The Karate Kid," which had opened the previous weekend, performed well in its first week, but no one expected it to pose a threat to "Inception" as it entered its second.

As a major Hollywood blockbuster, "Inception" was a titan in every respect, from its production and promotion to its distribution.