Since meeting with Natalie Portman, Matthew hadn't become a mere observer. He and David Ellison had several meetings with the Wachowski siblings, who didn't avoid them. Through these discussions, Matthew realized that the Wachowskis weren't dead set on Brad Pitt. They were simply waiting for the best offer.
The siblings used him to hype up "Cloud Atlas," aiming to sell it at a high price. Matthew suspected they had ulterior motives when they first approached him. However, he didn't complain because he was also using the Wachowskis. After all, no one in Hollywood, not even someone with a good reputation like Charlize Theron, escaped scandal.
Yet, his and David Ellison's offers couldn't match Brad Pitt's. After Skydance Media committed to two projects, funds were indeed tight. David Ellison's money wasn't going to come in with the wind.
Other film companies also approached the Wachowskis, but no small company would invest nearly $100 million in a single project. The major studios wouldn't give the Wachowskis much creative freedom either. Frankly, the major studios were never short of projects.
Perhaps because Matthew's active approach made Brad Pitt's camp feel threatened, by late May, Brad Pitt's Plan B had reached a basic agreement with the Wachowskis and had signed a preliminary contract. Plan B would produce "Cloud Atlas," and Brad Pitt would star as the lead.
"I'm very disappointed with the Wachowskis. I've been working hard for 'Cloud Atlas' recently," Matthew said in a brief interview while preparing to attend a promotional event for Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End." "I'm very regretful about the current outcome..."
Under the protection of his bodyguards, he walked towards the venue, clearly not wanting to say more. Once in the backstage lounge of the media meeting, his angry expression vanished, replaced by a warm smile as he saw Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley already there.
"Hey, Depp." Matthew first hugged Johnny Depp and then turned to Keira Knightley, opening his arms. "Long time no see, Keira. You're as beautiful as ever."
Keira Knightley hugged him back. "You're still such a flirt."
Matthew ignored her comment and instead asked Johnny Depp, "How did your talks with Christopher Nolan's crew go?"
Johnny Depp shook his head slightly. "It fell through. They chose an Australian actor."
He frowned slightly and asked, "Did you give up on the Wachowskis' project?"
"Yeah..." Matthew spread his hands. "No choice. David Ellison and I are working on the 'Fast and Furious' sequels and can't come up with the $100 million the Wachowskis wanted. Without funding, the lead role naturally isn't mine."
Johnny Depp sighed. "That's too bad. Matthew, the Wachowskis are very talented. Their ideas are wild and creative, a rare genius in commercial directors."
Keira Knightley chimed in, "Depp is right. If I were still taking on commercial films, the Wachowskis would be among the directors I'd consider."
Matthew understood that the Wachowskis' creative and profound work indeed appealed to many actors. As Helen Herman put it, it seemed like another "Matrix." Based on his memories, the Wachowskis' style, and his experience in commercial films, Matthew was confident that the Wachowskis' projects were destined to flop repeatedly.
Their works might gain good reviews, but good reviews don't always equate to high profits. Even Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley thought the Wachowskis were geniuses, which didn't surprise Matthew at all.
Probably due to his frequent interactions with the Wachowskis, some nearly forgotten memories resurfaced. He remembered reading a gossip report and then looking up one of the Wachowskis' TV shows. He downloaded and skimmed through it.
Why download it? Because the description mentioned a particular group scene. Since he was fast-forwarding, he had forgotten the show's name and details long ago. He only recalled a group of protagonists using someone's superpowers to connect their minds in a wild scenario. The show got canceled...
Of course, "Cloud Atlas" wasn't without potential success. However, based on various factors, Matthew judged that the project was far more likely to be a failure.
Even so, this "pit" for Brad Pitt was a small one. Matthew knew he had to ensure Brad Pitt fell into another pit before "Cloud Atlas" was released.
A staff member came over, reminding them it was time to join the media meeting.
"Can't you see it yet?" Keira Knightley specially reminded Matthew as they walked to the stage. "The Wachowskis were just using you."
Matthew nodded lightly. "I know." He smiled, "It's not too late to know now."
Seeing that Matthew was clear-headed, Keira Knightley didn't say more.
The three arrived backstage, waited briefly, and then walked onto the stage under the host's introduction, vigorously promoting "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End."
Commercial films are a prime example of the saying "good wine needs no bush." Especially nowadays, without enough promotional effort, the chance of a film becoming a blockbuster is increasingly slim.
Matthew knew that "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" had consumed much of the fans' enthusiasm, and its quality wasn't as good as the first film. The box office for the third installment, "At World's End," wasn't very optimistic. It might not surpass "Dead Man's Chest," and its global box office might struggle to exceed $1 billion.
In this series, Matthew was only the lead actor, not even a nominal producer. He had no say in the post-production process. Besides watching, there was nothing he could do.
Of course, even if he had control over post-production, he couldn't surpass Jerry Bruckheimer and Gore Verbinski. Matthew was very self-aware.
Such promotional activities were routine for him. He had participated in many similar events before. There was nothing special about it, just making up stories and hyping up the film. Stories like almost being attacked overseas with Johnny Depp, or being friends with Keira Knightley instead of lovers.
Everyone knows that film crews can fabricate all sorts of amazing stories for promotional purposes.
The media meeting went smoothly, everything following the crew's plan. However, after the event, when Matthew was leaving, reporters blocked him again, asking about "Cloud Atlas."
"Is losing the bid for 'Cloud Atlas' a huge blow for you?" a young reporter asked loudly.
Matthew had to show the attitude and pride that a big Hollywood star should have in such situations.
"Let me tell you something." With a touch of pride, he said, "At 18, I slept on a mattress that someone had peed on. I dragged it out of a dumpster behind a motel. They threw away old mattresses every six months. Now I'm sitting here with you, talking about movies and my career. These memories remind me to be grateful, so I won't complain. This is heaven; everything is great."
He then turned and got into his car, heading to another promotional event.
With the summer blockbuster season approaching, it was the busiest and most important time of the year for a commercial star like Matthew. Compared to the awards season, the summer season was crucial for him.
Two hours later, Matthew was at the "Transformers" media promotion. Although just a voice actor, he easily stole the spotlight from the lead actor Shia LaBeouf and actress Megan Fox.
Due to producer Steven Spielberg being behind the scenes and Michael Bay's previous flop with "The Island," Matthew was the most media-focused person in the "Transformers" crew.
"Matthew, why did you choose to be in 'Transformers'?" This was a common question among reporters. Aside from the high pay for voice acting, the toy-based movie seemed to lack appeal.
Matthew replied naturally, "It's about memory, about childhood toys, about nostalgia. It's a chance to say goodbye to childhood toys." He turned to Michael Bay with a serious expression, "I thank Michael for giving me this opportunity."
The room fell silent, everyone watching Matthew. Shia LaBeouf's eyes seemed to blaze with anger. He never forgot what happened on the DreamWorks set. He glanced at Matthew with disgust and hatred, then at Megan Fox beside him with resentment and desire.
This flirty woman had eagerly jumped into bed with Matthew Horner!
Megan Fox's bright eyes also fell on Matthew, with a hint of pride. North America's young female heartthrob had been with her...
Michael Bay slightly turned towards Matthew, smiling at him. A few days ago, the crew had discussed a nostalgia-based promotional strategy, using Matthew's words to evoke memories in people.
As for the effectiveness, it depended on Matthew's prepared lines and performance.
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