The richest actor in Hollywood.

A long convoy of black Mercedes sedans made its grand entrance to the Hollywood Highlands Center, patiently waiting in line for entry. Warner Bros. had gone all out for tonight's premiere, hosting it at the Kodak Theatre. Thousands of fans packed the area outside the theater barriers, screaming with excitement as they clutched their cameras, hoping to capture the stars of the night.

They wouldn't be disappointed. A parade of Hollywood celebrities arrived: Johnny Depp, revered by fans of the *Pirates* franchise; Keanu Reeves, once the savior of the world; Keira Knightley, the queen of pirates; Robert Downey Jr., the face of Iron Man; and Charlize Theron, who descended like a queen herself.

But despite their talent, charm, and star power, they were not the main attraction tonight. The fans who were packed behind the barriers, refusing to leave, weren't there just for them!

When Matthew Horner stepped onto the red carpet alone, the crowd initially fell silent, only to erupt in a deafening roar seconds later. It was clear to anyone who was watching who the fans were truly here for, willing to go to any lengths to show their devotion.

The other stars still shone brightly, but tonight, tonight belonged to Matthew.

He was back! Matthew Horner had returned with his latest film after a six-month hiatus!

For the fans lining the red carpet, especially for die-hard supporters like Felice Beretta and Kristin, tonight was a celebration!

Many of the fans were there because of the efforts of the fan club's support site. They knew they had played a role in organizing this premiere, and more importantly, they knew that Matthew was aware of their involvement.

It was a joy for them to work for their idol, to be part of something for Matthew. Just the thought of it filled them with happiness.

Now, they stood among countless other fans, joining Matthew Horner and the entire film crew in this triumphant return!

The invited celebrities quickly walked down the red carpet, but they seemed to understand their role as supporting players. Even Johnny Depp was content to play second fiddle on the red carpet tonight.

Everyone knew that the stars of this premiere were two people: Matthew Horner and Charlize Theron.

Charlize Theron led the way on the red carpet, with Matthew following behind.

As Charlize Theron stepped into the interview zone, Matthew was just beginning his walk down the red carpet.

Their presence, one after the other, sent the atmosphere into a frenzy.

Flashes from cameras lit up the sky, turning the darkening evening into something akin to daylight. The rapid clicking of shutters drowned out even the frenzied shouts of the fans.

Felice Beretta stood on the outer edge of the red carpet viewing area, raising her camera high and standing on tiptoes to capture every moment. She wanted to capture all of Matthew's movements and later upload them to the support website for all the fans to enjoy.

"Matthew looks especially handsome tonight!"

Because she would soon be entering the theater, Felice hadn't squeezed into the sides of the red carpet, choosing instead to watch from afar. Watching Matthew walk by, she said to Kristin, "Tonight's premiere is sure to be a success!"

Kristin nodded eagerly in agreement, "If the premiere is successful, the movie will be a hit!"

Just as Matthew was about to reach the photo zone on the red carpet, a unified chant began somewhere in the crowd, quickly spreading until the entire audience was chanting together.

"Matthew! Matthew! Matthew! Matthew..."

The chant, initially disorganized, quickly became synchronized, loud enough to be heard across the sky and perhaps even into Mexico.

"Matthew! Matthew..."

Every camera captured this incredible scene. One female reporter, watching in awe, muttered to herself, "Matthew's popularity is truly at the top of the industry."

Despite the fans' fervent chanting, Matthew maintained his usual pace and demeanor, walking down the red carpet with his typical confident stride.

Standing tall, with strong steps, his short hair perfectly styled, and exuding a powerful presence, Matthew entered the interview zone in his usual commanding fashion.

Interviews were inevitable, but he kept his responses brief, only answering a few routine questions.

Though Matthew was the last member of the cast to walk the red carpet, he wasn't the final guest. After he entered the interview zone, Nina Dobrev, Lily Collins, and Liam Hemsworth followed, walking down the red carpet.

This was an effort to build anticipation for *Twilight*, set to release in November, by capitalizing on the *Hancock* premiere.

Not only did the three lead actors walk the red carpet, but Sophia Coppola also edited a segment that would be shown as an ad before *Hancock*.

To make *Twilight* a hit, relying solely on book fans wouldn't suffice. Much like superhero films couldn't rely solely on comic book fans, a broader appeal was necessary for a movie to become a blockbuster.

It was getting late, and many activities were still planned. Matthew quickly finished his interviews and headed to the photo area to pose with the cast, crew, and sponsors, following the usual premiere routine.

Afterward, Matthew sought out Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley, chatting with his friends and confirming that neither planned to leave Los Angeles anytime soon. They agreed to have a party at the estate after the Independence Day holiday to thank everyone who came to support him.

As Matthew made his way into the theater, someone caught up with him from behind.

"Hey, Matthew."

Hearing the familiar voice, Matthew turned to see Lily Collins, dressed in a white cocktail dress, walking up to him.

Matthew stopped to let Lily catch up, then walked alongside her. "Who picked out your dress? It's beautiful."

"My mom," Lily Collins replied as she walked beside him, complaining, "I called you to help me pick a dress, but you wouldn't come."

Matthew shrugged. "I didn't have time. I just got back from Australia a few days ago."

He had been busy with the *Hancock* press tour, traveling to many major cities, not just in North America but around the world.

"Fine," Lily Collins said with a playful smile. "I'll let you off this time."

They were running late, and most people had already entered the theater. Matthew decided to skip the VIP lounge and head straight to the VIP entrance to the theater. Just as they were about to enter the hallway, another girl caught up with them from behind.

"Good evening, Matthew."

Nina Dobrev glanced at Lily Collins but didn't bother greeting her.

Lily Collins rolled her eyes and let out a soft huff.

"Good evening, Nina," Matthew replied with a smile and a nod.

Nina Dobrev walked up and stood on the other side of Matthew. "Let's go in together."

"Please," Matthew said, gesturing for her to go ahead.

The three entered the VIP hallway together and soon reached the entrance to the theater. Before entering, Nina Dobrev gave Lily Collins another glance, then leaned in close to Matthew and whispered, "I'll be waiting for you tonight."

Matthew didn't respond, and Nina Dobrev smiled at him before entering the theater.

"What did she say?" Lily Collins asked, curious.

Matthew shook his head. "Nothing."

Lily Collins huffed again. "Even if you don't tell me, I can guess. Rumors about you two are everywhere."

Matthew wasn't too concerned. "We're just two adults."

"Fine," Lily Collins said dismissively, waving her hand as she walked ahead. "I'm not going to talk to you about it. I'm leaving."

Having followed Matthew's career for years, Lily Collins knew all too well about his playboy reputation.

Matthew entered the theater shortly after. Since Nina Dobrev had returned from filming *Twilight*, the two had been spending time together, often meeting up at night to explore new gymnastics techniques and improve certain moves for practical use.

As they had agreed, Nina Dobrev didn't expect any emotional attachment. She promised to be available whenever Matthew needed her.

Matthew had no reason to pretend to be a gentleman and wasn't about to be coy with Nina Dobrev.

He didn't care what others thought, and neither did Nina Dobrev.

As Matthew made his way to the front row, he ran into a familiar face.

"Hey, Matthew."

Charles Roven, seated near the aisle in the third row, stood up to greet him. Matthew shook his hand and politely said, "Thanks for coming to my premiere."

Charles Roven smiled and replied, "No need for formalities between us."

Although Matthew had declined the role in *Green Lantern*, Warner Bros.' attitude toward him hadn't changed. They still planned to collaborate with him on Christopher Nolan's upcoming film, *Inception*.

"I've seen the internal screening of this film. It's excellent," Charles Roven said with some regret. "It's a shame you wouldn't take on a superhero role."

Matthew smiled and joked, "If this film wasn't an original and was based on a superhero comic, I would've turned it down too." Remembering their previous conversation, he casually asked, "How's it going on your end? Have you found a suitable lead actor yet?"

"Not yet," Charles Roven replied. "Warner Bros. and DC Comics are considering tweaking the character. The casting process has been postponed for a while, but they plan to finalize it before the end of the year."

"Oh," Matthew nodded, not pressing further.

Charles Roven continued, "After our last meeting, I made some suggestions. After conducting some research, Warner Bros. and DC Comics are now leaning toward using a Black actor for the role of Green Lantern."

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