The richest actor in Hollywood.

In the meeting room of Angel Agency, Akiva Goldsman handed two identical comic books to Matthew and Helen Herman, saying, "My new project is an adaptation of a DC comic. Like the films we've worked on before, this one is also about heroes and redemption."

Matthew took the comic and glanced at it. The title read *Jonah Hex*.

The name was unfamiliar to him. Even though he had recently brushed up on many superhero characters due to the *Avengers* and *Justice League* universes, Jonah Hex was not one he had come across.

Helen Herman looked over at Matthew, who subtly shook his head, indicating his lack of interest. However, out of courtesy, he opened the comic and flipped through a few pages.

Given their successful collaborations on three previous films, they had a good relationship. Helen Herman didn't outright reject the offer but instead asked, "Akiva, can you share more details about the project?"

Akiva Goldsman immediately replied, "This film is another collaboration with Warner Bros. We've already confirmed two cast members." He looked pointedly at Matthew and added, "Megan Fox will play the female lead, and Michael Fassbender is set to play a supporting role."

Hearing the first name, Matthew wasn't particularly surprised. This type of commercial film was typical territory for someone like Megan Fox, known more for her looks than acting chops. However, the inclusion of Michael Fassbender as a supporting actor was unexpected.

But he didn't show any reaction.

"The director and budget haven't been finalized yet," Akiva Goldsman continued with a smile. "But if Matthew takes on the lead role, securing a budget of over $100 million won't be difficult."

Helen Herman expressed her uncertainty. "I'm not very familiar with the character of Jonah Hex," she admitted. "Akiva, is Jonah Hex a superhero?"

"Well..." Akiva Goldsman hesitated before nodding, "Yes, technically. Jonah Hex has even appeared in *Batman* comics."

Helen Herman quickly followed up, "I'm sorry, but Matthew doesn't take on superhero roles."

Matthew nodded in agreement. "Helen is right."

Akiva Goldsman frowned slightly and said, "Jonah Hex isn't your typical superhero. He has a non-traditional, anti-hero persona—independent, rebellious, and solitary—qualities that set him apart from other comic book heroes. I don't want to make this film just another blockbuster; I hope to give *Jonah Hex* its own unique personality. The antagonist will be a terrorist, with Jonah Hex as a sort of counter-terrorism expert, and the two will engage in a battle of wits and strength."

Helen Herman asked, "When are you planning to start filming and release the movie?"

"Summer 2010," Akiva Goldsman replied after a moment of thought. "Filming is likely to begin in the first half of next year."

Helen Herman adjusted her glasses calmly. "There's a scheduling conflict." She paused before revealing, "There's some news that hasn't been made public yet. Matthew has already signed on with Warner Bros. for Christopher Nolan's new project, which conflicts with your filming schedule."

Akiva Goldsman, who had hoped to secure Matthew to bolster the film's budget, was taken aback by this news. "In that case..."

Matthew added at the right moment, "Sorry, Akiva, I'm not interested in playing a comic book superhero, and I've promised Christopher Nolan that I would fully prepare for his new film."

Seeing that there was no way forward, Akiva Goldsman fell silent for a moment before sighing. "That's unfortunate."

Matthew responded sincerely, "We're all in the same industry, so there will be plenty of opportunities to work together in the future."

"True," Akiva Goldsman agreed. "We'll work together on another project when the time is right."

He knew very well that with Matthew's current status, no one could force him to take on a project he wasn't interested in.

After chatting for a bit longer, Akiva Goldsman took his leave.

After seeing him off, Matthew called Michael Fassbender, who confirmed that he was indeed set to appear in the film and had already signed a preliminary contract with Akiva Goldsman's team.

When Michael Fassbender learned that Akiva Goldsman had invited Matthew to play the lead role, he specifically advised Matthew to prioritize his own needs and not let Fassbender's involvement influence his decision.

Matthew straightforwardly told Michael Fassbender that he had already turned down the project.

Aside from the fact that he had no interest in playing a comic book superhero, the fact that he had no recollection of this particular film indicated that it wasn't something he should pursue lightly.

"You really don't have the availability," Helen Herman said to Matthew. "Your schedule is extremely tight. I'm currently negotiating with Paramount Pictures, and if all goes well, we'll sign the contract before September. You might have to start shooting *G.I. Joe* shortly after, and then you'll need to promote *Twilight*."

Her tone remained as calm as ever. "Next year, you'll need to make time to prepare for *Inception*. Christopher Nolan plans to shoot on location in Japan, France, Switzerland, the UK, and Egypt, among other countries. He's known for his preference for practical locations over green screen, so the shooting schedule could be very long—it wouldn't be surprising if it took over half a year."

Matthew nodded. "I understand."

Helen Herman continued, "You'll also need to participate in the promotion of *Fast & Furious 4*. If it meets our minimum box office expectations, we'll need to start preparing for the sequel immediately..."

Hearing all this, Matthew suddenly felt a bit overwhelmed. "It seems like I've created a lot of work for myself."

"Didn't you once tell Amanda?" Helen Herman reminded him of his peculiar theory. "Without a successful career, you wouldn't have beautiful actresses chasing after you."

Matthew shrugged. "It's true."

His status as a Hollywood star played a significant role in his ability to attract so many women. A prime example was Nina Dobrev, who continued to stay in touch with him. If it weren't for her lead role as Isabella Swan, would she be as eager to meet up and try out so many exciting things?

Helen Herman, having worked with Matthew for so many years, was used to his behavior by now.

"I suggest holding off on any more collaborations with Akiva Goldsman for the time being," Helen Herman shifted the conversation back to work. "The quality of *Hancock* was worse than I expected. Akiva Goldsman's track record..."

She shook her head slightly. "Let's wait and see how *Jonah Hex* performs before making any decisions."

"I understand." Matthew nodded lightly.

In some ways, he and Helen Herman were similar—both extremely self-centered and unwilling to take unnecessary risks with their careers.

The fan reaction to *Hancock* had been notably less enthusiastic than for *I Am Legend*.

Matthew didn't care much about critic scores, such as Rotten Tomatoes' freshness ratings, but he did pay close attention to scores that reflected market and fan opinions.

*Hancock*'s IMDb score was 7.2, its CinemaScore grade was "B+", and its Metacritic score was 63. These were the lowest ratings for any of his films in recent years.

However, for a summer blockbuster, *Hancock* was still considered a success. Fans remained supportive of Matthew, with praise for the film widespread on the internet.

"Packed with action and fresh ideas. First, he effortlessly lifts a car like a toy, then plays with fireworks in his trailer with a girl who's eager to meet him. Too bad he's a quick draw, and the girl, both scared and thrilled, makes an excuse to escape to the bathroom..."

Positive reviews for *Hancock* were abundant on social media.

Moreover, Matthew's fan support sites were mobilized, with screen fans showing up on forums and rating sites everywhere. Anywhere that *Hancock* was mentioned, there were praises to be found.

The blogs and social media accounts of critics who gave the film low scores were nearly flooded with fan comments.

"*Hancock* is a commercial film, first and foremost about entertainment. Even the homeless on the street know that."

"In terms of entertainment, the opening day box office speaks for itself. Who dares to call this a bad movie?"

"As for acting, this is a commercial film. What do you critics expect? Do you want a *Jurassic Park* dinosaur to recite Hamlet before opening its mouth? Should Batman perform a full range of emotions with his mask on and then win an Oscar for it? Should *American Pie* delve into social ethics? Let's be honest—while no one expected Oscar-worthy performances, Matthew's acting in this film is commendable, and the rest of the cast performed adequately as well."

"It's just a commercial film. What more do you want? If you're looking for highbrow art, you don't have to go to the cinema. No one is forcing you."

"As for the script and direction, these are the most outstanding aspects of the film, besides the lead actor. When you think of superheroes, what comes to mind? I think of a formula: the hero appears in the first half, the writers create all sorts of conflicts, and the last 15 minutes are a big showdown between good and evil, with lots of special effects and explosions. Then the audience packs up and leaves."

"But this movie completely subverts the superhero genre. At first glance, it seems like the film wants to portray a more humanized superhero, but by the end, it turns into a rather sad love story. Or maybe the filmmakers just managed to do a bit of both. Again, this is a commercial film,

 and by those standards, the plot is just right."

During this season, audiences go to commercial chain theaters for entertainment.

So, despite everything, *Hancock* still achieved impressive commercial success.

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