Chapter 484: Thie is So Exciting

The looming premiere of "John Wick" drew nearer, teased by the crew's release of a new trailer. This trailer, unveiling the core plot element that triggers Martin's character, Jonathan, into a vengeful rampage, a slain dog, left behind by his late wife.

The Russians, having had a hand in the dog's demise, stoked a fervor within Martin's performance.

Martin, riding high on popularity, ensured every news byte magnetized attention. Under the YouTube trailer, a top comment swiftly rose to prominence: "They shouldn't have touched Martin's dog!"

This canine-centric discourse brewed a storm online, luring not just Martin's devotees and film enthusiasts but a fresh contingent, dog-loving families.

In the United States, dogs often transcend pets to become cherished family members. This plot turn, fueled by a canine loss, diverged sharply from typical action movie tropes, perfectly aligning with internet culture.

Jessica's astute marketing team swiftly capitalized on the trend, unveiling a striking marketing angle: "A dog-induced bloodbath!"

Online fervor erupted.

"How heartless to harm such cute dogs! Martin's response was on point!"

"Don't they know attacking a dog is an attack on its owner? Who dares to harm Martin's dog? Have they not heard of the Coke God of War's reputation?"

A witty retort followed: "Those who've glimpsed the formidable Coke God of War have surely reported to Satan in the depths of hell."

Subsequently, Warner Bros. organized a select screening.

Media luminaries, theater honchos, and a fortunate bunch of movie buffs savored an early peek at the film.

Among the fortuitous attendees stood Pablo, a fan captivated more by Martin's films than the star himself.

Assured of quality entertainment, Pablo's interest in "John Wick" was piqued by the Santa Monica Pier incident.

Throughout the screening, Pablo remained riveted, his attention unwavering, wholly engrossed in the action sequences, blissfully disregarding narrative intricacies.

The riveting action scenes blinded Pablo to the film's dramatic nuances.

Beside him, a middle-aged man muttered, "There's yet to be a Hollywood movie with action as slick as Vaseline, just like Martin's."

Pablo agreed wholeheartedly, "Yes, indeed! The action scenes are gripping. Most are long takes, showcasing Martin's seamless execution!"

Suddenly recalling the Vaseline analogy, Pablo subtly shifted away, worried it might indeed feel as slick as the oily substance. The middle-aged man added, "In other action flicks, to mask erratic movements, they splice scenes, relying on rapid cuts. Michael Bay's films are emblematic…"

Though apprehensive, Pablo confidently responded, "Martin's proficiency allows for flawless long takes."

The middle-aged man offered his card, "I'm a reporter from 'Movie World' magazine. Mind if I quote you in my report?"

It was evident that the man was a pro. Pablo nodded, affirming, "Absolutely. I've heard some critics tend to look down on action flicks, but from my perspective, this film is refreshingly cool. It's the epitome of an action classic!"

The middle-aged man grinned, agreeing, "I concur."

Exiting the test screening, Pablo lingered, engrossed in conversations with fellow movie enthusiasts like himself.

"Martin's action sequences are top-notch!"

"His horseback riding and hand-to-hand combat scenes are so realistic, just what an action movie should be!"

"Martin's simply awesome!"

Driving home after the preview, Pablo rushed to his computer, logging onto IMDB to share his thoughts. Surprisingly, there were no official reviews under the "John Wick" column yet.

In haste, he penned, "Just watched the 'John Wick' preview, real dog-driven chaos! It's not some filthy concoction, all the best moments are tenfold in the film! Martin's action is as precise as shattering a Russian spy's head with a Coke bottle at Santa Monica Pier!"

"This movie's phenomenal! Martin's action sequences in long shots are beyond anything Hollywood's seen lately! No gabby villains, no easy escapes! When Martin acts, it's decisive, no loose ends!"

Pablo, an enthusiastic moviegoer rather than a professional critic, expressed his excitement through these words, quickly gaining hundreds of likes and climbing to the top of the comment section.

Test screenings of the film received rave reviews, hailed by theater managers as highly entertaining and commercially viable.

At a reception, Cinemark's Philip discussed the film with Daniel from Warner Bros., acknowledging, "Despite the original film's nature and its R-rating, I underestimated its potential. March's off-season release is an opportunity to boost performance."

"I'll need another 300 copies a week before the release," Philip requested.

Daniel agreed but insisted, "The film's quality assures success. I need all Cinemark theaters to maintain 'John Wick's' schedule for at least four weeks!"

Philip, with years of industry experience, readily agreed, "Cinemark won't alter the schedule within four weeks!"

Smiling, Daniel promised, "I'll have the agreement drawn up."

Once Philip left, Gray, representing Imperial Cinema, approached Daniel, praising Martin's film as a mark of quality.

"Working with Martin has made my job easier. His lead guarantees success," Daniel chuckled.

Gray suggested, "Martin's 'John Wick' guarantees a 60% screening rate."

Daniel emphasized, "Across the board."

After a pause, Gray proposed, "For Martin's next film, directed by Nolan, could Warner Bros. secure an exclusive screening contract with Monarch?"

This signified that the film couldn't screen elsewhere, prompting Daniel to propose a staggering deal, "How about a 7:3 split?"

"That's impossible!" Gray almost shouted, emphasizing, "Remember, it's an original sci-fi movie!"

"Let's not forget, it's an original sci-fi movie starring Martin Davis and helmed by Christopher Nolan!" Daniel reiterated.

Clearly unable to settle the exclusive agreement, they swiftly shifted gears.

For "John Wick," Imperial Cinemas pledged robust support.

AMC swiftly reached out to Daniel, requesting additional film copies.

"John Wick" was confirmed to open in around 3,800 theaters across North America, exceeding "The Matrix 2"'s 3,603, setting a new R-rated release record.

The current top North American opening for an R-rated Hollywood film, held by the latter, stands at $91.77 million.

This being a sequel, not an ordinary follow-up, crossing the $50 million mark in the opening weekend would define it as a blockbuster.

In Martin's previous life, Cameron's "Avatar" grossed over $77 million in its North American debut.

Original films often face bias from distributors and theaters in Hollywood.

Promptly, the crew and Martin commenced intensive pre-screening promotional tours, shuttling between North America and Europe.

Roadshows, interviews, talk shows, the promotion followed conventional models, despite Martin almost sacrificing himself for the best publicity.

Warner Bros. ingeniously blended Martin's Santa Monica Pier footage with snippets from the film's trailer, a move lauded by netizens for its seamless integration.

The theme of "dog-induced homicides" gained momentum, attracting more meme enthusiasts to the discussion.

ABC TV's flagship morning show, "Good Morning America," invited Martin as a guest to delve into Jonathan's connection with his dog Daisy.

Host Diane Sawyer queried, "In the trailers and promotional material, did your character go on a rampage due to a dog?"

"Not me, but Jonathan, the film's protagonist!" Martin corrected, explaining, "Daisy was left by Jonathan's late wife, Helen. She was Jonathan's emotional anchor, 1a symbol of his new life after quitting the assassin life for Helen. Daisy's demise shattered his peace, triggering his quest for vengeance!"

Not divulging spoilers, Martin articulated, "Daisy symbolizes Jonathan's normalcy; her death upheaved his tranquil life, setting him on the path of revenge!"

March drew near its end. Following an exhaustive promotional tour, the crew congregated in New York, gearing up for the "John Wick" premiere.