Opener

On one side, there was the superhero film adapted from comics, charging forth with the potential to dominate, but it had unexpectedly been engulfed in a controversy whirlwind, casting a shadow over its future. On the other side, there was a B-grade film series with a weak foundation that had suddenly risen to prominence among the nouveau riche, eager to achieve new heights but lacking confidence. Amidst the storm of news, it had gained significant benefits and its prospects were looking up.

Just a month ago, mainstream media had been optimistic about the box office prospects of "Thor", even suggesting it might reach a staggering one hundred million dollars during its opening weekend. "Fast 5" didn't seem to stand on the same level, and this mismatched contest appeared to have no suspense. But now, the winds had changed. Would the outcome indeed shift?

Magazines led by Variety believed that "Thor" would still emerge as the winner of the opening battle. They predicted that the film would gross between $93M and $98M during its opening weekend, still retaining the possibility of breaking $100M. However, compared to its earlier grand momentum, its pace was inevitably affected.

The direct reference point for this data was "Iron Man" in 2008. As the first installment of the series, it had faced a similar situation. Robert Downey Jr., who had been quiet for many years, had made a comeback that had captured everyone's attention. The final box office figures for the opening weekend had been $98M, and it had gone on to earn a remarkable $318M in North America, demonstrating an exceptional performance.

Now it was the turn of "Thor". Mainstream media generally believed it could inherit the excellent tradition of "Iron Man", with a North American total box office in line with the $300M mark.

On the other hand, Variety also believed that "Fast 5" would gross around $75M to $80M during its opening weekend.

Two years ago, the fourth installment of the series had rebooted in the first week of April 2009, grossing $70M during its opening weekend, which had been quite astounding. Unfortunately, due to negative reviews affecting its long-term performance, the North American cumulative box office had only reached $155M. However, thanks to an outstanding overseas box office performance of $200M, Universal Pictures had still made a decent profit, leading to discussions about the fifth installment.

From a professional perspective, the media storm of "Renly vs. Chris" appeared to be intense, but its ability to translate into box office figures was quite limited.

Firstly, both of these individuals were newcomers in the acting industry with limited influence. If it had been a "stunt double" leak and if there had been a rivalry between Renly and Natalie, the situation might have been different. Secondly, Renly was only the third lead, and his impact on the box office was weak. Thirdly, as an actor, Renly's personal charm was still unknown to the public, and his appeal couldn't turn the topic into box office numbers; he was no Tom Cruise.

Professionals believed that the fifth installment of the series would see a minor increase in its opening performance, but its audience base was still too weak, and the influence of the news was merely a spectacle. Substantial benefits were limited, and it would be challenging for the opening numbers to surpass the $80M threshold. Ultimately, the North American cumulative box office was expected to land at $180M, with hopes of reaching $200M.

Objectively speaking, Variety, as one of the most authoritative magazines in the industry, provided a relatively objective and fair prediction. They didn't underestimate "Fast 5" or overestimate "Thor". Based on past performances, the overall landscape, and recent developments, they reached this conclusion. According to their analysis, "Thor" would win this year's summer box office opening battle with a slight advantage and would secure a big victory in North American total box office and global total box office, relying on its strong fan base.

Strictly speaking, just a month ago, the showdown between "Fast 5" and "Thor" was nothing more than a gimmick. There wasn't much attention, and almost no one believed these two films could compete on the same level, especially when compared to the clash between "Harry Potter" and "Captain America". It seemed quite lackluster.

Now, the fact that Variety had reached this conclusion was indeed remarkable. Most of North America's major media outlets also agreed with Variety's viewpoint, making it the mainstream opinion.

However, there were still a few media outlets that believed "Fast 5" might unleash more energy during its opening weekend, and the opening numbers of "Thor" might be lower, making the outcome more closely contested and exciting. But they had to admit that Variety's analysis was reasonable, and this seemed to be the overall trend.

Yet, what made the opening battle so captivating was not just the rivalry between the two movies. It also transcended the competition between Paramount and Universal Pictures, offering a window into the box office trends of superhero films for the summer of that year. After all, this was the first time, following the rise of comic book adaptations, that four and a half similar films were simultaneously appearing in the same summer season. "Transformers" could only be considered half of one. "Thor" as the vanguard leading the charge held strategic significance.

To put it mildly, as time drew near, all eyes in the United States were focused on the opening battle. Amidst the bustling atmosphere, April 27th had arrived!

April 29, 2011, was a Friday. It was the last weekend of April and also the first weekend of May. Strictly speaking, it was the last weekend of the spring season and the final weekend before the arrival of the summer season. The next week, the grand stage of the summer season would unfold, with various contenders battling it out amidst the smoke and fire.

Based on past trends, this was the calm before the storm. The North American market during this week would be relatively quiet. In contrast, the media would be relatively lively, with a flurry of news continuously heating up the upcoming summer season. Even the theaters were prepared, eagerly anticipating the explosive start of the summer season the following week.

However, this year was somewhat different. On April 27th, or more precisely, on April 25th, Monday, across the entire North American continent with Hollywood as its epicenter, a buzz had quietly begun to spread. Countless media reporters flocked to Hollywood, and online discussions were at an all-time high. Movie enthusiasts were eager and excited.

Because on April 27th, "Fast 5" would hold a grand and solemn premiere at the Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles! The war had already begun. Who would have the last laugh? How would this showdown conclude? What impact would the outcome have on the upcoming summer season?

Expectations ran high.

As a seasoned talent agent, Andy Rogers naturally understood the significance of this opening battle. The initial choice of "Fast 5" had been to allow Renly to dip his toes and assess his performance in commercial cinema while also increasing his name recognition and visibility. Everything was unfolding according to plan. Even before the movie had premiered, the name "Renly Hall" had already spread widely. This was a good thing.

However, at this moment, Andy was torn between anticipation and worry. Every time he thought about the recent chaos, he felt a throbbing pain in his temples.

Chris Hemsworth was Renly's former roommate, and he knew it. He also knew about the disagreements between Chris and Renly. Furthermore, Chris's agent, Morgan Fisher, had intervened in the auditions for "Horrible Bosses", and he knew that too. Fisher had even attempted to connect with Renly, only to face rejection. But the fact that Chris had stolen Renly's script and successfully secured the role of Thor? That was something he had no clue about!

When the news broke, Andy had been completely caught off guard. Even though he had weathered numerous storms, he couldn't help but feel his heart race. But Renly remained surprisingly calm, seemingly unaffected by it all. Thinking about it, Andy felt a pang of frustration. His cardiovascular system wasn't the best, and now it had to endure this sudden shock? It was truly...

Taking a deep breath, he pushed aside the chaotic thoughts in his mind and regained his composure. Andy began giving instructions, "Everything for today's premiere has been arranged..." His gaze shifted from the towering palm tree outside the car window to Renly, then his voice abruptly trailed off, leaving him breathless.

Renly leaned against the back seat of the car, his eyes gently closed, indulging in a moment of relaxation. The car window was slightly ajar, allowing sunlight and a gentle breeze to caress his face, outlining the contours of his features. He appeared serene, at ease, as if he weren't on his way to the premiere with a crowd waiting for him but heading to a sunny, breezy vacation in Malibu.

A lump formed in Andy's throat, and he chuckled silently. This was Renly—always composed and graceful, unruffled even when facing an impending crisis, displaying a maturity and wisdom beyond his years. So, even in the face of the media's relentless bombardment or the sudden news storm, he could handle it with ease. Naturally, even in the eye of the premiere's storm, he could simply close his eyes and calmly rest.

Andy suddenly realized that he didn't need to go over those instructions. For instance, he had already informed Universal Pictures' publicity team, and today's premiere wouldn't encounter any issues. Moreover, he had already spoken to Universal Pictures' management, and Vin Diesel would definitely not cause any trouble today...

The words were at the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them all. "Renly?" Andy called out again, continuing without waiting for Renly's response, because he knew Renly could hear him, "I genuinely think you should hire a manager. In a while, I'll provide you with a list of candidates, and then you can add some of your own and choose one."

If Renly were in Los Angeles, it would be manageable. He could appear promptly in case of unexpected situations. But Renly was in New York, and Andy knew that no matter how he persuaded him, Renly wouldn't agree to come to Los Angeles. Therefore, having a manager became even more important. Nathan alone wasn't enough.

Silence still hung in the air. Andy, however, remained patient, quietly waiting. After about three seconds, Renly spoke again, "... Alright, I understand."

Andy nodded and once more looked out the car window. As they took the turn, the spacious street suddenly narrowed, and their line of sight was filled with people. A sea of people.