In every city the film crew visited, Matthew was warmly welcomed by fans, and the media reports about him were predominantly positive. Even he himself began to feel as though his role as the Scorpion King had made him an overnight sensation across the United States.
However, Matthew was well aware of the reality that this was all part of a meticulously planned promotion by Helen Herman. By the time he arrived in New York, including the fees for Elena Boyar's smear campaign against Brendan Fraser, a substantial amount of money had been spent like water. His savings were nearly depleted.
Fortunately, the efforts bore fruit, as this was not baseless hype but built upon a genuinely well-received character.
At the event, Matthew saw a large number of his supporters, too many to have been hired, indicating that most were genuine fans.
Cote Square on Long Island was packed with countless fans, some even dressed as Anubis. However, the majority wore T-shirts emblazoned with the strong, fierce, and domineering Scorpion King, showing their love for the character.
Some even displayed banners reading, "What's 'The Mummy Returns'? I only remember the Scorpion King!"
"See, Andy," Sean Daniel stood on the terrace of a nearby building, speaking to a thirty-something Caucasian man, "This is the real situation. The Scorpion King is extremely popular, and T-shirts with its image have become a trend among a segment of fans."
Andy, the assistant to Philip Cleston, the head of production at Universal Studios, was effectively Cleston's eyes on the ground.
Sean continued, "This happens at almost every stop."
"That's exactly why Mr. Philip Cleston sent me here," Andy smiled. "This is more real than any media report or statistical data."
Sean didn't elaborate further. This wasn't a matter of pride but a business dispute, with the market having the final say.
As they sought refuge under a sun umbrella, given the difficulty in renting a suitable location in such a bustling commercial area, they had settled for an open-air café atop a not-so-tall building.
"Move aside!"
Inside the building, Brendan Fraser entered the makeup room to find his usual chair by the door occupied by Matthew, "That's my seat!"
Matthew ignored him, having just met with Helen Herman to finalize some matters.
"Didn't you hear me?" Brendan's frustration with Matthew had been building, "That's my seat!"
"Yours?" Matthew deliberately provoked, first looking at the chair and then at the makeup table before shrugging, "Sorry, I didn't see your name on it."
Brendan narrowed his eyes, "What are you trying to do, Matthew Horner?"
Matthew stood up and shrugged, "Just wanted to tell you something." Suddenly, he patted Brendan's shoulder, "I really dislike this gesture."
He snorted deliberately, "Don't act like the boss everywhere. Brendan, you're so last century! Haven't you realized? You're outdated."
Brendan was stunned as Matthew walked past him, his smug laughter echoing out of the makeup room.
Matthew didn't leave immediately but slowed down to gauge the effect of his provocation. Given Brendan's tendency to assert dominance, being openly mocked by a junior member of the crew, coupled with the accumulated frustrations, was bound to infuriate him.
For over ten days, Matthew had been subtly provoking Brendan without direct confrontation or challenging his status as the crew's lead.
A loud crash came from the makeup room, indicating something had fallen. Matthew didn't need to look back to know that Brendan was likely seething with rage.
On the nearby terrace, Andy and Sean's conversation flowed smoothly, reflecting the current situation of "The Mummy Returns."
The film's North American box office had initially soared past $100 million but was dragged down by worsening reviews, showing a trend of high opening but low continuation. Universal Studios had adjusted its expectations for the film's final North American gross, now hoping for no more than $230 million, a significant cut from the initial projection.
Internally, more people at Universal Studios were realizing that continuing the "Mummy" series might not be a good idea, given the diminishing returns on the franchise's popularity.
"Andy," Sean inquired, "when will the market research be completed?"
"Soon, it won't take much longer," Andy thought for a moment, "By Wednesday, the results should be in Mr. Philip Cleston's hands."
Sean nodded, knowing that Stephen Sommers' script was ready and just needed polishing. If Universal Studios green-lit the project, they could quickly move into actual planning.
The media and fans' positive reception of the Scorpion King character should also have reached Universal Studios, possibly easing potential resistance.
The only downside was Matthew Horner's lack of fame. Despite Brendan Fraser's criticisms for his mediocre performance, his star power was unmatched by Matthew.
Changing the lead? Sean shook his head. Despite different actors playing the Scorpion King across films, the risk of switching performers was too great, especially when no one seemed more suitable than Matthew at the moment.
As the event on the square was winding down, Andy noticed a commotion and asked, "What's happening over there?"
Sean also noticed and stood up to get a better view. The disturbance was clearly caused by a fight.
"It looks like a fight," Andy joined him.
Sean saw two people being separated by security, with journalists swarming around. One of the men was unfamiliar, but the other was unmistakably Brendan Fraser, involved in a conflict with a fan wearing a Scorpion King T-shirt.
"A conflict between Brendan Fraser and a fan?" Andy was incredulous, "Has he lost his mind?"
For a movie star to clash with fans supporting his film was scandalous.
The situation on the square was quickly controlled, and Sean made a call to gather more information. It turned out a fan had sought Brendan's autograph, but Brendan, displeased by the Scorpion King T-shirt, refused, leading to a verbal and then physical altercation.
"Why would he refuse to sign for a fan wearing a Scorpion King T-shirt?" Andy was puzzled.
"This isn't the first time," Sean sighed, suggesting Brendan's jealousy over the Scorpion King overshadowing him might be the cause.
By the time they got downstairs, the police had been called, and both parties were taken away for questioning. With witnesses all around, Brendan couldn't deny his involvement.
Sean knew the incident would cause a media uproar, but his efforts to bail out Brendan were not immediate. Brendan wasn't released from police custody until that evening.
As expected, the news spread quickly online and through traditional media, severely damaging Brendan's reputation.
Under pressure from Universal Studios and his agency, Brendan issued a public apology, but his popularity continued to wane.
"Now the situation is clear," Helen Herman told Matthew in a New York hotel suite. "I just heard from Universal Studios that they're very dissatisfied with Brendan Fraser and are negotiating with his agency. It's unlikely 'The Mummy' will have a sequel anytime soon."
Matthew curiously asked, "Did you arrange the incident on the square?"
Helen had only instructed him to provoke Brendan, not specifying further details.
"You don't need to know about that," Helen advised, suggesting it was time to focus on their next moves back in Los Angeles.
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