There was no avoiding it; the group was just too eye-catching.
Originally, the media reporters were busy interviewing the director, screenwriter, and Charlize Theron, but they quickly shifted their focus and swarmed toward Wayne and Jessica.
Even some film critics couldn't resist joining the excitement and followed the crowd.
"Wayne! This is your second time working with Jessica, right? Are you still pursuing her in this film? You keep casting her as the lead actress—do you have feelings for her?"
"Wayne! It's rumored this film has already grossed close to $40 million—any truth to that? After two box office hits in a row, some are calling you the next rising star, following Leonardo DiCaprio and Keanu Reeves. What do you think?"
"Wayne! We've heard your next movie is already…"
Thankfully, DreamWorks knew how to prioritize, understanding that the media were there to promote the film, not Wayne himself. So, before the screening started, the reporters didn't have much time to interview him.
Wayne simply wore a formulaic smile, brushed off the questions with a few non-committal answers, and managed to escape the crowd's harassment.
As the lights dimmed and the movie began, everyone's attention shifted back to the screen. After all, they were paid to be there!
"Hey, superstar, how does it feel to be in the spotlight?" Charlize Theron, who had purposely swapped seats to sit next to Jessica, teased in a whisper.
"Not great. I make movies for fun. Dealing with reporters and fans is just too much of a hassle," Wayne replied quietly, glancing at her.
Of course, making money was another reason, but he didn't need to say that.
Charlize rolled her eyes silently, feeling like she had just asked a stupid question.
"So, Mr. Movie Star who only makes films as a hobby, are you interested in coming over for a drink tonight? You'll be heading to Europe soon, right?"
As she spoke, Charlize glanced at Jessica, but Jessica, as if she hadn't heard a thing, kept her sweet smile, completely ignoring the interaction.
It didn't matter to Jessica if Wayne went to Charlize's place tonight. After all, she was the one living in Wayne's mansion, and he had already "taken care of her" the previous night. If it weren't for today's premiere, she and Mia could've slept in all day!
So, her mindset was quite peaceful.
"Yeah, the contract clearly states that Jessica and I are only promoting *Happy Death Day* for up to a week after its official release. So, around the 8th of next month, I should be flying to Switzerland. You'll be on set by then too, right?"
"That depends. I'm not as confident as you are. If *Return to Glory* does well at the box office, I might have to juggle both."
Hearing *Return to Glory* made Wayne want to laugh.
In this world, *Return to Glory* was still set to release on October 29th, just two days before *Happy Death Day.*
He estimated that the box office results would be similar to his past life, if not worse. This time, *Happy Death Day* would be a formidable competitor during the Halloween season.
"Honestly, I don't know what Fox is thinking, releasing a sports drama during Halloween, traditionally a time for horror movies!" Wayne couldn't help but complain.
"As I understand it, Fox's distribution team analyzed the changing demographics of Halloween audiences in recent years and found that teenagers now make up a larger share. Plus, with big commercial films being released before and after Halloween, they decided to release *Return to Glory* at this time," Charlize quietly explained.
"How's the test screening going? It should have started by now, right?" Wayne asked.
"Yeah, it started a couple of days ago. Word is both the reviews and the box office are looking good," Charlize said, a smile creeping onto her face.
But Wayne couldn't help feeling a bit surprised.
Good reviews for *Return to Glory* made sense, but strong box office numbers didn't seem right.
Then he realized why.
Test screenings often target specific audiences. Good results there usually mean the studio is good at selecting the right theaters and viewers. But how the film performs once it's released widely is a whole different story.
After all, plenty of Hollywood films had glowing test screening numbers, only to flop once they hit the box office.
Still, he didn't want to dampen Charlize's mood right now. Otherwise… well, would there be any point in going over to her place later?
After all, it had only been a few days, but he missed this South African beauty, whose looks were at their peak, and who had a long-lasting appeal.
So, Wayne changed the subject, chatting casually with Charlize while watching the movie.
Meanwhile, Mia and Jessica, having confirmed no one else was watching, closed their eyes and dozed off.
At that moment, they couldn't help but envy Hannah, who got to stay home and sleep in.
But that was one of the prices of being a producer, of being a star.
In contrast, the audience, journalists, and critics who hadn't yet seen the movie were completely absorbed in the film.
Time travel wasn't a particularly novel concept anymore; it had been around since the early days of sci-fi films.
But a time loop? That was different.
Reliving the same day over and over, getting killed in increasingly creative ways by a mysterious killer, struggling through endless cycles of death and despair—this was a fresh idea.
Especially with James Wan directing, the film's biggest criticism—that it wasn't scary enough—had been greatly improved.
The tension and suspense in the film surpassed typical slasher flicks by at least a tier or two, drawing every viewer deep into the story's relentless pace. Some found themselves sweating and gasping for air, only then realizing they hadn't taken a breath in a long time.
Couple that with a stellar cast, including a mesmerizing performance from Oscar-winning actor Anthony Hopkins.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that this enhanced version of *Happy Death Day* was approaching classic status. Otherwise, why would a legendary director like Steven Spielberg, who headed DreamWorks' film division, have agreed to pay $39.5 million for an independent horror film?
It's not like they were throwing money around for fun.
Yet, the person who benefited the most from the film wasn't Wayne, who made a fortune selling the movie, nor Jessica, who was on the verge of becoming a B-list star. It was James Wan, who served as both the screenwriter and director.
(End of chapter)