After finishing filming American Sniper, Matthew participated in Hollywood's Women's March in February, held mainly in West Hollywood. Many Hollywood celebrities attended to support this feminist movement. The march's theme was "Equality, Unity, and Justice," a message that was intentionally moderate and avoided any radical slogans.
Hollywood's high profile helped spread this slogan nationwide, inspiring similar marches for women's rights across many U.S. cities. The National Women's Union also passed a resolution to organize a large-scale annual march for women's rights each January or February.
This first event was named the Inaugural National Women's March.
As a well-known ally to women, Matthew was fully supportive. His years of advocacy work had built him a global reputation as a social activist, and he sincerely supported several of the movement's messages, such as equal rights for women in all areas.
In Hollywood, where relationships are often mutual, this spirit of equality was nothing new. Hollywood was arguably the trailblazer of the feminist movement, evident in the high number of women who pursued relationships just as openly as men did.
The women's movement in Hollywood was making waves, momentarily overshadowing the upcoming Oscars.
The only disappointment was that despite attending the march with Margot Robbie, Matthew hadn't made any significant headway in his relationship with her. He could sense that while she was open to friendship, anything more intimate was off the table for now. The thought of putting in extra effort to court her crossed his mind, but it had been so long since he'd actively pursued anyone.
He joked to himself, "No, I can't just whisk her away, dress her as Harley Quinn, and have a scene out of a comic book." He reminded himself, "I'm a man of principles and boundaries."
There was plenty of work on Matthew's plate, so he quickly moved on, putting Margot Robbie out of his mind for the time being to focus on his film projects.
Matthew and Bella Anderson spent two days at Warner Brothers, finalizing the promotional campaign for The Hunger Games. The film's advertisement had premiered at the Super Bowl in early February and was set to hit theaters in mid-April, with its promotional blitz to begin after the Oscars.
Warner Brothers also secured a spot for Jennifer Lawrence as a presenter at the Oscars.
Matthew would also attend the Oscars as part of Paramount Pictures' promotional strategy for G.I. Joe: Retaliation, a Hasbro toy adaptation slated for a July release. As the lead actor, Matthew was obliged to participate in Paramount's promotional activities.
Though the Oscars' viewership had been declining, its audience still averaged over 25 million, making it a valuable promotional platform. To increase revenue and combat falling viewership, the Academy had introduced a dedicated segment for film commercials during the ceremony, starting the previous year. Unsurprisingly, the cost of advertising during this segment rivaled that of the Super Bowl.
The Academy's actions underscored that the film industry could no longer pretend to separate itself from the reality of commercialism.
Apart from his commitment to Paramount for promoting G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Matthew also wanted to support his friend Michael Fassbender, who had been nominated for Best Actor. Although winning was a long shot, there was always a chance that the Academy voters might be tired of Harvey Weinstein's notorious lobbying tactics.
After receiving his Oscars invitation, Matthew met with James Wan to discuss Insidious, which was nearing completion. James assured him that the film would be ready for its Halloween release.
On set, Matthew ran into Nicolas Cage.
"I really appreciate what you did for me," Cage said, grateful for Matthew's rare gesture of support. "You remind me a lot of myself in my younger days."
Nicolas quickly added, "I mean no disrespect, of course—I just feel like we get along well."
Matthew smiled and reassured him. "No worries, Nicolas. Sofia and I are very close friends."
The kind of friends who could spend an entire night together, discussing life and dreams.
Nicolas Cage chuckled. "Still, Matthew, thank you for your advice. It's helped me get my life somewhat back on track."
Not one to stand on ceremony, Matthew nodded. "This is a franchise, Nicolas. Let's hope we can work together long-term."
"Absolutely," Nicolas replied. "I'm looking forward to it."
On Matthew's recommendation, Sofia Coppola had suggested to Nicolas to explore opportunities abroad, leading him to work with a film company in Asia. He had already signed on for a historical film there, with a seven-figure paycheck. Since the film wouldn't receive wide release in North America, any negative reception would have minimal impact on his Hollywood career.
This setup was ideal for Cage. He could earn substantial money while keeping any potential backlash contained, allowing him to focus on Hollywood as his primary market. In fact, he was already considering a second film there, despite the script's poor quality—it paid handsomely, after all, so quality wasn't a priority.
Being a Hollywood veteran, Nicolas Cage understood that it was rare to find someone who would lend a helping hand in difficult times. Since he'd hit a rough patch, Matthew was one of the few outside his family who had genuinely offered him support.
After chatting with Nicolas, Matthew went to see the film's lead actress, Vera Farmiga. Bella Anderson had signed her on for a three-film deal from the start.
Then, he saw Mackenzie Foy.
"Kenzie, everything going well?" he asked the adorable young actress with rare warmth. "If you're having any trouble, let Helen know right away."
Mackenzie Foy smiled sweetly. "I'm doing great! Everyone on set has been really nice to me." Her bright eyes blinked innocently. "Matthew, is it true there'll be a sequel?"
Matthew nodded. "Yes, there will."
"Will my character be in it?" she asked hopefully.
"No," Matthew replied gently, unwilling to mislead her. "The next one will be a completely new story."
"Oh…" Mackenzie's young face showed her disappointment instantly.
Matthew chuckled and assured her, "If there's ever another role for a young girl, I'll have Helen let you know first."
Instantly, her mood lifted. "Really? That would be amazing!"
As Matthew watched her delight, he thought of Charlize Theron's daughter and wondered if she'd be as cute and endearing when she grew to this age.
Then again, many child stars who started out charming had troubled adult lives—Macaulay Culkin, Christina Ricci, Kirsten Dunst, Haley Joel Osment, Dakota Fanning, and even Natalie Portman.
Thinking of Natalie Portman, Matthew sighed. The role of Mathilda had left an impression on him that lingered even now.
Since last year's Oscars, Natalie Portman seemed to have vanished from the Hollywood scene entirely, leaving no trace in the press. It was likely that Hollywood would never see Natalie Portman again.
And maybe that was for the best; perhaps if he couldn't see her, those lingering feelings would finally fade.
After chatting briefly with Mackenzie, Amber Heard approached, and Mackenzie quietly excused herself.
"How's it going?" Matthew asked Amber.
"Not bad," she replied with a smile before adding, "but the director keeps saying my intensity is lacking."
Matthew responded directly. "Work hard. There's an important leading role waiting for you in the future."
She had been promised this role before, which motivated her to put in the effort, though for now, the project remained under wraps.
Timing would depend on dealing with Harvey Weinstein. Until then, giving Amber a supporting role in this film was a subtle way to avoid suspicion.
Matthew also had a major novel adaptation in the works, a story with built-in high demand and public interest.
Amber, a sharp woman, nodded. "I know. I'm only venting with you. On set, I'm the most dedicated actor around."
"You'll definitely make it big," Matthew said nonchalantly. "I'm preparing a whole series just for you."
Amber laughed, glancing over at Mackenzie. "She's adorable, isn't she?"
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