For the sake of realism, most of the explosion scenes in Fast & Furious 6 were filmed with practical effects. This particular shot was no exception. The crew constructed a prop house specifically for the sequence.
Of course, building a full house would be time-consuming, labor-intensive, and expensive, so only the facade was constructed.
In front of the camera, Matthew's character received a suspicious package and placed it casually on the porch before descending the steps to catch up with Gal Gadot's character. Together, they saw Paul Walker and Jordana Brewster off as they got into a car.
The camera lingered on Matthew as he exchanged a few parting words with Walker, only to be interrupted by a ping from his phone. Matthew pulled it out to check, and the audience saw his expression change as he watched a video on the screen: Daniel Wu's character, lying on the ground, executed with a gunshot to the head.
Realizing the imminent danger, Matthew yelled, "Get down!"
Though unclear on what was happening, the characters' trust in one another as part of the Fast & Furious "family" was implicit. Gal Gadot immediately hit the ground, while Paul Walker and Jordana Brewster ducked inside the car.
As Matthew dove to the ground, an enormous explosion erupted behind him. The house disintegrated into fiery debris, with flames shooting skyward.
The blast looked terrifying on screen but was carefully controlled. The crew used specialized pyrotechnics with limited destructive power, enhancing the visuals by stuffing the set with flammable materials to create the dramatic effect.
"Cut!" Justin Lin called out. "That's a wrap!"
Matthew rose from the ground and helped Gal Gadot to her feet. He dusted himself off, brushing away ash that had fallen onto his hair. Meanwhile, the on-site fire team, standing by as always, rushed in to extinguish the flames.
Paul Walker and Jordana Brewster exited the car, glancing back at the smoldering remains of the house. "That woman doesn't mess around," Walker quipped.
Matthew nodded. "A strong villain makes for a compelling story."
As ash continued to drift in the air, the group walked off the set. This scene was Matthew's final one in Fast & Furious 6. The next day, he would leave London and return to Los Angeles. The production schedule had been rearranged to accommodate his commitments—a benefit of being not just the lead actor but also a producer and investor in the film.
Matthew had plenty on his plate.
In the second weekend of December, the first installment of The Hobbit trilogy, An Unexpected Journey, which he had co-financed, was set to premiere. He needed to attend the event.
Michael Fassbender was gearing up for an Oscar campaign for Best Actor, and Matthew had promised to show his support at two Academy-sponsored events.
Most pressing of all, awards season had officially begun. Harvey Weinstein was as active as ever, pushing Silver Linings Playbook and Django Unchained as frontrunners for multiple Oscars.
As a quintessential "Black Lives Matter" film, Django Unchained was being touted by Weinstein as the leading contender for Best Picture.
Silver Linings Playbook was another strong candidate. Weinstein had initially courted Amber Heard for the lead role, and when that fell through, he approached Jennifer Lawrence. However, Lawrence, closely aligned with Matthew at the time, turned him down.
The role ultimately went to Anne Hathaway. According to industry chatter, Weinstein was backing Hathaway for a Best Actress win.
There was also talk that Weinstein was planning another awards campaign for Meryl Streep, aiming to secure yet another Oscar for the legendary actress.
Given Weinstein's methods, it was hard not to wonder if there was more to his relationship with Streep than met the eye.
Then again, perhaps Matthew's cynical view of Hollywood colored his judgment. Weinstein might simply have been an altruist at heart.
After wrapping up for the day, Matthew found that Charlize Theron and her daughter, August, had already left. A quick phone call revealed that Theron had taken her daughter to King's Cross Station to experience the Harry Potter journey and was planning a trip to Edinburgh.
Not wanting to intrude, Matthew headed back to his hotel.
To his surprise, as he walked into the lobby, he spotted a familiar face.
Through the main doors and toward the elevator bank, a man was approaching. Despite a noticeable paunch and a forehead lined with wrinkles, Matthew immediately recognized him—it was Orlando Bloom, once the celebrated "Elf Prince."
A few years earlier, during discussions with Peter Jackson about The Hobbit, Jackson had mentioned Bloom. Matthew had subsequently looked into Bloom's career trajectory. After back-to-back box office flops with Van Helsing and Kingdom of Heaven, Bloom had faded from the spotlight.
Even Jackson, who wanted to include Legolas in The Hobbit, had been unable to reach Bloom.
Yet here he was, by sheer coincidence.
As they drew closer, Bloom also noticed Matthew.
Taking the initiative, Matthew stepped forward and asked tentatively, "Orlando? Is that you?"
Bloom stopped, looking at Matthew with hesitation.
"Don't you recognize me?" Matthew extended his hand. "It's been a while, Orlando."
Bloom shook his hand awkwardly, a faint smile appearing. "Hello, Mr. Horner."
Matthew chuckled. "Just call me Matthew. We're old friends."
Bloom smiled again, the expression revealing deep crow's feet and forehead lines. The youthful elegance of the "Elf Prince" had long since vanished, replaced by the features of a middle-aged man.
The two moved to a seating area in the lobby. Bloom explained that he had left Hollywood after a series of setbacks, including losing his agent and a string of failed projects.
"I moved back to London," he said, "and bought a theater in the West End. I've been managing stage productions ever since."
Matthew nodded approvingly. "Stage plays are a big deal in London. It sounds like a solid move."
"It's worked out," Bloom admitted. "The theater's doing well—second-tier in the West End, but climbing."
He extended a polite invitation. "You should come see a show sometime."
"I'd like that," Matthew replied. He then added, "My number hasn't changed, by the way."
Bloom gave him a thoughtful look. Their paths had diverged significantly over the years. At one time, Bloom had outshone Matthew in fame and fortune. Yet a critical choice—to take Van Helsing instead of a supporting role in Pirates of the Caribbean—had changed everything.
Bloom didn't resent Matthew. He remembered clearly that it was his own decision to pursue Van Helsing.
As the two continued their conversation, a woman approached—a plain-looking, unassuming figure with an expression of warmth as she looked at Bloom.
"Orlando, there you are!" she said.
"This is my wife, Catherine Adams," Bloom introduced her to Matthew, who shook her hand.
Through their conversation, Matthew learned that Bloom was in the hotel to meet a stage designer, hoping to renovate his theater.
The couple seemed perfectly ordinary—far removed from the glitz of Hollywood. As Matthew watched them interact, he couldn't help but think that sometimes, ordinary people found happiness in ways that fame and fortune never could.
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