It wasn't just Charlize Theron; while Matthew was discussing the script and characters with director Doug Liman, he learned that more people would be participating in the female lead auditions. After several A-list stars proactively turned down audition invitations, "mr. & mrs. smith" slightly lowered its standards, and five or six B-list stars interested in Jane Smith received audition invitations.
Among them were well-known figures such as Penélope Cruz, Milla Jovovich, and Jessica Biel.
As last year's oscar best actress winner, and with her salary not being particularly high, Charlize Theron also received an audition invitation.
Despite her status as an oscar best actress winner, Charlize Theron's box office appeal was not outstanding. Her most successful film at the box office to date was "The Italian Job," in which she appeared as a pure eye-candy character.
Of course, Charlize Theron had her advantages; the title of the current oscar best actress winner was right there, and many Crews were still quite receptive to it.
The academy award for best actress is indeed a bit of a curse, but looking across Hollywood, one can find that stars who win Best Actress are subsequently in high demand.
It's just that many people are unlucky and will experience a string of flops... Most oscar best actress winners tend to repeat a certain path: win the Oscar, get flooded with film offers, flop until they're sick of it, but with the halo of an oscar best actress winner, as long as they can turn things around after one or two flops, there's still a great future ahead.
In any case, the buzz and influence of the academy award for best actress are immense.
While Matthew was preparing for his role, he was also keeping an eye on the latest regarding the female lead. In his spare time, he also followed the progress of the massive scandal involving Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and Jennifer Aniston.
Angelina Jolie was very high-profile, constantly appearing before reporters and the media; whenever she spoke, she would inevitably mention Pitt.
In contrast, Jennifer Aniston was much more low-key. Since having her Agent and spokesperson announce the divorce, she had not made any public appearances.
Her low profile, in some ways, also helped Brad Pitt. Brad Pitt's public relations media whitewashing plan had achieved some results. Pitt's fans used the internet as their battlefield, accusing Jennifer Aniston of hiding the fact that she could not get pregnant from Brad Pitt.
Jennifer Aniston remained silent, only having her spokesperson issue another divorce statement.
"...What I hope for is the most loyal relationship in the depths of the soul,
but he has the right to choose another form, so he chose to break up."
While issuing the statement, Jennifer Aniston's side emphasized once again that she would not take a single cent from Brad Pitt.
Jennifer Aniston had the capital and the confidence to do so. "Friends" had just concluded in May, and her net worth and status were both above Brad Pitt's.
It was widely recognized in Hollywood circles that back then, Aniston had married down to Pitt.
Matthew speculated with no small amount of malice: "Friends" ended this year, so Jennifer Aniston's value would definitely decrease. Did Brad Pitt intentionally choose this time to end the marriage?
Actually, he couldn't be blamed for such speculation. Looking at Brad Pitt's history of rising to fame, women had served as stepping stones one after another. Matthew also quite admired Brad Pitt; it wasn't something just anyone could do to continuously use girlfriends to climb to the position of a superstar.
This massive scandal was bound to be passed down for many years, becoming one of the most famous gossip events in Hollywood history.
During this time, Matthew was still thinking about how to find a way to persuade Akiva Goldsman to try not to cast Nicole Kidman as the female lead. To his surprise, following the previous actresses, Nicole Kidman also turned down the audition for the role of Jane Smith as the screen test approached.
She turned down the audition because of a choice.
According to reliable news Matthew received from Helen Herman, Nicole Kidman reached an agreement with Sony Columbia Pictures to star in the film version adapted from the 1964 ABC series "Bewitched." Her salary was as high as $20 million, and it was a pure $20 million salary that did not involve backend points.
This massive salary was definitely at the top tier for female stars. Naturally, Nicole Kidman would no longer choose "mr. & mrs. smith," which offered a much lower salary, and her withdrawal became a matter of course.
Even the "Bewitched" Crew took the initiative to reveal to the outside world that Nicole Kidman's salary was as high as $20 million!
This would allow Nicole Kidman to gain the reputation of being in the $20 Million Club and also benefit the film's promotion.
The $20 Million Club was out of reach for most female stars. In comparison, the female lead of "mr. & mrs. smith" really had no attraction at all.
With the super box office poison leaving to plague other Crews and actors, Matthew could also breathe a sigh of relief. Even if Charlize Theron didn't get the female lead in the end, the fame of the other latecomers wasn't small either.
Just as Matthew was preparing for "mr. & mrs. smith," he received a call from James McAvoy. He and Michael Fassbender had come to Los Angeles from the UK.
The three of them had kept in touch, but because of their busy work, they hadn't seen each other for a while.
"Hi, Matthew!"
In a club in Burbank, James McAvoy saw Matthew and immediately came over to give him a bear hug. "You kid, you're even sturdier than before!"
Matthew first hugged James McAvoy, then hugged Michael Fassbender next to him, saying, "You two are finally willing to leave the UK?"
Originally, Michael Fassbender had stayed in Los Angeles to develop his career, but the year before, he had returned to London to perform in stage plays.
James McAvoy shrugged. "The UK isn't bad; the competition isn't as fierce as Hollywood."
Michael Fassbender added, "It's just that the weather is too terrible."
Matthew laughed out loud and invited James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender to sit down. Then a waiter brought over some fine wine specially purchased, and the three of them began to drink and chat.
Compared to Matthew, the development of James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender hadn't been as smooth. Matthew had once wanted to help them, but James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender had both refused.
They both cherished this hard-won 'brotherhood' with Matthew and knew that many friendships, once tainted with interests, often quickly changed their flavor.
Matthew was also aware of this. Originally, he only wanted to give them a hand within his power. Since James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender didn't accept, he naturally wouldn't force it.
"Matthew, be honest!" Michael Fassbender said after a glass of wine, revealing his trademark shark-like smile. "How many female stars have you slept with?"
"Not many, just a few." Matthew seemed very modest.
James McAvoy, however, said, "How many is 'not many'? Who are they?" Before Matthew could speak, he started calculating, "Let me count how many female stars you've had scandals with. Keira Knightley counts as one, Jessica Alba is another, and then there's Scarlett Johansson..."
He looked at Michael Fassbender, who said in perfect synchronization, "Counting it like that, it's really not many."
"It's not just 'not many,' it's too few!" James McAvoy said with a look of great disdain. "You've been famous for over a year, right? And you've only been with a few female stars? Don't go out saying you know me and Michael; your efficiency is too poor!"
Being actually looked down upon by James McAvoy, Matthew was quite indignant and said, "James, what do you know? This is called quality over quantity!"
James McAvoy snorted. "is it that your pick-up skills are too poor? Don't be embarrassed to admit it." He pointed to himself, "You have an expert sitting right in front of you; you can ask for advice anytime."
Matthew waved his hand. "You? For all I know, you might still be a virgin!"
Michael Fassbender chimed in, "I can guarantee that James isn't."
Matthew deliberately looked at Michael Fassbender and then at James McAvoy with a surprised gaze.
James McAvoy directly raised his middle finger. "Put away those despicable thoughts of yours."
Matthew looked innocent. "Did I say anything?"
Michael Fassbender picked up a wine glass and stuffed it into his hand. "Matthew, if you keep making wild associations, I guarantee James and I will get you drunk and throw you into a gay bar."
Matthew first took a sip of wine and then changed the subject. "Alright, let's talk about why you two left London."
"It's simple." Michael Fassbender picked up the wine bottle and poured wine for Matthew. "James got a role and has to come here for filming. I happened to have an audition to attend as well, so we came together."
"Oh?" Matthew asked curiously, "James, what role did you get?"
"A production from Walt Disney Pictures," James McAvoy said directly. "A children's movie adapted from C.S. Lewis's 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.' My character is a Faun."
Matthew nodded and asked Michael Fassbender again, "And you?"
Michael Fassbender said with a smile, "A role in a small Paramount Pictures production."
Seeing that he didn't want to say, Matthew didn't continue asking. The three hadn't seen each other for a long time, so drinking and chatting was the main priority, occasionally boasting about their respective pick-up achievements.
It wasn't until late at night that they left the club. Matthew called a driver to first send James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender back to their hotel, and only then did he go home.
In the following days, Matthew didn't meet with those two again. He had to participate in the female lead screen tests for the "mr. & mrs. smith" Crew. Among the female lead auditions, there was a mandatory item: acting with him to see if there was that subtle chemical reaction between the two parties.