Chapter 106 – The 2018 Grammy Awards
January 2018 continued to be intense for Jacob. After the Golden Globes, it was now time for another big event: the Grammy Awards.
Although he wasn't from the music industry, his popularity, influence, and connections with artists led to him being invited to the awards ceremony. Furthermore, he had been seen with several famous musicians over the years, and his presence was always welcome at events of this caliber.
Sunday, January 28, 2018
Jacob woke up early in his Los Angeles mansion. His dog, Lucky, was already up and wagging his tail beside the bed, waiting for his owner to get up.
"Good morning, partner," Jacob said, ruffling the dog's fur before getting out of bed.
After his morning routine, which included a light jog, a jiu-jitsu workout, and a refreshing shower, he received a call from his agent, Richard Calloway.
"Ready for another gala night?" Richard asked.
"The way you talk, it sounds like I live from event to event," Jacob joked, grabbing a coffee.
"And isn't that true?"
Jacob laughed.
"Okay, point for you."
Richard went over the event details:
"This year's Grammy Awards will be at Madison Square Garden in New York. You'll be in the front row with some friends, and you might be asked to present an award. We're still confirming that with the production team."
"Understood. Has the suit arrived yet?"
"Yes, Armani sent you an exclusive tuxedo. It's in your closet."
Jacob went to his room and saw the black Armani box, with his name embroidered in gold. He opened it and took out a sophisticated navy blue tuxedo with an impeccable cut.
"They never get it wrong," he murmured, admiring the garment.
Flight to New York
In the early afternoon, Jacob took his private jet to New York. During the flight, he received messages from some friends who would also be at the event.
Margot Robbie: "See you on the red carpet?"
Drake: "Get there early, man. Let's grab some drinks beforehand."
Gigi Hadid: "Do you know which afterparty we're going to?"
He replied quickly and then relaxed, watching some past Grammy performances on his tablet.
Upon landing in New York, a team was already waiting to take him to the hotel where he would prepare for the event.
Night fell over New York and Madison Square Garden shone under the spotlights.
Jacob arrived in a black Rolls-Royce, and as soon as he got out of the car, he was greeted by a flurry of flashes.
Photographers shouted his name, while fans cheered at the sight of him.
A Billboard reporter managed to get a moment with him.
— Jacob! What brings you to the Grammys tonight?
— I came to support great friends and enjoy incredible performances. Music is a part of my life, even though I'm not a singer.
— Speaking of which, have you ever thought about getting into the music world?
He laughed.
— I think I prefer to leave that to the experts. Better to stick to film.
After a few more photos, he entered the event and headed to the main hall.
Jacob was guided to his table, where Drake, Rihanna, Ed Sheeran, and The Weeknd were.
— The movie star invading our territory again? — Drake joked, shaking Jacob's hand.
— You guys are the ones who invite me to these parties. I just show up, — Jacob retorted with a smile.
The awards ceremony began with an explosive performance by Kendrick Lamar, which made everyone vibrate.
Jacob watched everything attentively, impressed by the quality of the show.
— This guy always delivers everything on stage, — he commented to Rihanna.
—And he even takes all the awards home,— she replied, laughing.
As the awards were announced, Jacob applauded the winners. Bruno Mars was the big name of the night, taking home important awards such as Album of the Year.
After a few categories, Jacob was called to the stage to present an award.
—And now, to announce the award for Best Soundtrack Album for Visual Media, please welcome Jacob!
He went up on stage to applause and smiled before speaking into the microphone.
—Good evening, Grammy! I come from the world of film, where music plays a fundamental role in telling stories. So, it's an honor to present this award…
He opened the envelope and announced:
—And the Grammy goes to…
"La La Land – Justin Hurwitz!"
The audience applauded as Justin went up on stage to receive the award. Jacob congratulated him and left the stage, returning to his table.
After the awards ceremony, Jacob headed to one of the exclusive after-parties hosted by Drake and The Weeknd.
The venue was a luxurious penthouse in Manhattan, with loud music, sophisticated drinks, and celebrities everywhere.
Jacob was chatting with Gigi Hadid when Beyoncé and Jay-Z arrived.
"This has become the event of the year now," Gigi commented, laughing.
Jacob grabbed a whiskey and continued enjoying the party. He danced a bit, chatted with other friends like Kylie Jenner, Post Malone, and Dua Lipa, and took some photos for Instagram.
Later, while he was relaxing in a private lounge, Rihanna approached.
"Are you going to become a musician now?" she joked, sitting down next to him.
"I prefer to leave you with that responsibility," he replied, toasting with her.
The party lasted until the wee hours of the morning, and when Jacob finally returned to the hotel, he knew that night would be another one for the history books.
He threw himself onto the bed, grabbed his phone, and saw his name trending on Twitter.
"Jacob at the Grammys? We want an album!"
"Jacob and Rihanna at the afterparty? That's what you call a friendship of millions!"
"Jacob's blue tuxedo was one of the best looks of the night!"
He laughed and turned off his phone.
The 2018 Grammys were a success. But the year was only just beginning…
Chapter 107 – The First Trailer for Mission: Impossible – Fallout
February 2018.
The film world was about to be shaken by one of the most anticipated releases of the year: the first trailer for "Mission: Impossible – Fallout". After months of intense filming, grueling training, and groundbreaking action scenes, audiences would finally get a glimpse of what was to come.
For Jacob, this moment was special. It was his first major role as an antagonist in an action blockbuster, and he knew all eyes would be on him. After all, he was replacing Henry Cavill in the role of August Walker, and the pressure was immense.
On the morning of February 4, 2018, Jacob woke up in his Los Angeles mansion and immediately felt the excitement. His cell phone vibrated incessantly with messages from friends, notifications, and mentions on Twitter.
Richard Calloway (agent): "Today's the big day! The trailer comes out at 10 AM (LA time). Get ready for the tsunami of reactions."
Tom Cruise: "Ready for the madness? People are going to freak out when they see you on screen."
Rebecca Ferguson: "There was one specific scene that I almost fainted when I saw the final cut. I can't wait to see everyone's reaction!"
Jacob laughed, but felt that nervous excitement. Even with years of experience in the industry, the release of a trailer always generated anxiety.
He went downstairs for breakfast and turned on the TV to "Good Morning America," where the trailer would be shown exclusively before going to social media.
Meanwhile, on Twitter, the name "Mission: Impossible – Fallout" was already trending, with fans speculating about what they would see.
10 AM.
The "Good Morning America" broadcast began with the presenters excited.
— Ladies and gentlemen, we have a gift for you today! For the first time, the official trailer for Mission: Impossible – Fallout!
The screen went dark, and then… it began.
TRAILER FOR "MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT"
The trailer opens with an intense narration and scenes of bustling cities, espionage, and rising tension.
Then, Tom Cruise appears as Ethan Hunt, running across rooftops, dodging explosions, and piloting helicopters at high speed.
Suddenly, the screen cuts to Jacob, in the role of August Walker.
He appears wearing a dark suit, with a cold and determined look. His first line in the trailer was short but impactful:
— "Do you really believe you can save everyone?"
The music speeds up, and then come the electrifying action scenes.
Jacob brutally fighting Tom Cruise in a bathroom.
A helicopter chase in snow-covered mountains.
Jacob jumping from a plane in freefall, with no visible parachute.
A hand-to-hand combat scene with Rebecca Ferguson in a dark alley.
Explosions, shootouts, and breathtaking chase sequences.
The trailer ends with Tom Cruise and Jacob facing off atop a building, with helicopters flying overhead.
The screen fades to black and the iconic Mission: Impossible theme music begins.
"Mission: Impossible – Fallout" July 2018 – In theaters only.
As soon as the trailer aired, social media exploded.
Twitter and Instagram were flooded with fans commenting on the insane scenes, the impact of Jacob's performance, and the brutality of his character.
@cinemalover24: "JACOB IS INSANE! This Mission: Impossible – Fallout trailer is one of the best I've ever seen!"
@actionfanatic: "My God, this movie looks like an action spectacle. Jacob versus Tom Cruise? SOLD!"
@hollywoodreporter: "Mission: Impossible – Fallout promises to be the action movie of the year. Jacob brings an imposing presence as the new villain!"
Specialized critics also began to weigh in:
Variety: "Jacob impresses with his intimidating presence. His duel against Tom Cruise already seems to be one of the highlights of the film."
The Hollywood Reporter: "The action scenes in Mission: Impossible – Fallout seem to raise the bar even higher for the franchise. Jacob is a worthy adversary for Ethan Hunt."
Empire Magazine: "If this trailer is any indication of what's to come, we're looking at one of the biggest action movies of the decade."
Jacob was at home, watching everything unfold. His cell phone wouldn't stop vibrating with notifications and messages from friends and colleagues in Hollywood.
He then decided to go on Twitter and post a simple reaction that quickly went viral.
@JacobOfficial: "So… did you like the trailer? 🔥 #MissionImpossibleFallout"
The response was immediate. Thousands of likes and retweets in seconds.
Then, he received a call from Tom Cruise.
— Jacob, my friend, did you see what's happening?
— Yes, this is insane! People are going crazy.
— I told you! You did great. The critics are loving your performance just from the trailer.
Jacob smiled, satisfied. He knew there were still months until the film's release, but this was an explosive start.
The trailer wasn't just a hit in the United States.
In Brazil, "Mission: Impossible – Fallout" became the most talked-about topic on Twitter.
In China, audiences were already declaring the film one of the biggest hits of the year.
In Europe, newspapers praised the action scenes and the rivalry between Tom Cruise and Jacob.
Paramount confirmed that the trailer broke viewing records in the first 24 hours.
More than 50 million views on YouTube.
Number 1 trending topic on Twitter and Instagram.
Predictions pointed to the film having one of the highest box office grosses in the franchise.
Jacob realized that everything he had trained for, every parachute jump, every intense fight scene, every rehearsal with Tom Cruise… it was all worth it.
That night, Jacob went out to dinner with some friends to celebrate the trailer's success.
Drake, Gigi Hadid, Gal Gadot, and Chris Hemsworth were present.
"So now you're officially a Hollywood villain?" Gal Gadot joked.
"I think so. But a charismatic villain, I hope."
"Or a villain who can beat up Ethan Hunt himself," Chris added, laughing.
Everyone toasted to the trailer's success.
Jacob knew the movie hadn't even premiered yet, but that trailer had already cemented his name as one of the biggest action stars of the moment.
The world eagerly awaited "Mission: Impossible – Fallout."
And Jacob? He was ready to deliver the best antagonist cinema has ever seen.