The richest actor in Hollywood.

Akiva Goldsman wasn't just avoiding high salaries for the male lead based on the production's interests; he had his own considerations as well. Otherwise, he wouldn't have proactively approached Matthew in the first place.

The massive success of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" had made him aware of Matthew Horner's market value. This prompted him to reveal his desire to collaborate early, with plans for multiple projects, not just one.

Following "I Am Legend," Goldsman was preparing another major project. If "I Am Legend" succeeded, he intended to continue working with Matthew Horner to maximize the profits brought by his market value. From the current situation, Matthew Horner was entering a few years where his box office appeal would be at its peak.

Most Hollywood stars who reach the A-list, unless they're solely focused on winning awards, typically enjoy a few years of peak success. During this period, their films generally turn a profit as long as the quality isn't too poor.

The inevitable decline was unavoidable. Only a few, like Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, and Harrison Ford, remained enduring superstars.

As he told David Heyman, Matthew Horner was still his top choice for the male lead. If he easily agreed to Helen Herman's demands, what kind of salary would he need to offer for their next collaboration? Would he really have to give him a top-tier contract of 20 plus 20?

His statements were mainly aimed at applying pressure.

The three actors invited for auditions were carefully considered: Matt Damon was preparing for Martin Scorsese's new film "The Departed" and wasn't available; Russell Crowe, an old friend with whom he had collaborated on "A Beautiful Mind," could be asked to feign interest in an audition; and Will Smith...

This project had been in the works since the early 1990s, with Arnold Schwarzenegger initially set as the lead under Ridley Scott's direction. However, both Schwarzenegger and Scott withdrew, halting the project.

When Goldsman first acquired the adaptation rights, he considered making the lead a black character to better fit current social contexts and industry trends. He had thought Will Smith would be a good choice, but after collaborating with Matthew Horner on "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," he reverted to the original protagonist's character.

After David Heyman left, Akiva Goldsman sat in his office, contemplating further, especially about the male lead.

If Matthew Horner and Helen Herman continued to insist on their current salary demands, considering Will Smith as a backup was viable; changing the protagonist's ethnicity was easy.

However, negotiations were still early. Matthew Horner remained his first choice.

The "I Am Legend" production's public announcement quickly caught attention. A project with a $150 million budget was a rare resource in Hollywood today.

However, this project clearly had high entry barriers, not accepting newcomer or minor actors.

The news naturally reached Matthew and Helen Herman.

At the Warner Bros. studio, Matthew finished a training session, tossed his prop spear to a crew member, and walked into the rest area. He took a towel from Bella Anderson, wiped the sweat from his face, and sat next to the newly arrived Helen Herman.

"Did you get the news?" Helen Herman asked.

Matthew nodded, "Bella told me yesterday." He asked, "What do you think?"

Helen Herman said calmly, "Obviously, Akiva Goldsman and the crew are using this to pressure us into making significant concessions."

"That's what I thought," Matthew agreed. "The crew publicly announced they invited three people for auditions, clearly to pressure me."

He looked at Helen Herman, "What's your plan?"

"Of course, we need to make some concessions to maintain your position as Akiva Goldsman's top choice," Helen Herman adjusted her glasses. "We're far from our bottom line. I'll stick to our demands, then make minor concessions to raise the crew's psychological expectation of your salary. The crew won't stick to a $15 million limit. Negotiation is a long process, and both sides need to compromise to reach an agreement. Akiva Goldsman isn't a first-time producer."

"Alright, you manage the pace," Matthew trusted Helen Herman's expertise. She hadn't let him down before. "You know my minimum acceptable salary."

As his status rose, so did his salary. Lowering his salary for a major commercial film would put him at a disadvantage in future negotiations.

Helen Herman reminded him, "Although Akiva Goldsman is pressuring us, there are some things we need to watch out for."

"What things?" Matthew had been focused on the "300 Spartans" crew recently.

"We're Akiva Goldsman's top choice, but not his only option," Helen Herman said quietly. "Remember when he mentioned setting 'I Am Legend's' protagonist as a black character? Now that he's invited Will Smith for an audition, it's not just pressure on us but also a potential backup plan."

Matthew frowned slightly, recalling the film he had seen where Will Smith played the lead. Was Will Smith a backup plan when the original lead fell through?

"Helen, it's up to you," Matthew said, "I'm relying on your negotiation skills."

Getting the ideal salary without the crew turning to another actor would require skilled negotiation.

"I'll watch the negotiation rhythm," Helen Herman was confident. "You should also be careful. Don't publicly discuss 'I Am Legend,' especially with media. Avoid private meetings with Akiva Goldsman or other senior crew members to avoid affecting my negotiations."

Matthew understood. He could assess a role's value, but negotiating was best left to professionals like Helen Herman.

"Don't worry," Matthew assured. "I won't slip up."

Helen Herman suddenly glanced at Bella Anderson, then leaned closer to Matthew, lowering her voice, "Don't provoke Will Smith. Hollywood's black actors are tight-knit. Mishandling this could be very troublesome."

Matthew also lowered his voice, "I always respect black actors and keep a good distance."

He wasn't a director or producer directly managing a crew, so he avoided direct dealings with black actors.

Matthew was clear-headed. No individual, even a superstar, could go against the prevailing social environment. As long as black actors didn't infringe on his interests, he would steer clear of them.

However, he couldn't stop others from being interested in the "I Am Legend" project.

In Hollywood, films with a budget over $100 million each year were limited, with many being sequels. For actors focused on commercial films, roles like the lead in "I Am Legend" were very appealing.

"Producer Akiva Goldsman, director Francis Lawrence..."

In a CAA office, the black star Will Smith, with prominent ears, spoke to a middle-aged white man, "Kevin, what do you think of this audition invitation?"

The middle-aged white man, Kevin Huvane, was one of Will Smith's agents, primarily handling his film work.

He was straightforward, "As an invitation, Akiva Goldsman shows insufficient sincerity."

Will Smith had already opened the script beneath the invitation, quickly browsing through the outline and character setup. He had read Richard Matheson's original novel and knew the film's genre.

Kevin Huvane added, "From what I know, Matthew Horner was the first choice, but negotiations with the crew aren't going well. Akiva Goldsman is preparing for the possibility of them falling through and using other actors."

While he couldn't get exact details, the negotiations between Matthew Horner's agent and David Heyman weren't secret. They had already had several rounds of talks, reportedly with significant differences over salary.

"Will," he reminded, "I think this is a good opportunity. Among the top projects this year, I can't find one more suitable for you."

"I've read the original book and seen the previous adaptations," Will Smith didn't hide his interest. "Akiva Goldsman changed the lead to a black character..."

He frowned, "Matthew Horner isn't black." Then shook his head, "Changing the character's ethnicity is easy. It seems this script is tailored for me."

Will Smith didn't waste words, "Kevin, I want this role."

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