novellhall Chapter 78: Thor Released
Chapter 78: Thor Released
In the days that followed, Chen Xun frantically picked up attribute balls on the film set.
The numbers on his panel were rising rapidly!
Just as he was basking in the joy of upgrading, Thor was released!
During a break in rehearsals, the screen of his phone, which was on the counter, suddenly lit up.
Then it started flashing continuously!
He picked it up and casually swiped it open; at the top was an urgent push notification from The Hollywood Reporter:
"Thor raked in $6600 million at the North American box office in its opening weekend! The Marvel Cinematic Universe has achieved another victory!"
Following closely behind Variety:
"Chris Hemsworth, the new generation of superstar from Asgard!"
Scrolling down further, you see countless entertainment accounts flooding the screen with various data analyses and film review excerpts.
Almost everyone was talking about Thor and its star, Chris Hemsworth.
Wow!
Kat Dennings, who was standing next to him, also glanced at his phone screen and whistled:
"$6600 million! Kris is really going to be America's sweetheart now!"
"Honestly, Chen, even though your role isn't big, you'll definitely become a familiar face!"
Beth Behrs also joined in, her tone tinged with excitement:
"I just saw the media screening yesterday, Chen, your portrayal of the Asgardian warrior was super cool! Your action scenes were incredibly crisp, and your eyes were so expressive!"
Chen Xun smiled, but before he could speak, his phone rang. The caller ID showed it was Robert.
As soon as he answered, Rob's voice, loud enough to be heard through a megaphone, exploded out, making it completely unnecessary to put it on speakerphone:
"Chen! Did you see that?! $6600 million! Marvel made the right bet this time! Chris Hemsworth's net worth is skyrocketing!"
"You're a beneficiary too! My inbox is about to explode!"
Chen Xun moved the phone a little further away: "Calm down, Rob, speak slowly."
"Calm down? I can't calm down!"
Rob's voice was excited:
"Those brands that previously ignored us, saying they needed to observe the market reaction, are now shamelessly coming back!"
"Several scripts have been submitted, for supporting roles with established names and backgrounds! They're looking at you differently now!"
Rob caught his breath and continued his barrage: "Do you know what they call you now?"
"A rising Chinese-American star in Thor!!!"
Rob seemed to want to unleash all the excitement he had inside!
In the following period, Chen Xun gained firsthand experience of the explosive popularity of "Thor"!
Previously, when he went out, he was occasionally recognized by paparazzi or fans, and he was usually accompanied by whispers such as "Christine's boyfriend" or "that lucky Chinese boy".
Now when he goes to the supermarket alone, young fans will run up to him, their eyes shining, and ask:
"Hey! You're that Asgardian warrior from Thor, right? You're so cool!"
Outside the set of "2 Broke Girls", in addition to calling him Han Li, there were also many people calling him by his real name Chen Xun and discussing his role in "Thor".
The direction of discussion about him on social media has also quietly changed.
In the past, when gossip accounts posted pictures of him, the comments section was always full of harsh remarks questioning whether he had climbed the social ladder by relying on his girlfriend.
Now, many people will refute these kinds of comments:
"Is it so hard to acknowledge someone's excellence? He had a small role in 'Thor,' but he was very memorable!"
"Han Lee in '2 Broke Girls' was entirely his own performance; what does it have to do with Kristen Stewart?"
"I declare myself a huge fan of Chen Xun's career! From 'Lurking' to 'Thor' to '2 Broke Girls,' he's taken every step with solid foundation!"
"And is it just my imagination that he seems to be getting more and more handsome?"
……
As a result, the number of viewers of "2 Broke Girls" increased, and many people who couldn't get in stood outside and waited.
What was originally a free lottery for tickets has now been turned into scalpers selling them at inflated prices!
Chen Xun felt it especially clearly during the recording!
As the audience entered, their gazes toward him became even more intense!
When he improvised and used his metaphysical theories to fool Max and Caroline, it elicited not only laughter, but also louder and more sustained applause.
Even as he bent down to organize the props on the counter, you could hear a girl in the audience whispering excitedly to her companion:
"Look! He really has star power now! That fascination with mysterious forces is amazing!"
During a break in filming, director Michael jokingly said to him, "Chen, how's it going? You're a true star actor now!"
His tone was more respectful than before.
Even Kate's complaints have escalated:
"Our restaurant owner is now a Marvel Universe-certified Asgardian warrior. Will he have to use the Rainbow Bridge to get to work next time?"
While absorbing the green attribute orb of [Sarcastic Remarks +3] that fell from her, Chen Xun retorted without changing his expression:
"The Rainbow Bridge consumes too much energy, which contradicts our restaurant's principles of energy conservation and emission reduction!"
The day's recording has come to an end.
Chen Xun removed his makeup and prepared to slip out through the back door.
Several reporters who had been lying in wait immediately surrounded him, microphones almost shoved in his face, but the questions were quite different from before:
"Mr. Chen, how do you view the impact of the huge box office success of 'Thor' on your career?"
"There are rumors that your performance on the set of 'Thor' impressed director Kenneth Branagh. Does this mean there will be more collaborations in the future?"
"Fans have noticed the stark contrast between your roles in 'Thor' and '2 Broke Girls.' How do you handle this kind of cross-genre performance?"
……
The issue is no longer just about "how it feels to be Christine's boyfriend".
Chen Xun maintained a polite but not overly affectionate smile:
Thank you for your recognition!
"Director Branagh is a great artist!"
"As an actor, trying different roles is both fun and a challenge!"
……
He got into the car and rubbed his temples.
The changes brought about by this increased attention have, to some extent, troubled him.
As soon as I got back to my villa in Beverly Hills, Christine called.
She had just finished a promotional segment; her voice was tired, but her tone was excited.
"Hey! My superstar! How's it going? Now the whole world knows my boyfriend is more than just a restaurant owner who can tell fortunes!"
Chen Xun could picture her raising an eyebrow and grinning mischievously on the other end of the phone.
"I feel like I'll feel even more pressure going out with you from now on!"
He deliberately sighed:
"After all, you're dating someone involved in the Marvel Cinematic Universe!"
Christine chuckled on the other end of the phone:
"Come on! But seriously, Chen Xun, I'm happy for you."
Her voice lowered, becoming serious:
"Looking at those reports and comments, they've finally started referring to you as actor Chen Xun, instead of someone's boyfriend..."
"This feels even better than my own movie grossing more at the box office!"
A warm feeling welled up inside Chen Xun, and a part of his heart sank slightly.
"Thank you, K~"
"That idiot Chris called me yesterday too!"
Christine changed the subject, her tone becoming lighter:
"He was as excited as a child, complaining about how he was constantly surrounded by traffic and could barely move, while simultaneously showing off his Thor whirlwind!"
He even specifically asked you if you felt anything was different!
Chen Xun couldn't help but laugh when he recalled how Chris had asked him for the hammer.
"Tell him to take good care of the hammer; who knows, I might go and get it someday and use it as a clothes hanger!"
"Haha, I'll definitely relay your words verbatim!"
Christine laughed even harder.