"Attention, all departments! Final checks on the set!" In the massive soundstage, which had been converted from a hangar, Stephen Sommers shouted into a megaphone, "Actors, get into position! We'll start shooting in three minutes!"
The set was bustling with activity, as crew members from various departments made their last-minute preparations.
Matthew, dressed in military uniform, had only minimal makeup applied to accentuate his rugged facial features. His naturally tanned skin, developed from years of exercise, showcased his masculine strength and charm.
For a soldier's role, what was needed was roughness and toughness, not a pale, pristine look.
The stunt coordinator stood in front of Matthew, giving final instructions. "Aside from the rehearsed choreography, feel free to improvise if the situation calls for it."
Matthew nodded silently, double-checking the firearms and gear strapped to his body.
The set had been transformed into a large armory, but it didn't follow Western styles—it had a subtle Middle Eastern flavor.
The crew had already filmed several scenes, mostly dialogue, but today marked the first day of action sequences.
"G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Scene 25, Take 17—Action!" The assistant director clapped the slate in front of the camera.
As the sound of the clap echoed, Matthew instantly transitioned from actor to a hardened soldier.
He had undergone extensive military training. While he couldn't match veterans like Brown Williams, who had seen real combat, few in Hollywood could look as convincingly powerful as he did in a soldier's role.
Crouching behind a crate, Matthew signaled tactical hand signs to the two teams behind him. The tall and muscular Adrienne Palicki and the returning redhead Karolína Kurková each led a team to flank the enemy from both sides.
Matthew moved forward cautiously, with Channing Tatum, playing Flint, following close behind.
Quietly sneaking up on a terrorist wearing a headscarf, Matthew pounced. His arm locked around the terrorist's throat, and with a swift twist, the man's neck snapped, leaving him limp.
After dragging the body behind a crate, Matthew heard approaching footsteps and turned warily to the left, signaling Channing Tatum to crouch down.
Just as they crouched, another terrorist, armed with an AK rifle, came into view.
Matthew gave another hand signal, instructing Channing Tatum to circle around and take the terrorist out from behind.
Channing crouched low and crept toward the enemy.
Matthew kept a watchful eye on the terrorist's movements when suddenly—clang—a metallic sound rang out.
The terrorist immediately turned toward the noise, raising his AK-47.
Out of the corner of his eye, Matthew saw that Channing had knocked over a hammer from a nearby crate. The terrorist started moving toward the sound, and without hesitation, Matthew sprang to his feet and hurled a knife from his waist.
The resin prop knife flew somewhere off-camera, but the terrorist, in sync with the choreography, clutched his throat, letting out a soft gurgle before collapsing to the ground.
Matthew quickly rushed over, catching the body before it hit the floor and made any noise. He dragged the corpse behind a crate just as Channing Tatum rejoined him, looking apologetic. Matthew shook his head—it wasn't the time to dwell on mistakes.
Suddenly—bang! bang! bang!—gunfire erupted from the direction of Lady Jaye's team.
Then came the rat-tat-tat of a light machine gun.
Chaos ensued. Shouts in a language Matthew didn't understand echoed from ahead, and the previously quiet warehouse was now alive with movement, shadowy figures darting about as gunfire rang out.
"Attack!" Matthew barked to Channing Tatum. He crouched low and advanced, firing at every terrorist that crossed his line of sight. Each pull of the trigger sent another enemy falling to the ground.
There was no mercy, no pointless compassion, and no need for live captures. His character, Duke, was like a war machine, ruthlessly cutting down terrorists.
Though the Iraq and Afghanistan wars had sparked waves of reflection across American society, there was no room for leniency when it came to terrorists.
As Duke, Matthew's character was not only a formidable fighter but also mentally resilient.
His hands held the gun steady, his face a picture of calm determination. In between bouts of combat, he barked out commands through his communication device.
Gunfire, explosions, screams, and the shouts of soldiers echoed throughout the soundstage.
"Cut!" Stephen Sommers' voice blared through the megaphone. "That's a wrap on this take! Actors, take a break! Explosion sequences next!"
The upcoming shots involved pyrotechnics and didn't require the main actors, so Matthew handed his prop gun to an assistant and shrugged off his military jacket, tossing it to another assistant as he headed toward the resting area.
Channing Tatum glanced at Matthew's retreating figure, a flash of discontent crossing his face, though he said nothing.
He had initially been excited about his role as Flint. Paramount Pictures and Hasbro had promised him a significant part in the film, but after signing the contract, the script had changed multiple times. Flint's role had been cut again and again until he was reduced to a rookie following Duke's lead.
Wasn't Flint supposed to be one of the two field commanders of G.I. Joe?
Channing wasn't stupid. It didn't take much to figure out that this was Matthew Horner's doing. Matthew had pushed to ensure Duke's scenes were front and center, relegating the other characters to supporting roles.
It was infuriating, but there wasn't much he could do.
Matthew Horner wasn't just the lead actor; he was also the second producer on the film. Even Stephen Sommers, the director and first producer, owed his position to Matthew's support.
"Channing!" someone called out suddenly. "Matthew's taking a group photo. Hurry up!"
"I'm on my way," Channing responded without hesitation, quickly heading toward the resting area.
Before he even got close, he saw that all the main cast members were gathered around Matthew. The two leading ladies, Adrienne Palicki and Karolína Kurková, were standing on either side of him, almost glued to his arms.
There was no doubt about it—Matthew Horner was the center of the group, and everyone revolved around him.
Channing's expressionless face immediately lit up with a bright smile as he jogged over, calling out cheerfully, "Hey! Hey! Hey! Don't start without me! You can't take a group photo without me!"
Matthew, setting up the selfie stick, glanced at him. "Hurry up. We're waiting on you."
Channing quickly squeezed in behind Matthew. "Alright, I'm here!"
"Ready?" Matthew began counting down. "One, two, three…"
Channing peeked out from behind Matthew's shoulder, deliberately making a goofy face, as if he was genuinely enjoying taking a picture with his "friends" on set.
It took more than good looks to go from a male stripper to a rising actor—Channing knew how to play the game.
Though he was frustrated about his role being diminished, Channing understood he had no power or leverage to challenge Matthew. If he made a fuss, he'd be out of the film in no time.
Even Paramount and Hasbro wouldn't be able to save him.
Click.
The sound of the photo being taken echoed. Matthew glanced at it. "Let's take one more!"
After another quick snap, he waved them off. "Alright, that's good."
The main cast relaxed, and Channing noticed how quickly the mood shifted. The moment the photo-op ended, several of the actors, who had been all smiles moments before, reverted to their usual, indifferent expressions.
The most obvious example was Adrienne Palicki and Karolína Kurková. They had been beaming at each other during the photo, but as soon as it was over, their smiles vanished, and their sharp gazes clashed like knives before they turned and walked off in opposite directions, as if they were total strangers.
Channing sidled up to Matthew, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "Matthew, could I get a copy of that group photo?"
Matthew looked at him. Channing quickly added, "It's my first time working on a top-tier production, and I'd like to keep it as a memento."
"Sure," Matthew nodded. "I'll have my assistant make a copy for you."
He didn't say much more. Having been in Hollywood for years, climbing up from the bottom, Matthew could easily see through Channing's carefully concealed frustration.
Of course, as long as Channing didn't foolishly act on his discontent, Matthew was happy to let it slide.
Actors in a production were there for work. Plenty of actors became friends after filming a movie together, but far more relationships were strictly professional.
Matthew had never expected to befriend every lead actor in every film he worked on.
That was just wishful thinking.
Take Adrienne Palicki and Karolína Kurková, for example. They were quite cold toward each other and even subtly antagonistic. Since their roles had roughly equal screen time, both wanted to outshine the other.
After dismissing Channing, Matthew uploaded the group photo to his social media, part of the agreed-upon early promotional efforts.
"G.I. Joe: Retaliation has begun filming. Here's a family photo!"
The picture, posted on Twitter, depicted the cast looking harmonious and loving, just like the close-knit comrades of a special forces unit.
No sooner had Matthew finished posting when a loud shout rang out from ahead.
"Look out! Something's wrong! Run
—!"
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