Once Justin Lin and screenwriter Chris Morgan had developed a general concept for the characters, Matthew reached out to Jason Statham and Charlize Theron.
Jason Statham was in the UK, and since Matthew couldn't leave Los Angeles, they connected by phone. After several calls, they reached a preliminary agreement. Statham was interested in taking on a major role in such a high-profile production, but the details would still need to be negotiated by his agent and the production team.
Matthew wasn't concerned about securing Statham's involvement. During the filming of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Statham had expressed a strong interest in collaborating with him. Apart from The Expendables, Statham hadn't been involved in any major Hollywood productions in recent years.
Even with The Expendables included, he hadn't had the chance to headline a top-tier Hollywood production.
For an actor deeply rooted in action roles, the draw of a major blockbuster was undeniable. Moreover, Statham's asking price wasn't high, nowhere near the level of a Hollywood A-lister.
Charlize Theron, on the other hand, posed a bit more of a challenge. Matthew decided to meet her in person and, after getting in touch, learned she was filming Snow White and the Huntsman at Universal Studios.
In this film, Charlize wasn't the lead but played the main antagonist, the Evil Queen.
Theron's career hadn't been quite the same as it was years ago. After co-starring with Matthew in Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Hancock, she'd been a bona fide A-lister. However, she'd taken on fewer projects recently, including flops like The Burning Plain.
Hollywood was a forgetful place, and movie audiences easily shifted their attention. A star who faded from the spotlight for even a few years could see a significant impact on their popularity.
Even Julia Roberts, after a two- to three-year hiatus, found it challenging to recapture her former glory.
At Universal Studios, Matthew quickly located the soundstage for Snow White and the Huntsman. He walked into a large soundstage near the studio entrance and, after checking in with a crew assistant, was led into the set by a production assistant.
The crew was in the middle of filming, so Matthew stood quietly on the outskirts, watching the scene unfold.
Charlize Theron was in the middle of a scene, and he'd have to wait until she finished.
The set was arranged to resemble a medieval European palace, with numerous actors portraying guards and court officials. The most eye-catching figures were a girl in a ragged dress and Charlize Theron, seated regally on a throne.
"So, that's the Queen and Snow White?" Matthew muttered to himself.
Charlize was dressed in lavish attire, exuding an impressive, queenly aura.
Matthew glanced her way, muttering, "Casting her in art films is such a waste."
Then, his gaze shifted to Snow White.
The face was familiar; a quick look confirmed it was none other than Kristen Stewart.
It was evident that Stewart was playing Snow White.
Although she'd lost the role of Isabella, Kristen Stewart had been a child star, so seeing her as Snow White wasn't surprising. But the casting choice puzzled Matthew. If Stewart was Snow White, then perhaps they should've cast Whoopi Goldberg as the Queen?
Otherwise, wouldn't the magic mirror seem a bit off, telling the Queen Snow White was the fairest of all?
He chuckled to himself, deciding not to dwell on it further. Watching more would only tempt him to critique the casting choices again.
Finally, the director called for a break, granting the crew a 20-minute recess. Matthew approached Theron's rest area, only to see Kristen Stewart exiting the set, warmly clinging to a young man dressed in medieval attire.
The man looked vaguely familiar, but Matthew couldn't recall his name.
"What are you staring at?" Charlize Theron approached, noticing his gaze on Kristen Stewart and, with a smirk, said, "Don't get any ideas, Matthew. As you can see, Kristen Stewart has a boyfriend."
Matthew frowned. "Hey, Charlize, what are you implying?"
Realizing she had misunderstood, Theron didn't feel embarrassed. With the help of her assistant, she removed her crown and sat on a nearby couch, gesturing for him to join her. "Have a seat. Make yourself comfortable."
Matthew glanced around and noted that everyone had respectfully kept their distance after assisting her.
"What were you looking at?" Theron asked, continuing their conversation.
"That actor with Kristen Stewart looked familiar," Matthew replied honestly.
Theron explained, "That's Robert Pattinson. He plays the Prince in this film."
Matthew nodded, then asked, "What made you decide to take on this role?"
"The paycheck's good," Theron replied bluntly. "I need money to support my family."
"Support your family?" Matthew raised an eyebrow.
Who likes to see a former crush move on? Matthew couldn't quite buy into the sentiment that loving someone meant watching them find happiness with someone else.
Theron's gaze softened as she explained, "I adopted a daughter. It's just the two of us now, and I want to give her the best life possible."
Matthew understood. Charlize had gone through some rough experiences, and with him being involved for a time, it likely left her with a certain distrust in relationships.
Perhaps adopting a daughter gave her a sense of stability.
"Charlize," Matthew said gently, "if you ever need any help, just let me know. You don't have to hesitate."
They'd been publicly engaged once, after all.
Charlize gave a small smile. "I will."
"Where's your daughter?" Matthew asked. "Is she at home? Didn't you bring her to the set? When can I meet her?"
Theron's face softened with a motherly smile. "The nanny and assistant took her out for some fun. You might get to meet her later."
As a group of actors passed by, Matthew remarked, "Whoever did the casting for this film really has an eye for talent."
"Huh?" Theron looked puzzled.
With no one around, Matthew felt freer to speak his mind. "It's a fairy tale movie, right? Couldn't they pick actors with at least a bit more visual appeal?"
Theron shot him a look. "I think it's fine."
Matthew looked her over and, with a playful smirk, said, "Actually, this casting is probably great for you. With this lineup of actors… oh, and that Snow White in particular, I have to say you're looking particularly stunning today."
Theron hadn't considered it that way. She'd taken the role purely for the high paycheck and an interesting character.
"Charlize, have you ever thought about this?" Matthew asked with a mischievous glint.
"Thought about what?" Theron asked curiously.
"Do you ever find yourself chuckling internally during filming?" he mimicked her tone, "A bunch of mediocre types daring to rival the Queen in beauty! When this hits the screens, the audience is going to roast them!"
"Pfft…" Theron burst out laughing.
Matthew laughed as well. Although they weren't from the same era in acting, starring as opposing characters—the Evil Queen and Snow White—in a popular fairy tale adaptation was sure to invite media and fans to compare her to Kristen Stewart. Stewart, however, seemed an odd fit for the role of a fairy-tale princess.
Especially the fairy-tale princess.
"All jokes aside," Theron checked the time and asked, "what brings you here?"
After years of friendship, they knew each other well. Matthew wouldn't come by just to make her laugh.
"I was wondering if you'd be interested in working together again," Matthew said directly. "Around early 2013, I'll be shooting the seventh installment of the Fast & Furious series."
He elaborated, "We need a very strong female villain… someone with substantial screen time, almost as much as me or Paul Walker. Are you interested?"
"A powerful female villain?" Theron pondered and asked, "Does this mean I get to beat you up on screen?"
Matthew paused, then nodded. "Yes, there's a part where you get to rough me up pretty badly. Of course, in the end, you'll end up in prison."
Theron quickly gave her answer. "I'm in. But I have a contract with Warner Bros. to potentially shoot a film with George Miller around the same time. If there's a scheduling conflict, you'll have to work it out for me."
"No problem," Matthew agreed without hesitation.
They reached an understanding quickly, leaving the rest to be handled between the production team and her agent.
They chatted for a bit, and soon the twenty-minute break was over. Charlize returned to set. After filming two more scenes, she came back to rest, and at that moment, her assistant—Bella Anderson's sister—entered with a little girl.
"Mommy…"
The little girl ran over to Theron, her cheeks flushed, clearly having had a fun day.
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