Insidious, the first true movie of Cassius's career, quietly landed in theaters across North America.
James Wan's name carried a certain aura in the horror genre, having accumulated a core fanbase early on.
But no one expected this low-budget horror film to detonate with such explosive energy.
When the opening weekend box office numbers came out, all of Hollywood did a double-take!
$35,000,000!
For an R-rated horror film, this was a practically phenomenal opening!
Critics didn't hold back their praise either, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 87%!
Audience reception was through the roof, earning a terrifyingly good A- CinemaScore!
"Insidious: James Wan proves once again he is a modern master of horror!"
"Suffocating atmosphere, pure psychological terror without relying on gore!"
"The performance of the Asian exchange student, Lee, etched loneliness and fear into the bone!"
...
In the editing room.
James Wan stared at the constantly refreshing real-time box office data on his computer screen, his fingers unconsciously tapping the desk.
Leigh Whannell sat beside him, equally holding his breath.
Time ticked by. When the final opening weekend box office figure [$35,000,000] froze on the screen, both men were stunned.
Whannell jumped up violently, his chair screeching across the floor.
"Thirty-five million! James, we did it! We fucking did it!"
He pumped his fist, his face flushed with excitement.
James Wan exhaled, his perpetually tense shoulders instantly collapsing, then trembling slightly from sheer joy.
He rubbed his face hard, as if he couldn't believe the number.
"Thirty-five million opening weekend!"
He murmured to himself, a choke in his voice. "Fifteen million over the bet line. We succeeded!"
"Quick! Check the media and online feedback!"
Whannell urged.
The two couldn't wait to open major review sites and social media.
Rotten Tomatoes Freshness 87%!
CinemaScore A-!
Rave reviews from critics and audiences flooded in like a tide.
James Wan's name was mentioned again and again, cementing his title as a horror master.
He suddenly noticed that among the many comments, one name appeared with unusually high frequency:
Cassius!
"That Asian boy Lee's performance was unforgettable!"
"Lee, played by Cassius... his fear was so real, I felt it myself!"
"That monologue was killer! Didn't expect Kristen's boyfriend to be such a good actor!"
...
Whannell noticed it too.
He pointed at the screen, his tone filled with surprise and a touch of emotion.
"I said before that the scandal between Cassius and Kristen was our marketing angle!"
James Wan's gaze swept over the comments praising Cassius's performance, his eyes brightening.
"The scandal brought the attention and got more people into the theater!"
He paused, pointing at a comment that read "Only noticed Stewart's boyfriend's acting because of Insidious," and spoke with appreciation:
"But what truly kept the audience and turned that attention into word-of-mouth and sustained box office was his own performance!"
"Cassius caught this wave of traffic with his own skill and amplified it! Not only did he not drag it down, but he became one of the film's highlights, attracting another group of viewers who value acting!"
James Wan recalled Cassius on set.
Serious, focused!
Meticulous about acting details!
Back then, he just thought he was a dedicated newcomer.
But that seriousness and talent had erupted with astonishing energy at the critical moment.
[James Wan Favorability: +10, Current Favorability: 50 (Appreciative Partner)]
Whannell smiled and shook his head.
"This kid is something else. Looks like we'll have to give him a better role and paycheck next time we work together!"
James Wan's face showed an ambitious smile.
"Of course! And I think we'll be working together again soon. Call Cassius... no, I'll call him personally! Congratulate him, and thank him! This movie's success owes him an indelible debt!"
...
Cassius naturally knew none of this. At that moment, he was busy collecting attributes on the set of Snow White and the Huntsman.
His name began appearing frequently in film reviews and audience discussions.
Cassius wasn't the lead, but the restrained reality and progressively layering breakdown of his character "Lee" stood out prominently and heart-wrenchingly amidst the screams and jump scares.
Many reviews specifically mentioned his monologue scene, praising the explosive power of his performance.
At this time, the heat from Cassius's romance with Kristen Stewart hadn't fully subsided.
The success of Insidious was like a powerful injection of fuel into this media frenzy.
The headlines in gossip rags and entertainment sections instantly changed their tune:
#From Horror Rising Star to Top Star's Boyfriend: The Dual Life of Cassius!#
#Insidious Hides Not Just Ghosts, But Stewart's Secret Lover!#
#Acting Chops Certified! Kristen's Boyfriend Breaks Out on Merit!#
...
TMZ even did a street interview, holding up a still of Cassius in Insidious and a paparazzi photo of him with Kristen, asking passersby:
"Which version of him are you more familiar with?"
The results were unexpected. Many people had only truly noticed the name of Stewart's boyfriend because of Insidious.
"Oh! He's that Asian boy from Insidious who broke my heart? He's actually Kristen's boyfriend? Wow!"
"I saw Insidious, he acted really well! Turns out his real life is just as dramatic!"
...
Thanks to back-to-back buzz, the box office for Insidious didn't plummet in its second week like most horror movies.
Instead, it maintained a strong trend, eventually easily breaking the 100 million mark in North America, with the global box office sprinting toward 200 million!
This result was a massive success!
Snow White and the Huntsman had just wrapped filming for the day. Cassius had picked up quite a few attribute orbs and was preparing to go home.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. The name "James Wan" flashed on the screen.
"Director Wan, hello!"
Cassius answered the phone, his tone normal.
He had been busy with the new crew these past few days and hadn't had time to pay attention to the specific data after Insidious was released. He only knew the reception should be decent.
On the other end, James Wan's voice was trembling, a stark contrast to his usual gentle tone.
"Cass! Did you see it?"
Cassius was taken aback by the rapid-fire question.
"See what?"
He subconsciously thought something bad had happened.
"The box office! Opening weekend box office! Thirty-five million! Thirty-five million dollars!"
James Wan's voice was so excited it almost cracked.
"H... How much?"
Cassius's hand tightened around the phone, thinking he had heard wrong.
"Thirty-five million! A- audience score! Rotten Tomatoes 87%! Cass, do you hear me? We created a miracle!"
James Wan was still immersed in immense ecstasy and desperately needed to share it. As a part of the film, Cassius was naturally the first choice.
Cassius took a deep breath.
Even with his steady composure, he was slightly dazed by this astronomical figure.
He knew Insidious was a quality film and knew it would have some buzz, but this result far exceeded expectations!
A phenomenal smash hit!