[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman":3,"chapter-marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-chapter-499":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Marvel: A Lazy-Ass Superman",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1721749,2198,"Chapter 499 499: The Film Premiere","marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-chapter-499",499,"\u003Cp>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For 40 advanced chapters, visit my Patreon:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patreon - Twilight_scribe1\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On October 17, Charlize Theron's film The Devil's Advocate premiered in North America. However, its premiere event had already been held on the 13th at a theater in Westwood, California.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple—budget constraints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To secure Al Pacino, an Academy Award–winning actor, even Keanu Reeves, who co-starred as the male lead, voluntarily took a pay cut so the production budget wouldn't have to be slashed. Only then could they afford an actor of Pacino's caliber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Charlize Theron's salary… compared to the two male leads, it was practically pocket change. Even if she volunteered a pay cut, it wouldn't have made much difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pay disparity faced by actresses in Hollywood was evident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That said, a premiere wasn't the place for complaints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charlize Theron appeared on the red carpet alongside the two male leads, wearing a red, form-fitting evening gown that accentuated her figure, paired with her sharp short blonde hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since this wasn't an especially grand or formal premiere, the two male leads dressed more casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Al Pacino, the center of attention, wore an all-black suit with a black shirt and black leather shoes, paired with a loosely tied red-and-green striped tie—far from the stiff, suffocating formal look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keanu Reeves' outfit was even simpler: casual clothes, scruffy stubble, and a knit cap. His signature air of melancholy was already beginning to show—completely different from his polished on-screen image.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Charlize…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the neck down, her look was stunning—the red gown, her toned figure, bronze skin, and short golden hair, all results of recent filming work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But above the neck… was another story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face was caked in heavy white foundation, creating a stark contrast with her skin tone. Add to that bright red lipstick matching her dress—striking, certainly, though perhaps not in the best way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry had already taken his seat inside the theater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though The Devil's Advocate was produced by Regency Enterprises and distributed by Warner Bros., and Stark Pictures had no investment in it, getting a premiere ticket as the studio's CEO was effortless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing the red carpet and interviews, Charlize Theron came over and sat beside Henry. The two exchanged a light, fleeting kiss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at her boyish short blonde hair, Henry smiled. \"Looks like filming for Mighty Joe Young is done. Doesn't seem like you've gotten any rest, though.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And whose fault is that?\" she shot back. \"I barely had a few days off before diving into prep for the next film.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even so, couldn't you have put a bit more effort into your look?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Concerned about her public image, Charlize immediately checked herself. \"Is something wrong? I took a whole day off just to do makeup and try on outfits.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry, clearly courting death, reached out and lightly scraped her cheek with his finger—coming away with a thick layer of white foundation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wow… did you apply this with a cement trowel? When you take it off later, will you need a hammer? Look at me—didn't I just get a mouthful of powder from that kiss?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he puckered his lips and leaned in again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You bastard!\" Charlize laughed, clawing at his face with one hand and pushing him away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the couple joked around, the two male leads approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Henry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Brown.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They quickly stood, and Henry shook hands with each of them. \"Mr. Pacino, Mr. Reeves.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Italian-American Pacino spoke first, warmly. \"That chef you had last time—absolutely incredible. When do I get to enjoy that again?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your praise would make Chef Washington very happy,\" Henry replied with a smile. \"I'll have someone coordinate with your assistant to arrange another proper dinner. Good food deserves time to be savored—not rushed between appointments.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wow, that sounds fantastic. Don't forget to call me. And—mind if I bring a friend?\" Pacino said, slinging an arm around Keanu Reeves' shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course not,\" Henry said. \"Mr. Reeves, you're more than welcome.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Details like guest numbers, dietary restrictions, and allergies could be handled by assistants later. Pacino clearly wasn't the type to fuss over such things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder he'd later go bankrupt and end up taking on terrible roles to recover financially. Dealing with lawyers and accountants required a sharper mind—something he didn't quite prioritize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, someone like him was worth befriending. He was generous and unlikely to undermine others without cause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keanu Reeves, standing beside him, gave off a similar impression—someone worth knowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After chatting briefly, Pacino wandered off to mingle with others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reeves, though less outgoing, was still quite talkative. Smiling, he said, \"Actually, there's something I'd like to ask you about, Mr. Brown.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just call me Henry. And if you don't mind, I'll call you K.C.—I hear that's what people call you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course. I'm honored… Henry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Great. So, what can I help you with?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reeves said, \"It's about Jean Baudrillard's Simulacra and Simulation. Charlize shared some really fascinating interpretations—I asked her, and she said most of them came from you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I've also been studying Kevin Kelly's machine philosophy and Dylan Evans' work on evolutionary psychology. I've been struggling to find someone to discuss these with.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charlize added, \"Yeah, I've got the same assignments. But I don't get why we need to study philosophy just to make a movie.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry replied, \"It's probably the director's intent. If you understand the underlying ideas, your performance won't drift away from that vision.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After wrapping up Mighty Joe Young, Charlize would begin preparation for another film alongside Keanu Reeves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That film was The Matrix, the late-20th-century classic directed and produced by the Wachowski brothers—who would later become the Wachowski sisters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>J.J. Harris had already arranged for Charlize to audition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, the female lead was Carrie-Anne Moss, a Canadian actress with nearly a decade of experience in television and film.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry didn't dislike the original casting. But when the Wachowskis came to discuss computer-generated effects, he couldn't resist inserting himself into the casting conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time, Industrial Light & Magic—founded by George Lucas for Star Wars—was still the undisputed leader in visual effects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But by the 1990s, ILM had somewhat lost focus. Its manager, Scott Ross, left to co-found Digital Domain with James Cameron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Titanic, directed by Cameron, Digital Domain had chosen to collaborate with Stark Pictures—a fact well known in Hollywood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, few could match Stark Pictures' extravagance—having access to supercomputers thanks to Stark Industries. Even ILM envied that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Titanic's visuals hadn't yet been publicly revealed, they were enough to attract the Wachowskis for a visit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without violating any agreements, Henry gave them a \"demonstration of firepower,\" secured a collaboration—and successfully landed the female lead role for Charlize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, with her physical training, willingness to perform action scenes, and determination, she was already high on the Wachowskis' shortlist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the long production schedule and demanding pre-training, Henry worked to coordinate between J.J. Harris and Charlize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless of how later sequels would be received, the first Matrix film was undeniably a classic. There was no reason to pass up such an opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many actresses who declined the role—like Madonna and Janet Jackson—later regretted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And among those who passed on the project… was even a major star of the era: Will Smith, who turned down the role of Neo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>🎉 Power Stone Goal Announcement! 🎉\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'll release one bonus chapter for every 500 Power Stones we hit!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let me know what should I do\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your support means everything—let's crush these goals together! Keep voting, and let the stones pile up! 🚀\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\u003C\u002Fp>",1259,"2026-06-06T15:31:22.543Z",1,"novelbin.me","de3fbf69dc237236e413708641d1c7901047bad9112982102a828e34b7481694","marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-chapter-500","marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-chapter-498",556,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmarvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-cover.jpg"]