Chapter 153: Gunpowder in the Summer Slot

The mainland box office of *The Matrix Reloaded* finally stood at 735 million, not breaking the 800‑million mark as earlier media had predicted.

However, in the global market it achieved a total box office of $8.1 billion, a fine result far surpassing the original's $7.42 billion.

And in the 2002 global box‑office ranking, it trailed only behind *The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers* ($9.26 billion), *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets* ($8.78 billion), and *Spider‑Man* ($8.21 billion), placing fourth for the year.

Adding *Saving Mother by Splitting the Mountain*'s $575 million, Jiang Heng's personal yearly box‑office total for 2002 reached an astonishing $13.85 billion, giving him an absolute advantage to become champion.

When the news was first confirmed, CCTV News repeatedly reported it, truly causing a sensation for a while.

By the time *The Matrix Revolutions* promotion began, Broad Sodium Film Industry used the series' total box office as a marketing selling point.

The first film made $4.6 billion, the second $8.1 billion; together the two films' global box office totals $12.7 billion.

Jiang Heng heard this and was genuinely shocked.

He knew Thus output: Chen Kaige had two sons, the elder born in 1997, the younger in 2000—what could they possibly be watching!

Thus, as soon as the promotion for *The Matrix Revolutions* kicked off, word spread that some leaders thought scheduling the two blockbusters simultaneously in the summer slot would make them clash, and shortly thereafter news came out that *Wuji* would be postponed.

Many people called in, and Jiang Heng instantly understood why Han Sanping had earlier not answered his calls, and he also turned off his phone.

Then came word that a document had been issued forbidding any major satellite channel's prime‑time slot from airing detective dramas for ten years, so everyone stopped making them and the buzz died down.

As for the much‑curious celebrity blacklist order, does such a document actually exist?

After thinking it over, he still said, "All right, I'll have someone send you an invitation later!"

But reportedly a senior leader said this would be bad, lest criminals learn the police's investigative methods.

Jiang Heng didn't mention the theories from *Three Body*; he only talked about the virtual world, why light has a speed limit, and so on, chatting idly for a while before hanging up.

Even more typical is the "Domestic Film Protection Month," which, according to rumor, began in 2004 when the Film Bureau issued an oral notice urging domestic theaters each July–August (or June–July) not to mainly promote imported revenue‑sharing blockbusters, but to support and promote domestic films.

When the news came out, it could be said to have shocked the entire Chinese‑language entertainment industry.

He called Han Sanping twice, but no one answered either time.

In the entertainment industry there are many things that can only be done, not spoken about.

Jiang Heng thought to himself, "You don't know—can the Trisolaran civilization lock down Earth's technology?"

This matter also lacks any document, and the "Domestic Film Protection Month" is not an official policy, yet it has been carried out earnestly for many years.

Li Chengru once shared his experience, saying that after *Criminal Squad* aired that year, detective dramas became extremely hot, and every TV station started broadcasting them.

Jiang Heng then laughed and said, "All I can say is that it will surely surprise people and leave them feeling their time wasn't wasted after watching!"

Just think—Liu Cixin sold the rights to *Three Body* for a mere 100,000 yuan, which is already pitiful enough; don't go snatching others' works.

However, for Broad Sodium Film Industry's side, encouragement remains the main approach.

Yu Dong felt torn; in fact, as an old‑timer from the Beijing Film Factory, he leaned somewhat toward Thus output: Chen Kaige.

"I really do like this film, and I'm eager to know what story you managed to tell using the combined running time of three movies!" Chen Daoming said lightly.

They inquired about the distribution of the promotional posters and the setup of the premiere venue.

*The Matrix Revolutions* still chose the Workers' Stadium as its venue, with the date set for Saturday, July 12.

Jiang Heng laughed, "Then scientists will have to study it!"

On second thought, oh—the first part of *Three Body* wasn't serialized in *Science Fiction World* until May 2006, so Old Liu probably hasn't even written it yet.

Jiang Heng figured this wouldn't be baseless rumor; there's no need to ask too much—just wait for the news.

It's just a rumor, yet everyone has acted as if it were truly being carried out for ten years.

All he does each day is drive to iQiyi and Broad Sodium Film Industry to inquire about the execution of the promotion.

A few days later, the production company China Film Group announced that *Wuji* would be postponed to October 1 due to technical reasons.

And the guests attending will include not only the film's main creators but also many celebrities.

"Director Jiang, rest assured—this time the timing, location, and people are all favorable; I'm sure *The Matrix Revolutions* will break the 800‑million mark!" Yu Dong said, his spirits lifted.

Chen Daoming lamented, "Nowadays many scientists think not about how to do research but about how to make money. How many years has global science and technology gone without a major breakthrough? Today's human society is just living off past reserves."

Coincidentally, Jiang Heng ran into him, and the two chatted for a while.

"Director Chen, I know you're angry inside, but in a public setting…"

With such results, not only would domestic filmmakers be shocked, but even some leaders would feel it greatly boosts national morale.

Jiang Heng's mindset is actually quite calm; the trilogy's $20 billion figure is merely a publicity slogan, not to be taken seriously.

"All right, all right! Actually, I'm overly fond of this premise. Life, you know, is like Zhuangzi dreaming of a butterfly—how can we tell whether it was Zhuangzi dreaming he became a butterfly, or the butterfly dreaming it became Zhuangzi?"

"Scientists?"

Everyone felt that *The Matrix Revolutions* dominating the summer slot this time must have some inside story, so they came to join the fun—even someone as aloof as Chen Daoming called Yu Dong to ask for a guest invitation.

"My son wants to see a movie—I have to accompany him to watch it!"

But now that he's in charge of Broad Sodium Film Industry and also a shareholder, it's awkward to talk about personal favors.

Yu Dong thought to himself, "Hey, do you actually talk like that?"

Seeing Yu Dong stay silent, he couldn't help but smile: "You won't even be able to decide on such a small matter, will you?"

"Rest assured, we're decent folks; with so many media reporters and spectators watching, I certainly won't cause trouble. I just want to chat a few words with Director Jiang and, by the way, take a look at his film."

But after ten years passed, people said maybe the ban could be lifted; they looked for that document to check the exact date, only to find there was no such document at all.

If the third film could achieve a global box office of $7.3 billion, the *Matrix* trilogy would surpass $20 billion.

In the following days, Broad Sodium Film Industry steadily sent out invitations, but unexpectedly, Thus output: Chen Kaige would actually attend.

Indeed, other friends could find out as well, but after thinking it over they decided to let it be.

Smiling, he advised, "Director Chen, why do you still want to come to the premiere?"

Whether successful or not, he's made a killing this time; even if he retired and turned into Wang Duoyu, he'd have plenty to spend for a while.

Or better yet, just wait honestly another two years—after all, he sold the rights in 2009.

Hey, those words excited Yu Dong so much he almost agreed on the spot.

After the call ended, he dialed Jiang Heng again to tell him about this.

"This old Chen, looks like he's really angry at me!" Jiang Heng chuckled: "If he wants to come, let him come; it's our home turf, we won't cause any big trouble!"

(End of chapter)