Entertainment: Starting as a Succubus, Taking Hollywood by Storm-Chapter 448 - 447: A Small-Time Actor Named Vin Diesel

That night.

Martin stormed the battlefield seven times, and the enemy crumbled, wailing in agony...

In the end, Heather dragged Biyou into the fray as well, and both were swiftly defeated.

As the saying goes:

A steel lance atop a mighty steed, leading the charge through three armies.Unrivaled before and after, a warrior beyond compare.A single rider breaking through ten thousand, a hero worthy of a thousand generations.

The next morning, Martin and his "captives" sat down for breakfast, chatting as they ate.

The television was on, playing a trailer for Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones.

Scarlett mused, "I wonder if Natalie made the right choice continuing as Padmé Amidala. Lucas's new Star Wars film is already getting trashed before it's even out."

"I know, I know!" Lindsay Lohan raised her hand like an eager student. "The critics who saw the test screening said the movie feels like an 'opera in space'—boring, with no surprises for the audience. They also said Natalie's Padmé has lost the spark she had as Mathilda."

Martin scoffed. "I've said it before—times have changed. Film critics don't have the power to sway box office numbers anymore. They can whine all they want; it won't matter. Star Wars fans will decide with their wallets."

"Remember when Spider-Man first came out? The critics tore it apart, but what happened? It broke The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring's opening weekend record. $412 million in North America, $935 million worldwide."

"Sure, Attack of the Clones has its flaws, but Star Wars has too massive a fanbase. Even if George Lucas stumbles once or twice, it won't affect the box office that much. Besides, Lucas invited me to an early screening, and trust me—it's solid."

"You'll see. The critics won't be able to stop this film from smashing the box office. If anything, it'll just prove how out of touch they are."

Scarlett poured Martin a cup of coffee—authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain. The rich aroma filled the air.

Martin smiled and kissed her cheek before continuing, "With the rise of the internet, information moves faster than ever. People no longer rely on traditional media. Print journalism is dying, and I have no doubt that, in the future, the internet will be the biggest promotional tool for films—and even influence presidential elections."

Lindsay frowned. "What about Kevin Thomas?"

Kevin Thomas was a Los Angeles Times film critic, a rising star in the field, and a longtime fan and supporter of Martin. He also got along well with the girls in Martin's circle—especially Lindsay.

Martin reassured her, "Don't worry about Kevin. Film critics might be fading, but they won't disappear anytime soon. They still hold sway over awards season. I've already advised him to shift his focus to the internet. His blog has over 30,000 followers now, and advertisers are approaching him. As long as he keeps up with the times, he won't just survive—he'll thrive."

"Of course, the internet belongs to the 'comment armies.' Right now, people haven't realized that there are professionals who manipulate public opinion online. They fall for it easily."

Scarlett laughed. After swallowing a bite of her egg, she quipped, "Oh, I know—Meyers Entertainment has a whole team for that."

Martin grinned. "Damn right."

Late May.

Martin arrived on the set of Steven Spielberg's latest film.

Ready Player One had officially started filming.

When Spielberg saw Martin, he half-joked, "What a shame you didn't take a role in this movie. That's one less guarantee for the box office."

Martin chuckled. "Steve, you are the box office guarantee. Besides, I think Toby fits the role just fine."

That's right—Ready Player One's lead actor in this timeline was Tobey Maguire.

Since Martin had taken Spider-Man from him, he figured he'd make it up to Tobey with this film. Whether it was a fair trade or not—well, that was debatable.

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"Hey, Martin! Thanks for recommending me for this role."

Tobey Maguire approached and greeted Martin warmly.

Martin smiled, giving him a brief hug. "We're friends. No need for thanks."

Tobey didn't say anything more—he just clapped Martin on the back.

In truth, Martin hadn't recommended Tobey purely out of friendship. He genuinely believed Tobey was a great fit for the role.

Sure, Ready Player One's protagonist, Wade Watts, was supposed to be 18, while Tobey was already 28.

But Tobey had a baby face. Shave his beard and restyle his hair, and he could easily pass as a high school student.

(Side note: Because of his youthful appearance, Tobey often kept stubble when he wasn't filming, just to look more mature.)

As for acting chops? Tobey was solid—far better than the original actor from the previous timeline.

In fact, apart from Spider-Man, most of Tobey's filmography consisted of indie and arthouse films. He rarely did commercial blockbusters.

After chatting with Tobey and Spielberg for a bit, Martin noticed that Spielberg seemed hesitant about something.

Raising an eyebrow, he asked, "Steve, is there something on your mind?"

Spielberg glanced at Tobey before hesitating.

Realizing the cue, Tobey tactfully said, "I'm gonna go run some lines. You two talk."

Once Tobey left, Spielberg turned back to Martin.

"Martin, I heard Meyers Entertainment is producing the Fast & Furious sequels?"

Martin nodded. "I think so? I don't really keep track. Drew handles all that. Why?"

Spielberg carefully worded his next sentence. "Well... I have a friend whose son was in the first Fast & Furious movie. He really believes in the franchise and wants a bigger role."

"Oh?" Martin asked. "Who is it?"

Spielberg casually replied, "A small-time actor named Vin Diesel."

Martin's eyes twitched.

His gaze flicked to Spielberg, studying him.

Something about this... felt off.

[Translator Note: There's a rumor that he's spielberg son.]