A dazzling premiere

As night fell, a black Lincoln car drove along Hollywood Boulevard, heading west towards the Chinese Theatre.

"How are you feeling? Tired?" George asked from the back seat, in a good mood. After all, the success of "Fury" also contributed to his potential reputation. His position within the company was rising, and he seemed to be heading towards becoming a partner with shares.

"After running the promotional tour for so many days and then rushing to attend the premiere of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring", it must be exhausting," George pretended to be concerned, but where was he going to rest? He had been busy too. It was said that he only found out about the film's release in Australia the day before yesterday and only had time to return to the country.

"It's okay. After this busy period, I'll have some time to rest," Lyman shook his head and replied.

The spacious car only had Lyman and George inside.

One represented EuropaCorp's position, and the other was invited by CAA to show support.

As for Thomas and René, they stayed at the hotel and didn't want to come. Lyman didn't want to either, but networking was essential in this industry.

CAA had also put in efforts in this project, and since he was a client under CAA, the interpersonal relationship was straightforward. Kevin Howien personally called him to invite him, and he had to agree to attend.

The Lincoln car soon arrived at the parking lot of the Chinese Theatre, and Lyman and George got out of the car and walked towards the entrance.

CAA and New Line Cinema staff were already waiting here, leading them through the red carpet and into the theater.

Inside, the lights were bright, and the noise was deafening. It was evident that a grand premiere was about to begin. You could see this from the reporters, media, and fans gathered along the roadsides.

"Hey, Mr. Jackson," as soon as Lyman entered the theater's lobby, he noticed the director of "The Lord of the Rings," Peter Jackson, and proactively went over to greet him, saying, "I wish your film a great box office success."

"Thank you. I recognize you, Director Lyman. I've seen your film "Fury", and it's fantastic," Peter said with a smile, reaching out to shake Lyman's right hand. "I'm glad you could come to support."

"Me too. I've always loved this epic story written by Tolkien, and you've done a remarkable job adapting it for the big screen," Lyman replied with a touch of flattery. But after all, "The Lord of the Rings" series was indeed one of his favorite films in his previous life.

In the original novels, the grand war scenes and various magical and exotic elements presented by Tolkien made "The Lord of the Rings" seem impossible to adapt into a movie. Yet, Peter Jackson, a devoted Tolkien fan, accomplished it even more splendidly than many could imagine.

The idyllic Shire, the magical Rivendell, the terrifying Ringwraiths, and the fiery Isengard—all were brought to life on the screen.

It was truly admirable, to the point that the filming locations became the world's most popular tourist destinations. The charm of "The Lord of the Rings" was undeniable.

The only regret was that after entering Hollywood's top director circle with this series, Peter Jackson had not achieved much brilliance since then.

It could be said that both his success and failure were thanks to Tolkien.

Setting such a high threshold ended up becoming the most awkward situation.

However, it also left a bold and significant mark in film history.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Peter, Lyman saw more people entering the theater through the red carpet and took the opportunity to excuse himself.

Inside the screening hall, most of the attendees were well-known figures in the film industry—producers, actors, directors, and high-level investors.

They formed their own small groups, chatting and socializing. Lyman casually greeted a few people but didn't try to get too involved in the excitement.

"Congratulations, Lyman."

Hearing the greeting, he turned to see CAA partner Kevin Huvane walking towards him. Kevin appeared enthusiastic and sincere as he said, "Another film with a box office of over a hundred million, impressive."

"Thank you," Lyman replied modestly, "It's just luck."

"Luck? I don't think so. To succeed once could be considered chance, but to achieve success multiple times shows skill, Lyman." Kevin stopped walking and stood beside Lyman, continuing, "Come, let me introduce you to a few people."

Kevin led the way, and Lyman glanced at George, who seemed engrossed in conversation, so he followed Kevin without saying anything.

In the front row of the theater, there was a round table surrounded by many people.

"This is Dirk Jeremiah..."

"This is Liam Jessis..."

"This is Eric Brian..."

Amidst this well-dressed crowd, Kevin enthusiastically introduced Lyman.

These were either New Line Cinema executives or well-known producers within the industry.

Lyman put on his brightest smile and greeted each one.

"I don't need to make any introductions for this one, right?"

"Of course not. Mr. Lourd, long time no see."

With his bald head, Bryan Lourd, a CAA agent, was easy to recognize. He wore a friendly smile as he shook Lyman's hand, which Lyman proactively extended. "Long time no see, Lyman."

After a brief exchange, Lyman's attention returned to the group of New Line Cinema executives led by Dirk Jeremiah.

He wasn't a fool. Kevin's proactive introduction either meant they wanted something from him or CAA had something to discuss.

However, discussions of the latter nature shouldn't take place in this setting and could be arranged privately. Therefore, the only possibility was the former.

Sure enough, Dirk spoke with great sincerity, "Director Lyman, do you have any new film projects lately? New Line Cinema would very much like to collaborate with you."

"There might be opportunities, but I'm currently busy with the film "Fury", and I don't have the time to consider other film genres right now," Lyman politely declined.

It turned out they were trying to see if there was a possibility of collaboration. However, in such matters, while Lyman felt that working with EuropaCorp would be the best option, he didn't close the door completely.

After all, who knows if there might be a chance for collaboration in the future?

Dirk didn't say anything because of this uncertainty either. After all, it was just a try. Establishing a friendly relationship for potential cooperation could prove beneficial in the long run. Who knew when it might come in handy?

Indeed, people always needed to give themselves more opportunities.

After exchanging a few more polite words, Lyman excused himself and left.

Back in his seat, he settled down as the lively premiere began.

As in his memory, this film mainly focused on Frodo, played by Elijah Wood, and Sam, played by Sean Astin, continuing their journey to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring. Meanwhile, Aragorn and the other hobbits, Pippin and Merry, joined a group of new allies, preparing for an assault on Isengard...

The film's runtime was a lengthy 179 minutes, but it never felt tedious or boring. Instead, it left a feeling of unfinished storytelling, making viewers yearn for more. Peter Jackson's skill in controlling the film's pace was undoubtedly exceptional.

However, when the character Gandalf, dressed in white robes, appeared again, it couldn't help but evoke many thoughts in Lyman's mind.

In Tolkien's setting, Gandalf was a Maiar, or in simpler terms, a demi-god. When he was dressed in white, he was already a powerful being, skilled in both melee combat and magic.

But in Peter Jackson's adaptation, perhaps creating the exaggerated magical effects was too challenging. Instead, Gandalf was designed as a pure melee fighter, wielding his staff like a sword.

Over time, humorous discussions surfaced on the internet, such as allocating skill points for wizards in a game. Players would learn only one spell, Light, and invest all remaining skill points into strength and constitution, equipping a two-handed sword. Then, they would simply cast a light spell and rush into combat swinging their weapon.

Thus, they humorously portrayed Gandalf as a close-combat wizard.

Aside from this amusing observation, the rest of the film was quite faithful to the book's scenes. Peter Jackson went to great lengths to faithfully recreate the Battle of Helm's Deep.

Overall, the film was well-made.

The story flowed smoothly, and the parallel narratives didn't feel complicated. The special effects and action scenes were well-done with no major flaws. Combined with the allure of the One Ring, the success of the film was inevitable.

With a runtime of 179 minutes, the film covered many events and left more suspense for the future. The story of Sauron and the One Ring was not yet finished. There was no doubt that the third installment would also be a blockbuster at the box office. This could be easily foreseen.

Film series always pique the audience's interest, with their enthusiasm growing over time. The day when even the most devoted fans of the original work no longer buy into the films would be the end for such projects.

"Congratulations..."

As the movie ended, Lyman extended his compliments once more, then left the premises along with George.