The Greatest Showman#741 - crowd of people

The crowd surged like a relentless wave, a vast sea of people pushing forward, their energy overwhelming. Among them, Tessa struggled to maintain her balance. Her body swayed from side to side, and her feet lifted off the ground so often it felt like she could float away at any moment. She had to tighten her toes to feel the pull of gravity, grounding herself before she lost control.

The screams erupted once again, and although Tessa's ears had become accustomed to the deafening noise, the sound of the crowd's hysteria now felt like it was ingrained in her very being.

Through the dense throng ahead of her, she could spot the red carpet, and then, through the flashes of cameras, she saw Ryan Gosling's silhouette. The bright lights seemed to open a floodgate of energy, and the rising tide of shrieks from the crowd reached a fever pitch. The air felt charged with heat, pushing the excitement of the premiere to a new, uncontrollable height.

Although the event had originally been planned as a modest premiere, it had quickly transformed into something far grander, much to everyone's surprise.

One by one, stars from the Anti-Cancer Me cast appeared on the red carpet. Anjelica Huston, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jonathan Levine, and others stepped out, gradually stoking the flames of excitement.

The arrival of Scarlett Johansson was the first major highlight. As one of Hollywood's most dazzling and controversial stars, her appearance stirred the crowd into a frenzy. Scarlett had posted a Twitter message earlier, teasing her attendance, which only added fuel to the fire: "This Thursday night at Lincoln Center, anyone joining me?" Her fans had speculated for weeks about her connection to Renly Hall and the film, and now she was here in person, only adding to the buzz. Her appearance set off a wave of fervor, and it was clear that her fans were among the most vocal in the crowd. Perhaps, this excitement explained the premiere's overwhelming intensity. On Twitter, the film had been a hot topic for weeks, with everyone eagerly anticipating this night. But no one had expected so many stars to show up.

And Scarlett was just the beginning.

Next came three of Hollywood's funniest women—Kristen Wiig, Rose Byrne, and Melissa McCarthy. The trio had taken the world by storm with Bridesmaids, and their presence tonight only added to the energy surrounding the red carpet.

The arrival of Ellen DeGeneres, Jay Leno with his wife, and James Franco further fueled the excitement, demonstrating just how strong Renly's Hollywood connections were. During an interview, Ellen jokingly remarked, "I've been waiting for Renly's premiere invite for ages. He didn't even send one, so I had to call Seth and ask for one myself! We're going to have a serious talk. I've been waiting for Anti-Cancer Me to come out. I don't care for the usual rom-coms, but I've heard this one is about a hero suffering, so I'm hoping it's more intense than Buried Alive."

Her playful comment ignited laughter in the crowd, lifting the atmosphere even higher. The night was a whirlwind of star power, celebrities, and unrelenting energy.

It was so chaotic that when Anna Kendrick, Seth Rogen, and Will Rissel arrived, they felt more like guests at a party than the hosts of the event. The scene was so overwhelming that even they seemed dazed by the magnitude of it all. They joined James Franco's group, adding to the confusion and excitement.

Then, the crowd erupted again as Ryan Gosling made his entrance. The frenzy of shrieks reached an all-time high. Ryan had been one of the most talked-about actors this summer, with his performances in Crazy, Stupid, Love and The Notebook earning him a devoted fanbase. It was clear from the uproar that he was one of the most beloved stars of the new generation.

Tessa could see the front railing shaking, and the two security guards had to turn around, signaling for calm, but their calls were drowned out by the wave of over 5,000 excited fans. Their attempts to control the crowd had little effect in the face of such overwhelming enthusiasm.

Seth, Will, and others in the interview area couldn't help but laugh, watching the spectacle unfold. It almost felt as though it was Ryan's debut, with the others merely along for the ride.

Just when Tessa thought the night couldn't possibly get any more intense, the cast from Edge of Tomorrow arrived. Paul Walker, Alexander Skarsgard, and Jennifer Lawrence—all major stars—caused another wave of excitement. Their appearance was a clear signal that Renly's entrance wasn't far behind.

The press, already buzzing with excitement, scrambled to find more stories. The crowd, already on edge, exploded with energy once again, their enthusiasm undeterred.

Suddenly, Tessa felt a force pushing her forward, almost as if the crowd itself was propelling her. She struggled to keep her balance, like a boat tossed by the waves. As she stretched her neck to look ahead, she saw the red carpet still empty, and Renly had yet to appear. The anticipation was palpable.

She turned to see William, Graham, and the others trying to hold their ground against the surging crowd. It was no easy task.

Looking past William's shoulders, Tessa noticed the raised arms of the crowd behind her, each person holding their phones or cameras, trying to capture the excitement. The growing trend of smartphone photography in 2011 made this moment feel like history in the making.

"I read about the Breaking Dawn premiere earlier, and now I get it," Tessa shouted, helplessly watching the chaos around her.

William chuckled, "I don't think Renly would appreciate being compared to Breaking Dawn."

Their humor briefly broke the tension, and a few nearby people laughed in agreement.

As the crowd continued to swell, the term "fanatic" felt strangely fitting. In Hollywood, such intense enthusiasm was often reserved for pop stars rather than movie stars, but tonight, the fans were beyond wild.

Tessa's eyes narrowed as she finally heard the faint sound of her friends exclaiming, "Master! Master!" It was Renly. The moment the word left their lips, the crowd screamed in unison, and the noise reached an unbearable level. The euphoria in the air was so thick it was almost tangible.

Tessa stood on tiptoe, straining to catch a glimpse. There, at the far end of the carpet, was the silhouette she had been waiting for—the one who had ignited this wave of madness.

Before she could take it all in, the roar of the crowd crescendoed once more. The world seemed to explode with joy, and Tessa couldn't help but scream along with the rest of them, her heart racing, her voice blending with the chaos around her.

It was Renly, and the night had reached its boiling point.