The Greatest Showman #1010 - Innocent Lying Down

The summer season arrived with unexpected speed, almost as though the "awards season" craze hadn't yet faded. In a blink, half of 2012 had already passed, and the heat of midsummer had drawn people out of their homes and into the cinemas to unwind and relax.

This particular summer felt unconventional, with the progression of events exceeding expectations. It wasn't just a sporadic surprise, but rather a series of them.

At the end of March, still a month before the summer rush, "The Hunger Games" hit theaters. Following in the footsteps of the "Twilight" saga, many industry insiders were ready to dismiss it as another youth-oriented, brainless flick. However, it defied expectations.

The media's composite review score sat at 68, IMDB rated it 7.2, and Rotten Tomatoes awarded it 84%. The film was a breakout hit, earning glowing praise for its authenticity, especially the performance of lead actress Jennifer Lawrence. The buzz became an unstoppable force, taking over the otherwise quiet spring season.

Within weeks, "The Hunger Games" had become the year's biggest hit. By May, it had grossed over $400 million in North America and was poised to dominate both the summer and year-end box office lists.

Then, in early May, "The Avengers" made its debut, marking the official beginning of the summer season.

Following four years of anticipation and meticulous buildup since the release of "Iron Man" in 2008, Marvel Studios and Disney invested $220 million into creating "The Avengers." The result lived up to expectations, becoming an immediate phenomenon.

With a composite media score of 69, an IMDB rating of 8.1, and a Rotten Tomatoes score of 92%, the film garnered even higher praise than "The Hunger Games," breaking records and shattering box office expectations.

Opening weekend grossed $207 million—the largest opening in North American film history, surpassing "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 2)." The Avengers' success broke a string of records, including the fastest to hit $100 million and $200 million, solidifying the dominance of comic book adaptations.

Not everyone fared as well. In the second week of May, Tim Burton and Johnny Depp's "Dark Shadows" became the first casualty of the summer, opening with only $29 million.

Warner Bros. would soon face another blow. In the third week of May, Universal Pictures' $210 million project, "Battleship," faced off against "The Avengers" and opened to a paltry $25 million, further underlining the unparalleled success of Marvel's blockbuster.

Despite the losses, the summer was just getting started. June promised a wealth of highly anticipated films: Will Smith's "Men in Black 3," Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth in "Snow White and the Huntsman," DreamWorks' "Madagascar 3," Pixar's "Brave," Ridley Scott's "Prometheus," and Tom Cruise's "Rock of Ages" were all scheduled for release.

In July, the competition would intensify with "The Amazing Spider-Man" and "The Dark Knight Rises," along with "The Bourne Legacy" and "The Expendables 2." The summer of 2012 was shaping up to be a cinematic battleground.

With high stakes and massive budgets, the media quickly dubbed it "the most competitive summer in Hollywood history." While it was uncertain whether box office numbers would break new records, there was no doubt the discussions around summer films reached their peak. The buzz on social media, traditional outlets, and in everyday conversations made movies the focal point of the season.

In the midst of this frenzy, Edge of Tomorrow—starring Renly Hall—was set to release in June. However, it barely made a dent in the conversation. Despite its $130 million budget, the film lacked a breakout moment, and the collaboration between Renly and Jennifer Lawrence failed to spark much excitement.

Their past scandal, which had been denied multiple times, was now largely forgotten. As for Renly, who had been out of the public eye for nearly four months, Jennifer's rising star seemed to eclipse him. In fact, the attention was now on Jennifer's love triangle with co-stars Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth.

Liam, fresh off his success in "The Hunger Games," was gaining more attention than ever. His career, alongside that of his brother Chris Hemsworth, who had risen to fame with "Thor," positioned them both as Hollywood's rising stars.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros. had shifted their focus entirely to Edge of Tomorrow, hoping it would become their summer hit after the disappointing performance of Dark Shadows.

Just before the end of May, an odd rumor surfaced: "Renly Hall: I will not watch 'Snow White and the Huntsman.'" The story spread quickly, sparking online debates, with many speculating it was related to Chris Hemsworth, his rumored feud with Renly, and the ongoing fan rivalry.

The situation escalated when TMZ published a retraction, claiming the rumor was false. But just hours later, another fake story emerged: "Chris Hemsworth: Renly and I were never friends."

Both stars seemed caught off guard, as the situation quickly spun out of control. However, TMZ once again issued a clarification, stating the story was unverified and false.

In the end, both Renly and Chris seemed confused and frustrated by the media circus. Nonetheless, the rumors would keep circulating, fueling fan debates and adding another layer of drama to an already volatile summer.