Director in Hollywood

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace was the latest installment in the Star Wars saga and one of Hollywood's most culturally significant franchises.

Star Wars had an enormous fanbase across North America and the Western world, and every new installment was met with widespread enthusiasm.

Just the four words "Star Wars" combined with the name George Lucas were worth at least seven to eight hundred million at the box office. No wonder 20th Century Fox was so eager—this was a goldmine!

Moreover, Star Wars merchandise had always been the real moneymaker, with the movies serving more as elaborate advertisements for the products.

Gilbert was personally invited by George Lucas to attend the premiere of The Phantom Menace.

Seizing the opportunity to promote The Lord of the Rings, Gilbert invited Anne Hathaway to make an appearance with him at the event.

For Anne Hathaway, attending such a high-profile premiere was a novel experience. She was still new to Hollywood, just a fresh-faced rookie.

Being personally chosen by Gilbert for The Lord of the Rings was already an incredible stroke of luck, one that made many in the industry envious.

Now, she was accompanying Gilbert to the premiere of a George Lucas film—it all felt surreal.

This was Star Wars, after all. Who in America didn't know Star Wars? Only the biggest names in Hollywood were invited to a premiere like this.

To make the best impression on the red carpet, Anne Hathaway's agent carefully selected a white gown adorned with lace and sheer fabric, resembling a wedding dress.

So when she and Gilbert walked onto the red carpet together, they looked as if they were attending their own wedding.

Camera flashes erupted on both sides of the red carpet as reporters snapped photos nonstop, the sheer brightness nearly blinding Anne Hathaway.

Still, she held her composure, smiling and waving to the crowd, trying her best to exude the confidence of a seasoned star.

She was following her agent's instructions—to showcase her most dazzling side.

Meanwhile, in the press section, journalists murmured among themselves.

One reporter, clicking away on his camera, joked, "Don't they look like they're getting married?"

"They really do," another reporter chimed in. "Though I heard this young actress is only seventeen—still underage. Isn't she a little too young?"

"What does age matter? It's not like she's seven or seventy. Seventeen is fine," the first reporter replied. "And remember who Gilbert is—no one's going to make a fuss about this."

"Yeah, and let's not forget that a fifteen-year-old girl, Scarlett Johansson, has been living at Melon Manor for a while now, yet no one seems to talk about that."

"Gilbert isn't MJ. Hollywood's elites have their own… peculiar tastes," another journalist remarked.

"Wait, I thought Scarlett Johansson was just his adopted sister?" someone asked, puzzled.

The other journalist rolled his eyes. "Don't be so naive. It's been long enough—do you really think their relationship is still that innocent?"

If Gilbert had overheard this conversation, he would've shouted his innocence at the top of his lungs.

He had done nothing wrong—he swore it!

If anything, Scarlett was the one constantly making advances, and he had always turned her down. Gilbert felt his self-restraint was commendable.

And besides, at most, the girl had managed a few sneaky hugs before he caught on—there had been no real progress beyond that.

For now, at least.

Gilbert and Anne Hathaway made their way down the red carpet and stopped briefly for an interview.

"I've been a Star Wars fan since I was a kid," Gilbert shared. "I still remember my father taking me to the set of Star Wars when I was little—I was completely mesmerized.

Star Wars was what first inspired me to pursue filmmaking. It's truly a dream-making franchise."

The red carpet host, knowing Gilbert had brought Anne Hathaway to the event, made sure to give her some time in the spotlight.

The next question was directed at her: "You're about to work with Gilbert—how do you feel about that?"

By now, The Lord of the Rings cast had been officially announced. Apart from Nicole Kidman, most of the other actors were second or third-tier stars in Hollywood.

Anne Hathaway, a complete newcomer, was the freshest face among them.

This was her first major interview, and she felt a little nervous.

But she quickly steadied herself and answered confidently.

"I'm incredibly excited. Gilbert is a legendary director," she said. "At the same time, I feel a lot of pressure—it's both a challenge and a motivation for me."

Cleverly, Anne Hathaway shifted the conversation back to The Phantom Menace:

"Like Gilbert, I've been a Star Wars fan for as long as I can remember. So when he asked me if I wanted to come to the premiere, I agreed without hesitation."

After a brief round of interviews, Gilbert led Anne Hathaway into the screening hall.

Inside, many of Hollywood's biggest names were already mingling and chatting.

But as soon as Gilbert entered, conversations momentarily paused, and eyes turned in his direction.

Those who knew him quickly approached, eager to exchange pleasantries and strengthen their connections.

For Gilbert, this kind of event was second nature by now.

But for Anne Hathaway, it was a bit of a shock. She had never interacted with so many Hollywood bigwigs before. More importantly, Gilbert was introducing her to these influential figures.

What did this mean? It meant Gilbert was looking out for her. These were connections that could be invaluable in the future!

This was the first time Anne Hathaway truly experienced the benefits of being associated with a major Hollywood player. A warm feeling spread through her heart.

Hollywood was full of wonderful people, all so charming. Especially Gilbert—handsome, considerate, and always looking after others.

As her thoughts wandered elsewhere, Anne Hathaway's face flushed red, like a ripened apple.

"Is this your new girlfriend?" Natalie Portman walked over. She was one of the lead actresses in The Phantom Menace.

"Uh," Gilbert raised an eyebrow. "She's the lead actress in my new film—Anne Hathaway."

"Hello, I'm Anne Hathaway, from Brooklyn, New York," Anne introduced herself, following the etiquette she had just observed while greeting the other Hollywood figures.

However, Natalie Portman completely ignored her and continued speaking to Gilbert. "I lost our bet last time. I was supposed to treat you to ice cream. Why didn't you show up?"

Gilbert chuckled. "Nat, you're too charming. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to resist committing a crime."

Natalie Portman rolled her eyes and bluntly called him out. "Hypocrite. Every woman around you is more beautiful than me. You really expect me to believe you'd be interested in me?

If you were truly interested, you'd know that America is one of the few developed countries without a proper underage protection law."

What did she mean by that? Gilbert wondered—was Natalie Portman implying she wanted him to make a move?

Meanwhile, Anne Hathaway was growing annoyed. This girl seemed to be around her age, yet she acted so aloof and condescending. Who did she think she was? Talking to Gilbert like that.

Anne Hathaway didn't understand that Natalie Portman was a deeply calculating person. No one could guess what was going on in her mind.

Still, Natalie Portman didn't seem to treat Gilbert as an outsider. She said, "I think an actor should have a solid academic background, so I'm considering going back to university.

If possible, I'd like to return to Jerusalem."

Gilbert, who had some knowledge of Natalie Portman's career path from his past life, knew that she had indeed followed through with this plan.

It was also part of the reason why, despite having only a handful of notable works—The Phantom Menace, Black Swan (which won her an Oscar), and of course, Léon: The Professional, which many considered a classic—she had managed to maintain her A-list status in Hollywood.

When it came to ambition and strategic career moves, only Nicole Kidman could rival Natalie Portman.

"Well, I wish you success in your studies, Nat. I look forward to the day you return." Gilbert said.

"Would you come with me?" Natalie Portman asked.

For some reason, Gilbert saw a hint of anticipation in her eyes. However, he refused. "Nat, I've already gone through university and earned my degree.

As for Jerusalem, to be honest, I have no desire to go there."

"Oh, right!" Natalie Portman suddenly recalled something. "I heard you're a liberal—against us returning to where we belong."

"No," Gilbert corrected her. "I'm against harming innocent civilians and then playing the victim."

Natalie Portman stared at Gilbert for a long moment before saying, "It seems we have different beliefs."

"Everyone has their own perspective. It's normal to disagree," Gilbert replied.

"Perhaps." Natalie Portman lost interest in continuing the conversation. Before leaving, she glanced at Anne Hathaway and said, "I heard you're playing the female lead in Gilbert's new movie. Congratulations."

Anne Hathaway smiled. She had noticed that Gilbert didn't seem particularly fond of this girl, which gave her a boost of confidence.

"Thank you. I'm grateful for Director Gilbert's trust in me."

Natalie Portman offered one last piece of advice: "Stay away from him. He's not a good person. Be careful, or you'll fall too deep and won't be able to get out."

With that, she returned to the main cast's seating area.

Anne Hathaway was confused. She turned to Gilbert and asked, "What did she mean by that?"

Gilbert shrugged. "She meant you should keep your distance from me—I'm a bad guy."

The cryptic exchange left Anne Hathaway puzzled. She still didn't understand what was going on.

How could Gilbert be a bad person? He was polite, respectful, and incredibly gentlemanly toward her.

Most importantly, he had given her an opportunity—he was practically the best person in Hollywood!

The premiere itself went smoothly without any surprises.

From a filmmaker's perspective, Gilbert thought The Phantom Menace was rather average.

In particular, Natalie Portman's portrayal of Padmé Amidala and her romantic subplot with Anakin Skywalker were painfully awkward—enough to give the audience secondhand embarrassment.

But this was Star Wars. Despite its shortcomings, the movie's success was inevitable.

In its opening weekend alone, The Phantom Menace grossed a staggering $70.825 million, setting a new record for the highest opening weekend box office in North America.

Gilbert recalled that in his past life, the film had only made around $64 million in its debut weekend.

His presence in this timeline had caused a significant butterfly effect, driving the box office even higher.

Such an astronomical opening weekend figure proved just how much North American audiences loved Star Wars.

At this rate, The Phantom Menace was on track to become a massive box office hit.

Fox was about to make a fortune.

...

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