1071-1075

*Chapter 1071: Performing Interactions*

Performing is a form of interaction—unless it's a one-man show.

The back-and-forth between actors often sparks chemistry.

On set, it's common to see the camera focusing on one actor, while their scene partner stands behind the camera, helping with lines, correcting eye contact, and completing the performance—even if they’re not on camera. Actors need to work together to complete a scene.

Sometimes, a big-name actor might refuse to help. Or the other actor could be filming a different scene or busy with makeup, and the crew might send in someone else to fill in.

In this situation, how one acts during this kind of stand-in is also crucial.

There are good scene partners, bad scene partners, and those who just go through the motions.

In this particular scene, Kristen’s shaky performance partly came from not having the right scene partner.

Originally, Peter’s role was filled by a crew member, helping Kristen keep the rhythm of the scene.

In theory, it wasn’t hard.

After all, this was a theater setting. Peter Parker wasn't supposed to interrupt the performance; he just silently mouthed a greeting, and that was it.

But in reality, it wasn’t that simple.

In this scene, Peter Parker also undergoes a mental shift.

Because of his superhero duties, Peter’s personal life is a mess, watching helplessly as it falls apart bit by bit.

But today, Peter has had enough.

He decides he deserves happiness, that he’s ready to give up his Spider-Man powers and return to a normal college life.

And most importantly, he’s finally worked up the courage to go after Mary Jane.

Peter wants to tell her that rejecting her was a mistake, that he’s always had feelings for her, always liked her, and never really forgot about her.

He believes he should chase after happiness.

So...

Peter comes to see her performance, without telling her in advance.

It’s a surprise.

But behind that surprise, there’s also shyness and unease, excitement and nervousness.

On the one hand, he doesn’t know how Mary Jane will react, or how to win her back.

On the other hand, he’s full of hope, ready to start a new life—his college, his love life, his future is just beginning.

A little bit of contradiction, a little bit of tension.

In this scene, Peter too is experiencing a turning point.

So, when Mary Jane notices Peter, she’s not the only one taken aback—Peter’s also overwhelmed.

In the previous version, Tobey Maguire played this scene stiffly and awkwardly, without depth or nuance, simply overjoyed.

The upside was that it kept Peter Parker looking innocent, like a high schooler.

The downside was that despite all his trials, Peter hadn’t grown at all, and his character arc fell flat.

Anson didn’t want that.

Although today’s camera was focused solely on Kristen, with no chance for Anson to perform, he wasn’t going to just phone it in.

Acting can be a rehearsal for developing your own character and also a chance for the other actor to find inspiration.

Besides, as he watched this scene unfold, the fourth wall between the film and reality had completely broken, and Anson was having fun.

A little excitement, a little anxiety; a little happiness, a little nervousness—Peter’s smile bloomed across his face. But quickly, he noticed Mary Jane’s confusion, and his mind went blank.

The performance was in danger of becoming a disaster.

Peter didn’t want Mary Jane’s show to be ruined either, so he straightened up, focused on her, and with a look of gentle strength, locked eyes with her.

Then, slowly and deliberately, Peter mouthed the words:

"I. Am. Happy."

This was Peter, but also Anson.

Amid the chaos, Kristen noticed Anson’s mouthing, and without realizing it, her own smile began to rise again.

At the same time, a voice echoed from the stage, “Are you saying you’re not happy with this?”

Finally, Kristen snapped back to reality, her thoughts slowly returning to the moment.

She glanced at Anson, smiled, then turned to the actor on stage, seeing his panicked but trying-to-stay-calm expression, and the stage manager in the wings holding his head in despair—her smile grew even lighter.

“Yes… I… I’m happy…”

Stumbling a little, Kristen had returned to the scene, both as Mary Jane and as Mary Jane performing in a stage play.

It was like layers upon layers.

With so many layers, Kristen was a bit disoriented, momentarily forgetting her lines—

The whole scene became even more absurd.

“…when you say it like that.”

Kristen was still pushing the lines out slowly, like squeezing toothpaste.

The actor on stage must have been sweating bullets, unable to hide his relief as he exhaled a long breath, while the stage manager in the wings nearly collapsed to his knees.

“In fact, I must admit, it’s more than just a little bad…”

This sight made Kristen’s lips twitch as she tried to hold back laughter.

Instinctively, she turned her head forward again and easily spotted Anson in the crowd. She looked up and let out a sigh of relief, her expression showing she had survived the ordeal.

Anson’s lips twitched as well, almost breaking, but he quickly lowered his head, using his left hand to push down his smile, then looked up and signaled with his eyes:

Focus. Stay focused.

After that brief moment of chaos, Kristen had fully regained her composure. Noticing Anson’s expression, she leaned back in her chair with an air of nonchalance, crossing her legs with a slight tip of her toe, perfectly embodying a high-and-mighty posture.

It was so vivid.

“Cut!”

Sam Raimi’s voice rang out, ending the shoot.

This time, before Sam or Kristen could speak, the crew behind the monitor couldn’t hold back any longer.

Laughter. Laughter everywhere.

Sam: ???

Utterly confused, Sam looked around at the crew, his serious expression quickly silencing the laughter.

The atmosphere, which had just been light-hearted, suddenly felt like it had plunged into ice.

But Sam didn’t seem to care, slowly rising from behind the monitor, expressionless as he scanned the room. Just as the air grew thick with tension, he broke the silence.

“Perfect.”

With that, Sam raised both thumbs up.

It was only then that people noticed the slight smile creeping onto Sam’s face.

As it turns out, Sam had been messing with them all along.

Groans and cheers erupted as the entire crew burst into noise, each person overwhelmed, sweating, and calling out in mock protest. Sam stood there, utterly satisfied, watching the chaos unfold.

*Chapter 1072: After the Rain, the Sky Clears*

"Director! Jesus Christ!"

"I almost threw up my lunch."

"I can't stop laughing, but I don't find it funny. I think I've gone mad."

There was a wave of complaints, protests, and laughter—chaos filled the room.

The extras in the public theater were completely bewildered, stunned, and had no idea what was happening. One moment, the entire crew was on edge, repeatedly shooting and failing, unable to make any progress. The next moment, it seemed like everyone had collectively lost their minds, as if they were high on helium, with reason flying out the window.

They looked around in confusion.

But, to be fair, although they didn't understand what had just happened, the atmosphere of the latest take felt different, as if a weight had been lifted.

So, that's a good thing, right?

All eyes turned to the stage, focusing on Christen.

At that moment, Christen was slumped in a chair, her shoulders and limbs completely relaxed, her gaze fixed on the audience, chuckling quietly.

Without stopping, Christen looked again in the direction of the monitor.

"Director, are you sure?"

When it comes to acting, the actor always knows best.

Christen had to admit that her recent performance was filled with mistakes—there were moments of hesitation, missed lines, and distractions. It was far from professional. Yet somehow, the performance flowed smoothly, seamlessly transitioning between reality and illusion.

It was half acting, half genuine.

The line between the two blurred.

Christen didn't have time to doubt herself or feel frustrated; she was completely carried away by the impact of reality, letting her emotions run wild within the framework of the performance. It all came together naturally.

The details flowed effortlessly.

When the scene ended, it felt like a weight had been lifted, the pressure on her shoulders dissipating without a trace.

It had been a long time since Christen had experienced such a unique performance.

The chaos remained, but there was also an undeniable sense of satisfaction.

She almost... enjoyed it.

But this was just the actor's perspective.

Maybe that sense of satisfaction was just an illusion.

Or perhaps her standards for a good performance didn't match the director's.

In the end, the director's opinion was what mattered.

Sam met Christen's gaze and gave a thumbs-up.

"Everything's perfect."

Sam had no idea how Christen had managed to transform so suddenly, how her performance became so smooth and detailed. But he had a bold theory—maybe it had something to do with Anson.

Sam raised his voice. "Maybe you should thank your scene partner."

Christen laughed heartily. "I agree."

With a quick motion, Christen stood up from her chair, strode to the front of the stage, and dramatically dropped to the ground, extending her right hand.

Slap!

Christen and Anson completed a high-five.

A smile crept onto Christen's face. "Welcome back."

The crowd stirred.

People could no longer contain themselves. One by one, they turned their attention to Christen and Anson.

"Anson... Anson, Anson..."

The murmurs and whispers couldn't be suppressed.

It wasn't just the extras; even the rest of the crew finally took notice—Anson Wood, the film's undeniable male lead, had returned to the set.

The previously dull and lifeless atmosphere of the crew instantly became electric. Excitement and enthusiasm spread like wildfire, overwhelming any attempt to hold it back.

Word spread quickly from one person to the next:

Anson is back!

It didn’t take keen insight to notice the shift in the air. The mood in the entire theater changed, brightening as if the clouds had cleared, filling the room with vibrant energy.

Even seeing it with their own eyes, it was hard to believe that this was all because of Anson.

No wonder, when Sony-Columbia had tried to stir up trouble, the entire crew had stood firmly by Anson's side. At first, they thought it was out of sympathy due to his injury, but now it was clear that the situation was far more complicated than that.

Reed Diamond felt a twinge of anxiety.

He had just been on stage with Christen, performing a scene. In the film, Reed played the actor who shared the stage with Mary Jane.

The shoot had been grueling, and apart from the extras, Reed had suffered the most. But as a small supporting actor, Reed didn’t have much say in the matter. He just had to soldier on and handle everything himself.

And then, out of nowhere, the shoot was completed in one smooth take.

Just like that?

Reed was still dazed, standing on stage, unsure of what to do.

When he noticed Anson, the 37-year-old actor still didn't know how to react. He stood frozen in place, scratching his head awkwardly.

In fact, Reed wanted to approach Anson and introduce himself. But he hesitated, thinking he wasn’t important enough. After all, none of the other extras dared to cozy up to him either. Anson was the star of the show—what did Reed matter?

Reed took a deep breath, summoning his courage.

Anson was just another actor, another person. No need to scare himself. As a fellow actor, what was wrong with saying hello?

Trembling slightly, Reed stepped forward, not noticing how stiff and awkward his movements had become.

He was too busy worrying about how to start the conversation.

When Reed had joined the cast, Anson was in the hospital, so they’d had no interaction. Should he welcome Anson back first or introduce himself?

As he hesitated, slowly inching forward, he realized that Anson had already noticed him.

Reed said, "Hey."

He felt like a fool.

But Anson didn't seem to mind. "Hey, Reed. Sorry for interrupting your performance earlier. I hope it didn’t throw you off."

Reed: ...

He was stunned.

Christen noticed. "Reed?"

Reed finally snapped out of it, staring intently at Anson. "You know who I am?"

Anson nodded. "Of course. ‘Homicide: Life on the Street,’ Detective Mike Kellerman."

Reed felt like he’d been hit in the throat, unable to believe his ears.

It might sound unbelievable, but Reed had been working in Hollywood for a full decade, even longer than Christen. He was mostly active on television, often in recurring roles.

Yet after ten years, Reed still hadn’t had a breakthrough in his career. Even when he appeared in films, his roles were often limited to a few lines—like in Spider-Man 2.

That’s Hollywood for you. Beyond the 1% of glamorous success, the challenges faced by the remaining 99% are far greater than people realize.

Reed wasn’t much different from the extras around him. Acting was just a job, a nine-to-five office gig. The fame, the spotlight—it had nothing to do with him.

Did Reed want success?

He dreamed of it.

He didn’t have grand expectations. He didn’t need the general public to know his name or recognize his face. He just hoped that when he joined a cast, he wouldn’t have to introduce himself over and over.

If just one person could remember his name—just one person—that would be enough.

After all, he had been on TV for ten years.

Today, that dream came true, and it came from none other than Anson.

Reed was overwhelmed.

*Chapter 1073: Support and Admiration*

Anson knew Reed Diamond—

In fact, those supporting actors in movies and TV shows often have their unique charm, no less than the main characters.

Reed was one of those actors.

You could see him in films like The Purge and Moneyball, and even more often on TV, with regular roles in shows like Hostages, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Bones, White Collar, Desperate Housewives, 24, The West Wing, and so on.

He wasn’t just a guest star for a single episode; he played regular roles.

Maybe Reed wasn’t always the spotlight-stealing character, but for TV show lovers, he was someone you definitely wouldn’t miss.

Back in 2003, Reed was still relatively unknown, with his career not quite taking off yet. However, even in a cutthroat place like Hollywood, true talent like Reed's doesn’t go unnoticed.

Becoming a star requires an unbelievable number of factors, and even then, success is far from guaranteed. But skilled “blue-collar” actors are always in demand. Unlike those fleeting shooting stars who burn brightly and then disappear, these actors form the backbone of the Hollywood acting community.

Mark Ruffalo fits that type of mold.

And Reed Diamond is another one.

In fact, Spider-Man 2's cast had plenty of actors like him—those who went a step further after the first movie in the series.

For example, Daniel Gillies, who later gained fame with The Vampire Diaries, played Mary Jane's boyfriend.

Other notable actors who made small appearances in the film include Joel McHale from Community, Emily Deschanel from Bones, Hal Sparks from Queer as Folk, and Daniel Dae Kim from Lost.

Once again, this shows how small the world of Hollywood really is.

Not everyone starts off as the leading star; stories of climbing from extras to leads actually happen in real life.

So…

When Anson saw Reed, he felt a wave of familiarity. In Spider-Man 2, Reed’s talent seemed underused, playing a minor role as Mary Jane’s theater partner without even a close-up shot. But for Reed, it was still an opportunity to be cherished—a chance for more similar roles in the future.

Just like when Anson took on The Princess Diaries—any chance was a good one, and every opportunity had to be grabbed.

There was no ego, no pretentiousness, and no arrogance—none of it was necessary.

Anson could genuinely feel Reed’s excitement and nervousness, so he teased him a bit, “What? A bit disappointed seeing me in person?”

“Don’t worry, you’re not the first to say that. I’m used to it,” Reed said with a grin.

By all accounts, Reed had the upper hand—experience, age, and knowledge of the industry. He should’ve been the one in control of the conversation, but it was Reed who felt a bit out of place.

Reed waved his hands, “No, no, no, you’re much more handsome than I imagined.”

Anson glanced at Kristen, “See? Not everyone agrees with you.”

Kristen rolled her eyes, “You’re just not my type, how many times do I have to say it?”

Reed blinked, “You’re not my type either.”

One second, two seconds passed.

Kristen broke into laughter without holding back.

Anson gave Reed a mock-sad look, “I know, but thanks for clearing it up anyway.”

This time, Reed couldn’t help but let a smile creep onto his face.

The mood lightened up, and the heavy atmosphere hovering over them suddenly disappeared.

All of it, just because Anson had returned.

It was hard to believe that the arrival of just one person could change the entire working environment of the film crew.

If you told an outsider, no one would believe it—

They’d assume the crew was just trying to rebuild their image, making an effort to repair the damage and losses caused by Sony Columbia. People would think the crew was exaggerating to create an image of harmony and joy.

Otherwise, how could one person, Anson, turn around the entire crew’s atmosphere?

But for those who worked in the crew, they knew:

It was true.

To be honest, with all that had happened with Sony Columbia, Anson had already earned enough sympathy points. His public image was as perfect as it could get. The crew didn’t need, nor were they in a position, to keep promoting him.

On the contrary, Anson won the support of the crew through his own hard work and dedication.

Perhaps, in the cynical world of Hollywood, there was still some genuine emotion.

Perhaps, even in a high-pressure work environment, there were still moments of pure joy.

On one side, the actors gathered around Anson, chatting and laughing.

On the other side, Sam also relaxed, not rushing to interrupt Anson. He quietly stood by, watching as everyone came up to greet Anson, whether it was a high-five or just a touch, welcoming him back to the crew—

Every single person.

In just three weeks, the crew had gone through a roller coaster of emotions alongside Anson. Even though they weren’t in the eye of the storm, they had been on a bumpy ride, full of worry and fear. Now, seeing Anson safe and sound, they genuinely welcomed him back.

Finally, after all the turmoil, things inexplicably returned to normal. It wasn’t just relief and joy; it was a sense of euphoria after surviving a disaster.

In the crowd, Sam spotted Sean Graham.

At this point, Sean had shed his shyness and hesitance, confidently walking up to Anson to chat. Instead of drowning in guilt and self-blame, he turned those feelings into motivation to move forward, doing everything in his power to prevent something like this from happening again.

More importantly, Anson was true to his word. The stunt team was now researching more scientific and effective wire rigging methods, aiming to provide better safety measures for Hollywood stunt teams.

The stunt crew, always important but often overlooked, was finally getting the attention they deserved.

Now, when Sean looked at Anson, his eyes were full of admiration.

That wasn’t something you could buy with words or money. It had to be earned with genuine feelings, through shared experiences, and by standing shoulder to shoulder.

When Sam had originally chosen Anson as Spider-Man, it was undeniable that he liked Anson’s unique charm—it wasn’t just about likability.

But even Sam hadn’t expected that this young man, who everyone mocked as a “pretty face,” would quietly become the heart of the entire crew, an irreplaceable source of spirit and strength.

The recent accident had been visible to everyone. But even before that, Anson had already won over Sam and the writing team by actively contributing to script discussions and showing a sincere dedication to making the movie better. Their trust and reliance on him had far surpassed what they had imagined.

What Sam saw now was pure, one hundred percent genuine.

*Chapter 1074: Recovery and Return*

Laughter and chatter filled the air. The entire public theater was bustling with excitement, like a sea of vibrant flowers.

For a brief moment, everyone forgot that filming was still ongoing, and the crew’s work wasn't finished. They were simply overwhelmed with joy and happiness at Anson's return, eager to express their genuine emotions as they surrounded him in a lively commotion.

And what about Anson?

With his usual charm and wit, he responded to the endless waves of greetings and heartfelt moments. He skillfully handled the busy situation without missing anyone, effortlessly turning the filming set into a social gathering.

The atmosphere was joyous.

At that moment, all feelings of pressure and anxiety melted away—there was no hint of gloom or frustration.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and this didn’t all happen overnight.

From "Spider-Man" to "Spider-Man 2," the world outside had changed drastically. The once-criticized superhero movies had now become the center of attention across North America. However, within the crew, nothing seemed to have changed—they maintained their original passion.

This was a good thing.

Sam had become more convinced that the key to "Spider-Man's" success lay with Anson. So as they looked forward to the second film continuing the miracle, the path ahead for the crew had never been clearer.

Phew.

Sam let out a soft sigh of relief, grateful that the power struggles at Sony Columbia hadn’t led to any foolish decisions that could make both the crew and the company regret it.

Or maybe he should be thankful that Anson, as a young man, was willing to fight back and stand his ground. Clearly, Anson wasn’t about to back down in front of a giant like Sony Columbia.

Only when the excitement finally calmed down a bit did Sam step forward.

"Hey, kid, welcome back."

"So, how are you feeling? Ready to go?"

Sam wasn’t great with words, but even a simple sentence carried so much emotion.

Anson looked at Sam with a smile. "What if I say I'm not ready? How much time would you give me?"

Sam thought seriously for a moment, "Three minutes."

Anson made a goofy face.

Everyone burst into laughter.

Sam’s expression remained serious. "Since you're here, why don’t we continue with this scene? Kristen has two more shots, then we’ll move on to your part."

Anson replied, "Can I object?"

Sam thought for a moment, "You can. But I’ll reject it."

Hahaha—

Such a scene was rare, with the director cracking jokes not just once, but twice.

Not only did the crew laugh, but even the extras joined in.

Anson spread his hands, "Alright then, let’s get back to work. Seems like we have some catching up to do."

His light-hearted teasing drew groans from the crew, who, for once, didn’t hide their "complaints," but their smiles told a different story.

...

"Anson is back!"

A single sentence from the news carried incredible impact, instantly grabbing everyone’s attention.

TMZ, as always, was the first to break the story. Over the past month, the gossip website had dominated the headlines. People hated it, attacked it, criticized it, and boycotted it, but nothing could stop its growth—

Like mold.

Stubborn, wild, and spreading everywhere.

And here it was again.

TMZ was the first to report the news, complete with photos and a story.

Judging by the photos, TMZ’s location was outside the public theater, in the evening. The "Spider-Man 2" crew had just wrapped up a full day of filming. Anson, Kristen, Reed, and other actors, along with the crew, were seen leaving together, smiling and chatting as they finished for the day.

The group headed to an Italian family restaurant for dinner, and the small surprise was that the main crew members joined them later.

Including Sam Raimi.

For those closely following the "Spider-Man" crew, they’d know Sam was always a lone wolf. He was not only shy but also a bit of a recluse. He rarely participated in any crew gatherings, always keeping a clear line between work and personal life.

This time, Sam’s appearance was both unexpected and a delight, even surprising the crew, who immediately started cheering.

The dinner didn’t last long, with alcohol limited to just beer. The whole thing wrapped up in less than two hours, clearly under control.

Even so, the good mood among the crew was evident.

In the end, TMZ concluded that Anson had officially recovered and returned to the "Spider-Man 2" crew, ready to get back to work.

One stone stirred up a thousand waves!

TMZ had done it again, seizing the public’s attention and causing a storm of speculation—

Worth noting, this was Anson's first public appearance in three whole weeks!

Since the accident on the New Jersey set, Anson had been completely isolated in the hospital, with all news sealed off—let alone any photos.

Naturally, rumors ran wild. With Sony Columbia’s internal drama, countless conspiracy theories flooded the internet.

There were even rumors that Anson was disfigured.

Like Montgomery Clift.

This classic Hollywood heartthrob from the Golden Age, once on par with Marlon Brando, had taken the world by storm. At seventeen, he became a sensation on Broadway, and Hollywood begged him to make movies, but he refused, staying loyal to Broadway. Finally, at twenty-six, after Hollywood met all his demands, he began acting in films.

He rose to stardom, effortlessly winning the hearts of audiences and countless admirers in the industry.

However, at thirty-six, a car accident left one side of his face paralyzed, ruining not only his looks but his ability to act naturally. This destroyed Montgomery’s confidence and pride, and he never fully recovered.

At forty-five, Montgomery Clift died of a heart attack after years of heavy drinking.

Many forums were convinced that Anson was following in Montgomery's tragic footsteps.

But there was no evidence.

Yet, Anson remained out of sight, fueling even more speculation, and not even Sony Columbia's clarifications could stop it.

Until now.

Finally!

After much waiting, Anson reappeared.

On one side, the "Spider-Man 2" set had been deserted, with attention plunging, and the usual crowds nowhere to be seen.

On the other, Anson’s return reignited the frenzy. Within just one afternoon, the paparazzi were back in full swing.

This tiny detail showed how Anson’s market influence was deepening, drawing all eyes toward him.

And then, the explosion of discussion—

In the TMZ photos, Anson was still Anson. There was no visible change. Far from being disfigured, you couldn’t even tell he’d been injured.

Everything was fine, as if nothing had happened in the past three weeks.

Chapter 1075: Let the Bullets Fly

Anson is back.

Just one sentence, and that was enough.

Overnight, all kinds of strange opinions flooded major forums. Not just online—radio stations, TV, and newspapers all joined in.

Various conspiracy theories flourished again, dazzling everyone with their wild speculations.

Some claimed that the photos were too blurry to see clearly. They couldn’t be 100% sure it was Anson; it could be a body double. They speculated that Anson was disfigured and undergoing plastic surgery, and Sony Columbia realized it would take far longer than expected, so they sent out a double to distract the public.

“Otherwise, why would Sam, who never attends parties, show up there?”

Some believed Anson’s injuries were actually very severe and that he was still in critical condition, possibly even at risk of becoming comatose. Fearing this news would leak and throw them into a crisis, Sony Columbia released this smokescreen to divert attention.

“This is the only explanation. Otherwise, why hasn’t Anson appeared publicly? No interviews, no footage—nothing!”

Others flipped the narrative: “You’re all wrong! Anson was never hurt in the first place. This is all just hype, including the story of Sony Columbia replacing him. It’s all part of a PR stunt to promote Spider-Man 2.”

“This is the most logical explanation. Why else would Sony Columbia suddenly prepare to replace Anson?”

And then there was the most outlandish theory, silently capturing everyone’s attention.

According to this version, Anson was already dead.

Sony Columbia was caught completely off-guard, and it was entirely their fault. The Wood family was furious and planning to take Sony Columbia to court, demanding record-breaking compensation. The situation had spiraled out of control, and now Sony Columbia was trying to avoid public backlash by diverting attention at all costs.

The Wood family not only targeted Sony Columbia but also went after the entire crew. The whole production was on edge, with everyone living in fear, so they all played along with the “real and fake Anson” charade.

Ridiculous! Absurd!

It was so far-fetched that people couldn’t even be bothered to refute it.

But because of that, netizens started to believe it. One by one, they rushed to share the “truth,” eager to expose it to everyone.

The commotion was louder and more chaotic than anyone could’ve imagined. Even TMZ hadn’t anticipated things would escalate this much, as if all of North America had gone mad.

But that’s reality—

The text could only capture a tiny fraction of the madness, barely conveying how it swept everyone up like a tornado.

Fortunately, these wild conspiracy theories were still a minority view. Most people remained rational, or at least didn’t let their imaginations run wild.

According to TMZ’s photos, Anson had indeed appeared and returned to the set. He might have even completed an afternoon of shooting.

This was good news—huge news.

Could it mean that the stormy chaos of the past three weeks was finally calming down, and things were back on track after all the setbacks?

Eve: Yes.

The morning after TMZ released the photos, Eve, on behalf of Anson, issued an official statement:

Anson had fully recovered and returned to the set immediately to resume work.

Anson had always been thinking about the crew, focusing on his recovery to return as soon as possible, blah blah blah. He believed this would be an excellent movie, blah blah blah. He sincerely thanked everyone for their concern, blah blah blah. Despite the challenges ahead, Anson would give it his all, blah blah blah.

The official statement was filled with clichés.

In short: everything is fine. Thank you, everyone.

This was Anson’s official statement, sent out to all major media outlets in the form of a press release—

But a small detail, one that very few people noticed, was that Eve also sent it to TMZ.

What did this mean?

Had Anson forgiven Harry Percy?

No, that wasn’t it. It meant that Eve had, for the first time, acknowledged TMZ as a legitimate media outlet.

In 2003, online media like blogs and forums were just starting to emerge, but they hadn’t yet gained recognition as real journalism. They were still considered “amateur,” “unprofessional,” and just for fun. Gossip sites like TMZ were even further from being taken seriously.

But Eve became the first to “break the taboo.”

Eve: ??? Don’t look at me like that! Everything was Anson’s decision. I’m just a puppet, okay? I have no idea what’s going on—you should be asking Anson, not me!

Finally, Anson issued his official statement, responding to TMZ’s report and confirming that the Spider-Man 2 production was back on track, pushing forward at full speed.

Logically, things should’ve settled down at this point.

But they didn’t.

“It’s fake.”

“Lies!”

“Eve and Sony Columbia are in cahoots, traitors!”

“There are no photos or videos of Anson. You’re completely making this up—I don’t believe a word.”

“If Anson is fully recovered, why hasn’t he made a public appearance?”

“Tell us, what are you and Sony Columbia plotting?”

“At first, I didn’t believe the conspiracy theories, but now it’s giving me chills.”

Eve: …

Speechless.

At first, Eve found these conspiracy theories laughable. They were so ridiculous that she couldn’t help but admire the creativity behind them.

But as they dragged on and on, they became tiresome. Reading all the nonsense became irritating.

At one point, Eve even considered releasing photos or videos of Anson or allowing him to give an interview to discuss the accident—

After all, throughout the entire incident, Anson himself hadn’t spoken a word. Naturally, people were curious to hear his side of the story.

When Eve asked for Anson’s opinion, his response was intriguing.

“I don’t mind. You’re the professional—I’ll follow your advice. Do you think I need to speak up, Eve?”

Calm, composed.

However, Eve sensed there was more to Anson’s words, a hidden meaning behind those peaceful eyes.

Eve, being a PR expert, was confident in her expertise. In Hollywood, she typically handled actors like babysitting, cleaning up their messes. But with Anson, she realized things were a bit different.

After reflecting, Eve decided to abandon the idea.

First, an interview now might embarrass Sony Columbia and appear like a publicity stunt.

Second, they couldn’t allow public opinion to dictate their actions, or else their entire strategy would be derailed.

It was better to let the rumors fly and for Anson to focus wholeheartedly on the movie.

And so, that’s exactly what happened—

The conspiracies were left to continue flying, while Anson devoted himself entirely to filming.