Chapter 938: China Premiere

"After suffering through a month and nine days, the bad-movie season mandated by the Bare-Bottom Administration is finally over. We can finally go back to the theaters."

A fan posted this sentiment on a famous movie forum on the Greater China Regional Network. For many moviegoers, December and the New Year's holiday were prime times to watch films, but they rarely went to the theater during this window—and even when they did, they usually didn't buy tickets.

Someone on the site rallied the crowd: "Star Wars: The Force Awakens is finally coming out! Duke fans, what are you waiting for? See you tomorrow for the China premiere at the Shanghai International Cinema City!"

Ever since Star Wars: The Force Awakens premiered in North America and overseas, the Warner Greater China Region had never relaxed its promotional efforts in the Chinese market. The film had been in North American theaters for twenty days, raking in $979.88 million and touching the $1 billion threshold.

Its global box office effortlessly smashed through the $2 billion barrier, reaching a massive total of $2.21588 billion.

These box office figures gave the Warner Greater China Region confidence and showed the China Film Group—which was responsible for Chinese distribution—a clear opportunity for profit. They elevated the film's distribution tier to the highest level; neither official nor private capital would ever pass up such predictably high returns.

Although the Chinese release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens was a full twenty days late—inevitably costing them a portion of the audience—the sky-high box office numbers were undoubtedly the best promotional hook to attract widespread attention.

As Star Wars: The Force Awakens triumphed at the global box office, its merchandise also became a hot commodity. Duke received the latest statistics: in the twenty days since its release, the film's merchandise had generated $700 million in sales in America alone, far exceeding other Hollywood blockbusters to become the reigning domestic cash cow.

Among all the products, the smart droid BB-8 and the Jedi Lightsaber were the most popular.

That wasn't all. Duke and Lucasfilm still held a major trump card in reserve. Upon arriving in China, Duke announced via his official Twitter and Instant Sharing accounts that merchandise for the female lead, Rey—which had been held back to preserve the film's secrets—had entered production and would soon be officially released.

Rey wasn't just the most popular character in Star Wars: The Force Awakens; she was the current focal point of global fan discussions. Once her products hit the market, the sales volume would be astronomical.

In some ways, this was also a form of hunger marketing.

"Why are so many of the characters here different from the ones I studied with Tina... and the ones I saw in Hong Kong?"

The sun was dipping slightly to the west. Having met up with Duke in Hong Kong, Scarlett Johansson clung to his arm as they sat comfortably in a car parked in the waiting area.

Looking at the various banners and signs outside, she asked in confusion, "Isn't this all Chinese? Why is there such a huge difference?"

Explaining this could take days. Duke could only offer a rough explanation in the simplest terms.

"Chinese is divided into simplified Chinese and traditional Chinese," he said. "What you saw before were traditional characters; everything over here uses simplified characters."

Just then, the car door was pulled open from the outside.

"Darling, it's time for us to step out," Duke reminded her.

Although the scale of the Star Wars: The Force Awakens China premiere couldn't match its global premiere in Los Angeles, it was still an unprecedented mega-event that no Hollywood film had ever achieved there before.

Beyond the Chinese celebrities invited by the Warner Greater China Region and the China Film Group, the team that had flown across the ocean from Hollywood was enough to dazzle anyone. Not only was the entire main cast and crew of Star Wars: The Force Awakens present, but Duke's few—yet extremely high-status—industry friends and collaborators had also flown in to show their support.

Even though the Chinese fans were incredibly passionate, Duke and Scarlett stuck to their usual habit and moved quickly down the red carpet, leaving plenty of stars behind them for the crowd to cheer for.

The appearance of Leonardo DiCaprio drove the female fans at the scene to near madness. If not for the heavy security presence, Xiao Li likely never would have made it back across the Pacific Ocean.

When Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman appeared hand in hand, the reporters' fingers nearly cramped from mashing their camera shutters, and the fans greeted them with a tidal wave of applause.

Dressed in a pale gold fishtail evening gown, Charlize Theron stepped onto the red carpet. The initially chaotic scene instantly fell silent, leaving only countless wide-eyed stares. Queen Theron's red-carpet aura could effortlessly slay the crowd here just the same...

"Thank you all."

In front of the Shanghai International Cinema City, Duke welcomed the group as they walked over one by one.

"Thank you all for coming. Leo, you're as charming as ever. Tom, Mary, where's my goddaughter? Sally..."

Duke hugged them one by one, then brought Scarlett over to stand with them for a group photo in front of the media. Gathered here were a superstar director, two top-tier male stars, and three A-list actresses. Their combined star power triggered an absolute frenzy of camera flashes.

Leonardo DiCaprio, along with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, were led by staff toward the VIP section at the front of the theater. Charlize Theron, however, stopped in front of Duke, seemingly blind to the fact that Scarlett Johansson was clinging to his arm.

"My look isn't bad, right?" Charlize Theron asked, raising an eyebrow. "Pretty gorgeous, isn't it?"

Duke was no fool. There was no way he would praise another woman right in front of his girlfriend. He merely shrugged and said nothing.

"Is this gown sponsored by Dior?" Scarlett Johansson curled her lip imperceptibly. "This dress completely exposes your flat-chested flaw..."

Charlize Theron turned her head slightly, her eyebrow arching even higher. Just as she was about to fire back, she caught the look in Duke's eyes as he gave Scarlett Johansson a faint shake of his head. She turned and strode toward the VIP section.

"I don't like her," Scarlett muttered.

Duke gently patted her hand. "Let's go. It's time for us to head to the interview area."

In the interview area, a large crowd of reporters had surrounded Daniel Wu. By becoming the male lead of a mainstream Hollywood blockbuster, he had achieved something that even Bruce Lee and Jack Chen had never managed. Naturally, he was the center of attention for the local media.

"Sharing the screen with me is what gave Daisy so much style. I brought out her more charming side."

When facing the media, the cast and crew were always united and friendly. Just as Duke stepped into the interview area, he heard Daniel Wu standing next to Daisy Ridley, saying exactly that.

Daisy Ridley was also extremely cooperative—this was, after all, part of her contractual obligations and job duties.

"Daniel is one of the best young actors I've ever met," she replied. "I think there's only one young actor in the cast who did better than him."

At this point, Daisy Ridley placed a hand on the head of BB-8, who was rolling right beside her.

"Acting with BB-8 felt amazing," she said. "It's an incredible character. After spending so much time with it, I'm not even used to acting with real people anymore."

However, as Duke entered the interview area, the majority of the reporters shifted their attention to him.

A reporter from the National Television movie channel aggressively took the lead, asking, "Director Rosenberg, China lacks a deep cultural foundation for Star Wars. Do you think Chinese fans will be able to accept a sequel like Star Wars: The Force Awakens?"

"Last night, a lucky group of Chinese Star Wars fans, moviegoers, and VIP guests were the first to watch the advance screening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens at the Shanghai International Cinema City."

Perhaps the box office figures for Star Wars: The Force Awakens were simply too astounding, causing some local media personnel to feel resentful enough to ask such a deliberately difficult question.

However, Duke responded calmly, "I also attended yesterday's advance screening, and I found the atmosphere in the theater to be exceptionally passionate. It completely blew me away."

For promotional purposes, Duke naturally spoke in extremely fluent Chinese.

"I never expected China to have so many fans who love Star Wars," he continued. "They are just as fanatical and hardcore as Star Wars fans anywhere else. While watching the film last night, everyone's reactions to the plot, the punchlines, and the tear-jerkers were completely identical to what we've seen from audiences in America and the rest of the world."

Duke offered the National Television reporter a faint smile.

Compared to the National Television reporter, who wore a special halo of authority in this country, the reporter from Penguin Entertainment—which had a cooperative relationship with Duke—asked a far more accommodating question.

"The global box office for Star Wars: The Force Awakens has been soaring rapidly, matching its critical acclaim."

This reporter had interacted with Duke before and knew he could understand these Chinese phrases.

"Even the American Film Institute specifically extended its voting deadline for last year's 'Top Ten Films of the Year' just for this movie, allowing the judges to watch it before voting and ultimately selecting it for the top ten shortlist," the reporter said. "Director Rosenberg, what are your thoughts on this?"

Regarding the special treatment of the American Film Institute opening a "back door" for them, Duke replied, "What happened over the past few weeks has been a pleasant surprise for us. Not just this, but also crossing the $2 billion box office mark a couple of days ago. We certainly had high expectations for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but we never anticipated such an enthusiastic response. I'm incredibly grateful, and it's thrilling to see everyone genuinely fall in love with this new chapter of Star Wars."

Since the film was being released in China, its relationship with the country was also a focal point for the media.

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens features a Chinese actor like Wu Yanzu," another reporter pointed out. "Will there be even more connections with China in the future?"

"After so many years, the Star Wars franchise is finally returning to Chinese screens. Naturally, we are incredibly excited for the film's release in the world's second-largest movie market."

Faced with this kind of question, Duke certainly knew exactly how to answer.

"The spin-off film releasing late next year, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, recently wrapped up filming," he answered. "It features two Chinese actors, and their performances on set were absolutely dreamlike."

Finally, Duke intentionally added, "China has so many legendary tales that have been passed down for millennia. Perhaps future Star Wars films will draw inspiration from them."

The film was about to hit Chinese theaters. Whether the global box office could achieve another massive leap would heavily depend on its performance in the Chinese market.