Dreams of Stardom (Hollywood SI)

Troy Armitage's New Girlfriend Revealed at the Premiere of His Latest Film!

 By Brad Jackson, Variety

Troy Armitage needs no introduction. Anyone even slightly familiar with the movie business would know the young man who charmed the world with his portrayal of [Harry Potter]. Even before that, he became a household name as the kid who sees dead people in [The Sixth Sense]. Even if you haven't seen his films, you've probably encountered his Crocs ads—the ones that shook the world and overnight turned the former child star into a teen heartthrob.

Thanks to his salary from [Harry Potter] and savvy investment decisions, Troy is now the richest self-made teenager in the world and the third richest actor overall, behind Jerry Seinfeld and Tom Cruise.

But Troy isn't content to rest on his laurels. He seems determined to prove he's not just a pretty face with a multi-million-dollar bank account but also a genuinely talented actor. With his wealth, Troy founded an indie film studio, Phoenix Studios, which has produced three films to date—all starring him.

[The Perks of Being a Wallflower], which released earlier this year, grossed an astonishing $339 million against a modest $11 million budget. Troy's performance received rave reviews. Even more impressive, the profits from the film were donated entirely to a foundation supporting victims of child sexual abuse.

Troy's other upcoming project is an original movie musical, featuring all-new songs, slated for release later this year.

And then there's [Brick], the third film Troy worked on this year—a movie that stunned audiences and critics alike by winning the Grand Jury Award at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Made on a shoestring $1 million budget, the film has been widely hailed as a masterpiece for its inventive storytelling.

Rumors had swirled about Troy dating Emma Watson, his [Harry Potter] co-star, but those were later debunked.

(Two photos side-by-side: one of Troy and Rihanna walking the red carpet at the LA premiere of [Brick], and another, slightly grainy, of the two kissing on the set of [Little Miss Sunshine], presumably taken by a paparazzo from afar.)

The real story? Troy is dating Rihanna, an up-and-coming singer from Barbados who was signed by Jay-Z's record label earlier this year. She released her debut album, Music of the Sun, just last month, and it's already a hit, with tens of thousands of records sold.

This pairing is nothing short of electric—a power couple in the making, destined to dominate the worlds of film and music in the years to come.

(Break)

"So," Tobias asked, "do you like it?"

I set down the latest edition of Variety that Tobias had handed me earlier.

"The photo with Rihanna doesn't look good enough," I pointed out.

"I didn't take it," Tobias said defensively, as if that absolved him.

"I still can't believe we leaked the set photo of Rihanna and me," I grumbled. Some aspects of showbiz I could accept freely, but this wasn't one of them.

A paparazzo had snapped the photo of Rihanna and me kissing on the set and then had the nerve to offer it to back to me for a price. We didn't buy it—not at first. But the situation got me thinking. If the photo was bound to surface anyway, why not use it to steer the narrative? So, we paid $50,000 for it and re-sold it to Variety on the condition they run it alongside a puff piece. This was the result.

"Technically, we didn't leak it. Warner did," Tobias clarified. "So even if it gets out, we won't be blamed."

"Same thing," I waved him off. "To answer your earlier question, yeah, this is perfect. Though, they didn't have to mention how rich I am."

"It's a conversation starter," Tobias defended. "It'll get people talking about you, then they'll be curious about you, and eventually, they'll want to see your movie. It's the perfect promotion strategy."

I didn't respond immediately. [Brick] was a far cry from my usual films, and it needed all the publicity it could get. The fact that Warner was releasing it under their subsidiary, Warner Independent Pictures, instead of their main banner didn't help. While [The Perks of Being a Wallflower] was a crowd-pleaser, [Brick] catered to a niche audience. Neo-noir wasn't exactly a thriving genre, and a high-school setting wasn't going to win over older viewers.

Warner's marketing budget for the film was modest. They planned to rely heavily on word-of-mouth and open it in limited theaters, expanding the release only if initial reactions were strong—a strategy I actually agreed with.

"What are you thinking?" Tobias interrupted my thoughts.

"Nothing," I said, shaking my head. "Just about the interviews I'll have to do for the film. Do you have my press tour itinerary?"

Tobias nodded. "Of course. We'll wrap up all the interviews in LA in three days, then head to New York for two days, and finish with two days in London. After that, you'll have a week to rest before filming for next [Harry Potter] begins."

"That's a pretty short press tour," I noted. "But it makes sense."

Most of my press tours lasted two to three weeks, spanning North America, Europe, and countries like Japan and Australia, where I had significant fanbases.

"Hmmm," Tobias agreed. "Now get ready. You're scheduled to appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in a couple of hours."

"Ugh," I groaned. "Why her?"

"Because her show is the second-most-watched daytime talk show after Oprah, and Oprah's booked until next week. Ellen's our best option."

I grimaced but didn't argue. Ellen hadn't wronged me personally, but something about her just rubbed me the wrong way. Must be my future knowledge of her behavior.

(Break)

MovieBuffGeek: Holy effing shit! Did someone else see Troy's new girlfriend? The girl is dayummmmnn hot. He is one lucky dog.

ArmitageArmy: Are you serious!? Any girl in the world would bend over backward to get a chance to date Troy. He's handsome, super rich, and the best actor in the world his age. Rihanna is lucky to even be in the same photo as him, let alone date him.

TroyFan_88: I don't understand what he saw in her. She is so mid. Emma Watson was so much better than Rihanna!

LunaBliss: Why!???!!!? I wanted Troy for myself! But now I have to compete with her of all people? She's not even beautiful :'(

MovieBuffGeek: Calling Rihanna ugly is like calling Earth flat. Say whatever you want about them as a couple, but don't say shit about Riri!

SereneDreamer: I 100% agree with @LunaBliss. Rihanna is pretty average. She is okay-ish, but not good enough for someone like Troy. By the way, how did the two even meet?

CynicalScribe: According to inside sources, Troy and Rihanna shot a musical film together and fell for each other during it. They're saying the film will release later this year along with Troy's first album! I can't wait for it.

TroyFan_88: Holy shit! How did I miss that!? I can't wait for Troy to release a full album! I always wanted to hear one from him ever since he dropped 'Count on Me' ages ago.

RedPillRevealer: Are we sure that this is not some publicity stunt? Because Troy conveniently outed his relationship right when his film is about to release.

SocialJusticeStan: I will totally watch his film! That film got the top award at Sundance Film Festival, and the critics are raving about it. I don't even care if they use some shady practices to promote it. By the way, I love Troy and Ri together.

TinfoilHatExpert: What I don't understand is why the hell Troy dating a black girl? Are all the beautiful girls extinct? It's a proven fact that black girls aren't as beautiful as white girls. Heck, even black guys secretly want to fuck white girls. And here's one of the richest guys who deliberately went for lesser?

TinfoilHatExpert has been banned by the moderators for 24 hours.

SweetStone: People like @TinfoilHatExpert are bigots who can't look beyond the race of a person. Thank you, moderators, for blocking him. Troy and Rihanna are perfect for each other. I worked with the two on the film, and let me say this: they both are extremely hardworking and wonderful people. I'm happy for them.

CynicalScribe: Woah! We have an insider. Let's check their legitimacy. What is the story of the film about, @SweetStone?

SweetStone: It's a rom-com musical film produced by Troy. The highlight of the film will be Troy's songs. He wrote and sang most of the music in the film AFAIK, and it is magical.

SocialJusticeStan: Can we rather talk about [Brick] instead? @SweetStone, were you also working on [Brick] since it was also produced by Troy? If yes, give us some inside stories, pretty please!

SweetStone: I did work on that film as well, and it's so good. As for inside stories, Troy and his co-star Emily were getting pretty close while shooting. But I guess it didn't go anywhere. What I can say for sure is that Troy is the most genuine and helpful person I've ever met. He doesn't have an ounce of ego, and anyone on set could go to him for help—he'd never turn them away.

TroyFan_88: Wait a minute! I checked IMDb. That girl is Emma Stone, right? And you're SweetStone? Convenient, eh?

SweetStone: I wanted to go with "stoner" since I love weed a lot, but that name was already taken, so I removed an "r." It really is a coincidence.

ArmitageArmy: I guess what they say about Hollywood and drugs is true then.

(Break)

Robert Pattinson burst into laughter beside Emily as soon as he read the last message.

"Really?" he asked. "That's the best you could come up with?"

Emily shrugged. "They almost guessed my identity. I had to say something!"

Rob grinned. "Then maybe you shouldn't have picked a screen name so close to your real one. Who knows? Maybe the founder of your family was really a stoner. I have to ask though, did you have to start rumors about yourself and Troy?"

"Isn't that what everyone ,does in Hollywood?" Emily said with a nervous laugh before changing the topic. "How did your audition go?"

Rob shook his head, his expression turning more serious. "Meh, I'm not getting that role. But forget about that. How do you feel about this? You didn't get to promote the film."

"They're not promoting it as heavily because this isn't a blockbuster-type film," Emily explained. "They're doing a slow release, letting word-of-mouth build it up over time. And no one really knows me yet, so Troy's doing the heavy lifting on the marketing."

"Alright then," Rob said, standing up and stretching. "Come on, let's go, or we'll be late for [Brick]."

"I've already seen it," Emily pointed out. "Twice. Once at Sundance and once at the LA premiere."

"But I haven't," Rob countered, grabbing her hand and pulling her to her feet.

Emily rolled her eyes but didn't resist. Together, they walked out to her car.

(Break)

"We have a treat for our viewers today," Ellen announced, her tone playful as she looked out at the excited crowd. "Please welcome the youngest superstar in the world, extremely handsome, and no longer single—Harry Potter himself, Troy Armitage!"

The audience erupted in cheers as I stepped onto the set of The Ellen Show. I waved at them with a broad smile, soaking in their energy, before making my way to Ellen. We exchanged a friendly hug before I settled into the chair adjacent to hers.

"Welcome to the show," Ellen said once I was seated. "This is your second time here!"

The applause from the audience was still going strong, but I was used to this kind of reception by now.

"Thank you for having me," I replied, glancing at the crowd. "This audience is something else. I haven't had a welcome like this in ages."

Ellen chuckled. "Of course, they're great. But isn't this just your normal life? Wherever you go, people must feel like they know you."

"It can be a little jarring," I admitted, "but it's also one of my favorite things about this profession—connecting with people."

Ellen leaned in with a mischievous smile. "Speaking of people you've connected with, I've heard a little rumor about a certain Barbadian singer."

The mention of Rihanna sent the audience into a frenzy.

I couldn't help but laugh. "I think it's safe to say it's no longer a rumor."

Ellen's eyes twinkled with curiosity. "Go on, tell us how you two met."

"We shot a film together," I explained. "It's set to release later this year. When I met her, she was so calm and confident, acting as if she didn't know me at all. That intrigued me. Once we started talking, I realized she's incredible. Just perfect for me."

Ellen turned to the audience. "Ladies, take note: if you want to date Troy, ignore him. That's the trick!"

The audience burst into laughter, and I chuckled along. But before I could respond, the side table between our chairs suddenly sprang open. Out jumped a grotesque-looking clown, shouting something unintelligible as it tried to scare me.

Tried being the keyword here.

I was a little surprised by his sudden appearance, but I didn't react too much. I had heard about Ellen's infamous scare pranks and had prepared myself mentally. Without hesitation, I grabbed the clown by the throat and judo-flipped him onto the floor.

"Aahh," the man groaned as he hit the ground. I reacted completely out of my instincts. It had been drilled into me relentlessly by my tutor. But as soon as I did it, I regretted it immediately. I hope his injuries won't be too bad and he'd be fine in a day or two. After a few moments, I looked up at the host of the show.

Ellen stared at me, her mouth agape, while the audience went wild. Laughter, cheers, and applause filled the room as the clown scrambled to his feet and retreated backstage.

I brushed off my hands and sat back down, unfazed. "So," I said, voice steady, "we were talking about my movie."

Ellen blinked, regaining her composure. "No, we weren't! What the hell was that?"

"I've been learning self-defense since I was very young," I explained casually. "I was bullied in school, so I adopted one philosophy: if someone attacks me, I attack back."

Ellen turned to her producers and said, "Make a note. Next time, we aren't scaring Troy at all."

The audience and I laughed in unison at her quip.

Then she turned back to me. "So, your film [Brick] is releasing in theaters this week. Tell us what it's about."

I smiled—finally, something I really wanted to talk about.

"It's one of the best films I've ever worked on," I said confidently. "My character, Brendan, is a high school kid caught up in some shady things happening at his school. He discovers that his ex-girlfriend has been murdered and is determined to find out who did it and why. To know what he uncovers and how, you'll have to watch the movie."

"I intend to," Ellen said with a nod before turning to the audience. "[Brick] is out on limited release in theaters. Go grab a ticket before they're all sold out, because one thing I know for sure is that this guy"—she pointed at me—"sells tickets like crazy."

I chuckled good-naturedly, waving at the crowd one last time as the show wrapped up.

"Cut!"

As soon as I heard the cue, I quickly removed my mic and got up.

"Are you okay?" Ellen asked. "You seem to be in a hurry."

"I am in a hurry. You can come along if you want," I said, walking backstage. Ellen didn't follow me right away, but I didn't care—I had something important to do.

"Is everything okay, Troy?" A man, probably a producer on the show, asked worriedly.

"Where's the guy who tried to scare me?" I asked. "I need to make sure he's okay."

"There's no need," he said, trying to placate me. "He's fine."

"Regardless, I need to see him," I insisted.

He hesitated for a moment before nodding and leading me to an empty room. A man was lying on his front, shirtless, his back slightly red but not badly injured. The strangest part was that not a single person was near him to make sure he was okay. What kind of workplace is this?

"Hey," I called out. "I'm so sorry about that stunt earlier. I reacted a little too excessively. Are you okay, um...?"

He looked me in the eye confidently. "Emile. And yeah, I'm okay. Hazard of the job, I guess."

Before I could say more, Ellen walked in, followed closely by my assistant.

"There you are," Ellen said to me. "What was so important?"

I pointed at the man lying in front of me, who was now looking away, not meeting anyone's eyes as if he were ashamed.

"He'll be fine," Ellen assured me. "We have excellent insurance, and um… his contract explicitly says he can't sue us or our guests for injuries."

"His name is Emile," I said before turning to Tobias. "Nonetheless, Tobias, make sure Emile sees a good doctor and knows how sorry I am for his injuries."

"Of course," Tobias said with a nod, catching my meaning.

As I left the studio for my next interview, I couldn't help but wonder why Ellen seemed so concerned about lawsuits. It hadn't even crossed my mind. Sure, I'd still make sure Emile got some extra money, and Tobias would probably have him sign an agreement not to sue, but that was secondary.

I guess the saying is true—no one in Hollywood is truly good.

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