LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 32: Xu Can is Famous in China, Joins Swift on SNL
China Film, Chairman's Office.
"Mr. Han, the theater chains have started to act independently. They've added more showings for Spider-Man without waiting for our approval."
"What's the box office figure now?"
"The first day matched The Golden Jackpot at 15 million yuan, but Spider-Man shattered the single-day record on the second day. By the end of the weekend, it could set a new first-weekend record."
"I see."
The Golden Jackpot had grossed 96 million yuan in its opening weekend, setting a new mainland record. Now, it seemed Spider-Man was poised to surpass it with ease.
Globally, Spider-Man had already exceeded $1 billion in just over a month. It had surpassed The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. Currently, it was ranked fourth in the global box office, trailing only Titanic, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, and The Lion King.
With $1.08 billion as the next target, the film seemed unstoppable. Considering its performance in the mainland and Asian markets, it was only a matter of time before Spider-Man broke into the top three.
"This is fine. Let the market decide naturally. It's just one film; it won't change much in the long run."
"Understood. I'll proceed accordingly."
Despite his composed tone, Mr. Han knew they could no longer hold back the momentum of Spider-Man. Xu Can have become an unstoppable force.
Chinese actor Xu Can had started to shine.
Although Hollywood rarely offered positive roles to Asians, Xu Can had managed to break through, much like Bruce Lee had decades earlier. While actors like Jet Li and Fa Ge had struggled to leave a lasting mark in Hollywood, Xu Can was different—his portrayal of Spider-Man had become a global phenomenon.
Some skeptics in China still doubted whether Xu Can could sustain his success beyond this franchise. But for now, he was a rising star, both abroad and at home.
After restrictions were lifted, theater schedules across China prioritized Spider-Man. With packed screenings, the film's box office climbed rapidly, exceeding 100 million yuan in its first weekend and heading toward 200 million in its second.
Moviegoers spread the word enthusiastically, creating a surge in ticket sales. Even scalpers capitalized on the craze, charging exorbitant prices for tickets.
On the national movie channel CTV6, the buzz around Spider-Man was undeniable.
"Recently, Spider-Man, starring rising Chinese star Xu Can, has smashed mainland box office records with over 100 million yuan on its opening weekend."
"Projections indicate the film could surpass 400 million yuan during the Spring Festival period, potentially breaking Titanic's longstanding record."
Xu Can was officially on the radar of Chinese audiences. While he wasn't yet on par with legends like Fa Ge, Bruce Lee, or Jet Li, he had made a strong debut in film history.
New York
Xu Can's phone buzzed. It was a text from his cousin, Xu Yuling.
"Brother, you're totally on fire."
"It's not about being famous. Did you enjoy the movie?"
"It's amazing!" she replied, followed by a stream of emojis and exclamation marks.
"Everyone at school has seen it, some even two or three times!"
Xu Can chuckled. "Focus on your studies. If you do well in the college entrance exam, I'll take you to North America to watch Spider-Man 2."
"Really? You're the best, brother! By the way, my classmates didn't believe you were my cousin. But after I proved it, I got free breakfasts for a month!"
"You're even betting now? Naughty girl."
She hesitated, then asked, "Brother, is Emma Stone my sister-in-law?"
Xu Can paused, unsure how to answer. "We'll see. I'll introduce you two someday."
"Yay! Another celebrity sister-in-law."
"Go to bed. Don't stay up too late."
"Okay, okay. Goodnight, brother."
The New York "John Wick" scenes are about to be filmed, and they will fly to Berlin to shoot some scenes.
The film is expected to be completed and enter the post-production stage before the end of February.
Xu Can still needs to stay in New York for about 3 days.
Since most of the entire cast comprises white male actors, Emma stone has already left, and Xu Can is quite bored in her spare time.
He couldn't help but think of Emma Roberts, a girl with green tea attributes.
From time to time, Taylor Swift's youthful beauty comes to mind.
"Wait a minute, what do I want them to do? Am I really a scumbag?"
The celebrity circle is already in chaos, and since he didn't participate in those imparts, it's already a breath of fresh air.
It is normal to feel good feelings when you see beautiful things and people.
After resurrecting his life, Xu Can's thoughts also changed slightly.
He believes more in enjoying the moment and having a clear conscience.
As the day began in New York, Xu Can found himself reflecting. John Wick was on the horizon, but his thoughts strayed to Emma Stone—and occasionally to Taylor Swift and Emma Roberts, whose beauty and charm were hard to ignore.
He is serious about treating Emma Stone.
Facing Swift, whom he liked very much in his previous life, he also had a deep desire in his heart.
Since adding her as a Facebook friend and phone contact, Xu Can and Swift chat frequently.
We would also call each other privately and chat for hours.
Swift often discusses her struggles creating new albums, and Xu Can occasionally gives her advice on her work based on songs she heard in her previous life.
Over and over again, Swift's attitude became warmer and warmer.
If there is a favorable impression progress bar in front of me, I am afraid that in just one month, Xu Can has already achieved excellent scores.
Later That Day
Xu Can's phone rang again.
"Taylor?"
"Nope. It's Happy," came the familiar voice of Happy Hogan.
"What's up?"
"Two things. First, NBC wants you on a show called Saturday Night Live. They've been pestering us for weeks, and we can't ignore it this time. By the way, a 17-year-old female singer is on the same stage with you. Her name is Taylor... "
"SNL, huh? Alright, I'll do it. What's the second thing?"
Happy sounded surprised at Xu Can's quick agreement but pressed on.
"Warner Bros. has a proposition. They're planning a live-action adaptation of Batman, directed by Christopher Nolan."
Xu Can's heart skipped a beat. The Dark Knight Trilogy.
This could be a game-changer.
"Let's talk more about it later," Xu Can said with a smile.
With Spider-Man's success and opportunities from major studios, Xu Can was no longer just a rising star—he was on the brink of becoming a global sensation
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