Episode 466: Encroachment (2)

In fact, Kang Woo-jin had arrived at the multiplex cinema in the heart of downtown LA 15 minutes before the first screening of Perriot: The Birth of a Villain ended. Three vans carrying the Perriot team gathered for the promotional schedule. Woo-jin sat in the front of one of them.

"······"

His face remained serious and unreadable—a perfect poker face. But inside, he was bursting with excitement.

'Wow—wasn't there a massive crowd in front of the theater?! And there were cameras everywhere. Were those news crews? Why is the press here when the movie just opened?!'

He was stunned by the overwhelming number of moviegoers gathered at the theater entrance, along with the presence of reporters and broadcasting teams. There were even a few surreal, almost embarrassing moments.

'And that giant billboard at the entrance! It's so big that my face is ridiculously clear on it?! Why is everyone taking pictures in front of it?!'

The billboard showcased 'Joker.' In front of the massive display featuring Kang Woo-jin's face, a crowd had gathered, snapping endless photos. It was even larger than he had imagined.

Inside, Woo-jin was nearly giddy with excitement, but given the gravity of the event, he maintained his cool and stuck to his composed persona.

'Wow, seriously. Mom and Dad must have taken pictures in front of that gigantic billboard too.'

However, he couldn't help but grumble inwardly. 'What is this outfit?' After all, he was the only one wearing the full Joker costume. While his hair and makeup were his usual look, he had dressed specifically for the event.

Chris Hartnett sat quietly to Woo-jin's right, observing him.

'As expected—despite the massive crowd of spectators, reporters, and news teams, his expression doesn't change at all. It's like the word 'burden' doesn't even exist for this kid. Well, that's what makes him interesting.'

Before long, Chris spoke up.

"Woo-jin, isn't it more ordinary than I expected? Compared to how the media and public have been making a fuss?"

'Ordinary? What does he mean by that? If this is ordinary, what kind of life does this ridiculously handsome guy live?'

Even though Woo-jin was inwardly shocked, he maintained his composure, nodding calmly.

"Yeah. It's a little boring."

"Haha, still, it's impressive. I expected reporters, but I didn't think actual news teams would show up."

Chris patted Woo-jin's shoulder as he remained silent.

"That means Hollywood is paying attention to you. Honestly, it stings a little for me, but I can't help enjoying the spectacle."

"I see."

No, Chris Hartnett was definitely feeling a little jealous.

'Have I ever seen anything like this before?'

The answer was no.

As a world-class actor, Chris was no stranger to fame. His popularity was immense, but in all the films where he played the lead, he had never witnessed anything like today. With a slightly bitter smile, he turned his gaze toward Kang Woo-jin.

'This isn't just about popularity or recognition. It's the sheer impact of the person himself.'

Director Ahn Ga-bok, seated in the back, had been quietly listening to their conversation.

'Of course, Chris feels uneasy. Columbia has been openly pushing Kang Woo-jin, and now the media and public are fixated on him. Chris has spent his entire life in the spotlight as a top actor, but even he has never experienced this kind of shift before. But what can you do?'

Inwardly, Chris arrived at his own answer regarding the gap he felt.

'It's star quality. That's the difference. Right now, Kang Woo-jin is taking over Hollywood with his overwhelming, destructive star quality.'

At this moment, Kang Woo-jin had effortlessly surpassed even Chris Hartnett, who had reigned supreme in Hollywood for years. Just look at the pre-release screenings of Perriot—they were selling out one after another. Could Chris alone have pulled that off?

'That would be difficult.'

So, rather than simple jealousy, Chris admitted to himself that he felt a competitive fire.

'I have to learn from him. Not just his acting, but his sheer presence.'

The Perriot team then entered the theater just as the movie was ending. Hundreds of viewers—who had just witnessed Perriot for the first time in the world—turned their eyes toward them.

—shoosh.*

Instantly, they became the center of attention. The supporting actors entered first, followed by Director Ahn Ga-bok and Chris. And finally—

For some reason, Woo-jin's heart was pounding.

'Oh man, I'm shaking. Mom and Dad are here too. And... I wonder how the audience felt about my Joker.'

Even though he was in costume, he didn't put on an act. There was no need for a concept—so Woo-jin simply maintained the most serious expression he could.

And then—Clap clap clap clap clap!*

A thunderous standing ovation erupted from the hundreds of foreign audience members.

Woo-jin stopped in his tracks, his expression unreadable, and took a moment to scan the crowd.

'What... What is this??! Are you kidding me?'

To be honest, he hadn't expected this reaction at all. But it didn't take long for him to realize—the standing ovation was real.

The faces and eyes of the audience were filled with nothing but admiration for Joker.

'Whoa—goosebumps.'

It was a thrill he hadn't felt in a long time.

Before he had entered, Director Ahn Ga-bok had warned him, "Many people will come just to criticize you." Columbia Pictures and producer Nora had said the same. Even the public reactions Woo-jin had looked up himself had predicted harsh reception.

So he had prepared himself. No matter what happened, he had resolved to stay calm and go his own way.

But reality had turned out to be the complete opposite.

—Clap clap clap clap clap!*

Criticism? Sarcasm? No—hundreds of viewers were genuinely praising him. They had fallen for his Joker, drawn in by his performance. They were embracing the character.

It was undeniable proof: if you had the talent, if you had the ability—no matter how much hate you received, you could turn everything around.

'Wow... This is incredible.'

There was no greater validation than this.

Hundreds of foreign moviegoers, each with their own reasons for attending, were now showering praise on a Korean actor standing before them.

And in the midst of it all, Woo-jin spotted them—Kang Woo-chul, Seo Hyun-mi, and Kang Hyun-ah.

Applauding, tears in their eyes.

Without realizing it, Kang Woo-jin mumbled to himself.

"...Ah, just a moment."

He had to hold back the rising tears. He wanted to run to his family and break down crying, but he couldn't. The Perriot team was already lined up, waiting for him.

At the front of the line, Director Ahn Ga-bok called out.

"Mr. Woo-jin."

Even at this moment, the audience's standing ovation continued. Forcing himself to stay composed, Woo-jin turned up his Joker persona to the max and slowly stepped forward. He took his seat beside Director Ahn Ga-bok. As soon as he sat down, the thunderous applause gradually died down, and one by one, the audience members took their seats as well.

Then, Director Ahn Ga-bok raised the microphone handed to him by a staff member.

His aged yet steady English voice echoed through the theater.

"Thank you for watching our film. I am Ahn Ga-bok, the director of Perriot: Birth of a Villain."

—Pabababak!*

The theater lit up with flashes. Reporters, already gathered at the back, wasted no time capturing the moment. Noticing them, Director Ahn Ga-bok turned and, without hesitation, passed the microphone to Kang Woo-jin.

Woo-jin took a deep breath—so quietly that no one noticed. His voice might tremble if he spoke too soon, so he steadied himself.

Scanning the audience, he spotted familiar faces—his family, including Hong Hye-yeon, Ryu Jung-min, Director Kwon Ki-taek, Han Shim-ho, the Leech team, and the BW Entertainment staff. Behind him, Choi Sung-geon and his team had already taken their places. Choi gave him a thumbs-up, while Han Ye-jeong was busy snapping photos with her phone.

'I can't let this moment feel awkward.'

And then, with a firm grip on the microphone, the real Kang Woo-jin spoke.

His deep, cold voice resonated through the theater.

"Hello, I am Kang Woo-jin, the actor who played Joker."

The room exploded with cheers and applause once again. Flashes fired relentlessly as reporters captured every second. But Woo-jin wasn't finished.

"As you can see, since today is the first day of pre-release, I came dressed as Joker. If you remember, I wore this exact outfit to the Emmy Awards as well."

Laughter rippled through half the audience. Woo-jin continued.

"I told you all before—'See it or don't.' But many of you chose to watch. So, how was the Horrible Clown you just saw?"

A brief silence followed before someone from the front row—one of the skeptics who had intended to criticize Woo-jin before the screening—spoke up.

"The ending seemed to hint at a sequel! Is there going to be another Joker movie?!"

Woo-jin answered without hesitation.

"Of course. Columbia Studios' cinematic universe begins with this film."

"Oh! Then does that mean you'll be playing Joker again in the next movie?!"

Hundreds of eyes—both audience members and reporters—were locked onto Woo-jin, waiting for his answer.

Then, suddenly, Kang Woo-jin smiled.

A chilling, unmistakable Joker smile.

"Next time, it's me again—whether you watch or not."

And with that, he threw in a little fan service.

The entire audience erupted into deafening screams.

"Joker! It's the Joker!!"

"Amazing! I have to watch it!"

"When?! When is it coming out?!"

"Your acting was incredible! I'll definitely watch your next movie too!!"

It wasn't just this theater. The same reactions were bound to happen in the 33 other pre-release screenings across LA and New York.

Director Ahn Ga-bok chuckled at the almost frenzied atmosphere.

'They're already trapped. If it's not Kang Woo-jin's Joker, they won't be satisfied. And the Academy Awards jury is no different.'

It was clear—this film was about to take over the world.

.

30 Minutes Later—

After wrapping up the stage greeting, the Perriot team dispersed after a brief but intense photo session. Of course, Kang Woo-jin and Director Ahn Ga-bok took time to greet their family and colleagues who had come all the way to LA.

The reunion took place in an empty theater, devoid of audience members. And here, Woo-jin encountered an unexpected crisis.

"Woo-jin!"

"Son!"

"Brother!!"

A family reunion—right in the middle of a public space.

"...Yeah, you're here."

"Oh my god! The movie was incredible, but when you appeared at the end, I just lost it."

"Come here, let me hug you."

"Me too!!"

Kang Woo-jin responded to his family with as much composure as possible, all the while staying mindful of his surroundings.

"But Woo-jin, why do you look so serious? What's wrong?"

"It's nothing."

"Well, smile a little! It's been so long since we last saw you."

The unexpected savior of the situation turned out to be his younger sister, Kang Hyun-ah.

"Ack! Dad! Mom! Look around! There are top Korean and Hollywood actors everywhere! Let's not cling to him here!"

Nice. A true blood relative. Yes, being the president of his fan club was finally paying off. Woo-jin made a mental note to slip her some pocket money later.

"Head to the hotel you booked. I'll join you after I wrap up my schedule."

"Oh, you're busy? Yeah, yeah."

After that, Woo-jin greeted the rest of the people who had traveled from Korea. Seeing them after so long was heartwarming, but there was no time to linger.

He had more promotional activities lined up.

Just as he was about to leave, Hong Hye-yeon grabbed his arm, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"No, no—wait. Are you really dating Miley Cara??"

Woo-jin met her gaze for a moment, then answered simply.

"...Well."

Meanwhile, at that very moment—

At the same time as the screening Kang Woo-jin attended, the first showings of Perriot: The Birth of a Villain were also wrapping up in 33 other theaters across LA and New York. And, without exception, every theater was packed.

As the audience spilled out into the lobbies, excitement buzzed through the air. Conversations overlapped, filled with the same breathless reactions.

"Was Kang Woo-jin's acting insane or what?!"

"I didn't even realize two hours had passed!"

"Columbia finally pulled off a blockbuster!"

"I don't know what the future holds, but the launch of Columbia's cinematic universe is already a huge success! And Kang Woo-jin's acting? I can't put it into words."

Later, around lunchtime, Kang Woo-jin climbed into the Perriot team's van, his mind racing.

'What's the media saying?'

He pulled out his phone, scrolled for a few seconds—then let out a silent, incredulous gasp.

'No way. This is hilarious!'

Hollywood was practically drowning in Perriot-related articles.

[CNM] Thunderous Applause for Kang Woo-jin at the Perriot Screening [Photo]

Coverage ranged from articles about the premiere's atmosphere to firsthand accounts from reporters who attended the event. But what really caught Woo-jin's eye were the honest, unfiltered reactions from critics who had just witnessed Perriot: The Birth of a Villain.

It was, without a doubt, extremely satisfying.

'Hehehe. So, you all fell for my acting, huh?'

And then—

[BBX] "Watch or Don't": Kang Woo-jin's Emmy Awards Statement Proven Right—Viewers Rave, Calling Perriot a Masterpiece!]

The contrast was striking. The media's tone before and after the premiere was like night and day.

Then, the next morning—the 10th.

The second day of Perriot dawned, following its explosive, sold-out opening. The two-week pre-release schedule had begun with a bang, and by now, the second day's screenings were also completely sold out.

But the real game-changer came that morning.

The first review from a major Hollywood film critic had just been posted on one of the most respected movie review sites.

"Kang Woo-jin's Joker is a harmful piece of trash. And yet, it's so addictive that I couldn't resist it. For the first time in my life, I found myself leaving a theater actually rooting for the villain. It was unsettling—but deeply satisfying. And Kang Woo-jin's performance? Shockingly sophisticated. Even if he doesn't take the Academy Awards seriously, I know one thing for sure: I'll keep loving his Joker."

[Rating: 10/10.]

The verdict was in.

Perriot wasn't just well-received.

It was a phenomenon.