novelburst
Chapter 463
Chapter 463
Chapter 463: Prologue (6)
Translator: NovelBin
"Sold out? Every single time slot? Really?" Kang Woo-jin's face remained expressionless as he held the phone to his ear, but inside, he was genuinely shocked.
‘What did he just say? The entire opening day sold out?’
Woo-jin checked the time. It was just past noon, around 12:10. The ticket sales for *Piero* had opened precisely at noon across all 33 theaters in LA and New York, with every available time slot released at once.
‘So, you’re telling me all the tickets for the entire day sold out in just 10 minutes? That’s insane.’
Ten minutes. Even though it was an advance screening and limited to select theaters, selling out in just 10 minutes was beyond Woo-jin’s comprehension—it was unprecedented.
‘Sure, if it were just one time slot, maybe, but the entire day?’
Woo-jin knew that, for a single screening, each theater could have anywhere from 5 to 8 showings per day, with around 300 to 400 seats per auditorium. Taking the maximum into account, that’s around 3,200 seats per theater. Across 33 theaters, that’s over 100,000 tickets. And in just 10 minutes, all those tickets were gone?
‘Is that even possible?’
Of course, this was America, not Korea, and the scale was incomparably larger. Just as Woo-jin was processing this information in silence, Chris Hartnett spoke up on the other end of the line.
“Did you hear me? The entire first day sold out.”
“…Yeah, I heard.”
“It’s unbelievable, right? It all sold out in 10 minutes. I’ve rarely seen anything like this.”
Chris was practically vibrating with excitement, and Woo-jin could feel his energy through the phone. Unlike Woo-jin’s calm exterior, Chris was clearly ecstatic.
“From what I hear, the second day is almost sold out too!”
The second day, too? Woo-jin had anticipated some level of popularity, but this was beyond his wildest expectations. It was so surreal that he couldn’t fully grasp it, but he could hear Chris practically jumping for joy on the other end.
“It feels like the entire world is converging on us right now!”
Chris continued, predicting a bright future for *Piero*.
“At this rate, by the time of the first screening on the 9th, it’s possible every ticket for the two-week preview will be sold out!”
While Woo-jin returned to his photo shoot, foreign media outlets wasted no time covering the news of *Piero*’s success.
The first headline announced that ticket sales for the entire two-week preview had opened:
"LA TIMES: *Piero: Birth of a Villain* Opens Two-Week Preview Tickets as It Heads to the Oscars"
The second headline highlighted the remarkable fact that the opening day sold out in just 10 minutes:
"BBX: Stunning! *Piero: Birth of a Villain* Sells Out First-Day Tickets in 10 Minutes!"
"CNM: Sold Out in 10 Minutes, *Piero: Birth of a Villain* Ticket Sales Spark Global Frenzy"
While Woo-jin was busy with the photo shoot, the second day of the preview had also sold out. Tickets for the third day were selling rapidly, and other days were following suit. This momentum was fueled not only by the media but also by Columbia Studios' aggressive marketing.
As night fell and Woo-jin wrapped up his photo shoot and other activities, he had one final stop before heading home.
“Good evening, Mr. Woo-jin.”
“Good evening.”
Woo-jin was scheduled to meet with Nora Foster, the lead producer, at Columbia Studios. With a few other team members present, the meeting’s main topics included *Piero*’s promotional schedule and the planning for its sequel, *Bat: Birth of a Hero*, which Nora would also be producing.
Before diving into the main topics, Nora started with a comment.
“The situation is... quite unusual. I expected strong interest, but I never imagined the preview for *Piero: Birth of a Villain* would ignite like this.”
“Yes, I was surprised as well.”
“Oh? Your expression seems very calm for someone who’s surprised.”
“It must be the time that’s passed.”
Nora, unaware of Woo-jin’s practiced demeanor, handed him a tablet displaying sales information for *Piero*’s preview. She began her briefing as they both looked at the screen.
“Out of the two-week preview, the first two days are sold out, and the third day is likely to sell out tomorrow. Tickets for the fourth day are already halfway gone.”
Though he was astonished internally, Woo-jin kept a composed exterior.
“I see.”
Nora swept her shoulder-length hair back, trying to conceal her own excitement.
“To be honest, the main purpose of this preview isn’t box office success but rather the Oscars, which is why we limited it to 33 theaters. In hindsight, we might’ve expanded the release if we’d known it would take off like this.”
“If you had, it wouldn’t have had the same impact.”
Acknowledging his point, Nora nodded and tapped the tablet.
“At this rate, there’s a real chance we’ll sell out the entire two-week preview. It’s surprising, but wonderful. I think a few factors are at play here.”
She began counting on her fingers.
“For starters, *Piero* has been an unusual project from its inception. It’s the first installment of Columbia Studios’ *Cinematic Universe*, with Director Ahn Ga-bok and you as the lead actor. Despite your talent, people find the combination intriguing and unexpected.”
“I understand.”
“And then, of course, there’s the Oscars. *Piero* is taking an unconventional path to the Academy Awards, which naturally draws attention. Plus, the film’s publicity, the recent rumors, and other controversies surrounding *Piero: Birth of a Villain* have already raised awareness to extraordinary levels. For audiences, this preview is a rare chance to see *Piero* even before the Oscars.”
Woo-jin nodded slightly in understanding.
“It’s a limited release with a set timeframe.”
“Exactly. Like limited-edition luxury goods, it gives people a sense of exclusivity. That uniqueness seems to be drawing them in.”
Woo-jin recalled the phenomenon of people lining up outside luxury stores to snatch limited items as soon as doors opened.
‘It’s like a luxury boutique’s grand opening.’
Like high-end items that sell out instantly, *Piero: Birth of a Villain* seemed to hold that level of value to the public. Its unique journey was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Nora gestured toward Woo-jin as she continued.
“And with your influence adding fuel to the fire, the hype is through the roof.”
“…”
“The media has long associated your name with the Oscars, both positively and negatively. Some of the crowd undoubtedly bought tickets to criticize you, but they’ll be there nonetheless. And of course, the romance rumors are adding to the excitement.”
Woo-jin’s thoughts settled a bit as he began to understand the sold-out situation better. Nora’s tone turned more serious.
“While a sold-out preview is fantastic, Woo-jin, many of those audience members are there just to criticize you.”
Without missing a beat, Woo-jin replied calmly.
“That doesn’t matter. Criticism is meaningless to me.”
With that, Woo-jin continued to tackle his packed schedule while staying updated on *Piero*’s preview ticket sales. Even as he processed the news, he found moments to feel a quiet satisfaction.
‘Oh! The fourth day’s sold out, too!’
Columbia Studios wasted no time spreading the news, urging everyone to act quickly before tickets vanished. Meanwhile, the rumor about Woo-jin and Miley Cara continued to escalate.
"LA TIMES: Woo-jin Kang and Miley Cara Remain Silent, Confirming Their Love?"
On social media and forums, fans worldwide debated fiercely about whether they were actually dating. Miley’s fans, especially, were vocally skeptical.
- "How could someone like Kang Woo-jin be with Miley?"
- "Go back to Korea, Woo-jin!"
- "Woo-jin is just ruining Miley’s image by clinging to her!"
Yet Woo-jin remained unfazed, going about his work without batting an eye.
Meanwhile, *Guest*, the film featuring Miley Cara and Chris Hartnett, was gaining momentum in pre-production. Jennifer Sermon, CEO of A8 Media, was managing the production and promotional efforts.
Then, on February 7, headlines announced more news:
"ABY: Fans Flock from Around the Globe to LA and New York! First Week of *Piero: Birth of a Villain*’s Two-Week Preview Sells Out!"
With the first week fully booked, Hollywood buzzed even louder. Around the same time, Woo-jin completed his contract for *Bat: Birth of a Hero*, marking his official return as the Joker.
The rise in Woo-jin’s value was staggering.
‘Holy—my fee is insane! I could buy several houses with this!’
Director Ahn Ga-bok’s contract was also finalized, bringing the film’s vision to life.
On the morning of the 8th, Woo-jin received news of his next project from Choi Sung-geon.
“Woo-jin, *John Persona*’s first shoot is scheduled for February 27.”
The shoot would begin just days after *Piero*’s preview ended.
---
February 9, morning, downtown LA.
Just past 9 a.m., the streets were bustling with people and cars. The sidewalks were packed with pedestrians hurrying to their destinations, and car horns blared throughout the gridlocked roads.
In the heart of downtown
stood a massive multiplex theater, the largest in LA. A sleek black van pulled up to the entrance, and a few familiar faces stepped out, speaking in Korean.
“Wow, this theater is huge! Do they use the whole building?”
“Of course, they do. Didn’t you hear?”
“Impressive.”
“Director, watch your step.”
Hong Hye-yeon, now sporting a ponytail, stepped out, followed by Ryu Jung-min, who had grown out his hair, and Director Kwon Ki-taek. They’d flown in from Korea to be here in LA for *Piero*’s preview screening. Alongside a small crew, they made their way toward the theater, with Ryu Jung-min leading the way.
As top stars in Korea, they weren’t widely recognized in LA, though a few people did take a second glance.
As they reached the theater entrance, both Hye-yeon and Jung-min gasped.
“Wow—Woo-jin looks amazing.”
“Whoa!”
Director Kwon Ki-taek joined in.
“Ha-ha, indeed. Seeing this really makes me realize just how big of a star Woo-jin is.”
What they saw was a giant billboard outside the theater, towering at five times a person’s height. The massive poster featured Woo-jin as the Joker, with his pale face and red hair grinning eerily.
In the heart of LA, outside the largest theater, *Piero* was the face of the venue. Many foreign fans were already taking photos in front of the billboard, and Hye-yeon and Jung-min joined in the fun.
After about 10 minutes of photos, the group finally entered the theater lobby.
Hye-yeon’s jaw dropped.
“W-what?! Why are there so many people? Is this for real?!”
The theater lobby was packed wall-to-wall with a colorful array of people, the noise level so high it felt like being in a cavern.
Easily numbering in the hundreds, Hye-yeon muttered, still wide-eyed.
“Are all these people… here to watch *Piero*?”
Jung-min, equally stunned, replied.
“...They did say the whole theater was reserved for *Piero*, so yeah.”
“In other words, all of these people came to see Woo-jin?”
Less than an hour remained before *Piero: Birth of a Villain*’s first screening.