I Was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor

Chapter 467

Chapter 467: Encroachment (3)

Translator: NovelBin

The first review of *Piero: Birth of a Villain* on one of the most trusted film-rating sites, frequented by global audiences and industry insiders alike, was by none other than Roger Wright, a renowned Hollywood critic.

 "Kang Woo-jin's Joker is a harmful mess…”
 
 **Rating: 10/10**
 
 -Roger Wright, Film Critic

Wright, known for his notoriously harsh critiques, had even infamously torn apart a recent Hollywood blockbuster just the previous month, with biting remarks such as, “I wanted to pluck out my eyes after watching,” and “the acting should be fed to dogs.” His brutal reviews had turned into a popular online trend, so much so that if he gave a film a positive review, it was considered an omen for success. Films he criticized often tanked at the box office, which only boosted his reputation.

For the first time in five years, Roger Wright had offered nothing short of glowing praise, sparking a positive start for *Piero* on a site where public opinion often strongly influences a film's success. The industry knew this well: once a movie gained traction on review sites, it could make or break its performance worldwide.

As Woo-jin read Wright’s review in the van, he couldn’t help but smirk internally.

"‘Harmful mess’? That line stung a bit, but saying he loves my Joker makes up for it. Feels amazing."

Though he’d received plenty of praise for his acting back home in Korea, receiving such high praise from a Hollywood heavyweight he’d never met was exhilarating.

His team, buzzing with excitement, shared their reactions:

“I thought he was going to rip Joker apart after calling him a ‘harmful mess’! This critic totally pulled a plot twist with that review!”

“Roger Wright?! He’s huge! This guy has tons of memes in Hollywood because of how he slams movies.”

“He’s famous for being harsh, but if even he’s giving rave reviews, Woo-jin oppa must have really nailed it.”

Even Choi Sung-geon, usually calm, couldn’t hold back his smile. Meanwhile, over at Columbia Studios, executives were celebrating:

“Haha! Roger Wright gave us a glowing review!”

“This is a great start. Since it’s just the early release, the numbers don’t matter yet, but globally, this sets a solid trend!”

“Get ready; more articles are bound to come pouring in!”

From Director Ahn Ga-bok to Chris Hartnett, everyone involved in *Piero* was thrilled with the reception. That same morning, Hollywood saw a flood of articles:

 *LA Times* - *Roger Wright, infamous for his harsh reviews, on the early release of “Piero”: “A harmful mess, but I love Kang Woo-jin’s Joker”*

*ABY* - *Standing ovation for Kang Woo-jin at the surprise meet-and-greet / photos*

The buzz from the first day of release carried into the second, now twice as intense. By midday, more reviews appeared online:

"Truly impressive and shockingly monumental, *Piero* will go down as one of the greatest films that honors villains. Kang Woo-jin’s Joker was a revelation."
 
*Rating: 10/10*

"Hollywood has made history with *Piero: Birth of a Villain*. Columbia has gifted audiences with a villain they can adore. Kang Woo-jin’s Joker could be the most influential villain in Hollywood history."

*Rating: 9.8/10*

"Describing this film to anyone who hasn’t seen it would be a waste of time; they just need to watch it. There’s nothing else to say. Go to the theater, watch Kang Woo-jin’s Joker, and feel the chills."
 
*Rating: 9.7/10*

Directors, actors, critics, and columnists alike raved about *Piero*, with scores rarely dropping below 9. It was a rare wave of praise that continued to build as the third day rolled around, and reviews from global audiences flooded in on February 11.

"A masterpiece! Thank you, Director Ahn Ga-bok, and Woo-jin, we love you!"
 
"Piero is one of the freshest, most incredible films I’ve ever seen. Can we give an early congratulations on the Oscar win?"

"Kang Woo-jin is the real deal, no doubt a phenomenal actor!"

The film had become an online sensation, its reputation now miles away from the skepticism that had surrounded Woo-jin before its release.

"I used to hate Kang Woo-jin, but now I think I love him."

"Kang Woo-jin is insane. Even if he scoffs at the Oscars, I’ll watch his next movie."

The drastic shift in public sentiment was astonishing. As Woo-jin continued with his packed promotional schedule, Hollywood’s overwhelmingly positive response quickly spread back to Korea. Interviews with stars who had flown to LA for the premiere, including Ryu Jung-min and Hong Hye-yeon, went viral:

“Star Talk: Hong Hye-yeon on Woo-jin’s ‘Piero’ – ‘I hope everyone in Korea watches it when it releases.’”

And the flood of international praise caught on in Korean media and social platforms as well, igniting anticipation in his home country.

The early release continued to dominate headlines as the days passed. By February 16, halfway through its two-week run, *Piero* had sold out every screening across 33 theaters, each day accompanied by a fresh batch of rave reviews. Meanwhile, other major projects featuring Woo-jin progressed swiftly:

For *Beauty and the Beast*, now in the final stages of editing under Director Bill Roettner, plans were in place for a promotional event, a tradition of *World Disney Pictures* to introduce their cast and preview the film. With a packed media turnout expected, the event was set for February, taking advantage of Woo-jin’s current momentum.

Over at *John Persona*, scheduled to begin shooting on February 27, pre-production was in high gear. With only two weeks left, Director Danny Landis and producer Joseph Felton were busy finalizing key scenes.

“Let’s test the car chase first. That’ll be the opening for the film.”

“Yes, sir! We’ll get the Scorpio Arm (the specialized camera rig) ready!”

“Let’s get the drones up as well.”

Meanwhile, the *Guest* production, featuring Woo-jin in a special role alongside Miley Cara and Chris Hartnett, had wrapped pre-production preparations, with set construction in full swing.

*BBX* - *Despite a week since its early release, “Piero” is still selling out—an unprecedented success story in Hollywood.*

By February 16, the second week of *Piero*’s early release began, with every seat sold out daily and reactions still soaring. That same day, another key player moved into action.

“All right, let’s start reviewing these films. Add any additional titles to the next round.”

“Isn’t *Piero: Birth of a Villain* causing quite the buzz? Even the critics are giving it high scores.”

“I can’t wait to see it myself—what could be so amazing about it?”

“We’ll find out soon. Columbia Studio promised to send it over by the end of today.”

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), which oversees the Oscars, began its formal selection process. By mid-February, the final review phase for nominees was underway, and on February 17, AMPAS received the *Piero* film for official consideration.

With *Piero* meeting the early release requirement of over a week, it qualified for nomination.

The next morning, February 17, AMPAS began distributing the year’s eligible films to its nearly 10,000 voting members around the world. The list was full of titles helmed by legendary directors and Hollywood A-listers, names that would draw global attention.

And among the jaw-dropping entries on that list was:

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*Piero: Birth of a Villain / Columbia Studios*

The Joker was officially in the race.