Laughter and chatter filled the air. The entire public theater was bustling with excitement, like a sea of vibrant flowers.
For a brief moment, everyone forgot that filming was still ongoing, and the crew's work wasn't finished. They were simply overwhelmed with joy and happiness at Anson's return, eager to express their genuine emotions as they surrounded him in a lively commotion.
And what about Anson?
With his usual charm and wit, he responded to the endless waves of greetings and heartfelt moments. He skillfully handled the busy situation without missing anyone, effortlessly turning the filming set into a social gathering.
The atmosphere was joyous.
At that moment, all feelings of pressure and anxiety melted away—there was no hint of gloom or frustration.
Rome wasn't built in a day, and this didn't all happen overnight.
From "Spider-Man" to "Spider-Man 2," the world outside had changed drastically. The once-criticized superhero movies had now become the center of attention across North America. However, within the crew, nothing seemed to have changed—they maintained their original passion.
This was a good thing.
Sam had become more convinced that the key to "Spider-Man's" success lay with Anson. So as they looked forward to the second film continuing the miracle, the path ahead for the crew had never been clearer.
Phew.
Sam let out a soft sigh of relief, grateful that the power struggles at Sony Columbia hadn't led to any foolish decisions that could make both the crew and the company regret it.
Or maybe he should be thankful that Anson, as a young man, was willing to fight back and stand his ground. Clearly, Anson wasn't about to back down in front of a giant like Sony Columbia.
Only when the excitement finally calmed down a bit did Sam step forward.
"Hey, kid, welcome back."
"So, how are you feeling? Ready to go?"
Sam wasn't great with words, but even a simple sentence carried so much emotion.
Anson looked at Sam with a smile. "What if I say I'm not ready? How much time would you give me?"
Sam thought seriously for a moment, "Three minutes."
Anson made a goofy face.
Everyone burst into laughter.
Sam's expression remained serious. "Since you're here, why don't we continue with this scene? Kristen has two more shots, then we'll move on to your part."
Anson replied, "Can I object?"
Sam thought for a moment, "You can. But I'll reject it."
Hahaha—
Such a scene was rare, with the director cracking jokes not just once, but twice.
Not only did the crew laugh, but even the extras joined in.
Anson spread his hands, "Alright then, let's get back to work. Seems like we have some catching up to do."
His light-hearted teasing drew groans from the crew, who, for once, didn't hide their "complaints," but their smiles told a different story.
...
"Anson is back!"
A single sentence from the news carried incredible impact, instantly grabbing everyone's attention.
TMZ, as always, was the first to break the story. Over the past month, the gossip website had dominated the headlines. People hated it, attacked it, criticized it, and boycotted it, but nothing could stop its growth—
Like mold.
Stubborn, wild, and spreading everywhere.
And here it was again.
TMZ was the first to report the news, complete with photos and a story.
Judging by the photos, TMZ's location was outside the public theater, in the evening. The "Spider-Man 2" crew had just wrapped up a full day of filming. Anson, Kristen, Reed, and other actors, along with the crew, were seen leaving together, smiling and chatting as they finished for the day.
The group headed to an Italian family restaurant for dinner, and the small surprise was that the main crew members joined them later.
Including Sam Raimi.
For those closely following the "Spider-Man" crew, they'd know Sam was always a lone wolf. He was not only shy but also a bit of a recluse. He rarely participated in any crew gatherings, always keeping a clear line between work and personal life.
This time, Sam's appearance was both unexpected and a delight, even surprising the crew, who immediately started cheering.
The dinner didn't last long, with alcohol limited to just beer. The whole thing wrapped up in less than two hours, clearly under control.
Even so, the good mood among the crew was evident.
In the end, TMZ concluded that Anson had officially recovered and returned to the "Spider-Man 2" crew, ready to get back to work.
One stone stirred up a thousand waves!
TMZ had done it again, seizing the public's attention and causing a storm of speculation—
Worth noting, this was Anson's first public appearance in three whole weeks!
Since the accident on the New Jersey set, Anson had been completely isolated in the hospital, with all news sealed off—let alone any photos.
Naturally, rumors ran wild. With Sony Columbia's internal drama, countless conspiracy theories flooded the internet.
There were even rumors that Anson was disfigured.
Like Montgomery Clift.
This classic Hollywood heartthrob from the Golden Age, once on par with Marlon Brando, had taken the world by storm. At seventeen, he became a sensation on Broadway, and Hollywood begged him to make movies, but he refused, staying loyal to Broadway. Finally, at twenty-six, after Hollywood met all his demands, he began acting in films.
He rose to stardom, effortlessly winning the hearts of audiences and countless admirers in the industry.
However, at thirty-six, a car accident left one side of his face paralyzed, ruining not only his looks but his ability to act naturally. This destroyed Montgomery's confidence and pride, and he never fully recovered.
At forty-five, Montgomery Clift died of a heart attack after years of heavy drinking.
Many forums were convinced that Anson was following in Montgomery's tragic footsteps.
But there was no evidence.
Yet, Anson remained out of sight, fueling even more speculation, and not even Sony Columbia's clarifications could stop it.
Until now.
Finally!
After much waiting, Anson reappeared.
On one side, the "Spider-Man 2" set had been deserted, with attention plunging, and the usual crowds nowhere to be seen.
On the other, Anson's return reignited the frenzy. Within just one afternoon, the paparazzi were back in full swing.
This tiny detail showed how Anson's market influence was deepening, drawing all eyes toward him.
And then, the explosion of discussion—
In the TMZ photos, Anson was still Anson. There was no visible change. Far from being disfigured, you couldn't even tell he'd been injured.
Everything was fine, as if nothing had happened in the past three weeks.