As the clock struck 7 PM on June 10, 2014, "A Star is Born" began its limited release in select cinemas across the USA. Being an indie film, Warner Bros. had opted for a gradual rollout, starting small.
At the Angelika Film Center, crowds had already gathered, eager to catch the latest from Hollywood's golden boy, Lucas. As the lights dimmed and the familiar Warner Bros. logo appeared, the audience was immediately hit with the sound of a guitar and cheering crowds.
On screen, they saw Lucas as Jackson Maine, looking startlingly different. His hair was wavy, his face scruffy - he bore an uncanny resemblance to Kurt Cobain. As he began to sing, the audience was captivated:
"Black eyes open wide
It's time to testify
There's no room for life
And everyone's waiting for you"
Whispers rippled through the theater. "I like it," someone murmured. "Me too," came the reply.
The story unfolded, and soon came Taylor Swift's debut as Ally. The audience held their breath. "Here we go," someone whispered. "Can she really act?"
To everyone's surprise, Taylor delivered. Her chemistry with Lucas was palpable, their interactions feeling genuine and heartfelt. As Jackson and Ally collaborated on "Shallow" and performed it at a concert, the audience was swept away by the emotion of it all.
Even the typically stoic critics found themselves absorbed in the story, their notepads forgotten as they watched the drama unfold.
The film took the audience on an emotional rollercoaster as they watched Ally's meteoric rise to fame, culminating in her Grammy performance. Yet, as Ally soared, Jackson spiraled downward, grappling with addiction and a fading career.
The family dinner scene hit particularly hard. As Lorenzo, Ally's father, made cutting remarks about Jackson, you could feel the collective wince in the theater.
"Poor Jackson," a man muttered, his voice thick with sympathy.
The sentiment spread through the audience like a wave, men and women alike feeling Jackson's pain as if it were their own. The strain on Ally and Jackson's relationship was palpable, each scene another twist of the knife.
When Ally took center stage for her solo performance, the grand spectacle a stark contrast to Jackson's declining world, the audience shifted uncomfortably in their seats. It didn't sit right, seeing Jackson left behind.
Jackson's attempts to fight his addiction head-on had everyone on the edge of their seats, silently willing him to succeed. But as things took a turn for the worse, a collective sense of dread filled the theater.
The moment Jackson made his final, devastating decision, one could hear muffled sobs throughout the room. His last expression, a mix of resignation and a flicker of regret, was seared into everyone's minds.
"Jesus," someone whispered, their voice choked with emotion.
As the film reached its heartwrenching conclusion, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. The raw, unflinching portrayal of love, fame, and the demons that come with both had struck a chord with everyone present.
As Ally performed "I'll Never Love Again" in the final scene, the women in the audience were particularly affected. Sniffles and quiet sobs could be heard throughout the theater as they empathized with Ally's loss.
When the credits began to roll, the audience sat in stunned silence, grappling with their complicated emotions.
A girl turned to her partner, her eyes still wet with tears. "Jackson shouldn't have done that. He left Ally all alone," she said, her voice thick with emotion. After a pause, she added, "Would you do the same as Jackson if you were in his position?"
Her boyfriend's face contorted, clearly conflicted. For a split second, 'Probably' flashed through his mind, but he quickly pushed the thought away. "No, of course I wouldn't," he said, forcing conviction into his voice.
"Really?" she pressed, searching his face.
"Really," he affirmed, meeting her gaze. "It's because I love you." The white lie felt heavy on his tongue, but he swallowed it down.
She smiled, relief washing over her features. "I know you wouldn't be a coward like Jackson."
As the couple left the theater, arm in arm, the man couldn't help but ponder the complexities of Jackson's decision. He understood it in a way he'd never admit to his girlfriend, and it left him with a unsettling feeling in the pit of his stomach.
Meanwhile, all around them, similar conversations were taking place. The film had struck a chord, forcing people to confront uncomfortable truths about love, sacrifice, and the human condition. It was clear that "A Star is Born" would be the topic of many heated discussions in the days to come.
***
The first day box office for "A Star is Born" hit a surprising $7 million. For a limited release, it was an eye-popping figure.
Word-of-mouth spread like wildfire. Those lucky enough to catch the film couldn't stop raving about it.
"It's a masterpiece," one viewer gushed on Twitter. "I'm still emotional days later."
Sure enough, just five days into its limited run, "A Star is Born" had raked in $49 million, blowing past the highly anticipated summer blockbuster, "Edge of Tomorrow," which opened the same day.
Critics were falling over themselves to praise the film:
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% Fresh
"A heart-wrenching tour de force that cements Lucas Knight's status as one of Hollywood's finest."
IMDb: 8.9/10
User reviews flooded in:
"Lucas Knight delivers a career-defining performance. I was moved to tears."
"Taylor Swift surprises everyone. She's got real acting talent!"
Metacritic: 88
"A modern classic that will be remembered for years to come."
As usual, Lucas's performance was singled out for particular praise. The New York Times wrote: "Knight's portrayal of Jackson Maine is nothing short of devastating. He makes you feel every ounce of Jackson's pain, joy, and ultimately, his tragic fall."
The Hollywood Reporter chimed in: "Knight proves once again why he's the most versatile actor of his generation. His chemistry with Swift is electric, their duets soul-stirring."
***
As Taylor sat in her tour bus, preparing for her next concert, she couldn't help but feel anxious about the reception of "A Star is Born." She had been worried sick that her acting might ruin the film, potentially letting down Lucas and the entire crew. But as reviews and reactions poured in, it seemed her fears were unfounded.
Sighing in relief, she scrolled through her phone, reading the overwhelmingly positive comments. Feeling playful, she decided to tweet:
"@LucasXKnight Remember when I was convinced I'd single-handedly tank the movie? Guess I owe you a coffee for putting up with my panic attacks on set! 😅🎬 #AStarIsBorn"
Within seconds, her mentions exploded:
@SwiftieForever: "Girl, you KILLED IT! Ignore the haters, they're just jealous 💅"
"You and Lucas need to do more films together! That chemistry was 🔥🔥🔥"
"From music to movies, is there anything you can't do? 👑"
As she read through the comments, Taylor felt a blush creeping up her cheeks at the ones shipping her with Lucas. She quickly turned off her phone, trying to focus on her upcoming performance.
But as she ran through her setlist, she couldn't help but smile, remembering the long nights of rehearsals with Lucas, his patience as she struggled with certain scenes, and the genuine friendship that had blossomed between them.
***
Lucas's mind was elsewhere as fans raved about "A Star is Born." His focus was split between Netflix projects and helping Damien Chazelle flesh out ideas for "La La Land." Netflix was also pushing for him to join "House of Cards."
Thanks to his "Mind Workshop" ability, Lucas recalled the controversy that would eventually engulf "House of Cards" due to Kevin Spacey allegations. He decided to steer clear of a major commitment to the series, offering instead to do a cameo if Netflix was interested. They seemed amenable to the idea.
"Sorry, guys," Lucas muttered to himself, "but I'm not jumping on that particular sinking ship."
Meanwhile, Neil rang him about Disney's animated film "Big Hero 6." The House of Mouse was dead set on getting Lucas to voice a character.
"They're really pushing for this, huh?" Lucas asked Neil.
"Like you wouldn't believe," Neil replied. "I think they'd offer you Walt's cryogenically frozen head if they thought it'd seal the deal."
Lucas chuckled. "Let's not go that far. Tell them I'm interested, but I need to see the script first."
Though Lucas already knew how "Big Hero 6" would turn out in his previous life, he was still curious to see if this world's version would be the same.
Neil's voice crackled through the phone, "Alright, I'll ask for the script. But you'll probably have to sign an NDA for that. You know how paranoid Disney is about leaks."
Lucas smiled to himself. "Alright," he said simply.
Two days later, Lucas found himself walking into Disney's headquarters. He was greeted by Roy Conli, one of the producers of "Big Hero 6," who welcomed him with a warm smile.
"Lucas, great to have you here," Roy said, extending his hand.
Lucas nodded, shaking Roy's hand firmly. "Thanks for having me."
They settled into the seats of the conference room, the air thick with anticipation. Lucas watched as a person—likely Roy's assistant—handed Roy a set of papers.
"So," Roy began, sliding a thick stack of documents across the table, "before we dive into the details, I'll need you to sign this NDA."
Lucas picked up the document, skimming through it with practiced ease. "Of course," he replied, grabbing a pen. He signed the NDA, his thoughts wandering to the script. Would it be the same as the one he remembered from his previous life?
"Alright," Lucas said, handing the signed papers back to Roy, who nodded approvingly. Without a word, Roy passed the script over to him.
For the next twenty minutes, Lucas read in silence, the room quiet except for the sound of turning pages. Roy sat back, watching intently. Finally, Lucas closed the script and returned it with a thoughtful smile.
"So," Roy asked, leaning forward, "what do you think?"
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