EFB Chapter 384 Christine Meets the Parents
Chapter 384 Christine Meets the Parents
Chapter 383 Christine Meets the Parents
The scene of the meeting.
Marvel released two previously unseen clips from the movie for the first time globally.
The first scene is a thrilling climb up the Washington Monument.
The camera shoots from a height of 100 meters, showing Peter clinging to a smooth stone wall with a precipice hanging below, his hands slipping repeatedly.
The fans at the scene held their breath until Peter successfully rescued his trapped classmate, at which point thunderous applause erupted.
The second clip is the famous scene of Spider-Man confronting Vulture in the warehouse.
Michael Keaton's portrayal of Baldy exudes a menacing aura as he threatens Peter, "If you dare stand in my way, I'll kill you and everyone you care about."
Peter, played by Chen Xun, went from being flustered and timid at the beginning to having a determined look in his eyes. Even though he was covered in wounds, he still stood firmly in front of the truck.
The one-minute clip was packed with dramatic tension!
The screams and applause at the scene were almost non-stop.
The clip has finished playing.
The fans in the audience erupted in cheers, chanting in unison, "Hurry up and release it! I can't wait!"
After the meeting.
These two clips garnered over 2 million views within 24 hours of being uploaded to YouTube, once again raising global audience expectations to new heights.
The excitement from the Singapore stop hadn't even died down when the Spider-Man tour team rushed off to Europe to kick off a multi-country tour.
The first stop was Rome, Italy. The roadshow and press conference were held in a century-old Baroque palace in the center of Rome. The red carpet stretched from the palace entrance all the way to the Spanish Steps, and the entire street was packed with fans.
Italian fans have always been enthusiastic and passionate.
As soon as Chen Xun and Christine appeared on the red carpet, screams echoed throughout the entire street.
Fans held up signs in Italian that read "Our Spider-Man is here!" Some fans even wore custom-made Spider-Man cosplay costumes in the Renaissance style, prompting the media at the scene to snap photos like crazy.
On the red carpet, Chen Xun patiently signed autographs and took photos with fans throughout, trying his best to meet everyone's requests even when security personnel kept urging him to hurry up.
When Chen Xun encounters Chinese fans who can speak Mandarin, he will make a point of stopping to chat with them in Chinese for a couple of minutes.
The gentle gesture drove the fans at the scene even more wild, and the related topic immediately topped the trending list on Italian Twitter.
The second stop was Berlin, Germany, where the roadshow was held at the Sony Center in Potsdamer Platz.
It was late autumn in Berlin, and the temperature had dropped below zero, but thousands of fans still arrived more than ten hours in advance to queue up, wrapped in blankets and waiting in the cold wind, just to catch a glimpse of Chen Xun.
During the red carpet event, Chen Xun saw a little fan whose cheeks were red from the cold wind, so he specially took off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
This action was captured by fans at the scene and instantly became a trending topic on German social media.
Countless netizens commented: "What kind of amazing Spider-Man is this! He's so gentle!"
At the press conference in Berlin, a German journalist asked him what it felt like to be the first Chinese actor to portray a top Marvel superhero.
Holding the microphone, Chen Xun said firmly, "Spider-Man has never belonged to any one country or race; he is a good neighbor to the whole world. I am honored to bring this role to a global audience, and I am also happy to let everyone see that Chinese actors can also play superheroes well and can also shine on the Hollywood stage."
As soon as he finished speaking, the audience erupted in prolonged applause.
The final stop of their European tour was Moscow, Russia.
Snow was already falling in Moscow at this time, and despite the extremely cold weather of minus ten degrees Celsius, the roadshow venue next to Red Square was still packed with fans.
Some die-hard fans even stood in the snow for three hours straight, dressed only in Spider-Man's bodysuit, just to wait for Chen Xun's red carpet appearance.
When Chen Xun and Christine braved the heavy snow to walk the red carpet, the fans at the scene went wild, and the shouts of "Spider-Man" drowned out the howling snow.
Chen Xun looked at the fans in the snow, stopped, and bowed deeply to them, speaking in the Russian he had just learned:
6
Thank you, I love you all.
The fans at the scene screamed so hard their voices cracked instantly.
The four-stop European roadshow broke local records for fan attendance at each stop, and related topics dominated the trending lists on social media platforms across Europe.
The pre-sale box office for "Spider-Man: Homecoming" in Europe has also skyrocketed, repeatedly breaking Sony Pictures' pre-sale records in Europe.
After concluding their European tour, the promotional team finally returned to North America for the highly anticipated Los Angeles global premiere.
The premiere was held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, with the entire Hollywood Boulevard blocked off by Marvel and Sony. The red carpet stretched from the Walk of Fame all the way to the theater entrance, and the venue was packed with global media and fans. The security lineup was top-notch for the year.
The star power that night was the greatest in Hollywood all year.
In addition to the entire cast and crew of "Spider-Man," Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige brought almost the entire MCU cast to the event.
Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Janssen, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, and almost the entire core of the Avengers have gathered to support this new MCU film.
The most anticipated moment of the entire event was undoubtedly the appearance of Robert Downey Jr.
When Downey, dressed in a custom-made Iron Man red and gold suit, wearing sunglasses, and strutting down the red carpet with Tony Stark's signature swagger, the screams from the audience nearly lifted the roof off the Dolby Theatre.
Instead of giving a media interview first, he went straight to Chen Xun, who had just appeared, gave him a big hug, patted him on the back, and smiled at the camera, saying, "This is my apprentice, Peter Parker. He is the real star today."
The moment the master and apprentice appeared together was captured by the media on site.
Before the premiere was even over, footage of the film had already spread across social media platforms worldwide.
The hashtag #IronManSpiderManMasterAndApprenticeTogether# immediately topped the global trending search list.
On the red carpet, Downey accompanied Chen Xun throughout, and during media interviews, he always went out of his way to support him: "I knew from the first day I acted with Chen Xun that he was a born actor. His portrayal of Peter Parker is the most faithful to the comic book version in my mind. It has the naivety of a young man, as well as the responsibility and commitment of a hero. This movie will definitely amaze everyone."
Inside the premiere venue, the entire film "Spider-Man: Homecoming" was screened.
As the movie ended and the end credits rolled, a five-minute standing ovation erupted in the Dolby Theatre.
The entire audience, media, and Hollywood professionals all stood up and applauded enthusiastically, giving the creative team, especially Chen Xun, the warmest recognition.
The media reviews after the screening were almost unanimously perfect.
The Hollywood Reporter commented: "Chen Xun brought Peter Parker to life. He perfectly balanced the shyness of a high school boy next door with the bravery and responsibility of Spider-Man. This is the most vivid and moving version of Spider-Man in film history."
Variety wrote: "This film completely breaks away from the established formula of superhero movies. It's not about a hero saving the world, but about a boy's growth, and Chen Xun's performance is the soul of the entire film."
The film opened with a 97% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, setting a new record for the highest opening score for a solo MCU superhero film.
The buzz surrounding the Los Angeles premiere is still building.
A week later, the New York premiere took place as scheduled.
Downey Jr. was present again this time, and even brought along a group of Marvel actors to play along with the jokes. He shouted to Chen Xun, "Peter, it's time to hand in your internship report from Stark Industries," which made the fans laugh out loud.
Following its New York premiere, Spider-Man: Homecoming's global pre-sale box office has surpassed $2.5 million, breaking the global pre-sale record for a superhero solo film.
North American opening weekend box office forecasts have been revised upwards to $1.8 million.
During the month-long global roadshow, Chen Xun flew to almost half of the globe. He was either on a plane or at press conferences, red carpet events, and fan meetings every day. The non-stop schedule left him so tired that he could fall asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
But whenever he sees fans holding up support signs and chanting his name in the audience, and sees the overwhelming praise from the media and the audience, all his fatigue turns into a great sense of accomplishment.
That night, after the New York premiere, Chen Xun and Christine sat in the car on their way back to their apartment, looking at the New York cityscape outside the window and scrolling through the positive reviews online. Christine chuckled and nudged his arm: "How does it feel to be a Golden Globe winner and now a global superstar Spider-Man?"
Chen Xun leaned back in his chair, rubbed his temples with a smile, and looked at the support videos sent by his fans in China on his phone, his eyes full of laughter: "I don't have any special feelings, I just feel that all the previous efforts were worth it."
Chen Xun arranged for the roadshow and premiere in China to be held together.
Because this is Chen Xun's base, Marvel respects Chen Xun's opinion and even made the China trip a separate event from the rest of the global roadshow.
On the international flight to Shanghai, the lights in the business class were dimmed. Chen Xun turned his head to look at Christine, who was sitting next to him looking restless, and couldn't help but laugh out loud again.
This was the fifth time during her ten-hour flight that she had taken out a small mirror to repeatedly check her makeup, and then took out her skincare products and applied them to the back of her hand.
Kristen Stewart, who is usually cool and carefree, whether on the Oscars red carpet or at a world premiere, was as nervous as a little girl taking her first final exam.
"Don't take any more pictures, you already look great."
Chen Xun reached out and took the mirror from her hand, placing it on the small table: "You're not even nervous on the Oscar stage, so why are you so nervous about coming back to China?"
"How can that be the same?"
Christine glared at him, but lacked confidence, lowering her voice slightly: "Going to other countries is just for work, but going to China is different. That's your home, your fans and your compatriots are there. I'm going back with you, with—"
It's no different from meeting the parents.
As she spoke, she couldn't help but tug at her hair in frustration: "Yesterday I had my assistant buy me more than a dozen new outfits, including formal dresses, casual wear, and Chinese-style cheongsams, but I still don't know which one to wear to the premiere."
"Also, I've been practicing my Chinese for a long time, and I'm afraid I'll forget everything if I get nervous. Do you think your fans won't like me? Will they think my portrayal of MJ is bad? Will they think I'm not good enough for you?"
As he asked a series of questions, Chen Xun looked at the unease that she couldn't hide in her eyes, and felt both soft-hearted and amused.
He had known Christine for so many years and was used to her fearless nature, but this was the first time he had seen her so shy and uneasy, like a little girl afraid of being criticized by her elders.
"What are you thinking about?"
Chen Xun reached out and ruffled her hair, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her forehead: "My fans have liked you for a long time. Ever since the Spider-Man trailer came out, they've been praising you on my Weibo every day, saying that your portrayal of MJ is both cool and charismatic. Besides, I'm the one bringing you home. What are you afraid of with me here?"
That's what they say—
Christine snuggled closer to him and muttered, "That's different. I even learned a lot of phrases from my Chinese teacher, like greetings, thanks, and how to say hello to fans. You'll have to remind me so I don't make a fool of myself."
Chen Xun smiled and agreed, feeling a warmth in his heart.
He knew that Christine's nervousness was never about being afraid of the camera and fans, but rather because this was his hometown and she wanted to show her best side to those who loved her.
What they didn't know was that at that moment, the whole country had already been swept up in an overwhelming wave of excitement for this belated appointment.
Since the start of the global roadshow for "Spider-Man", the hashtag #ChenXunSpiderManChinaPremiere# on Weibo has garnered over 10 billion views.
Videos of each overseas roadshow stop were immediately and wildly reposted by Chinese netizens as soon as they were released.
The tender interactions on the red carpet, the composed speeches at the press conference, and the heartwarming gestures at the fan meeting—every moment went viral on Weibo.
The comments section was filled with envious remarks from netizens: "Help! I'm so jealous of overseas fans seeing Chen Xun every day! When are you coming back to China?! My kids have practically worn out the trailers by now!"
"The aerial scenes at the Singapore station were absolutely stunning! When will we be able to see a live Chen Xun in China?!"
"Is it possible for us to put on a grand show for Chen Xun? So that when he comes home, he can feel the warmth of home!"
This message instantly ignited the passion of fans across the country.
Chen Xun's global fan club took the lead overnight, and fan branches across the country responded one after another.
A surprise plan, kept secret from Chen Xun, began quietly.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
The fan club communicated with the airport in advance and secured all the large screen slots at the arrival gate, playing a montage of Chen Xun's works on a loop.
From the spirited Han Lee in *2 Broke Girls*, to the gentle and romantic Sebastian in *La La Land*, from the cynical Star-Lord in *Guardians of the Galaxy*, to the youthful and courageous Peter Parker in the upcoming *Spider-Man* —
Every frame is a record of his journey.
The fans who came to greet Chen Xun at the airport spontaneously divided into groups: some wore red and blue Spider-Man suits, while others wore red support shirts printed with "Welcome Chen Xun Home".
Two neat rows were lined up from the arrival gate to the airport exit.
They even prepared the support signs in advance!
One side features the classic Spider-Man image, while the other side displays a handwritten message: "Brother Xun, welcome home."
Not just airports.
Shanghai Metro Line 11 has launched a special "Spider-Man themed train," with the interior walls of the carriages covered with posters of Spider-Man played by Chen Xun, as well as quotes from his works.
From Xujiahui Station to Disney Station, the entire subway light boxes were filled with advertisements for the premiere of "Spider-Man: Homecoming" and messages of support such as "Welcome Chen Xun home".
Bus stops on the streets of Shanghai, street signs in core business districts, the large screens overlooking the Bund, the light shows on landmark buildings in Lujiazui, and even shared bicycles around cinemas are all covered with custom Spider-Man decals.
The entire city of Shanghai seemed to have transformed into Spider-Man's city overnight, with surprises prepared by fans hidden in every corner.
The most special part of this surprise came from the "Seeking Shadows Charity Project" established by Chen Xun.
When he received his first high salary for acting, he immediately established this charity project to support teenagers in impoverished areas of China who have dreams of working in the film and television industry.
The program includes tuition assistance, professional teacher training, and practical opportunities for short film production.
This program has helped hundreds of children in remote mountainous areas, giving them the opportunity to pursue their dreams of making movies.
Upon learning that Chen Xun was returning to China to hold a premiere, the person in charge of the charity project secretly contacted the beneficiary children all over the country and selected more than a dozen representatives to come to Shanghai.
Among them are a girl from the mountainous area of Guizhou who was admitted to the directing department of Beijing Film Academy, a boy from Liangshan, Sichuan whose short film about left-behind children won the gold medal in the National Youth Short Film Competition, a young girl who just entered high school and dreams of becoming a voice actress, and even a young man who has graduated from the Communication University of China and entered the television station as a director.
Their lives were completely changed because of Chen Xun's act of kindness.
The night before she left for Shanghai, Lin Xiao, the girl who had been admitted to the Beijing Film Academy, practiced what she would say to Chen Xun repeatedly in front of the mirror in her dormitory. As she practiced, her eyes welled up with tears.
She will always remember that her family was so poor that she almost couldn't finish high school. It was the "Finding Films Charity Project" that sent her tuition fees and hired professional online teachers for her, enabling her to hold a camera and film the sunrise and sunset in the mountains, and eventually get into the film academy she had always dreamed of.
"Brother Chen Xun, I can finally thank you in person."
She touched the sketchbook she had drawn herself, which was full of her drawings of the various characters played by Chen Xun.
The moment the plane landed at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Chen Xun's phone had just reconnected to a domestic signal when Weibo notifications started popping up like crazy, all of them trending about his return to China.
But before he could take a closer look, Christine grabbed his arm.
"I'm so nervous!"
Christine took a deep breath, straightened her clothes in front of the cabin door for a while, and then muttered in her newly learned Chinese, "Hello everyone, I'm Christine, it's nice to meet you all."
Chen Xun smiled, took her hand tightly, and walked out of the cabin with her.
The moment I crossed the jet bridge and reached the arrival gate, a deafening cheer erupted, almost lifting the roof off the airport.