The richest actor in Hollywood.

The massive set was bustling with activity. Under Zack Snyder's coordination, everyone was diligently focused on their respective tasks. Matthew draped a bright red cloak over his shoulders and slowly walked across the green screen floor, positioning himself in front of all the Spartan warriors.

Filming had commenced, and according to Zack Snyder's plan, the scenes to be shot first were primarily the battles between the Spartans and the Persians.

As Matthew stood before the thirty-plus actors portraying Spartan warriors, most of the crew's attention shifted towards him.

"Seriously? That's a bit too much, isn't it?"

On the outskirts of the set, Eva Green, like most people, couldn't help but let her gaze follow Matthew's eyes downwards, noting the prominent bulge that looked quite astonishing.

She didn't have any scenes to shoot today, but since it was the first day of filming and there would be media activities later, she had specially returned from France yesterday. Still adjusting to the time difference, she arrived at the set.

Eva Green suddenly recalled some rumors from a few female stars in the industry who had been involved with Matthew Horner. They claimed that Matthew's size and ability in that area were quite impressive, saying that being with him just once was worth it, even if it meant dying...

These words seemed exaggerated, but what she saw today through the dark red tight pants was equally exaggerated.

Eva Green gently shook her head. Matthew was already immensely popular, with fans all over the USA. When this film is released, regardless of the plot or content, just his current appearance would probably drive countless female fans crazy.

On set, a makeup artist approached and handed Matthew a helmet made of resin. Matthew glanced at the dark red helmet and put it on.

"Wait, Matthew." The makeup artist quickly stepped forward and carefully adjusted his fake beard.

Since filming "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," Matthew hadn't shaved his beard. A full beard was often a staple in most Western period epics, and a significant portion of his daily makeup time was spent applying the fake beard.

After a quick adjustment, the makeup artist said, "All set."

Then he exited the set.

More than thirty actors stood in a tight formation in front of the camera, surrounded by green screens.

Matthew had previously discussed with Zack Snyder that not only would all the scenes be filmed against the green screens in the studio, but all background images, except for the wheat field backdrop, would be generated using CGI.

It's no exaggeration to say that aside from the actors, everything else in this film would be fake.

Zack Snyder then entered the set, came directly to Matthew, and said, "Our collaboration begins again."

Matthew smiled but didn't respond.

"This scene needs to convey the Spartans' unstoppable spirit," Zack Snyder gave his final instruction to Matthew, "Shout out all your lines!"

"No problem," Matthew nodded.

Zack Snyder exited the set and instructed his assistant, "Start filming."

The assistant director immediately placed the clapperboard in front of the camera and shouted, "300 Spartans, scene one, take one, action!"

The crew instantly went into filming mode, with the camera focusing on Matthew at the front of the formation.

"We will hold off these damn Persians right here!"

Matthew held a spear in one hand and a shield in the other, his face exposed outside the helmet looking fierce, his gaze seemingly capable of killing, "We will fight them here!"

His voice was loud and forceful, "We will destroy them here!"

Then, the actor next to him playing a centurion shouted, "Today, let the Persians die beneath our shields!"

More than thirty actors simultaneously raised their spears and shouted, "Hoo-ha!"

Matthew suddenly turned his head to look back, and a camera panned to capture his close-up.

"Warriors! Remember today!" His voice was low but extremely firm, "For this will follow you for a lifetime!"

"Cut!" Zack Snyder's voice rang out, "First take is good!"

He then shouted, "Actors, don't move. We'll shoot the second take in five minutes."

After that, Zack Snyder pressed the playback button on the director's monitor to review the just-filmed scene. This was King Leonidas's pre-battle speech, a staple in all Hollywood epics.

This was also Matthew's solo scene, with the focus entirely on him while the other actors were blurred in the background.

Matthew's performance was evidently very good, as the scene passed in one take.

Zack Snyder watched the playback again, this time more carefully. Having worked with Matthew on "Dawn of the Dead," he had some understanding of him. After this review, he concluded that Matthew's acting skills had noticeably improved since the "Dawn of the Dead" shoot.

Though the helmet covered half of Matthew's face, his glaring eyes and defined features in the close-up shot conveyed all the emotions needed, even the exposed teeth added to the fierce Spartan warrior's persona, perfectly portraying King Leonidas's formidable spirit.

He and Matthew had a good rapport, and he knew Matthew wasn't naturally talented as an actor. He prepared extensively for each role, and it was clear he had done the same for "300 Spartans."

In Hollywood, Matthew's acting skills were definitely at an above-average level.

Zack Snyder could easily make such a judgment.

The five minutes passed quickly, and Zack Snyder put these thoughts aside, signaling for filming to resume.

In front of the camera, Matthew shouted loudly, "Formation!"

All the actors, following their training, lifted their shields and raised their spears in unison, pointing them forward.

To achieve this effect, these actors, including Matthew, had undergone extensive training over the past two months.

Of course, Matthew remained the central figure in this scene.

"Persians!" Matthew's roar was deafening, "If you want Spartan weapons, come and get them!"

The camera, mounted on a sliding track, moved past the formation, focusing on Matthew's face.

Matthew roared again, "Warriors, use all your strength to take everything from the Persians!" His gaze was sharp, staring straight ahead, "Kill the enemies! Take no prisoners! Show no mercy!"

The shot ended there, and as Matthew's voice fell, the camera slid to the side.

Zack Snyder stood up from behind the camera and said, "Good! This take is also good!"

The first two shots went so smoothly, which he hadn't anticipated. Next, they would shoot the chaotic battle scenes between the Spartans and the Persians, requiring some adjustments to the set.

Zack Snyder then said, "Actors, take a half-hour break. Set crew, adjust the scene, and reposition the cameras!"

Hearing this, Matthew handed his shield and spear to the crew assistant, then removed the resin helmet that looked very metallic, and walked towards the rest area.

James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, dressed similarly, followed him, and the three of them headed to the rest area together.

After sitting down, Matthew took the water cup handed by Bella Anderson and took a big sip through the straw. Those earlier shouts were not just for show; they were real, voice-straining roars.

James McAvoy leaned in and whispered, "No wonder the women who have been with you always praise you so highly. There really is a reason."

Matthew gave a thumbs-up, pointing at Michael Fassbender, "You must be talking about Michael."

Bella Anderson suddenly coughed softly, and James McAvoy glanced at her, then changed the subject, asking, "Why do historians and scholars hold the Battle of Thermopylae in such high regard?"

"Three hundred heavily armed Spartan warriors, including King Leonidas, bravely fought to the death to cover the retreat of the main force, without surrendering. That's why they're recognized as heroes. By modern standards, they were true heroes," Matthew gave the widely accepted answer.

As for the actual situation, he didn't know. According to some, history lost its truth from the moment it occurred.

"There's more to it than that," Michael Fassbender seemed to have a different perspective and said, "The Battle of Thermopylae allowed Greece time to gather its forces and weakened the Persian's momentum, leading to Greece ultimately defeating the Persian invasion."

Matthew and James McAvoy looked at Michael Fassbender, and even Bella Anderson curiously glanced over. The three didn't quite understand what Michael meant.

Michael continued, "You know, ancient Greece was a city-state system, a form of democracy. Though flawed by modern standards, like the death of Socrates, this city-state system was the precursor and origin of Western democracy. Greece's survival allowed Western democracy to rise, whereas Persia was highly autocratic and not a democracy."

"Is there really such a theory?" Matthew shook his head, "Did you just make this up?"

Michael Fassbender spread his hands, "This is a view held in academia." He added, "The Greco-Persian Wars, including the Battle of Thermopylae, represent the competition between East and West, despotism and freedom, Zoroastrianism in Iran, and the diverse polytheism of Greece."

Matthew sighed, "So, the West is always superior?"

Michael Fassbender shrugged.

Matthew said nothing more. After spending a few years here, he couldn't be unaware that from the film industry to academia, the West often harbored a bizarre sense of superiority over the East.

Filming quickly resumed, and the set became chaotic with the action scenes.

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