Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 209: Exceptional Choice

This is Hollywood, where no one is irreplaceable. No one.

This saying is the supreme principle of Hollywood because the industry is brimming with talent and fresh blood constantly flows in. Even top-tier stars like Tom Cruise and Johnny Depp, or industry giants with racial advantages like Will Smith and Denzel Washington, are not irreplaceable.

Hollywood is a star-making factory; if one person is gone, there's always the next. If one superstar falls, there's always another. It's a ruthless and ever-changing environment.

Just like how "Transformers" replaced Megan Fox, the "Spider-Man" series almost replaced Tobey Maguire simply because he demanded too high a salary, angering the Sony executives.

Of course, later, after the two "Amazing Spider-Man" films, the executives were unhappy with the box office results and without hesitation replaced the then-rising star Andrew Garfield, halting the series and starting anew.

This is the reality of Hollywood.

"So, I'm competing with Dwayne Johnson?" Renly said, raising his right fist to show his bicep, making the implication very clear, which made Andy laugh.

The opportunity with "Fast & Furious 5" was indeed exciting, but clearly, the competition wasn't simple. From Andy's words, it was evident that if Dwayne reached an agreement with the crew, no matter how hard Renly tried, the role would still belong to Dwayne. Choosing Renly would mean a different character style, even requiring fight scenes to be rearranged, which would cause a massive upheaval for the crew.

However, since the movie had already begun pre-production and the producer had agreed to this audition, it meant they were in urgent need. This gave Renly a window: either to use this to pressure Dwayne or because they were genuinely tired of negotiating and ready to change directions.

In any case, a face-to-face meeting would clarify the situation.

"What about the other project?" Renly knew Andy had come prepared. Whatever Renly could think of, Andy would have thought of as well. So, Andy first mentioned "Fast & Furious" to test Renly's bottom line, but it was clear he didn't plan to put all his bets on this.

"A comedy." Sure enough, Andy had been waiting for this moment and spoke without hesitation. He then turned to his briefcase, pulling out a thin booklet of about twenty to thirty pages. If it was a script, it was too thin, but if it was a proposal, it was too thick. "This script just came out last weekend. I went through great lengths to get the first twenty pages. See if you're interested. If you are, I can arrange a meeting with Brett Ratner."

Renly didn't take the script immediately but looked at Andy in surprise. "A comedy?" He was indeed surprised by Andy's choice.

Among many film genres, comedy is quite special. As everyone knows, comedy is difficult to make. Often, making an audience cry is easier than making them laugh heartily, especially as audiences become more discerning and wise to comedy's tricks. Since the 21st century, excellent comedies have become increasingly rare.

Moreover, apart from Billy Wilder, most comedy actors and directors aren't appreciated by the Academy. This is a prejudice in the arts; from the start, comedy actors weren't considered real actors, akin to magicians and acrobats being seen as sideshow performers.

Take Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, for instance. These comedy masters spent their entire lives excluded from the Oscars. Jim Carrey, undoubtedly the most outstanding comedy actor since the 1990s, received six Golden Globe nominations but never an Oscar nod. Even acclaimed works like "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "The Truman Show" were completely ignored by the Oscars.

Today, even having been in a comedy is considered a "black mark." Actors like James Franco, Bradley Cooper, and Steve Carell getting Oscar nominations are rare breakthroughs. Bradley Cooper, after three consecutive Oscar nominations, has virtually stopped doing comedies.

Andy choosing a comedy was indeed a huge surprise for Renly.

"What? Don't you like it?" Andy asked with a smile.

Renly chuckled. "No, of course not."

On the contrary, Renly found the challenge of comedy very intriguing. Even Shakespeare had a penchant for comedy. Renly knew well that performing comedy was incredibly challenging, sometimes more so than drama or tragedy.

Some comedians rely solely on the script, credit going to the writers. Others use physical comedy, like pratfalls or public embarrassment, much of the humor in slacker comedies stems from this. And some comedians rely on their own talent and charisma, their effortless humor a quality of theirs. Many comedy masters and British black humor artists fall into this category.

Simply put, comedy acting isn't as easy as it looks. Renly had always wanted to try his hand at comedy. He even imagined what it would be like if he hosted "Saturday Night Live" – would he be a deadpan comedian or drop all inhibitions for lowbrow humor? Just the thought of it was exciting.

"I was just surprised by your choice." Renly smiled, teasing, "I always thought you wanted to make a splash during awards season. Comedy obviously isn't the smartest choice."

"Even if you win an Oscar, I can't share in that. But if your comedy is a hit, I get a direct cut." Andy joked, causing Renly to chuckle. Then he added seriously, "I just think if you continue doing serious drama, you might fall into the same trap as Nicole Kidman. Breaking this pattern before your image solidifies is a good move. It's better than realizing too late and not being able to salvage it."

Renly laughed out loud. "God, Andy, Nicole has already won her Oscar, but I haven't even been nominated yet. Aren't you thinking a bit too far ahead?"

Nicole Kidman did a few commercial films early in her career but quickly leaned towards art-house dramas. After winning the Oscar for "The Hours" in 2003, she tried to break her typecast with various commercial films, including many comedies like "Bewitched," "The Golden Compass," and "The Stepford Wives," which all flopped, forcing her back to art films, seeking another awards season breakthrough with mixed results.

But Andy didn't laugh along. He kept his calm smile, waiting for Renly to stop laughing. "I believe you will achieve more than Nicole." His words were plain but firm, causing Renly to raise an eyebrow. "Honestly, breaking the typecast now and broadening your roles means more options for future projects. 'Dreamgirls,' 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona,' 'Juno,' 'Little Miss Sunshine.' There have been many great comedies recently."

Renly, for the first time, truly felt the vision Andy had for him.

"Alright, let's see the script." Renly raised an eyebrow, looking eager. "What kind of comedy? Gross-out? Black comedy? Parody? My recent favorite is 'Pineapple Express.' Tell me, can I work with the Apatow crew?"

Andy chuckled and shook his head, handing over the script. "Sorry to disappoint you. It's like 'Community' or 'The Office,' directed by Seth Gordon. He's a TV director who's worked on those shows and recently directed an episode of 'Modern Family.'"

A TV director was new territory for Renly, but he liked the comedies Andy mentioned. Each had a unique, offbeat style and didn't rely on exaggerated acting but had a quirky charm.

"Steve Carell! One of my favorite comedians. I even had a chat with him at the Emmys recently," Renly said sincerely, then opened the script and started reading.

Andy was anxious. From "The Pacific" to "Buried," Renly's versatility was evident, but jumping to comedy was a big leap. As an agent, Andy knew if the choice was wrong, a failed project wouldn't be the problem – it was the need to reset Renly's image that could be devastating for a rising star. Choosing this comedy made Andy the most nervous. Watching Renly's calm and focused reading, Andy's stomach churned with worry.

Had he made the wrong choice? Should Renly stick to the romantic art film, a safer, wiser option? If the comedy failed, what then?

But Renly read the script intently, appreciating Andy's bold and insightful choice. It was unconventional but refreshing – a high-risk, high-reward move. If he wasn't reborn, he might be stunned; luckily, he was.