Nicolas

The story of "Fury" revolved around camaraderie among soldiers, but more importantly, it depicted the brutal nature of humanity in times of war. To capture authenticity without appearing contrived, apart from the settings and props that strive for realism, it was crucial for the group of actors to deliver outstanding performances. Especially for the main cast, who had more screen time, the filming of their scenes became even more important.

Inside the living room of a hotel suite, Lyman sat on the couch, contemplating who should play the "Wardaddy". The character's temperament must be appropriate, appealing to the audience, and also considering the remuneration...

Frustrated, Lyman grabbed his hair, having spent a long time in the selection process, yet still unsure whom to invite.

He stood up and walked to the balcony, taking deep breaths. In the distance, tall buildings remained erected in the city center. The wide view alleviated the slightly vexed mood, bringing some relief.

His mind was currently in disarray, prompting Lyman to decide to go downstairs for a walk. After thinking about the casting for most of the afternoon, which had likely killed numerous brain cells, it had become quite torturous. Leaving through the hotel's main entrance, he walked along the sidewalk.

The streets were lined with various businesses, and cars orderly traversed the road. Slowly, he lost track of how long he had been wandering aimlessly. The sun was almost setting. At twilight, he found himself standing in a square where the lights had already been lit for illumination.

He looked up at the sky, and Los Angeles' sunset was incredibly beautiful at this moment. The faint evening glow tinged the adjacent clouds with gold, from which a touch of red extended even further. The distinct outline of the sun no longer possessed its usual grandeur; it hung on the horizon, radiant red as if its light had been gently subdued, no longer glaring but rather very soft.

Before long, the distant evening glow gradually receded, seemingly merging into the void. The sky gradually darkened, while the brightness of the surrounding streetlights becomes more pronounced. Slowly, the sun finally descended below the horizon, the darkness deepened, and the sky took on a shade of dark indigo.

"Truly beautiful!" At this moment, Lyman's heart was filled with a profound sense of tranquility and comfort. The gentle breeze, the mingling of pedestrians, and the gradually dazzling lights created an atmosphere of elusive serenity.

On a nearby corner of the square, a movie poster freezes the promotion of a film. Lyman suddenly became interested, realizing that he hadn't seen other people's creations in a long time. He walked to the nearest cinema, where there were not many people queuing to buy tickets.

He approached the ticket counter, behind which sits a middle-aged Caucasian. "One ticket for "Windtalkers"."

"Theater 3, 7 p.m. showing."

He took out the money, paid $10, said thank you, and followed the aisle towards Theater 3. The theater itself was not very large, with an estimated seating capacity of just over two hundred. At this time, it was already 6:30 p.m., and there was approximately one floor's worth of scattered viewers. Having few viewers was the only advantage because the movie hadn't started yet, and the theater was quiet. However, for the film's box office, it was not a good sign. Of course, that wasn't Lyman's concern. After all, he didn't direct "Windtalkers".

After sitting quietly for a while, the movie was finally about to begin. Lyman started to feel bored after half an hour. Another ten minutes passed, and he felt like leaving. Finally, after five more minutes, he exited the theater.

While leaving, he observed the audience in the auditorium. He noticed that many had already left before the movie was halfway through, and some were sleeping. Only a few were still battling with their own minds and bodies, determined to finish watching the film. Truly worthy of being a film that even the CEO of MGM was forced to step down because of. Lyman hadn't even finished watching, yet he already considered it a terrible movie.

It's a war film disguised as a classic John Woo-esque gunfight.

The scene that left the deepest impression on him in the movie was when Nicolas Cage shot and killed a group of enemy soldiers from tens of meters away. Every shot was deadly, without the need to aim, as if cheating in a game.

In the film, John Woo was also trying to discuss destiny, but the American people din't believe in that. They believe in God, right?

Lyman criticized relentlessly.

Now he finally understood why "Windtalkers" had a production cost of $120M and only made less than $40M in North America, directly causing a disaster for MGM. To shoot a war film without creating a sense of realism or featuring large-scale scenes? Neither the dialogue scenes nor the action scenes work. Who would buy into that?

Feeling his soul polluted once again, Lyman quickly returned to the hotel, losing interest in taking a walk. Who should he reason with about this? He should have known better than to indulge his curiosity and watch a proven terrible film from the future, wasting his own eyes.

Sitting on the couch, he took a sip of coffee, gradually regaining his senses. Nicolas Cage? For some reason, Lyman suddenly recalled his appearance in "Windtalkers". A psychologically complex naval officer assigned to protect a code-breaking translator. Could he play "Wardaddy"? After considering replacing Brad Pitt, Lyman had been contemplating a more suitable candidate.

"The Rock", "Lord of War", "Windtalkers"...

Well, despite "Windtalkers" being a terrible film, it wasn't due to the actors' performance. One incompetent leader can ruin the entire army. "Windtalkers" was a disaster, and director John Woo had to shoulder the blame. It was simply that he wasn't suited for depicting large-scale scenes in a war setting, as proven by his later film, "The Crossing".

An actor with natural talent, military bearing, personal charm, and decent market appeal, someone with experience in similar roles, and a series of demanding criteria. Nicholas Cage fulfilled all of these requirements.

He had a likable and enduring appearance, never overpowering others. It seemed like he was indeed more suitable for the role than Brad Pitt. He wasn't merely a handsome guy, but he had the ability to captivate the audience, enchanting moviegoers who willingly spent money to watch his films. Wasn't that enough? Certainly, it was. Once this idea emerged, it couldn't be dismissed.

However, Lyman also considered that it was still 2002, not 2008, and Nicolas Cage hadn't encountered financial troubles yet. His salary could be a big issue. Unlike Brad Pitt, who only rose to prominence in recent years as an A-list star, Nicolas Cage had gained some fame more than ten years ago.

Having received numerous awards such as the Cannes Film Festival Best Actor and the Academy Award for Best Actor, coupled with his diverse performances in various film genres, and even his proficiency in commercial action films, he had secured a place among Hollywood's A-list actors.

But he wouldn't know unless he tried. Lyman felt a bit unwilling to give up. Yes, he was unwilling. He believed that "Fury" required an actor like Nicolas Cage. Imagine a gathering of actors with outstanding skills. What kind of sparks would they create?

It truly aroused tremendous anticipation.

The more Lyman thought about it, the more restless he became. He couldn't guarantee that Nicolas Cage would be willing to appear in the film, as he wasn't lacking in offers. However, Lyman had mentally prepared himself. He would do his best to impress that guy, the man who loved acting and abandoned his identity as part of the Coppola family, renaming himself Cage and struggling on his own. He wanted to give it a try, regardless of success.

With this in mind, Lyman called Kevin Huvane of CAA. As a high-ranking executive at CAA, he had a better understanding and closer relationship with actors, and he would have a way to obtain Nicolas Cage's contact information.

"Hi, Mr. Huvane."

"What's the matter, Lyman?" Kevin was puzzled because the director didn't usually call him.

"I have something and I was hoping you could help me find Nicolas Cage's contact information. I have something I'd like to discuss with him."

Silence ensued on the other end of the phone. After a while, Kevin's voice came through, "Principally, we don't allow the disclosure of client information. However, I just contacted Cage on your behalf. Once he learned the news, he was willing to speak with you. You can jot down his private phone number..."

Lyman opened a drawer, took out a piece of paper, and then held a pen, listening carefully. Muttering in his mind, he transcribed it onto the paper. After double-checking and confirming that the number was correct, Kevin politely ended the call amidst Lyman's words of thanks.

Now everything was in place.

Under the soft light, Lyman sat on the couch, surveyed his surroundings, and found that the living room was quiet. He held the phone in his hand and pressed each key one by one, dialing Nicolas Cage's private number, and then pressed the call button.

"Ring... ring..."

The ringing disrupted the tranquility of the surroundings. After a while, the call connected, and Lyman spoke, "Hi, Mr. Cage, I'm Lyman Lattes. Please forgive me for calling you at night without permission."

"I was waiting for your call. Lyman, I've seen your works, they're excellent. So, don't be so formal, call me Nic or Nicky. That's how my friends like to address me." Nicolas Cage's magnetic voice came through clearly on the phone.

"Yes, thank you, Nic." Lyman chuckled, breaking the ice. He then continued, clearly stating his purpose, "I'm currently preparing a film called "Fury". I would be honored if you would consider playing the lead role." His tone was filled with sincerity.