The Greatest Showman #667: Show Your Skills

Renly's rise in Hollywood has been nothing short of meteoric, especially after his performances in Pacific War and Love Crazy. Over the past two and a half years, Renly's career trajectory has been consistently upward. His 300 million dollar success in North America with Fast & Furious 5, followed by a 100 million dollar haul with Love Crazy, has been a testament to his growing box-office appeal.

However, Love Crazy isn't just another success for Renly; it marks a significant milestone in his career. In Fast & Furious 5, he was the third lead, and despite the film's success, it was largely credited to Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. Even Universal Pictures' marketing seemed to place more weight on the established stars of the franchise.

Love Crazy, on the other hand, is Renly's first true lead role in a North American film that grossed over 100 million dollars. It's a romantic film, a genre historically dominated by actors like Richard Gere, George Clooney, and Matthew McConaughey, known for attracting a large female audience. The film's success solidifies Renly's status not just as an action star, but also as a leading man in romance—a versatile actor able to captivate a broader audience.

The film's box office performance is even more impressive considering the genre. Love Crazy is an independent production with no major stars or gimmicks, and yet it managed to break through, achieving a box-office milestone that hasn't been seen since 2001. This achievement alone boosts Renly's status within the industry.

After Fast & Furious 5, Entertainment Weekly published an article questioning Renly's market value. The article suggested that while Renly was an important part of the film's success, it was really director Justin Lin and the franchise's established stars that carried the film. Renly, the third lead, had yet to prove his value as a box-office draw in his own right.

A few months later, Love Crazy hit theaters and quickly put those doubts to rest. It was a direct challenge to the claims in Entertainment Weekly, disproving the idea that Renly was just riding on the coattails of established stars. His star power had grown, and Love Crazy's success was undeniable.

Universal Pictures, long associated with the Fast & Furious franchise, couldn't ignore the shift. The film's performance—beating out Iron Armored Steel Fist for the top spot at the box office—was a significant moment. For Universal, this success was a sign that Renly's value had far surpassed being a mere supporting actor. Renly was now a proven lead actor, capable of bringing substantial box-office returns even without the backing of a major franchise.

Behind the scenes, this success was leading to big changes. At Disney, Renly's popularity skyrocketed, with him being touted as the new leading man for their upcoming Star Wars project, a role that would likely cement his status in Hollywood. Meanwhile, Fast & Furious 6 casting began, and rumors swirled about tensions between the cast, particularly with Paul Walker and Vin Diesel. Despite the speculation, Renly remained focused on Love Crazy, sidestepping the drama surrounding the sequel's production.

In a rare interview, Renly confirmed that talks were indeed ongoing for Fast & Furious 6, and expressed excitement about playing Luke Hobbs—a character he felt was distinct from his previous roles. The media buzzed with the possibility of his inclusion, and even Paul Walker, during a fan event for Love Crazy, expressed eagerness to share the screen with Renly again.

Despite the growing tension within the Fast & Furious franchise, Renly's career seemed to be on an unstoppable trajectory. His charm, versatility, and marketability were increasingly evident, and industry insiders were already speculating about his next big move.

In the midst of all this, other opportunities continued to surface. Warner Bros. reportedly expressed interest in Renly for Tim Burton's upcoming Shadow, a project that could make him the first actor to lead a Burton film not named Johnny Depp since Big Fish in 2003. At the same time, Alien Battlefield was rumored to be in the final stages of negotiations, further solidifying Renly's status as one of Hollywood's hottest stars.

As the industry watched closely, it became clear that Renly's star power was undeniable. The opportunities were limitless, and with multiple blockbuster roles on the horizon, Renly's position as a leading man in Hollywood seemed more secure than ever.

Yet, behind the headlines, the negotiations were far from easy. Universal Pictures had yet to come to terms on Renly's role in the next Fast & Furious installment, and the behind-the-scenes drama suggested that even the most successful actors could face significant hurdles on their path to superstardom. Renly's agent, Jack Wallace, was aware of these challenges but remained confident that the right opportunities would eventually emerge.

The industry, however, knew better than to rush to conclusions. Deals were far from finalized, and only time would tell if Renly's rise to the top would continue unimpeded, or if the chaos and competition of Hollywood would throw more challenges his way.