The Greatest Showman - Chapter 672: 7 Auditions

Recently, there has been a flurry of news surrounding Renly's upcoming projects, including "Alien Battlefield," "Dark Shadow," "Fast and Furious," and others. The pre-promotion and release of "Crazy Love" are in full swing, making Renly the busiest actor this fall.

However, much of this news is misleading or exaggerated—it's all smoke and mirrors. The reality is that Renly has been fully immersed in auditions for Edge of Tomorrow, even as the publicity for Crazy Love continues.

The second audition took place in Pittsburgh. Renly did not meet Lucinda Sison. Instead, the audition was for producer Tim Lewis, and it occurred in a coffee shop. The two sat down, had a face-to-face conversation, and exchanged thoughts on the Edge of Tomorrow script.

Tim, sixty years old, was still lively and energetic.

Hollywood producers generally fall into three categories: one type juggles countless projects and is constantly busy—think Steven Spielberg or Neil H. Moretz; another type has a clear goal, usually focused on the awards season, often producing independent films—like the Weinstein Brothers; and the last type dedicates years to a single project, putting all their energy into it—James Cameron falls into this category.

Tim belongs to the third group. Currently, Edge of Tomorrow is the only project he is working on, and he's wholly dedicated to it. This allows him to focus all his energy, which is a good thing. However, judging by the current development, the project is not progressing as smoothly as hoped—not just according to Warner Bros.' wishes, but also in terms of Tim's execution.

The audition itself was relaxed and pleasant. However, the discussion about the Edge of Tomorrow script was brief, lasting no more than ten minutes before Tim shifted the conversation to Steven Spielberg.

Tim has been in the industry for nearly two decades, working as an assistant director and producer on projects like Patriot Games with Harrison Ford, The Golden Giants with Meryl Streep, GoldenEye with Pierce Brosnan, and his most memorable project—his first, Empire of the Sun with Steven Spielberg. Tim and Spielberg still stay in touch, regularly talking on the phone.

The audition lasted nearly an hour, but the actual discussion about the script was minimal. Renly, being a seasoned professional, didn't let this affect him, though he wasn't sure how much progress the audition had made.

The third audition took place in Los Angeles, in a formal setting. It was held at the Burbank shooting base in a small, orderly room, complete with cameras, scripts, and everything else set up for the audition. This time, there were seven actors present, including Renly, with familiar faces such as Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal, Charlie Hunnam, Aaron-Taylor-Johnson, Chris-Penn, and Tom Hardy.

From the audition lineup, it was clear that Edge of Tomorrow had made progress, narrowing down the actors and moving forward in the selection process. However, things didn't go as smoothly as expected.

Instead of Lucinda or Tim, an unfamiliar face sat across from Renly—Gregory. Renly later learned from Andy that Gregory is a famous producer and assistant director, far more experienced and established than Tim. Gregory has been involved in projects like Eleven Arhats, Before Sunrise, Eros, Never Compromise, and Drug Network. He's close friends with George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and especially Steven Soderbergh.

Gregory, currently working on Magic Mike, was likely helping out with the Edge of Tomorrow auditions, though Andy speculated he wasn't fully committed to the project just yet. He was likely there to observe, check the alternate actors, and gauge the script's potential.

The audition itself was bizarre. Renly was asked to run back and forth across the room twenty times, then recite a few lines, run again, answer some basic questions, and that was it. No lines, no performances, no real dialogue—just running. It was a nonsensical audition, and Renly went home with little idea of how it went.

The fourth audition took place over the phone with Derek Kolstad, the screenwriter of Edge of Tomorrow. Renly had never heard of Derek before, and it seemed that the script Renly had read was just a first draft from the blacklist. Derek was a rookie screenwriter, working on his second project. The script had been purchased by Warner Bros. after being blacklisted, and they were now taking full control.

Derek, an amateur screenwriter sponsored by the American Action Film Association, was thrilled to speak with Renly and eagerly praised him, claiming he was "the most suitable person" for the role.

The fifth audition, held in Seattle, was a formal audition with four new, unfamiliar faces. Renly, now used to the process, found the audition more comprehensive than the previous ones. He performed a monologue from Hamlet, learned and executed a sparring move, gave his thoughts on the role of William Cage, and briefly confronted one of the female producers.

This was Renly's most formal audition to date, lasting nearly forty minutes. Despite not understanding how Hamlet connected to Edge of Tomorrow, the process tested his acting, movement, and demeanor. The audition was intense, and Renly realized just how intricate the casting process for a Hollywood blockbuster could be. Edge of Tomorrow wasn't just any movie—it had a giant budget and star power behind it, making the process even more rigorous.

The sixth audition took place in New York, with three other actors: Andrew Garfield, Jeremy Renner, and Channing Tatum. The diverse group of actors signaled that the crew was still auditioning a wide variety of talent, with no firm decisions yet on the concept or lineup. It was a good sign that the project was moving forward.

This audition was more relaxed than the others, and Renly was relieved to see familiar faces—Lucinda and Derek were both present. The atmosphere was lighthearted, with Renly chatting casually with the five interviewers about recent fun facts, Crazy Love, and comedy shows like The Tonight Show.

Just when Renly thought the auditions were over, he was informed of a seventh audition, just four weeks after the first. This time, the audition would be held at a private party in Beverly Hills.

"Renly, over here," his driver called out as a black sports car pulled up by the side of the road.