The Greatest Showman #701 - Team Prototype

Chinatown lies at the southern tip of Manhattan, just six or seven blocks from Renly's apartment—and now, he finally remembers where it is. After watching Andrew leave in a taxi, Renly didn't immediately choose his mode of transportation. Instead, he stepped forward and jogged all the way back.

By the time he returned to the apartment, he was drenched in sweat, as if he had just finished a sauna session. His body was steaming. He quickly stripped off his clothes, took a shower, put on a fresh set of clothes, and found some pre-sliced ingredients in the fridge. With little effort, he made a sandwich, drank a cup of coffee, and then grabbed his skateboard before heading out again.

It was rush hour, and Manhattan was congested. The highways were jammed, the subways packed, and the streets swarmed with people. Renly had planned to cross Wall Street and head straight to his destination, but that area was the hardest hit by traffic. So, he took a wide detour, skirting the south side, and watched the Statue of Liberty in the distance, its open arms framed against the Hudson River. The late autumn breeze felt bold and free.

Autumn in New York is a mix of beauty and desolation, a poetic contrast where warmth meets solitude. The city in this season is like a Polaroid photograph, shrouded in mist, yet making everything feel closer. In that moment, Renly couldn't help but feel that God still had a soft spot for this place.

In the distance, the gray concrete jungle of skyscrapers appeared, with flashes of untamed green breaking through, seemingly out of place. This little oasis, tucked away in a remote corner, grew wildly as if forgotten by the rest of the world. Yet its vibrant life was like the beating heart of the city, disrupting its pulse.

It was hard to believe this was a coffee shop, but there it was, nestled within the urban wilderness—almost like being in the Amazon. This was one of the most unique spots in New York, where even the craziest of things seemed to happen. Most people wouldn't know it was here, despite being less than three blocks from Wall Street.

Renly checked his watch—it was still fifteen minutes before ten. He stopped at the door of the coffee house, stepped on the back of his skateboard, picked it up, and walked in. The space was small and the interior design was clever, using potted plants, baffles, and ceilings to create a jungle-like atmosphere. The coffee counter resembled a primitive tribal table, as though the baristas should be wearing fur coats, but they weren't.

It was a scene that couldn't exist in London or Los Angeles—only in the one and only New York.

A waiter, dressed in a white T-shirt and black jeans, stepped up. "Sir, can I help you?"

Renly paused for a moment, thinking. "Do you accept appointments here? Lewis, Tim Lewis—he's expecting me."

"Yes, of course," the waiter said with a smile, gesturing toward the left corner. "Mr. Lewis is already here, waiting for the guests." The mix of formal politeness and the jungle setting created an odd juxtaposition, and Renly couldn't help but picture cannibals tying up their prey and bringing them to the fire.

As he walked a few more steps, the space opened up. The dark brown wooden tables and light brown rattan chairs were scattered casually around. Sunlight filtered through tall trees, casting dappled light over the area, creating an atmosphere that was both primitive and peaceful.

Renly wasn't the first to arrive.

"Sorry I'm late," he said, stepping forward as everyone turned to look at him. He greeted them with a smile and an apology.

"No, no," Tim replied with a big smile, waving his hands. "I was worried about being late, so I came early. Turns out, there are people who arrived earlier than me." This small detail revealed that this production didn't have big egos.

Tim Lewis, producer; Derek Kirsta, Billy-Ray, screenwriter; Lucinda Sison, casting director; and... Paul Greengrass, director.

This was the core team of Killing Reincarnation, and with Renly, the biggest name wasn't Paul Greengrass—it was Lucinda Sison, the casting director. It made sense why the media kept comparing Killing Reincarnation to Cable TV Repairman, suggesting that Renly was following in Jim Carrey's footsteps.

Renly grabbed a chair, pulled it over, smiled, and introduced himself. "Good morning, I'm Renly Hall, and I'll be playing the role of William Cage."

Lucinda laughed. "Looks like we should go around and formally introduce ourselves. I'm Lucinda, in charge of casting, and I'm here today to observe and understand the situation." Her easygoing tone made everyone chuckle as they made their introductions.

Tim, Derek, and Lucinda were familiar faces from Renly's previous auditions. The two new faces were Paul and Billy.

Paul didn't need much introduction—his work on Thriller Flight 93 and the Bourne series had made him well-known, though he was still struggling to find a foothold in the industry. Despite his unique filmmaking style, characterized by a fast, sharp editing technique and a portable shooting method, many in Hollywood were fatigued by his approach. His latest project, Green Zone, had suffered both at the box office and with critics, contributing to a low point in his career.

Billy was recommended by Paul to join the team. Billy was an established screenwriter, known for his work on Air Crisis, Living Fire City, and the adaptation of Hunger Games. He had been in the industry for over 15 years but was just beginning to gain mainstream attention.

Derek, a relative newcomer, had reread the original book and grasped its core ideas and structure. Meanwhile, Billy was more experienced in script pacing and character development. How the two would work together was yet to be seen.

It was clear to Renly now that Killing Reincarnation would be very different from Edge of Tomorrow in this life. The core team had been transformed.

Tim cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. When they all turned to look at him, he became nervous. "Uh, here's the thing... Frank Marshall said that if he took on the project, his first condition was that we change the title of the film."

A silence fell over the group, each person exchanging glances.

Frank Marshall was a legendary producer, with decades of experience and a close relationship with Steven Spielberg. His credits included Indiana Jones, Bourne, Back to the Future, and Jurassic Park. His entry into the project was a huge surprise. Even Paul, upon hearing the news, was taken aback.

Tim, now the center of attention, nervously laughed and gestured to Renly. "Frank has two requests for the project: the first is changing the title, and the second is Renly Hall."