The Greatest Showman #705 - Partner Candidate

The first name on the list is Emily Blunt.

When Paul mentioned "Edge of Tomorrow" and saw that Emily Blunt was the first candidate for the leading actress role, Renly couldn't help but laugh. It seems that his little butterfly effect hasn't yet reached full power; the ripples of influence aren't spreading as quickly as he hoped.

As a British actress, Emily gained fame in 2006 with The Devil Wears Prada, where she played Meryl Streep's first assistant, while Anne Hathaway portrayed the second assistant. Although the roles in the film suggest Emily had been working for years and Anne was a fresh college graduate, in reality, Anne is a year older than Emily.

Emily was born in 1983, making her only 28 this year—much younger than many people assume. Her roles have often been mature, intellectual, and wise, and the actors she has worked with are typically older, leading Renly to initially assume she was over 30.

Objectively speaking, Emily's youth fits the role perfectly. Her tough, heroic temperament, coupled with solid performance skills, makes her an ideal candidate.

The second name on the list is Jennifer Lawrence.

After breaking out with Winter's Bone, Jennifer's rise in Hollywood was swift. From a certain perspective, her upward momentum even seemed more rapid than Renly's. Films like X-Men and The Hunger Games cemented her as one of the top young actresses in Hollywood.

Jennifer's appearance isn't traditionally glamorous, but her expressive eyes and the resilience visible in her performances add a unique depth to her roles. Whether in Winter's Bone, X-Men, or The Hunger Games, Jennifer's characters all share a common trait: outward softness coupled with inner toughness, enduring extreme adversity without ever giving in.

This makes Jennifer an excellent choice for the role. Additionally, she's only a year younger than Renly, which makes them well-matched in terms of age.

Both Emily and Jennifer are strong, unexpected candidates, yet entirely reasonable ones.

Unexpected, because the media generally hasn't been optimistic about Edge of Tomorrow—the project often being referred to as the "Killing Theory." Despite this, both Emily and Jennifer are established talents who can be listed on this list, which Renly attributes to Andy's influence. It's likely that both actresses are represented by the Creative Artists Agency, which might explain their presence here.

The third name on the list, Margot Robbie, is both unexpected and reasonable.

By 2017, Margot Robbie had achieved fame with her role as Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad, quickly becoming a Hollywood sensation. Films like The Big Short and Focus further established her talents, especially in projects with big-name stars like Will Smith and Christian Bale.

However, back in 2011, Margot was practically a nobody. Her first major role was in the TV series Pan Am, which didn't do well and was canceled after one season. But it was her breakout performance in The Wolf of Wall Street, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, that catapulted her into the spotlight.

Although Margot's appearance is sweet and her style more suited to gothic sensuality, Renly couldn't quite imagine her as Rita—he couldn't picture her rolling in the dirt, fighting back covered in blood. But, of course, Lucinda, the casting director, must have seen something in Margot. Not only is she on the list, but she's placed third, which is significant for someone still relatively unknown at the time.

Margot and Jennifer are the same age, by the way.

The other names on the list include Gal Gadot, Jessica Biel, and Teresa Palmer.

Gal is 26 and known for her roles in Fast & Furious 6 and Dangerous Spies alongside Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. She's becoming a rising martial arts actress.

Jessica Biel, 28, hasn't had many standout roles, but her marriage to Justin Timberlake and her role in Blade: Trinity has made her more recognizable.

Teresa Palmer, born in 1986, has been steadily working, though her career has been more tepid. She appeared in Warm Bodies, Hacksaw Ridge, and Lights Out.

Overall, the trend in Hollywood is that actresses are getting younger, while male actors tend to age better in action roles. Action films are declining, and even actors like Dwayne Johnson, Vin Diesel, and Jason Statham have encountered obstacles in their career progression. The lack of strong action heroines is evident.

Finding an actress who can hold her own alongside Renly is no easy feat. Lucinda managed to select six actresses Renly has heard of, which is already impressive.

Despite the project's underdog status, Edge of Tomorrow still has a massive budget—over $100 million. For any new actress, this could be a rare opportunity.

Andy had previously mentioned that he would create a list of possible actors, which would be presented to Warner Bros. in hopes of striking a deal. However, the nature of such packages varies.

One type is mandatory cooperation, where a project demands certain people—like Ben Stiller, for example—and the studio must accept, even if it's just a small role, such as Ben's father played by Jerry Stiller. Another is a collaborative selection, where the agency builds a cast around a central star, like Ben Stiller in Night at the Museum 2.

In Renly's case, it's the latter. Andy compiled the list, and Warner Bros. has the freedom to choose. It's unclear how much of the list Andy recommended versus the studio's own choices.

Renly looked up and caught Lucinda's eager gaze, which made him smile. "What do you think?" she asked.

Renly thought for a moment before speaking. "Paul Walker," he said, distinguishing him from Paul Greengrass. He was curious whether Paul was on the waiting list.

Before Renly could ask more questions, Lucinda cut him off. "He's on the waiting list, but we're still undecided about which team member he'll play," she said, quickly moving on. "Do you have any thoughts on the heroines? You know, chemistry is crucial for this role."

Without hesitation, Renly looked at Lucinda with a grin. "Why do I feel like you're implying something here?" he teased.

Lucinda didn't deny it. "So, do you have any preferences?" she asked, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Jennifer Lawrence? Gal Gadot?"

Renly gave a helpless smile, realizing he was caught in a trap. "I'm not playing opposite Gal," he started to correct, but closed his mouth, knowing he was walking into a conversation full of assumptions.

Lucinda, triumphant, grinned. "That's exactly why the audience is so excited to see it! You've never faced off with her, so the anticipation is even greater!" Her pride was evident as she looked at Tim and Paul. "Aren't you all looking forward to it?"