#706 Six Hundred and Seventy-Six Internal Scandal

At the premiere of Fast and Furious 5 this year, Renly half-jokingly referred to Gale as the object of his scandal, but by accident, he mistakenly mentioned Ryan Gosling instead. The resulting humorous effect made the situation even more hilarious. From this moment, it was clear that Renly and Gale had a good relationship, and even making such a joke didn't harm their bond.

In the film, Gale's character, Giselle, and Cheng Kang's Han share a romance. While their screen time is limited, their pairing captured a lot of fan attention. Although Renly and Gale don't directly compete in the story, as Lucinda pointed out, one plays a heroic "bad guy," and the other a tough "agent"—the contrast creates enough tension to spark curiosity.

Renly did not return for the Fast and Furious sequel, but if he and Gale were to reunite in Edge of Tomorrow, it would undoubtedly be a major publicity win.

As for Jennifer Lawrence, there's no need to repeat her success. Crazy Love is still in theaters, and audiences have witnessed the heartbreaking love story between Jacob and Anna, while also feeling the sorrow of Jacob and Sarah's tragic fate. The film's strong performance is largely attributed to the actors' delicate and genuine portrayals, sparking various opinions. Some viewers are mourning the loss of Jacob and Anna, while others lament Jacob's unfulfilled connection with Sam. A popular question on the internet is whether the story would have had a different ending if Jacob had chosen Sam and Anna had chosen Simon. This debate even sparked a conversation on The Ellen Show.

Beyond Renly and Felicity, Renly's and Jennifer's first big-screen collaboration has garnered much praise for their touching, authentic performances. Their chemistry has ignited numerous discussions, and the two emerging stars of the acting world are now frequently featured in the media. Now, the possibility of them collaborating again brings excitement, as Edge of Tomorrow could provide an opportunity to make up for the "what-ifs" left by Crazy Love. From a publicity standpoint, Edge of Tomorrow is already at an advantage.

Initially, Edge of Tomorrow wasn't favored by mainstream media, with criticism directed at the lack of big names. The film struggled to generate the necessary buzz for success. Despite the $100 million investment, further funding wasn't forthcoming, and publicity was weak.

As a commercial film, Edge of Tomorrow's production process was vastly different from the art films Renly had worked on, such as Anti-Cancer Me and Attachment, where the crew focused on production, avoiding media interference. In contrast, commercial films require constant exposure and publicity, including open shooting days, magazine interviews, and more. Thus, even in the early stages, Lucinda was already considering the commercial appeal of the cast—Gale and Jennifer both had more potential than Teresa.

Renly pursed his lips, appearing innocent as he seriously remarked, "I thought the selection criteria for actors were based on their talent, which is why I went through two rounds of auditions."

Lucinda shook her head firmly. "No, that's not it. Beauty, publicity potential, and chemistry—those are the real criteria. This is a commercial film, not an art film. Acting ability? Can it even be eaten?"

Renly was stunned, his confusion evident. "Then what were the seven rounds of auditions I went through? Am I not attractive enough?" His serious tone left Paul and Tim speechless. Even Derek and Billy, who had been conversing quietly, were startled, looking left and right in confusion.

Lucinda froze momentarily, unsure whether Renly was joking or not. His sincere expression suggested he wasn't. But then, Renly's calm demeanor suggested that he was, in fact, joking.

"Renly Hall!" Lucinda gritted her teeth, shaking her fist. "You're going to give me a heart attack!"

Others didn't understand why she was so upset, but Paul burst out laughing and smacked his thigh. Billy eventually caught on, shook his head with a smile, and gestured for Derek to return to his work.

Tim, however, was still completely lost.

After they all stopped laughing, Lucinda continued to gaze at Renly, clearly waiting for an answer.

Renly gave his honest opinion, "Jennifer Lawrence is a very talented actor. During Crazy Love, we didn't have much screen time together, but I've been looking forward to another chance to collaborate. The way we could communicate and learn from each other was incredible."

Among the many potential co-stars, Jennifer stood out in Renly's mind. However, his interest wasn't motivated by commercial factors. Even today, Renly recalls the feeling of filming Crazy Love, where they pushed each other creatively. He's excited about the prospect of working with her again, although this time it would be for a commercial film, which demands a different approach to performance.

"My concern is…" Renly began, glancing at Lucinda's knowing smile. He had a feeling he knew where this conversation was headed.

The general public often mistakenly believes that gossip is the work of paparazzi, but the reality is that much of it originates from insiders before it reaches the paparazzi. Even Lucinda, along with Paul and Tim, now looked at Renly with those knowing glances.

"Instead of defending myself," Renly continued, "I'll ask: If we cast Jennifer, would the audience see this as another The Hunger Games?"

Lucinda, Paul, and Tim all fell silent, considering Renly's point. The similarities between Edge of Tomorrow and The Hunger Games were apparent: both featured young leads, both were adaptations of science fiction stories, and both had themes of survival. Would this similarity affect the audience's judgment—and, by extension, the film's box office?

Lucinda thought it over for a moment, then turned to Renly. "But, if it's Jennifer, you're okay with it, right? Considering the actor's role and your executive producer position?"

"Of course," Renly replied. "I'm really looking forward to working with Jennifer again, both as an actor and as an executive producer."

In 2012, The Hunger Games had been a box-office sensation, grossing $400 million in North America and receiving positive reviews. It helped change the landscape for young adult adaptations, alongside other major films like Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises. Now, Edge of Tomorrow might join that competition in 2014, but no one could predict how it would all play out.

"But…" Lucinda interjected, shivering dramatically, "Please tell me you're not dating Jennifer. I can't handle another scandal!"

Renly laughed at her exaggerated reaction. "Don't worry, it's not another bombshell. I was just wondering if Jennifer's schedule would allow her to join. The last time we spoke, she was filming a new David O. Russell movie."

After the events at Mount Sinai Hospital, Renly had occasionally texted Jennifer to keep in touch, just casual exchanges between friends.

Jennifer had recently joined The Line of Happiness Behind the Clouds, a David O. Russell-directed film originally set to star Anne Hathaway. However, scheduling conflicts with The Dark Knight Rises had forced Hathaway to drop out, and Jennifer stepped in. Just like Renly, Jennifer's schedule was packed with projects.

Lucinda rolled her eyes, half-joking, "I thought you were about to say you and Jennifer were dating and that it's off-limits to hype up a scandal."

Renly chuckled again. "Scheduling conflicts are a real issue. But don't worry, we'll figure it out. I'll keep you updated on any developments."