The Greatest Showman #707 – Back to London

The continuous patter of drizzle beat against the glass, like a cloud of smoke slowly spreading, covering the entire building. Outside, the world was enveloped in a thick, gray mist, as if black ink had melted into the water, turning everything chaotic, gloomy, cold, and solemn.

It all felt so familiar. It never seemed to change.

"Mr. Hall." A voice broke Renly's train of thought. He turned his head and saw a uniformed customs officer standing before him with a gentle smile. Her brows couldn't hide her excitement. She seemed to catch his gaze and then sighed, "What terrible weather."

"Winter has just begun," Renly replied. The officer shrugged, flashing a big smile. "Who said it wasn't?" She stamped his passport and hesitated for a moment before saying, "I'm sure you've heard it countless times, but... 'Love Crazy' is an excellent movie. Jesus Christ, I've watched it six times."

Renly was taken aback. He hadn't expected to hear such a conversation at immigration, but customs in both the UK and the US had a tendency for small talk and casual chatter. "Trust me, compliments like that are always welcome. You've brightened my day."

His polite, gentlemanly response, tinged with warmth, made the officer laugh lightly. "Wow, my honor. I can guarantee you saved my whole day." The woman was so delighted that she was shaking slightly, though she quickly composed herself. "You must be tired from your long flight. I won't keep you from resting." She handed Renly his passport with a smile. "Welcome home."

Home.

Renly paused as he took the passport, a slight hesitation before lowering his eyes. In everyone's eyes, this was his home: London, England.

He nodded, pocketed the passport, and quickly walked toward the baggage claim area, where Nathan and Roy were waiting. Upon seeing him, they greeted him, and the three walked toward the luggage carousel together.

The preparations for Edge of Tomorrow had gone smoothly, far beyond expectations. Frank Marshall had officially come on board as the film's producer. Under his direction, the crew moved into high gear.

Not only was the selection of the crew proceeding without issue, but Warner Bros. had also given the green light. The production budget of $100 million had been approved, with the possibility of additional funds depending on future needs. The studio also granted permission for filming in the UK, although not in London.

The crew would shoot two scenes in London—one at Heathrow Airport and one at Trafalgar Square. The rest of the scenes would take place in Hampshire, at a local studio, including the final battle at the Louvre, which would be filmed in the studio.

This was a small indication of how Frank's involvement and the presence of Renly and Paul had instilled greater confidence in Warner Bros. The film's prospects were improving within the company.

The first group of crew members had already arrived at the Hampshire filming base to prepare, with the main group arriving next week. The official start date hadn't been set yet since casting wasn't complete. Renly had flown ahead of time for two reasons.

First, he was needed for the film's armor scenes. The characters—Cage, Rita, and others—would wear armor for battle. The crew had two options: one involved motion capture and post-production computer effects; the other was using lightweight materials to make the armor look realistic in actual shooting, with computer effects for added realism in post-production. Paul insisted on the latter option—more realistic, more visually impactful, and more in line with his shooting style. Renly's presence was required to assist the prop team in creating and fitting the armor.

Second, he was in London for Eaton Dormer, his childhood friend who had launched her own fashion label and invited Renly to the opening. Over the past year, Renly had entrusted Eaton with his wardrobe, both formal and casual, for his apartments in New York and Los Angeles. Eaton had even personally visited to ensure his clothing was in top shape. It was only natural for him to attend her launch event.

Back in London, Renly felt a sense of calm. The constant travel over the past year had blurred the lines between cities, and London had become just another place to work. More importantly, his mindset had shifted. The life he had built over the past two years, driven by the name "Renly," was fulfilling and beautiful. He had no regrets about his original decision.

"...Jesus Christ, this weather is really bad. If it keeps up, will all our outdoor shoots be rain scenes?" Nathan muttered, glancing out at the downpour. Filming in such weather would be a challenge.

"In this season, rain is a high probability," Roy replied lazily, watching the rain. "Our best bet is to pray that the crew can finish as quickly as possible. Let's just get through this nightmare."

Nightmare. It would be amusing if the rest of the crew heard Roy's comment.

"Excuse me... Are you Renly?" A voice called out, breaking the moment. Renly turned and saw a small group of five college students—three girls and two boys—all staring at him in disbelief. One of the girls spoke first, her excitement palpable. "Renly, you won't believe it—we were just talking about 'Love Crazy.' Honestly, do you think Jacob and Anna should end up together?"

On any other day, this might've seemed like a typical question at a film screening, but in an airport? The film's influence was greater than Renly had realized, and he felt a sense of fulfillment—this was the power of storytelling, the impact of art.

Renly chuckled, "It's your choice. The story on the big screen is over, and the future of the characters is up to each viewer."

"See, I told you!" one of the group argued, while another disagreed. Their debate continued, forgetting Renly's presence for a moment.

The girl at the farthest reached out her hand. "Excuse me, may I shake your hand?" Renly didn't hesitate, taking her hand warmly. "Thank you," she gasped. "Your acting is incredible. I've never seen a love movie like that. I'm in love with Jacob now, I—oh my god!" Suddenly, she began screaming, covering her mouth in embarrassment, while Renly smiled.

Later, another boy approached. "Man, 'Degree and Passion 5'—you were so handsome! I can't wait for the sequel."

Renly smiled politely and replied, "Sorry, I won't be doing the sequel." Seeing the boy's confused expression, Renly patted him on the shoulder. "Good luck, and have a great day." He then turned to walk toward Roy and Nathan, who were waiting by the luggage carousel.

As they walked, Nathan grinned. "I'm starting to feel like this is real now…" Before he could finish, a middle-aged man approached and gave Renly a thumbs-up. "'Love Crazy' is amazing!" he said, quickly walking away with a smile.

Renly exchanged a glance with Nathan and Roy, and the three of them couldn't help but laugh.

Renly wasn't yet a top superstar, so his outfit was simple—a white shirt, black jeans, and a long navy blue trench coat. No sunglasses, no hat, just slightly curly, tousled hair. Passersby occasionally recognized him. In just a 30-meter stretch from the luggage carousel to the exit, he was recognized by at least a dozen people. Most offered friendly greetings, some even hugged him, others wanted to discuss his work. This constant attention made Renly realize how much his career had changed.

What surprised him most was that Love Crazy seemed to be mentioned more often than Degree and Passion 5. Could it be that the British had a particular fondness for romantic films?

As he was about to exit, Renly spotted a figure in a black trench coat stepping into his line of sight.