The Greatest Showman #1072 - Hard Rejection

Renly's desire to appear in Drunken Country Ballad was stronger than any other project he'd considered, including Love Crazy and Buried Alive. In fact, it was the one he most wanted to be a part of. The intensity of that longing nearly overwhelmed him, and he could almost feel his chest tightening from the urgency of it.

Impulsively, he almost nodded his agreement, the words ready to escape his lips—but then, his remaining clarity took over, slamming the brakes and pulling him back from the edge.

There were other commitments on his plate, after all. He had Les Miserables and Gravity to focus on—projects that required his full attention. A packed schedule was the last thing he needed, especially when he'd already made promises. More importantly, he couldn't selfishly waste the Coen brothers' time. They would need to move forward and find another actor if he turned them down.

The thought crossed his mind—what if he gave up Gravity to pursue Drunken Country Ballads?

But nothing was confirmed yet with Gravity. While he hadn't officially signed on, there were still discussions happening between his agent, Andy, and the producers. And Andy's creative agency was keen on making Renly the centerpiece of their upcoming collaborations, so this was a negotiation with many moving parts.

In Hollywood, this kind of situation was all too common: an actor might verbally agree to a project, only to back out later, leaving the crew in a scramble. While big-name directors or producers could tear up the contract and make a scene, smaller ones often had to eat the cost and move on, powerless to react.

For instance, Drug Network (2000), which won the Oscar for Best Director, originally had Kevin Costner in the lead role. But after he unexpectedly dropped out to star in Shocking, director Steven Soderbergh had to scramble for a replacement, eventually settling on Michael Douglas. Similarly, in Bad Santa (2003), Jack Nicholson backed out after months of negotiations, and Billy Bob Thornton stepped in. Or in 2006, when Heath Ledger had to withdraw from No Country for Old Men, leaving the Coen brothers with no choice but to cast Javier Bardem instead.

The most infamous example, though, was Bush (2008), directed by Oliver Stone. After numerous negotiations, Christian Bale had agreed to take the role, only to back out at the last minute, leaving Stone in a lurch. The role was eventually played by Josh Brolin.

Renly knew that choosing Drunken Country Ballads over Gravity was completely understandable. The Coen brothers' film was an irresistible project for him—the role, the story, the director, and the style all felt like the perfect fit. Turning it down, however, wasn't as simple as it seemed. He had already made a commitment to Alfonso Cuarón, and keeping promises mattered to Renly. A promise made should be a promise kept. Renly didn't want to disappoint Alfonso or break his word.

What's more, Gravity was unlike any of Renly's previous roles. It offered a challenge he couldn't pass up. A rare opportunity like this was hard to come by, and Renly had no intention of letting it slip through his fingers.

His mind raced, weighing the consequences, yet only a few seconds passed in real time. Looking at Joel and Ethan, their hopeful eyes locked onto him, Renly could feel the words of rejection on the tip of his tongue. He didn't want to let them down, but he had to. The decision was harder than he could have ever imagined.

Rejecting a film he was excited about, especially when the director had personally come to him with the offer, felt painful. Renly could already sense the disappointment in their eyes. It was unbearable.

"Sorry," he said softly, but the regret weighed heavily in his voice.

Joel and Ethan stared at him in shock, their expressions filled with disbelief. "Why?" Joel's voice was filled with confusion and hurt, his eyes wide as if unable to grasp the situation.

Renly didn't have the heart to explain himself immediately. He met their gaze and said simply, "I can't agree to act."

"Why?" Ethan asked in disbelief, his voice mirroring Joel's frustration.

The tension in the room was palpable. It had seemed like such a smooth conversation up until now. They had agreed on so much, and everything was falling into place—except for this. Renly's refusal had come out of nowhere.

Joel quickly launched into a series of desperate attempts to change his mind. "Is it about the money? We can't match the compensation of big commercial films, but we're willing to give you the best treatment we can offer. You'd be the core of the movie, even included as a producer with potential dividends."

Joel didn't stop there. "Is it about age? We've already discussed it, and the role's age range is flexible. We've even considered a younger or older actor—it's not an issue. You could easily play the part."

Ethan joined in the persuasion, adding, "In the 1960s, most folk singers were in their thirties and forties, but there were also younger ones, and we've made the male protagonist's age flexible. It's not a problem for you. The audience won't even notice."

At that moment, Nathan, who had been quietly watching, suddenly interjected. "Renly, why can't you play the role? You're the one they envisioned when they wrote this. It's hard to think of anyone else who could do it."

Roy, who had been sitting quietly, chimed in too, "Yeah, Joel and Ethan created this project with you in mind. You can see how well your creative energy fits with theirs. There's no reason to turn it down."

Renly smiled, trying to ease the tension. "Don't get me wrong, I love this project. Honestly, I think this is the one I've wanted to do more than any other. But—"

He paused, trying to find the right words. "If it's about that incident in Berlin, I'm sorry. I've made plenty of impulsive decisions in my career, and if I hurt anyone, it wasn't intentional. I owe Ethan a thank you for looking out for me. I didn't mean for things to go the way they did."

Before Renly could continue, Joel cut in, "If it's about Berlin, I'm really sorry. I never meant to make things difficult."

Renly held up a hand, stopping him. "It's fine. I never took it personally," he said, his voice sincere. "But the real issue here is my schedule. It's already packed, and I can't commit."

Renly explained the situation in detail. "I'm tied up with Les Miserables, which is coming to Broadway after the West End show. I'll be busy until October. After that, I'm joining Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity. We're still finalizing the timeline, but it'll likely be at least two to four months of shooting."

He sighed, clearly regretful. "I really wish I could be a part of this film. Trust me, I do. But I just can't afford to delay your plans."

Renly had to say no, but it was one of the hardest decisions he'd ever had to make.