The Greatest Showman #1074 - 1 Heart 1 Intention

New York's JFK Airport bustled with its usual energy, with travelers flowing in and out, the rhythmic shuffle of footsteps never ceasing.

Standing in the drop-off hall, Andy glanced back at the van parked at the entrance. After saying their farewells to Renly, the Coen brothers returned to the van, which was still parked across the street from Renly's apartment. They would be leaving shortly, but for now, they stayed, waiting for Andy to head back to the city with them.

"Are you sure?" Andy asked, his voice casual, before turning his attention back to Renly.

Without needing to elaborate, Andy believed Renly understood the question's context.

He could sense Renly's excitement for the Coen brothers' project, his enthusiasm radiating from him, the spark in his eyes nearly impossible to hide. But despite the allure, Renly had turned it down, and that's why Andy asked the question.

Renly chuckled, "No, I'm not sure. But right now, it's the best option."

Andy immediately grasped what Renly meant: there was hesitation, a lingering desire for the Coen brothers' project, but ultimately, Renly had decided to focus on Les Misérables—to commit fully to the role and give it his all. As an actor, Renly always took his work seriously, never cutting corners.

Andy smiled understandingly, closing his chin gently as he nodded. "Got it. I've still got a few things lined up for you. After Les Misérables, you can take another look at the offers."

Before the Oscars, Renly had been inundated with project offers, and even from his remote spot in London's West End, the invites kept pouring in. After the premiere of Edge of Tomorrow, the floodgates opened, and Andy Rogers was now one of the hottest agents in Hollywood.

Sorting through scripts and scouting projects was a constant. Despite Renly being deep in Les Misérables, despite Alfonso Cuarón's personal appeal to him, and despite a fully booked schedule for the year, film companies were already preparing for 2014 and 2015. Renly's name topped the list of sought-after actors.

If Renly were to say yes, Andy could now schedule all of his work for the next two to three years. Even the ones in line after that wouldn't go away.

This was the power of stardom.

Yet, even with such an enticing offer from the Coen brothers, Renly had decided to pause, reinforcing his dedication to his current work. He would remain focused on Les Misérables, on completing Gravity, and on putting everything else aside for now.

As an agent, Andy's role was simple: to support Renly's choices, create the best possible environment for him, and ensure he could concentrate on his craft. After that, it was all about looking forward to the success of Les Misérables on Broadway and the smooth completion of Gravity.

"No problem," Renly said succinctly, his gaze steady and sincere.

Andy understood, his heart warmed by Renly's trust. The last six months had been a whirlwind—One Man's Concert, The Today's Show, Love Crazy, Small Shadow—none of it would have been possible without Andy's steadfast support.

Fate had been kind. If not for Andy's early recognition of Renly's potential, Renly's success might never have happened.

Taking a step forward, Renly pulled Andy into a soft hug—an English gentleman's embrace, not an American brotherly one. Andy raised an eyebrow in mild surprise, knowing that Renly wasn't one for physical affection.

Then Renly pulled back with a teasing grin. "I think it's time you abandoned the diet plan. Your beer belly is still going strong. Better to enjoy life's pleasures. Otherwise, what's the point?"

Looking down, Andy noticed his rounded stomach—he could barely see his toes. Chuckling to himself, he looked up, only to find Renly already walking toward Nathan and Roy, heading to the check-in counter.

"Broken leg," Andy called out, his voice carrying the laughter of a true friend. He wished Renly the best of luck for his West End performance.

And so it went.

After returning to London, Renly took a day to rest, then dove straight into rehearsals for Les Misérables. The break allowed him to recharge, finding his rhythm once again. Two days later, he returned to the Almeida Theater, where his performance captivated the audience, earning a 15-minute standing ovation.

The Times couldn't stop raving, saying, "Renly Hall's personal charm on this stage is intoxicating. His unique performance quality, radiant and wonderful, truly brings the art of stage performance to life."

Since Les Misérables debuted at the Almeida Theatre, it had amassed praise that only grew with time. The script, the characters, the actors, and the direction—every element had aligned perfectly. Despite its daunting six-hour runtime, the play's reputation continued to rise, attracting more and more theatergoers.

During the summer, when Edge of Tomorrow dominated the UK box office, Renly's name became the focal point of the season, providing a major boost to Les Misérables. Audiences who had never shown interest in theater were now flocking to the West End to catch a glimpse of the play. Unfortunately for them, tickets were near impossible to find.

Every show's pre-sale tickets sold out within minutes, and those who didn't secure a seat found themselves turning to the black market, where ticket prices skyrocketed. The demand had become so intense that even after performances, people gathered outside the theater, hoping for a stroke of luck.

Despite the feverish demand, the theater was constantly full, and with Edge of Tomorrow keeping Renly in the spotlight, the word-of-mouth buzz around Les Misérables only intensified. As more people clamored for tickets, the notion of additional performances started to surface.

This, in turn, sparked a media frenzy. The theater industry across the globe was abuzz. It had been years since any play had generated such demand, not just in the West End, but in the entire high art market.

Normally, the marketing team's biggest concern would be meeting attendance goals—anything over 70% was considered a success. But now, the team's focus had shifted: their problem was no longer how to attract an audience, but how to satisfy the overwhelming demand for tickets.

"Short supply" seemed an absurd phrase to describe a play, yet it was happening right now.

At the start of Renly's involvement with Les Misérables, the media had speculated that his strong fanbase could rejuvenate the West End. The thought was that, even if only one in a hundred young theatergoers stayed, it would be a win for the future of the theater industry.

Now, it was clear that the West End was experiencing something extraordinary. The number of tourists had surged, and the theater scene was thriving again, a phenomenon that hadn't been seen in years.

It all felt like a dream. Renly's success had made waves not only in London but around the world, inspiring theater professionals to travel to the Almeida Theater to witness the phenomenon firsthand.

Some even began to wonder if Les Misérables could go on tour to other countries, using Renly's star power to push theater industries forward. It seemed like an impossible fantasy, but in the summer of 2012, nothing felt impossible.

A miracle was unfolding.