The Greatest Showman #1096 - Keeping a Low Profile

The Toronto and Venice Film Festivals have concluded, marking the unofficial start of this year's awards season. The highly praised Master at Venice and Happiness Behind the Dark Cloud, which won widespread acclaim at Toronto, have both led the charge into this competitive season, shifting focus towards the upcoming awards races as the year comes to a close.

The question on everyone's mind is how this year's awards season will compare to last year's chaos.

Amidst the frenzy, Vanity Fair's official Twitter account posted a succinct update: "Industry news: Renly Hall's latest project has officially been finalized. Following Edge of Tomorrow, Warner Bros. has once again partnered with Renly for a new film directed by Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón. Rumor has it that Renly will join the project with the highest salary in the industry."

The tweet was simple—no additional context about Renly's prior accolades, such as his Oscar or Berlin wins, and it didn't even reference his recent activities. It was just "Renly Hall." Yet, this was more than enough to send the internet into a frenzy.

The tweet's directness, combined with the mention of the "highest pay," reignited the buzz around Renly's career. People had been waiting for his return to the set, and now it was finally happening.

A tweet from a regular fan summed up the sentiment: "Thank goodness! I've been waiting so long for this moment. Finally, the young master is returning to film. It makes waiting for Transcendence in North America so much easier now. The days aren't so hard to count. It's happening!"

This tweet, though unremarkable, was shared widely, reflecting the anticipation for Renly's return.

Within 15 minutes, confirmations from major media outlets began flooding in.

Among these, Variety magazine provided the most authoritative update, which industry insiders widely accepted as confirmation:

"Renly Hall has officially signed with Warner Bros. to star in a film directed by Alfonso Cuarón. The cast lineup beyond Renly is still under wraps, but sources say that Renly is being treated with the utmost respect. The deal reportedly exceeds the standard 20-million-dollar threshold."

This news sent shockwaves through Hollywood. After Edge of Tomorrow's $550 million North American box office, everyone was curious about Renly's next project—and his paycheck. Rumors flew that all six major Hollywood studios were courting Renly, surpassing even the likes of Johnny Depp and Robert Downey Jr. in their bids. Renly's rise wasn't just due to his acting prowess, but his tremendous market appeal, reinforced by his role in Les Misérables and the success of the ice bucket challenge, making him an industry force to be reckoned with.

But the question remained: What kind of deal had Renly secured? Would his next project live up to the astronomical expectations?

Warner Bros. seemed intent on keeping things low-key—until the cat was out of the bag. A simple but powerful statement confirmed the news.

"Yes, Renly Hall has signed on."

This brief, confident announcement caused an immediate uproar.

Soon, Variety provided more details about the film, tentatively titled Gravity:

"Renly will once again headline, in a one-man show reminiscent of Buried Alive. Director Alfonso Cuarón personally invited Renly to join the project. Warner Bros. sources say Renly's role in the production will be significant, as he is also credited as a co-producer, due to his involvement in shaping Edge of Tomorrow."

While Warner Bros. did not disclose Renly's salary, insiders revealed that the figure was estimated to be north of $20 million. On top of that, Renly would share in the film's box office revenue, including a potential share of peripheral income, which could push his earnings even higher.

24 hours later, The Hollywood Reporter clarified the details:

"Renly Hall will join Gravity without a base salary, instead receiving 12% of the box office profits as both actor and producer. Additionally, if the film's peripheral income surpasses $100 million, Renly will receive a further $3 million in bonus compensation."

This news solidified Renly's status as one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors, joining the ranks of Johnny Depp and Robert Downey Jr.

The Gravity crew hadn't even started filming yet, but the film had already become one of the biggest talking points of the season. Warner Bros. might have wanted to keep a low profile, but it's clear that the announcement was far too big to contain.

Then, US Weekly added fuel to the fire with the announcement of the film's female lead: Rooney Mara.

"The role of the heroine in Gravity has been confirmed—Rooney Mara will join Renly Hall in this highly anticipated project. This will mark their first collaboration. Filming is set to begin this week in Surrey, UK."

Rooney Mara, who captivated audiences with her performances in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Social Network, has quickly become one of Hollywood's rising stars. Her inclusion in Gravity only heightened the excitement.

This marks yet another collaboration for Renly with a new generation of actresses, following his work with Felicity Jones and Jennifer Lawrence. Fans are eager to see how the chemistry between Renly and Rooney unfolds on screen.