The Greatest Showman - Chapter 1122: Official Start

The "Gravity" Crew and the Vampire Rumor

For outsiders, it was an absolutely ridiculous notion; but for those involved, the rumor was taken quite seriously. With solemn expressions and unwavering conviction, they refused to dismiss it as mere nonsense—because what if it was true?

After the Rooney Mara incident, curiosity got the better of someone, and they finally decided to investigate.

However, they knew better than to take drastic measures. Renly standing in broad daylight showed no apparent effects, making garlic, holy water, and crosses seem useless. Plus, in the 21st century and on a Hollywood set, an aggressive approach could backfire and create chaos.

So, they opted for a more subtle, strategic approach.

During a break in filming, a few crew members carefully orchestrated a distraction to lure Nathan away. Seizing the opportunity, they stealthily opened Renly's thermos. What they found inside sent shivers down their spines—a thick red liquid, with the unmistakable scent of blood wafting into the air.

Reactions varied. Some were utterly terrified, while others were giddy with excitement, unable to process how their suspicions were turning into reality. In the ensuing chaos, the thermos slipped from someone's hands, crashing onto the floor and spilling its contents everywhere. A deep red pool spread across the ground, further fueling the hysteria.

The uproar grew so intense that it disrupted filming, forcing Alfonso Cuarón to intervene. When he inquired about the commotion, the crew members—gripped with certainty—declared their shocking discovery with fervent conviction. Emmanuel Lubezki and the rest of the senior crew could hardly believe their ears.

If they could, they would have conducted an on-the-spot verification—was Renly really a vampire?

Nathan later reassured everyone that the thermos contained nothing more than a specially prepared drink meant to resemble blood, likely for a role preparation. In reality, it was just a type of juice. To prove his point, he took a sip and even offered some to others. But by then, it was too late. The seed of doubt had already taken root in people's minds.

And that was exactly what Renly had planned.

The Perfect Prank

For three weeks, Renly had subtly woven the illusion into reality. He continued his act off-screen, adjusting his behavior with meticulous detail—avoiding daylight, lurking in shadows, and ensuring he was always just out of sight at key moments. He never spoke about it, letting the crew members connect the dots themselves.

By the time the thermos incident occurred, the psychological groundwork had been laid. The fear was real.

Roy and Rooney played along perfectly. Roy conveniently had business to attend to in London, coinciding with Renly's plan, adding to the enigma. Rooney, once she heard the idea, eagerly joined in, helping to orchestrate the final phase of the prank.

The result? A masterstroke.

Half the crew was convinced that Renly was not human.

During the promotion for Edge of Tomorrow, Paul Walker, Alexander Skarsgård, and Jennifer Lawrence repeatedly described Renly as the biggest prankster they had ever worked with—so clever and relentless that even Donald Glover fell victim to his antics.

But the public remained skeptical. Renly's poised, elegant demeanor made it difficult to reconcile with the image of a mischievous troublemaker. Many assumed it was just part of a Warner Bros. marketing ploy, a curated persona for media appeal.

The Gravity crew, however, knew better. They had lived through the prank firsthand. What started as behind-the-scenes gossip about Renly had been transformed into a full-fledged inside joke—except the joke was on them.

The beauty of the prank lay in its brilliance. Renly never actively deceived anyone. Instead, he subtly guided them, allowing them to trick themselves into believing their own suspicions. The more they tried to uncover the "truth," the deeper they fell into his trap. And through it all, Renly remained the picture of innocence, as if he had no part in the unfolding hysteria.

It was a work of art.

Even after the crew finally accepted it was all a joke, the unease lingered. Some members still felt uneasy around Renly, unable to shake off their initial fear. Others turned it into an ongoing joke, keeping the vampire rumor alive.

Even after Gravity wrapped, whispers of the prank spread throughout Hollywood. The absurdity only fueled the legend further. Was Renly actually a vampire? Maybe the prank was just a cover-up for the truth. And, given Renly's meteoric rise in Hollywood, perhaps his extraordinary talent had a supernatural explanation—after all, what if he had lived for centuries?

For the Gravity crew, it was all in good fun. But for outsiders, the rumor took on a life of its own, blurring the line between fiction and reality.

The Chaos of Production

Amid this playful atmosphere, the real work finally began. Thirteen days after the full team assembled, all the rehearsals and preparations for the first long shot were complete, marking the official start of production.

As the saying goes, "Sharpening the axe won't delay the cutting of firewood." Thorough preparation was essential. But no matter how much planning was done, actual execution always brought new challenges. On the first day of shooting, chaos ensued.

"What's the initial setting? What's the distance between the two rigs?"

"The first shot is a pan, but the current camera angle is off. We need to adjust."

"What about the rotation angle of the basket? Should it be 30 degrees or 45? Should we align it with Ryan's position or let the actors adjust based on feel?"

"Wait, wait! The track isn't level yet. Give me a minute to fix it manually."

"Matt! Hey, Matt! That spacing is wrong. We need a bigger gap."

The studio buzzed with activity. Crew members darted back and forth, making last-minute adjustments, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of technical jargon. The entire set was in controlled chaos, with the production team fine-tuning every detail to perfection.

In the midst of this whirlwind, there was a curious anomaly—a small patch of stillness at the center of the lightbox, untouched by the frantic motion surrounding it. A solitary, unmoving space, as if an island in the middle of a raging current.

Or rather, two islands.

Renly and Rooney.

Clad in cumbersome space suits, they stood secured in their harnesses, waiting for their cue. The heavy suits and rigid equipment made them appear almost lifeless, blending seamlessly with the machinery around them. The crew bustled about, paying them no mind.

For once, the actors—the supposed center of attention—were entirely overlooked.

One was an elegant and composed male wallflower. The other, a cool and effortless female counterpart. Together, they formed a striking, silent tableau amid the chaos.

Their eyes met, and without a word, they exchanged a knowing smile.

And so, Gravity officially began.