The Greatest Showman - Chapter 1161

The long and arduous filming process had finally come to an official end, lifting the weight of pressure and tension from the crew's shoulders. With that, the atmosphere became relaxed, and the sense of relief was palpable.

Renly walked side by side with a group of friends, with Rooney beside him, laughing and chatting as they made their way toward the dormitory. As they approached, their steps gradually slowed, eventually coming to a halt. Their eyes met the group standing at the entrance of the dormitory. In addition to two guests, there were also Roy and some senior staff members, creating quite a sizable crowd.

In an instant, all eyes turned toward Renly.

Before he could react, one of the tall, thin guests, with glasses and curly hair, hurriedly approached him. He looked Renly up and down with excitement, and then said eagerly, "Very good, very good! Your current state is perfect, but how fast does your beard grow? Do you think you could make it a little more messy and rugged in a week? I think your beard could use a little more length."

His tone was filled with joy and enthusiasm. At first, it seemed like he was asking a question, but before Renly could answer, the guest quickly turned his attention to someone else. "Ethan! The beard looks good, but what about the hair? What do you think? Should he grow it longer?" He looked back at Renly. "Would you consider growing your hair out? Not like mine, but just a bit longer than it is now. Do you have curly hair? When it grows, will it naturally curl? I think your hair looks curly. But how fast does it grow? Will it be slow? If it takes a month, that might be too late!"

The stream of words left no room for Renly to respond, and before anyone could process it, the guest turned back, walking away with excitement. "Ethan, I think he still looks too handsome and clean, with that gentlemanly vibe. Nothing wrong with being handsome, but we need a sense of roughness. Do you think it's too late for that?"

"Calm down! Calm down!" Another guest, standing nearby, raised his hands to signal for quiet, finally interrupting the flow of words. "Remember that video? The one from the pioneer village? Back then, Renly had no beard at all, he was clean-shaven and looked younger. But his acting… do you remember?"

"Yes! Yes, of course! How could I forget?" the curly-haired guest exclaimed, turning back with a grin. "So, after all that, it's clear we don't need to worry. A beard is enough, and short hair is fine too!"

The man began rubbing his hands together, his feet tapping the ground in an excited, almost rhythmic pattern. He muttered to himself, "What else? What else…"

His behavior, erratic and childlike, left everyone confused, and even Rooney turned toward Renly with hesitation. "He... he's Joel Coen, right? And that's Ethan Coen?"

The Coen brothers—the renowned filmmakers—were legends in the independent film world. Their influence and status were undeniable, and even major production companies like Warner Bros. sought to foster good relationships with them, hoping for future collaborations.

Joel and Ethan's presence was immediately recognized by everyone in the room, and their unexpected visit left the crew members both surprised and intrigued. But what was even more astonishing was Joel's spontaneous, almost nonsensical excitement, leaving the staff members more puzzled than ever.

Noticing Rooney's uncertain tone, Renly chuckled and nodded. "Yes, that's Joel, and that's Ethan." Then, noticing her questioning gaze, Renly shrugged. "I honestly don't know why they're here. Neither Roy nor Nathan mentioned anything about it before."

To ensure the quality of the final stage of filming, Renly had been given absolute privacy and quiet, and no one dared disturb his work or rest. After long, exhausting days in the light box, his rare moments of rest were more valuable than ever.

Rooney nodded in agreement, a small smile playing on her lips. "But they're directors, and you're the actor—they came all the way here. Isn't the reason obvious?"

Renly pondered for a moment before replying, "It's a possibility, but I don't think that's why they're here today." With thoughts of "Drunken Country Ballad" flashing through his mind, Renly immediately dismissed the idea. It had been months since their last meeting, and the production of "Drunken Country Ballad" was well on track.

In fact, many major projects, like "Gravity," were already completed, and "Drunk Town Folk" had become a smoother production. So, it couldn't possibly be related to "Drunken Country Ballad."

Renly then remembered something else: the Coen brothers had been involved with the TV series Frozen—a dark comedy series that aired on FX. Inspired by their past work, Frozen took a completely different approach, with reimagined characters and stories. The show had received widespread praise and was a major success. The Coens were involved with different projects now, and Renly recalled his prior conversations with Ethan about the potential of television as a new creative platform.

Was this about Frozen? Or something else entirely?

Renly exchanged a knowing glance with Rooney. "The opportunity to work with the Coen brothers is incredibly rare for any actor. I'm getting jealous now," she said with a grin.

Renly responded with mock seriousness, "I thought you were used to it." His playful retort made Rooney laugh, and with that, Renly moved forward toward the Coen brothers.

"Ethan, long time no see," Renly greeted politely.

Joel Coen immediately grabbed Renly's hand with enthusiasm. "Nice to see you again, Renly! Actually, we've been here for three days, but we didn't want to disturb your filming, so we've been quietly observing. It's great to finally meet."

Renly smiled and nodded, getting used to Joel's spirited demeanor. "I hope you've enjoyed your stay. As far as I know, our crew still upholds the fine tradition of British cuisine. I won't say it's flattering…"

Joel burst into laughter. "British humor, always amusing."

Ethan, standing beside Joel, found a moment to speak. "Please forgive Joel's excitement—he's a bit too emotional. We hope you don't mind."

Renly grinned. "Should I be upfront and tell you if I mind?"

Ethan stared for a moment, stunned by Renly's directness, and then Joel erupted into hearty laughter. "Oh, Jesus, the Brits really are endearing!"

Renly motioned for them to follow him inside. "Let's talk inside. It's freezing out here, and my lips are numb."

"Of course, of course," Ethan said, nodding, and they all walked into the room. The crew and other staff members were left outside, their curious gazes blocked by the door.

Inside, before anyone could settle, Nathan was already asking if anyone preferred tea or coffee. But Joel couldn't wait to speak. "Renly, we're here because we want you to star in Drunk Town Ballad."