The Greatest Showman - Chapter 1204: Karma
Ben Bennett, formerly known as Joseph Buett, is a grassroots musician who emerged in the 1960s, mingled in the 1970s, and gained fame in the 1980s. During his early years in the industry, he gave himself the nickname "T-Bone" (after T-bone steak), and the name stuck over time, becoming how people identified him.
Bennett has always been dedicated to grassroots music, focusing on folk, bluegrass, and country. He shares many similarities with George Slender, yet as a singer, Bennett's talent never truly blossomed. Though he managed to establish a place in the industry, he never became a household name among mainstream music fans.
Later, Bennett gradually transitioned to working behind the scenes as a producer, where his true potential flourished. His collaborations included renowned bands like The Who, among others, achieving far greater success as a producer than he ever did as a singer.
His friendship with filmmaker Ethan Coen led to his invitation to produce the soundtrack for O Brother, Where Art Thou?, marking the beginning of a golden era in his career. His expertise in original film music production became widely recognized.
With works such as Walk the Line, Crazy Heart, and the TV series Nashville, Bennett solidified his reputation. His work on Crazy Heart even won him an Academy Award for Best Original Song. In 2014, he arranged the entire soundtrack for True Detective, further cementing his legacy in the industry.
For Inside Llewyn Davis, Bennett played a crucial role in selecting and adapting songs. He also worked closely with the actors and singers to shape the film's original soundtrack.
Despite his involvement in the film industry, Bennett rarely interacted with actors directly—unless it was a music-focused movie. As a result, he remains, first and foremost, a musician.
Marcus Mumford: The Folk Music Prodigy
Unlike Bennett, Marcus Mumford is purely a singer and musician. He is the lead singer, guitarist, and drummer for Mumford & Sons, a band that has been instrumental in the folk music resurgence of recent years.
Mumford & Sons, founded in 2007, took its name from Marcus's surname, though none of the other members are related to him. The British indie folk band achieved phenomenal success in just a few years.
Interestingly, Marcus is only two years older than Renly.
Many people associate folk music with middle-aged, world-weary artists who have experienced life's ups and downs. However, history proves otherwise. Bob Dylan, for example, released his first album at 21 and became famous at 22.
Mumford & Sons have released two albums, both highly praised by music critics worldwide, propelling them to stardom.
Marcus was invited to Inside Llewyn Davis to provide the singing voice for Mickey, a character with no on-screen presence but an essential musical contribution. This was likely his first and only film project.
The Search for Mickey's Voice
The Coen brothers and Renly were discussing the perfect fit for the role of Mickey. Since Mickey only needed to sing two songs and had no physical appearance in the film, they considered inviting a professional folk singer.
Joel Coen initially suggested Bon Iver, but Ethan Coen was unconvinced.
Renly agreed that Bon Iver was an excellent option, but not the best one. His reasoning was that Mickey and Llewyn should be of similar age, having walked the same path in pursuit of their folk music dreams—learning guitar together, writing songs together, and recording albums side by side. Their shared experiences were crucial to the emotional depth of their duet.
Historically, in 1961, Bob Dylan was 20 years old, and Dave Van Ronk was 25—a mere five-year gap. The Coen brothers initially overlooked this detail. When Renly was unavailable for the role, they cast Oscar Isaac, who was 34 at the time.
However, once Renly joined the project, he highlighted the importance of age in the character dynamic. The Coen brothers reconsidered and decided to use Renly's real age—23—making him a perfect parallel to real-life folk legends of the era.
Joel's suggestion, Bon Iver, was 31 years old—too far from Renly's age. While Oscar Isaac would have been a fitting choice, the new circumstances required a younger option.
They then considered emerging artists like Ed Sheeran, Tom Odell, and Sufjan Stevens.
Renly, who was friends with Ed Sheeran, saw him as a strong candidate. However, he also suggested Marcus Mumford. Renly admired Marcus's voice, which incorporated a touch of rock into folk music, reminiscent of the late 1960s. In contrast, Ed Sheeran blended folk with pop.
The challenge was that Renly had no personal connection to Mumford & Sons, making an invitation difficult.
Justin Timberlake Steps In
To help, the Coen brothers reached out to Justin Timberlake, who gladly took on the task of contacting Marcus. Unfortunately, Marcus was on a world tour from December through the summer and had no time for the project.
Hollywood is full of scheduling conflicts—just look at The Avengers. Negotiating schedules is often a nightmare for production teams.
Despite their disappointment, they had to move on. However, an unexpected breakthrough came when Carey Mulligan, who had overheard the discussion, intervened.
"You mean Marcus from Mumford & Sons?" she asked. When the Coen brothers confirmed, she casually added, "If you need help, I can contact him."
Renly suddenly realized his oversight. "Of course! You're more familiar with the British music scene than I am. I should have asked you directly."
Carey simply smiled and revealed a necklace she had been wearing—a pendant shaped like a ring.
Renly was momentarily stunned before rubbing his forehead in realization. On their first day on set, Carey had been wearing this ring on her left hand—it was a wedding ring.
Ethan, Joel, and Justin, who hadn't noticed before, exchanged puzzled glances with Renly.
"Marcus Mumford is Carey's husband," Renly explained, a rare embarrassed grin forming on his face.
A Love Story Behind the Scenes
Carey and Marcus had been childhood pen pals but lost touch over the years. They later reconnected as adults, quickly rekindled their bond, and decided to marry after only a few weeks of dating. They tied the knot last April in a small, private ceremony attended only by close friends and family. Their relationship remained so low-key that even their colleagues were unaware.
Thanks to Carey's intervention, Marcus agreed to join Inside Llewyn Davis as a guest musician. However, he had only a five-day window during his tour and wanted to wrap up his work quickly—while also seizing the opportunity to reunite with his wife.
Ironically, despite Justin Timberlake's initial involvement, it was Carey who sealed the deal. Justin, feeling somewhat sidelined, jokingly remarked, "Since when does arriving 15 minutes early mean you're late?"
With no time for further debate, he quickly joined the session, eager to get into the rhythm of the conversation.