The Greatest Showman #1223 - Cooperation Talk

Although this is Renly's second life, choosing an actor is still filled with uncertainties.

As Carey Mulligan once asked, when he returns to his dream in the middle of the night, does he still question his choices? Does his anxiety breed uncertainty? This question haunts him, just like it does LeVine Davis.

Living in Greenwich Village for a month as LeVern felt like a lifetime, as if time had stopped. After going in circles, he returned to the same place—insisting, rejecting, compromising, giving up, being frustrated, and returning again. He found himself in a confused, overwhelmed state, aimlessly wandering and facing the bumps of life. In the end, he poured all his emotions and experiences into the beloved melody and sang with all his might.

That was the truest form of LeVern, and it was the most moving version of him.

When the story ends, and LeVern becomes Renly once more, he truly affirms his beliefs. Despite the physical and mental exhaustion, the loss of all thoughts, the pain, the madness, and the potential to die, he will never regret it—much like Icarus from Greek mythology. With wings made of beeswax, Icarus flew toward the sun. His arrogant and foolish behavior led to his demise, but his unwavering belief in reaching the sun, even at the cost of breaking his wings, shines brightly. Moths fly into flames; it's foolish, but pure.

From Gravity to Drunken Country Ballads, Renly's refined performance skills have opened his eyes to an entirely new world. It's vast, grand, and majestic. Polishing and sculpting his craft, this performance feels effortless and natural.

Now, Renly wants to enjoy the art of acting.

Leaving aside character exploration and skill breakthroughs for now, Renly is committed to acting in his own way. He's focused on gradually accumulating more experience, settling into roles, and exploring the lives of different characters. Beyond technical skills, he wants to expand his perception of life. He plans to challenge himself with comedy, horror, and lighthearted roles, pushing the boundaries of his acting.

As night darkens, Paul gazes carefully at Renly's face. The expression has gradually faded into the shadows, unrecognizable, but those dazzling eyes still gleam with endless possibility. Paul shakes his head, smiling. "I told you before, you're a lunatic."

"Yes, I know," Renly nods with certainty, making Paul laugh out loud. "Hey, you know, if there's ever a chance, maybe we could work together on a film like Ocean's Eleven or something like The Bourne Identity. That would be so much fun."

"Uh... those are two very different projects," Paul says seriously.

"Yeah, I know," Renly agrees, "but they're interesting attempts. You see, the style of Ocean's Eleven, with its mix of cool humor and tension, would make the filming process really fun. But once the sequel formula kicks in, the quality usually takes a dive."

Paul catches Renly's sincere enthusiasm in his brisk tone and asks, "Are you serious?"

"Of course," Renly chuckles. "Why are you so surprised? Don't forget, that's how we met."

Paul laughs and scratches his head. "If only we had met sooner, maybe we could've seen the Renly version of Thor."

"Hah, if we had, I wouldn't have been interested," Renly admits truthfully.

For a work of art to come together, the right time and place are essential.

In 1974, Chinatown, which earned eleven Oscar nominations, became iconic. Starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway, written by Robert Towne and directed by Roman Polanski, the film shocked audiences upon its release, hailed as the pinnacle of film noir. Decades later, Polanski remarked in an interview that, even with the same team, if the project had been delayed by five years, the film wouldn't have had the same impact. Everything fell into place perfectly in 1974.

This truth applies to both art and commercial films, including superhero movies based on comic books.

Hearing Renly's response, Paul raises an eyebrow, "You mean, if a superhero role were offered now, would you consider it?"

Renly doesn't hesitate, "Why not?" His answer is so direct that Paul pauses for a moment before laughing and shouting to the crashing waves, "Hollywood, are you listening? Renly Hall is open to playing a superhero. Come on, invite me!"

Renly laughs and sits cross-legged next to him. "There's nothing special about comic book adaptations. Christian Bale played Batman, so what's the big deal?"

"Because you're Renly Hall," Paul replies simply, and without hesitation. "How about you take over from Christian as Batman? I'm sure Warner Bros. would roll out the red carpet for you."

Renly raises an eyebrow. "What, are you suggesting I come in as Robin?"

Paul is momentarily stunned, then starts thinking seriously about it. "You know, that actually sounds like a great idea—assuming Warner Bros. is on board. After all, they need a younger, more handsome Robin."

"Paul Walker, are you trying to take over Hollywood with just those two things?" Renly teases.

"No," Paul grins. "I built my career on muscle and acting."

Paul flexes his arms in a mock Popeye stance, showing off his biceps and making exaggerated gym noises, which makes Renly burst into laughter.

"By the way," Paul suddenly turns serious, "in May, the premiere of Fast & Furious 6 is coming up. I've got a spot saved for you—Los Angeles or London, you choose. But!" He raises a finger. "No refusals! You have to be there! I'm still complaining about you missing the last one."

Paul pouts dramatically, almost childishly, making Renly laugh. "I need you to be there for the box office boost."

"Okay," Renly agrees simply.

Paul is stunned. "Really?"

"Really," Renly nods earnestly.

"Yes!" Paul pumps his fist in the air. "Haha, you came to the Amazing Spider-Man premiere before. Now I can tell everyone you'll be at ours, too! That's going to show them."

Renly, sensing potential complications, brushes it off lightly. "Someone? Vin Diesel? Dwayne Johnson? What's next, more drama?"

Paul quickly shakes his head. "No, it's not that bad. We keep things professional on set. Just some petty stuff, like a mosquito buzzing around."

Paul sighs deeply. "The relationship between Diesel and The Rock isn't great. Diesel's been trying to use my past to leverage things with The Rock, but The Rock is ready to confront him head-on. The whole crew's a mess."

As a producer, Paul can't just stand by, and it's clear the Fast and Furious 6 set has been filled with tensions and clashes.

"Paul, have you thought about leaving the Fast & Furious series? Maybe start something new?" Renly suggests, cutting to the heart of the matter. But before Paul can respond, he adds, "Or, perhaps we could kick Diesel out and have you and The Rock run the show together. I think that would be fun."

Paul hesitates. "But... isn't that Diesel's series too?"

Renly shakes his head slightly. "Paul, it's your series too. Diesel never considered that."

For both Diesel and Paul, Fast & Furious represents their biggest anchor. From Renly's perspective, the solution might be to pull out entirely and start fresh, but it's much easier said than done. Renly, as an outsider, doesn't have the same attachment to the series that Paul does.

"Maybe you could join my Eleven Arhats project," Renly jokes, making Paul laugh out loud.

"Just think about it, Paul," Renly adds playfully. "But seriously, promise me you'll always wear your seatbelt and stay away from Porsches when you drive."

"What? Why?" Paul looks confused.

Renly shrugs. "Advice from a friend."

Paul stares at him for a moment, then bursts into laughter. "Renly, you're serious, aren't you?"

"I am," Renly says, standing up as the last rays of the setting sun disappear, leaving the sky bathed in deep navy blue. "Let's go. Time to pack up. What's for dinner? Whatever it is, we're having a glass of whiskey afterward. Antonio's got a bottle for new friends."

"So, I'm the new friend?"