The Greatest Showman #1302 – Hit and Miss

"That... was that Renly Hall?"

Henry Cavill stood frozen in place, his mind racing, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Confusion clouded his thoughts as he scanned the room, hoping for an explanation from someone in the know.

As the lead actor in Man of Steel, Henry was the star of the day's promotional event. However, his task was complicated by the absence of the heroine, Amy Adams, due to a scheduling conflict. Fortunately, Russell Crowe and Kevin Costner—who played Superman's biological and adoptive fathers, respectively—had stepped in, making Henry's role even more critical.

Back in 2005, Empire magazine had dubbed Henry "the most unfortunate man in Hollywood" after a string of near-misses with major roles.

At just 22 years old, Henry was a fresh face in the industry, but his tall, striking appearance made him a top contender for several high-profile projects. Yet, each time he reached the final stage, something went wrong, and another actor snagged the role.

For example, in Batman: Mystery of the Shadow, Henry and Christian Bale were the final candidates for the new Batman. After careful consideration, Bale was ultimately chosen, opening the door for a new era in the Batman franchise.

In 007: Casino Royale, director Martin Campbell initially thought Henry would make an excellent, younger version of James Bond. However, producers doubted Henry's age and passed on him in favor of Daniel Craig.

Similarly, in The Return of Man, Henry was the frontrunner for the new Superman. But Warner Bros. ultimately chose Brandon Routh, who resembled the original Superman, Christopher Reeve.

Henry was also a favorite for Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, but Robert Pattinson narrowly beat him to the role.

Despite the frequent disappointments, Henry's situation was hardly unique. The entertainment industry is filled with actors who miss out on major roles. Still, Henry's streak of misfortune was remarkably long and seemed to define his early career.

In fact, when Twilight was being adapted, the original author, Stephenie Meyer, had Henry in mind for the role of Edward Cullen. However, the production team thought Henry was too old, choosing the 22-year-old Robert Pattinson instead.

By 2011, though, Henry finally got his big break with Man of Steel, and the wait had only made him more focused, humble, and determined.

At 30 years old, Henry's patience and perseverance had paid off. His work ethic reflected his growth over the years, and he had arrived at the studio an hour earlier than scheduled to prepare for the show alongside Russell and Kevin.

His meticulous approach was evident—though, whether it was ideal for a talk show, that remained to be seen.

But despite his years of struggle, Henry's humility and focus were clear. He had learned to take his time and approach his craft with intention.

However, when Henry opened the door to the waiting room, expecting calm and quiet, he was met with an entirely different scene. The room was filled with noise, and Henry froze, unsure of what to make of it. He quickly realized his mistake—he had forgotten to knock. After a moment of hesitation, he apologized and shut the door behind him.

"Did I go to the wrong place?" he wondered aloud, looking at the sign to confirm the room number. The staff had directed him here, so he must be in the right place. He attributed the commotion inside to the usual workings of the show team.

"What's going on with Renly?" Henry thought, racking his brain for an answer.

Just as he was trying to make sense of the situation, the door opened again, and a figure appeared.

Henry instinctively stepped back. The person before him looked like a ghostly twin from The Shining. For a moment, he was speechless, staring. Finally, the words tumbled out, "You're Renly Hall, right? I didn't get the wrong person?"

The look on Henry's face clearly expressed his confusion. Renly smiled and stepped forward, extending his hand. "I'm Renly Hall. Looks like you didn't get the wrong guy."

Henry, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment, smiled awkwardly. "Sorry, I didn't expect this. I should have knocked on the door. Nice to meet you, I'm Henry Cavill."

"No worries," Renly said with a light chuckle. "You didn't interrupt anything special."

Henry, still flustered, tried to recover. "I really should've knocked. I'm... not used to this kind of situation."

Renly shrugged. "It's no big deal. I just finished recording, and I'm still in that mode. I'm sorry if I came off differently. Anyway, are you here to record the show? The waiting room's ready for you. We're just chatting in here."

Despite the lively discussion inside, Renly and the group hadn't left immediately after recording. Ed, Daniel, and even Robbie had stayed behind to continue talking. Graham had dropped by for a bit, and Paul, who had arrived early, was now deep in conversation, discussing everything from music to movies to today's show. The energy was far more electric than it had been during the show itself.

At that moment, Henry arrived early, unaware of the animated discussion underway.

"Yes, I'm here to record the show... but it's fine. You can use the waiting room. I can hang around out here," Henry said awkwardly, glancing at the bustling hallway.

Renly smiled warmly. "It's a huge soundstage, so I'm sure you'll find a place to hang out. But if you want, you're welcome to join us in the room. We were just debating who would win if superheroes fought each other. What do you think—Hulk and Human versus the rest?"

Henry hesitated for a moment, but before he could respond, his feet moved involuntarily in Renly's direction. The door to the waiting room swung open again, but this time with a force that silenced the entire room.

Vin Diesel had arrived.

His signature bald head and massive build filled the doorway. His muscles rippled as he stood, exuding an intimidating aura. His mere presence stole the spotlight, and his sharp gaze swept the room as though daring anyone to challenge him.

No one spoke. The energy in the room shifted, and everyone waited, unsure of what would happen next.