The Greatest Showman #1413 - Return to Calm

"So, what's next? What other awards do you hope to win?"

"...Oscar."

"I thought it would be Venice."

Surprisingly, instead of choosing the award he lacked, Renly chose the Oscar he made history with, which caught Bradley off guard.

Renly nodded with a smile. "If I get the chance to appear in a European film, I would look forward to Venice even more. It's a very special award. But right now, I'm focusing more on projects in the United States. I think it's a little more practical and realistic."

"But there are rumors that 'Gravity' might go to Venice this year," Bradley added.

Renly laughed cheerfully. "Have you been preparing this question for long?"

"I'm not the only one," Bradley said candidly. "Actually, before the Tony Awards or, more accurately, after the Cannes Film Festival ended, discussions had already started. En-Pan set a record by winning the three major European film festivals for three consecutive years. Now, people are wondering if you can replicate that feat."

Especially after winning the EGOT, if Renly could climb to the top at Venice this September, it would be a historic moment. Even the most skeptical reporters couldn't deny that such an achievement would be groundbreaking.

Recently, the Venice Film Festival seems to have sensed an opportunity. They have started building momentum, repeatedly emphasizing that "Gravity" will likely land at Venice.

Why?

The reason is simple. If "Gravity" is confirmed for Venice, it will bring Renly closer to winning all three major European film festivals, following his EGOT achievement. This would mark an unparalleled golden year. No one would want to miss it, not even the reporters who usually aren't fond of Renly.

Naturally, journalists from all over North America will flock to it. Even with competition from Toronto, Venice would easily take precedence. Avid moviegoers won't be able to resist the allure. It's clear that Venice will become the global focus this year, even surpassing Cannes.

The new president of the Venice Film Festival, Alberto Barbera, is seizing this opportunity. For him, this is a crucial moment, and there's no reason not to go all out.

Renly, as the subject of all this speculation, couldn't help but laugh happily. "Although I know this is just a bit of a bubble, I'm still honored."

After joking, Renly continued, "I don't plan things ahead of time. Right now, Alfonso is still in post-production, and it's uncertain if we'll make it to Venice. Even if we do, I still see this as Alfonso's work. I'm just a small piece of the puzzle, and I'm not expecting any awards from it."

Seeing that Bradley was eager to continue asking, Renly stopped him with a glance and added, "If there's any discussion about awards, I'll stick with the answer I just gave. Right now, I'm just focused on showing love to the Academy. Can't you hear it?"

Bradley chuckled, but didn't give up and pressed on, "Don't you want to win Best Actor at Venice?"

"I'm not sure if Woody Allen or Daniel Day-Lewis would be thrilled, but if it were me, yes, I would," Renly replied, lighthearted and witty, once again injecting humor into the conversation.

Bradley was satisfied with this answer and moved on. "Judging from what you just said, you'd be open to appearing in European films in the future?"

"Wow, so you're not going to miss any opportunity today, are you?" Renly said with a broad smile. He hadn't expected Bradley to latch onto such a small comment.

Bradley shrugged without responding, mimicking Renly's earlier gesture. Was this his way of getting back at him?

Renly nodded lightly. "Fair enough." He then paused, thought for a moment, and then added, "Why not? Language and culture aren't an issue. I'd be open to it. European films have a different temperament that American films don't, so it could be an interesting challenge."

"You mentioned earlier that there might be more commercial films in the future. Now, you're talking about European films instead. That's quite a shift, don't you think?" Bradley teased, pointing out that Europe is still dominated by art films, and its commercial film industry isn't as developed as Hollywood's.

"Hey, that's your question, not mine!" Renly emphasized with a playful protest, then smiled and explained, "No, I mean I'm open to more possibilities. Whether it's commercial films or European films, I'm open to different challenges."

"Even a Marvel superhero movie?" Bradley pounced on the opportunity.

Renly laughed cheerfully. "Why is everyone so curious about this question? Every interview, someone asks me this. Is this the kind of role you think fits my appearance? Does it really seem like I could be a superhero?"

Bradley was silent for a moment.

Although Renly didn't have the typical superhero look, Marvel had moved beyond stereotypes, embracing more diverse characters. Still, Renly didn't seem like the obvious choice.

"Marvel movies have been incredibly successful, and you're one of the most watched actors now. Everyone is hoping you'll play a superhero... right?" Bradley asked, slightly unsure.

Even top actors like Tom Cruise and Will Smith had struggled to land superhero roles, so Renly wasn't exempt.

"Also," Bradley added, "not long ago, you saved a delivery man, and that's been all over social media. Everyone's been talking about it, and many think you'd be the perfect actor for a superhero role. It's a great chance to expand that awareness even further."

Renly chuckled. "So, you mean I need a superhero role to boost my mass appeal?"

Bradley was at a loss for words. Renly's rhetorical question had thrown him off.

"Don't worry," Renly said, easing the tension. "This isn't the first time I've answered this question, but I'll make it clear now: I'm open to all possibilities."

"So, maybe that includes superhero movies too?" Bradley pressed.

"Yes," Renly's response was crisp and straightforward.

Bradley blinked, then realized the significance of this response. This was the first time Renly had publicly and positively confirmed his openness to a superhero role.

"Yeah!" Bradley exclaimed, pumping his fist in excitement. Renly raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eye. "Are you happy because of the news, or because of the news itself?" he asked half-jokingly.

Bradley was momentarily stunned. "...Both."

Renly smiled, raising an eyebrow. "So, who do you think would be the right superhero for me?"

Bradley struggled to imagine Renly in a superhero suit. It just didn't seem right. He realized that he was the interviewer, not the interviewee, and shook his head, laughing. "Wait, don't flip the script on me!"

Renly laughed, "This isn't an interview, it's an exchange."

Bradley rolled his eyes, "Same difference!"

Renly raised his hands in surrender, then Bradley turned back to the questions. "So, what's next? Is life going to change for you? Do you need a break, or time to digest everything? Or are you planning to prepare for a new album? After all, EGOT is a big deal."

Renly nodded thoughtfully. "I guess so. But I'm trying to keep a steady pace and return to a more quiet life. There's so much more to life than being in the spotlight all the time. Besides, I don't want this to feel like a lifetime achievement award."

Bradley laughed heartily.

Renly smiled, continuing, "I'm still eager to perform, both on camera and on stage. I still want to explore different ways of performing. As for the album, I don't have a concept right now, but one thing's for sure—I'll be focusing on shooting 'Crackling Drummer.' It's not going to be easy."

"You don't have a concept yet? Does that mean if an idea comes to you, you might still release an album?" Bradley asked, grabbing another small tidbit.

"Of course, why not?" Renly answered with complete assurance.

From music to film to theater, the conversation continued, and slowly, the interview turned back into the usual rhythm of life.