The Greatest Showman #1501 - Smooth Sailing

After the initial shock wore off, Jack calmed down, though he couldn't help but keep running his fingers through his hair, as if he needed a moment to process everything.

He turned toward Renly, a mix of disbelief and amusement in his eyes. In the end, Jack let out a chuckle, realizing there was nothing he could do but roll with it. After laughing, he snapped back to reality, leaned in toward Renly, and whispered, "You said earlier, what company was that again? Some brand-new capital from Wall Street? The name doesn't ring a bell."

Hollywood's industry had grown increasingly competitive, with emerging companies frequently entering the game. It wasn't unusual for Jack, a veteran of the industry, to encounter unfamiliar names.

Seeing Jack's cautious expression, Renly chuckled, "It's a Scottish capital firm. But don't worry, they're not tied to any shady business. Though," Renly paused, glancing over at Andre with a raised eyebrow, "are you sure about that?"

Andre simply shrugged, his expression neutral.

That's when Jack realized—the head of the company was sitting right in front of him. Had he just been rude?

Noticing Jack's cautious gaze, Andre didn't seem offended. Instead, he said, "Sisyphus Films. We're just getting started."

"Ah!" Jack's eyes widened as he looked between Andre and Renly. He stammered for a moment before landing on Renly, "Wait, you're a shareholder too? Sisyphus—Sisyphus Films?!"

Jack wasn't much into social media, but he'd definitely seen Renly around during the previous year's Ice Bucket Challenge. They'd interacted a few times online, so the connection clicked. He immediately put two and two together.

Renly spread his hands, grinning, and glanced at Andre. "So, what now? Should I ask for some shares?"

Andre smirked, then shook his head, refusing to play along. "Renly and I go way back. Honestly, I'm only in on this project because of him. I was planning to invest from the start. Before this, Sisyphus Films' first project was Boom Drummer."

Jack's realization hit him all at once, and he nodded at Andre, "So, you're one of the victims too?"

Andre raised an eyebrow.

"Victim? Jack, what are you talking about?" Renly asked, playing along.

Jack grinned, nudging Renly with his shoulder. "What, you don't get it? We're all victims here. The sad part is, we know it, and we still fall for it. I mean, what's going on?"

He then glanced at Andre and Eaton, adding with a wink, "I mean, come on, honest folks digging their own graves. That's some real power."

Renly didn't miss a beat. "Then, I guess the villain is leaving now. You all should get together and talk about your Stockholm Syndrome experience."

Now, Jack was the one left dumbfounded.

Jack shifted in his seat, unsure whether he should stand and make room for Renly. This wasn't the Renly he remembered—this playful joker was a new side of him. Jack looked to Andre and Eaton in a mild panic. "Seriously? You're not kidding, right?"

Renly shot Jack a grin, then grabbed his coffee, preparing to leave.

Andre chuckled softly, easing Jack's concerns. "Don't worry, Jack. He's not mad. He's just ready to get out of here."

It was true. As the middleman, Renly had done his part. The rest was up to them to iron out the details. Jack needed to read the script, Andre needed to get to know Jack, and Eaton needed time to discuss the wardrobe. Renly's presence was no longer necessary, so it was the perfect moment for him to leave.

Jack wasn't completely convinced, still uncertain. He looked back at Renly, who gave a reassuring nod. "You stay here, read the script, talk things through with Andre and Eaton. If everything checks out, give me a call, and I'll get in touch with Dan Gilroy. We'll arrange another meeting. The rest is on you."

Renly paused for a moment, then added, "And if you want to discuss the script or characters with me, I'm always available."

With that, Renly gave a casual nod, sidestepped Jack, and walked out of the coffee shop without a goodbye. He wasn't trying to be rude—he was just done with his part.

Not long after Renly left the coffee shop, Eaton caught up with him. Renly raised an eyebrow in question.

Eaton explained, "It's our first time meeting, and we still need more discussions. As for me, I'm just starting out, so I'll focus on the basics. Then, I'll meet with the director to discuss the film's style, tone, and themes. I'll also talk with the costume designers to see if my ideas align with theirs."

Eaton hesitated a bit, looking at Renly for confirmation. "I mean, design and fashion are the same, right? The theme is always the core, so what does that mean for the movie?"

Renly took a moment to evaluate Eaton before breaking into a light chuckle. The truth was, art always revolved around theme. Movies were no different. If anyone else had said that, Renly might have suspected they were being difficult, but Eaton was earnest—he just wasn't very experienced.

Renly nodded, "Exactly. The same applies to movies."

Eaton smiled widely, relieved. "Good, glad we're on the same page."

In the following months, everything began to move forward smoothly.

Sisyphus Films had been quietly established, with little fanfare outside of the higher-ups. The company officially announced it would begin production on its second project, Nightcrawler.

This time, Sisyphus Films was collaborating with Sony Classics, continuing their partnership from Boom Drummer. Together, they would share the profits. The film's production budget was set at $8 million, with the possibility of additional investments depending on how things developed.

Dan Gilroy was set to direct and write the screenplay, marking his first time as a director. He wouldn't receive box office royalties but was getting paid $1 million for both directing and writing. Jake Gyllenhaal was cast as the lead, earning a modest $600,000. Renly, meanwhile, would serve as the producer—a step up for him as it was his second time in the role, but the first time he wouldn't appear in the film.

However, production wouldn't begin just yet. There were still script revisions to be made.

Gilroy had written the script with his personal experiences in Los Angeles, leaving the character of Louis without much background or psychological depth. Once Jack was on board, he and Gilroy would meet to flesh out the character together.

Jack appreciated this approach, understanding that the character's development would come from collaborative effort.

But before Jack could start rehearsing, he wanted to immerse himself in the world of the Nightcrawlers. He planned to travel to Los Angeles to observe their lives, talk to them, and fully understand the character. Only then would he dive into the script with Gilroy to bring Louis to life.

It would take some time.

Jack hadn't set an official timeline yet, but it was clear the project wouldn't be starting in September.

For Hollywood, the news of Nightcrawler and Sisyphus Films didn't make much noise. A $8 million indie film wasn't significant by industry standards. But for those in the know, Renly's role as a producer—and not an actor—was noteworthy. It marked a major step for him in the world of production.

Still, despite his growing influence, Renly's actions were still relatively small-scale compared to the major studios. Warner Bros., Legendary Pictures, and Universal were embroiled in their own power struggles. Renly's impact, though notable, hadn't yet shaken the foundations of Hollywood.

Renly, however, didn't seem overly concerned. He'd quietly left New York and made his way back to London, seemingly unconcerned by the massive shifts happening in Hollywood.

The Venice Film Festival was around the corner, and the promotion for Gravity would soon ramp up. But, more than that, Renly was preparing for his next big move—setting things in motion with Christopher Nolan.