Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 253: Heavyweight Affiliation

"Chris, Chris." The assistant did their best to stop him, but they couldn't hold back the imposing figure of Chris Hemsworth. The office door was thrown open, and the assistant looked at Fisher Morgan with a helpless expression, indicating they had done all they could.

Fisher waved his hand, unconcerned, signaling the assistant to leave. He stood up from behind his desk and walked forward with a smile. "What time does the shoot start today? You better not be late. Kevin Feige is a stickler for punctuality."

Kevin Feige, the head of Marvel Studios, was currently the hottest CEO in Hollywood.

Fisher approached Chris, patting his arm in a friendly manner, his tone gentle but firm, diverting Chris's attention. "I'll head to the set shortly."

"Thor" was still in the midst of an intense filming schedule, estimated to wrap up around Christmas. The main reason was Natalie Portman, the biggest star and crucial lead of the cast. The schedule revolved around her availability. Recently, Natalie had been traveling from Venice to Toronto, promoting "Black Swan," which hindered the filming pace.

"Then you better get going. There's quite a distance to Burbank, and it's rush hour, so timing might not be accurate," Fisher said, pushing Chris toward the office door. "How's the filming going? When I visited the set last week, you were getting comfortable in front of the green screen, which is good. Did Natalie return to the set yesterday? How are you two getting along?"

Chris, a bit dazed, responded as they walked. By the time they reached the door, Fisher finally asked, "So, what brings you here this morning?"

Chris suddenly remembered his main purpose for coming. "Renly Hall! What's going on with him?" The mention of Renly rekindled his anger, though not as intense as before. "How did he join 'Fast and Furious'? Didn't you say he had no chance? That he'd only dabble in indie films? That no one would remember him come awards season?"

Fisher chuckled, as if it were a minor joke. "Is that what you're worried about? Haha." His casual attitude calmed Chris down a bit. "You probably didn't know, but Dwayne Johnson joined 'The Expendables' for four million dollars, sharing the lead with Sylvester Stallone. Though the pay isn't high, he's now a lead actor. In comparison, 'Fast and Furious 5' is insignificant. He turned it down himself."

Chris's expression wavered, uncertain and doubtful, his gaze fixed on Fisher.

Fisher nodded affirmatively. "This news will be out by this afternoon. Trust me. As for 'Fast and Furious 5,' no one cares about that second-rate series. Besides, Renly is only the third lead. He won't outshine Vin Diesel and Paul Walker."

Chris remained silent, still looking displeased.

He disliked Renly, undoubtedly. He hated Renly's condescending attitude and his fake, hypocritical demeanor. Even Fisher disliked Renly, speaking of him with disdain, which confirmed Chris's feelings were right.

Fortunately, their relationship was finally severed, and he no longer had to pretend with him. Thank heavens.

However, the recent surge of news about Renly, filled with praise, made him a focal point. There were even rumors about him and Natalie, making Chris's stomach churn.

His only solace was "Thor." As the leading man in a major production, a key piece in the Marvel Universe, fame and accolades seemed within reach. He could leave Renly far behind, severing all ties.

But now, he didn't like the way things were unfolding.

Though Chris remained silent, Fisher noticed and patted his arm. "Tell me, do you have confidence in 'Thor'?"

"Of course!" Chris replied firmly.

Fisher nodded in satisfaction. "That's enough. If all goes well, 'Thor' and 'Fast and Furious 5' will both be released next summer. Their box office results will speak for themselves. I have absolute confidence in 'Thor'!"

Observing Chris's eyes regain their brightness, Fisher continued, "Not every commercial film is worth taking."

His tone dripped with disdain for "Fast and Furious." In fact, throughout Hollywood, that series wasn't considered a big deal in terms of box office, reviews, audience base, or cast. It was always seen as second-rate.

Imagining "Thor" crushing "Fast and Furious 5" at the box office, Chris finally smiled.

After sending Chris off, Fisher returned to his desk, where today's entertainment section headlines were laid out. Clearly, "Fast and Furious 5" had sparked heated discussions, far from the casual description he gave Chris.

"New Emmy Winner Joins 'Fast and Furious' Cast, Sweeping Away the Gloom."

"Hall Replaces Johnson, Major News Confirmed!"

"Universal Pictures Confirms: 'Fast and Furious 5' Needs Fresh, Young Blood."

"Director Justin Lin Praises Renly Hall: After Watching 'The Pacific,' I Wanted to Work with Him."

"Renly Hall Joins 'Fast and Furious 5': Bold Move or Blind Bet?"

"From Indie Darling to Action Star: Renly Hall's Transition."

...

Following the casting drama with Dwayne Johnson, the buzz around "Fast and Furious 5" attracted North America's attention.

Some readers saw it as a publicity stunt, doubting there was any real casting change. In Hollywood, such tactics weren't surprising.

Others were more interested in the internal drama, curious about a real fight between Dwayne and Vin Diesel.

Another group was eager to know who could replace Dwayne. His unique presence in Hollywood meant any replacement would face immense pressure and could affect the final product's quality.

As time passed, interest in the drama grew, like a captivating TV series. But with the prolonged speculation, it risked becoming tiresome. Just as people were losing interest, the truth emerged: a casting change did happen!

Renly Hall.

Boom! It was indeed Renly Hall! Boom! Despite earlier rumors during the Telluride Festival, many doubted Renly. Leaving aside his recognition and popularity, at only twenty years old, he seemed too young and physically incomparable to Dwayne.

While Paul Walker was also fit, the focus was on Renly replacing Dwayne, inevitably leading to comparisons.

More importantly, Universal Pictures' official statement confirmed Renly's significant role. He was given third billing, surpassing key returning cast members like Jordana Brewster, Gal Gadot, and Tyrese Gibson.

This was the real bombshell!

A newcomer in the public eye for less than four months, taking on a lead role in a major commercial film wasn't unusual. Chris Hemsworth's casting as Thor didn't cause much stir initially; it was the film's performance that mattered. But Renly, replacing Dwayne Johnson and outshining established cast members, was electrifying news.

Moreover, Renly Hall wasn't entirely a newcomer.