Chapter 160: A Magnificent List

Chapter 160: Chapter 160: A Magnificent List

Chris Evans—a newly signed actor at CAA who just appeared in the CBS series The Fugitive. He had garnered quite a bit of attention thanks to his handsome face. In the photo attached to his file, he wore a white T-shirt and had a sunny smile.

His broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted physique could be felt even through the screen. Although his build was nowhere near as bulky as it would be during his Captain America era, his muscle lines were smooth and not exaggerated, exactly the healthy look of the "pirate blacksmith" Irene had in mind.

Orlando Bloom—selected by director Peter Jackson to play the role of Legolas the Elven Prince in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Although the movie hadn’t been officially released yet, everyone knew it was a heavy hitter. He was also a top priority for CAA, possessing a gentle temperament and clear eyes.

His previous performances in period dramas were impressive, and his file specifically noted a "solid foundation in swordsmanship." In the photo, he was dressed in medieval attire, carrying a sort of aristocratic melancholy that resonated somewhat with Will Turner’s trait of being "of common birth yet harboring a sense of justice."

Heath Ledger—from the list sent by Fox. He had previously won over countless fans with his role as a young hero in The Patriot. In his file, his eyes were sharp, revealing an unyielding tenacity. He had a tall, upright stature and an impressive track record in action scenes. The notes section read: "Capable of undergoing high-intensity physical training."

Dwayne Johnson—recommended by Disney Studios. He had shot to fame with his role as the Scorpion King in The Mummy Returns. The photos in his file were almost entirely close-ups of his muscles. His broad shoulders and back were extremely imposing, exuding an overwhelming sense of power.

However, his build was far too burly, and his looks didn’t match Irene’s requirements. He seemed slightly off from the "agile blacksmith" setting for Will Turner. Irene felt that whoever recommended him for the audition was a real piece of work.

James McAvoy—another newcomer just signed by CAA, possessing both looks and acting talent. In the file, his eyes were expressive and his temperament versatile. Although he had a leaner build and his resume noted he was "skilled at delicate emotional expression," his height was a major drawback, making him less competitive.

When the name "Henry Cavill" appeared, Irene’s hand suddenly stopped as she turned the page.

The man in the photo wore a dark cotton shirt with the collar open. His features were sharp and deep, and his gaze seemed more mature than she remembered.

His stature remained tall and upright, with broad shoulders and narrow hips. The lines of his arm muscles were faintly visible beneath the shirt, still possessing that powerful yet not coarse appearance.

It was as if the sea breeze of Hawaii had suddenly blown out from the documents.

Two years ago, she and Britney had been invited by Edward to vacation in Hawaii. In those azure waters, she had met a Henry who hadn’t yet reached adulthood.

To be honest, she really didn’t know back then that that Henry was Henry Cavill. After all, his overly youthful face had a significant discrepancy from the Supes in her memory.

The two of them had a great time together, which for a while made Irene forget all her troubles. However, the preparations for Mean Girls broke the peace, and she left in such a hurry that she didn’t even have time to say a formal goodbye to Henry.

"I didn’t expect to see you here," Irene murmured softly, her fingertips unconsciously touching the photo. Henry’s features were as clear as if he were right before her eyes. Come to think of it, that familiar back she encountered at the art gallery must have been him as well. When did he start entering the acting profession?

She shook her head. These personal matters could wait until after the audition for her to ask him privately. She couldn’t let her emotions sway her now.

The character of Will Turner was the antithesis of Captain Jack—upright, brave, and loyal, yet possessing the impulsiveness of youth. He was both a blacksmith and an ally to pirates. He needed a physique that could carry the ruggedness of a blacksmith, but also eyes that could hide inner turmoil.

"Knock, knock." The sound of knocking came, and Shelly walked in carrying a cup of hot coffee. "Not resting yet? Still looking at tomorrow’s audition list?"

Irene took the coffee and tapped the resumes on the desk with her finger. "The qualifications of these actors are all quite good, which actually makes it hard to choose. Where did you find so many handsome guys?"

Shelly leaned in to take a look and raised an eyebrow. "Henry Cavill? Remember that promising talent I told you I had? That’s him. Although he’s only appeared in one movie so far, it was the classic The Count of Monte Cristo.

He performed well in it, handling emotions perfectly. His acting is delicate and doesn’t seem like a newcomer’s at all, so I signed him immediately and recommended him to John Owen, and he passed through there as expected."

Irene paused her coffee-drinking for a moment, her tone not particularly enthusiastic. "Are you managing him now too?"

"Yeah. I saw the advantages of newcomers through you. Even a piece of dead wood like Edward has been getting constant offers after appearing in your movies so many times. I figured I should find a few more like that. I’m sure I’ll eventually come across some with good acting skills."

Shelly Ovitz spoke with total conviction, and Irene didn’t argue with him. As long as he could help her maintain good relationships with the various film studios, everything else was a minor issue.

"I can’t guarantee I’ll pick him. Will Turner isn’t just a simple ’handsome second lead.’ He’s the link between commoners and pirates. He needs to be able to pick up a hammer to forge iron, swing a cutlass to fight, and even more importantly, maintain his true self amidst Jack’s madness and the harsh reality.

In terms of acting, he can’t fall too far behind Jack. Otherwise, the character won’t just fail to stand on its own, it’ll drag down the entire structure of the movie."

"Of course. If I hadn’t seen the clips of Henry Cavill in The Count of Monte Cristo, I wouldn’t have pushed him and made things difficult for you. Aside from having no fame right now, he perfectly fits all your requirements in every other aspect," Shelly stated confidently. CAA had pushed quite a few new actors this time, but not all of them were under his wing.

For instance, James McAvoy was pushed by another agent in their company, Cran Gerard, and Orlando Bloom was even recommended by CAA’s current leader, Ella Walker.

But Shelly wasn’t particularly worried about these two being selected. As Irene’s agent, while he couldn’t say he understood Irene perfectly, he definitely had first-hand information regarding her requirements for actors.

Out of this shortlist, the only ones who truly fit Irene’s requirements from appearance to acting were Henry Cavill and Heath Ledger.

Irene picked up the character profile for Will Turner beside her, which was covered in her dense annotations: "Physique must be tall and powerful, with smooth muscle lines," "Eyes clear but not naive, possessing resilience," "Action scenes must be agile and crisp, combining power and flexibility," "Emotional expression should be restrained, with internal conflict conveyed through micro-expressions."

As Shelly expected, based purely on appearance, Dwayne Johnson and James McAvoy were basically eliminated. While Chris Evans had an outstanding appearance, he had never been known for his acting.

She was afraid the gap would be too large in scenes with Depp, leading to a fragmented screen presence.

As for Orlando Bloom, the second lead from the original film, his performance was only considered "passable" in Irene’s heart. If there were better options, she certainly wouldn’t choose him.