Chapter 161: Actors from All Sides Take the Stage

Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Actors from All Sides Take the Stage

As for Heath Ledger and Henry Cavill, the former was best known for his future role as the Joker in Batman and Irene’s future project Brokeback Mountain as Ennis Del Mar. Although she wasn’t very familiar with him yet, she figured his acting must be outstanding, otherwise he wouldn’t have been nominated for an Oscar.

As for Henry Cavill, she was very familiar with him as Superman, but she really didn’t know much about the younger version of Henry.

So Irene’s focus for tomorrow was on Heath Ledger and Henry Cavill, hoping to select the perfect Will Turner in her heart.

The next day, the blackout cloth of the audition studio had only been pulled halfway back when the sunlight impatiently squeezed in, casting mottled light and shadows on the floor.

The interior was no longer as quiet as it had been last night. The props team was busy adjusting the blacksmith shop scene model, with simulated spark marks still on the anvil.

The casting team sat around the long table in the back row: Jerry Bruckheimer, casting director John Owen, acting coach Martha Carter, Disney representative Amy Pascal, and Fox representative Adelaide Griffin were lined up in order.

The information booklets in their hands rustled as they were flipped, and discussions rose and fell, making it several levels more lively than during the Captain Jack audition.

"I heard that everyone coming today is a walking hormone. I specifically touched up my makeup this morning!" The young female script supervisor held the actors’ files, and the photos on the resumes were passed around. Everyone’s eyes were sparkling.

"We’re in for a treat this time. Chris Evans has a great physique, and then there’s Orlando Bloom—those eyes could drown someone, right? Legolas is definitely going to explode in popularity at the end of the year. If we choose him, we’ll get more buzz." Casting director John Owen smacked his lips and circled a name on the list with his pen.

Acting coach Martha Carter flipped through the materials, her tone rigorous:

"Will Turner isn’t just a handsome supporting male lead. He’s the foil to Jack. If Jack is manic, he must be steady. If Jack is dissolute, he must be persistent. He needs to carry the toughness of a blacksmith, the clarity of a youth, and a hidden deep affection for Elizabeth. The casting difficulty is no less than that of Captain Jack Sparrow."

Amy Pascal nodded: "Disney values market appeal more. Dwayne Johnson has already proven himself in The Mummy Returns. Although his acting isn’t particularly outstanding, he has good rapport with the audience and can attract the attention of young women. His physique also perfectly fits the blacksmith setting. It has impact."

Adelaide Griffin listened to Amy Pascal talk nonsense with a straight face. Aside from a body full of muscle, what kind of acting did that Dwayne Johnson have? He immediately retorted:

"We at Fox still prefer to find an actor with texture in their performance. Heath Ledger’s performance in The Patriot was very eye-catching. He has enough emotional tension to add depth to the character, making him more memorable than a simple muscle man."

Jerry Bruckheimer didn’t say a word. The competition for the second male lead was even greater and more popular than for the first. For a newcomer, performing well could mean becoming famous overnight, whereas an already established lead actor always has to be more cautious about the roles they choose.

Among these people, the one he favored most was Orlando Bloom. His artistic temperament seemed like it could form a good contrast with Captain Jack.

Irene sat in the main seat, with Will Turner’s character profile and actor information spread out before her, her fingertips unconsciously tapping the table.

The more heated the discussion in the studio became, the calmer she grew. Casting Will Turner was more of a test of balance than Captain Jack. He had to be handsome enough to make people’s eyes light up, but he couldn’t overshadow the protagonist, and he had to support the character’s layers.

"Quiet down, the actors are almost here." Irene lifted her chin, her gaze sweeping across the audition area in the center of the studio. The anvil, cutlasses, and wooden shelves were all present, completely recreating the blacksmith shop scene from the script.

As soon as she finished speaking, the door to the audition studio was pushed open, and Chris Evans was the first to walk in.

He wore a tight black T-shirt today, outlining his excellent proportions of broad shoulders and a narrow waist. Carrying a black backpack, his smile was still as bright as sunshine. He truly lived up to his reputation as America’s sweetheart. He was indeed very handsome when he smiled.

He walked straight to the center of the stage, casually placed his backpack on the floor, and spoke:

"Good morning, directors and producers. I’m Chris Evans, and I’m here today to audition for the role of Will Turner. For this character, I specifically practiced swordsmanship and strength training for a month, hoping to meet your expectations."

Irene nodded in acknowledgment: "Let’s begin. Perform the scene where Will Turner discovers Elizabeth has been kidnapped by pirates and prepares to find Captain Jack Sparrow to collaborate."

Chris immediately switched states. The smile faded from his face, and his eyes became urgent. He clenched his fists and walked hurriedly around the studio, reciting his lines with a tone full of youthful impulse and anxiety.

When he picked up a nearby cutlass, the muscle lines in his arms tightened, and his movements were sharp and powerful, indeed possessing the toughness of a blacksmith.

"Not bad, the sense of power is sufficient, and the emotions are in place," Martha commented in a low voice, her pen recording quickly in her notebook.

"The sword-swinging movements and muscle lines are very beautiful. They will definitely be eye-catching on the big screen. Young girls fall for that."

Jerry, however, shook his head:

"But his eyes are too ’bright.’ They’re full of passion and impulse, lacking the melancholy Will Turner should have. Will isn’t a natural-born warrior.

He’s an ordinary person who just wants to look after the blacksmith shop and Elizabeth. Forced onto a path of adventure, his eyes should show confusion and struggle, not this kind of unstoppable sharpness."

John also added: "And his delivery of the lines is too straightforward. Saying ’I want to save Elizabeth’ was too forceful. Will’s deep affection should be restrained, hidden in his actions, not worn on his sleeve."

Irene didn’t say anything, then signaled him to demonstrate some swordsmanship. Just as he said, he had some basic swordsmanship skills. She wrote "Action scenes meet standards, lacks emotional layers, lacks the character’s core sense of confusion" in the information booklet, then smiled and asked him to leave.

After the prop master went on stage to restore the scene, he called out for the next actor to enter.

The second was Orlando Bloom. He wore light-colored casual clothes and had a gentle, jade-like temperament. When he walked into the studio, even the air seemed to soften a bit.

After a brief introduction, he didn’t start performing immediately. Instead, he first walked to the anvil and gently stroked the patterns on it, as if letting himself get into character.

Until the on-site supervisor shouted, "Start."

Orlando turned around, and his gaze changed instantly. His brow furrowed slightly, his eyes filled with worry, and his tone carried a restrained anxiety.

He didn’t speak the lines fast, but every word revealed his concern for Elizabeth. When he drew the sword, his movements were smooth and graceful, like a medieval knight. Unlike Chris’s sense of power—if Chris was a beginner, then Orlando was at least at an intermediate level.