Chapter 163: Deciding on the Candidate

Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Deciding on the Candidate

Henry didn’t start immediately. Instead, he walked over to the anvil, picked up a wooden hammer, and swung it a few times as if to get a feel for its weight.

Then, he turned around, his eyes no longer calm but filled with anxiety and determination. His hand gripped the hammer tightly, his knuckles turning white, and his tone was full of restrained anger, yet it hid a trace of subtle hesitation.

"Captain Jack, I know you can help me," he began, his voice low and powerful with a perfectly tuned raspiness. "Elizabeth is my everything. I would do anything for her, even if it means siding with pirates."

He swung the hammer, simulating a confrontation with pirates. His muscle lines rippled with the movement, appearing both powerful and flexible.

When he reached the line "I’m not a coward, I just don’t want to lose her," a flash of vulnerability crossed his eyes before being replaced by resolve, portraying Will Turner’s inner struggle to perfection.

At the end of the performance, he subconsciously raised his hand to wipe the "sweat" from his forehead, a detail that instantly made the character feel alive.

The studio fell into silence, with only the echo of his voice remaining. After the performance ended, Henry put down the hammer and looked at Irene again, his gaze holding a hint of expectation and a trace of subtle nervousness.

Martha was the first to break the silence. "Wow, how did he manage to be both tough and delicate? His eyes have so much depth!"

Amy also rarely didn’t insist on Disney’s stance:

"His eyes are so expressive—anxiety, determination, vulnerability, and hesitation are all there, perfectly matching Will Turner’s complex personality.

Moreover, his physique is a great fit. Broad shoulders and a narrow waist with smooth muscle lines, possessing both the toughness of a blacksmith and the uprightness of a young man.

His audience appeal might not be as high as Chris or Orlando, but his acting and character fit are exceptional. This ’just right’ feeling is rare. He doesn’t steal the spotlight from Captain Jack, yet he can carry the second male lead’s weight and form a perfect chemistry with Elizabeth."

Even Jerry, who had originally favored Orlando Bloom, seemed to be conquered by Henry Cavill at this moment. He spoke with praise:

"That detail of wiping the sweat was brilliant. It reflects the professional habit of a blacksmith and immediately gave the performance a grounded feel.

His acting has both restrained deep affection and the decisiveness of being pushed to the brink, as well as the confusion of youth. He is exactly the Will Turner we are looking for."

Afterward, he drew a large checkmark on his profile, and the scene immediately fell into a flurry of discussion.

Seeing that Henry might be a bit awkward standing alone on stage, Irene spoke up in time: "Do you know swordsmanship?"

Henry didn’t answer but simply scanned the weapon rack nearby, casually drew a sword, and twirled it with a clean, sharp motion.

Irene nodded and signaled for him to leave.

Once Henry Cavill left the room, John Owen immediately expressed his excitement: "This is the Will Turner we’ve been looking for! His physique, temperament, acting, and even his movements are an incredible fit!"

Irene didn’t speak immediately. She thought of Henry’s retreating back, but her mind flashed to the starry sky of Hawaii. No one could perfectly fit another person’s vision without knowing it. If such a thing happened, it could only be because someone had leaked the answers in advance.

She looked at Shelly Ovitz, who calmly raised an eyebrow at her, making no attempt to hide his ’crime.’ Finally, she picked up her pen and drew a heavy checkmark on Henry Cavill’s profile.

However, she still needed to consider the others’ thoughts. "Come on, everyone tell me which actors you approve of."

The CAA representative, Shelly, spoke first. "The three actors we recommended from CAA this time might not be the best in terms of acting, but their physique and temperament are definitely the closest.

Chris has a great image, Orlando has a classical temperament and a sense of knighthood, and as for Henry, I believe his acting was just recognized by everyone. Although he lacks fame, I believe his potential is enormous."

Martha chimed in: "I also favor Henry Cavill the most. James’s delicacy, Chris’s drive, Orlando’s classical feel, Heath’s madness, and Dwayne’s tough-guy persona each have their highlights, but Henry has balanced these traits to the extreme."

John also nodded in praise: "He has Chris’s youthful drive and James’s delicate inner world. His image doesn’t lose to Orlando, his explosiveness isn’t inferior to Heath, and his commercial suitability can rival Dwayne. More importantly, he has completely stepped into the character’s soul."

Even the Disney representative, Amy, praised him: "Capital does value short-term gains, but the long-term value of a work ultimately depends on strength. Henry’s performance is enough to support the entire project. In the long run, he can bring more stable returns than traffic stars."

Finally, Jerry stood up and clapped his hands. "Then it’s settled. Henry Cavill is the best candidate. Irene, what do you think?" Everyone else nodded. Irene looked down and smiled. She didn’t even need to speak, as everyone had already decided on the candidate. "I agree as well."

"Then notify Henry Cavill’s agent to sign the contract as soon as possible."

Clearly, no one knew that Henry Cavill’s agent was sitting right there. Shelly wore a smile that suggested everything was under control.

The auditions were all over, and everyone began to leave the scene. Irene and Shelly walked out last. "It seems you really picked a good prospect this time," Irene said with a smile.

"I didn’t expect him to do so well and get a unanimous vote, especially since Orlando Bloom’s advantages were quite significant. I should really thank you for your character profile. It allowed me to have him prepare in advance."

Irene shook her head gently. "I gave every actor who came to the audition a character description and part of the script in advance, but only Henry Cavill seized the opportunity, so he deserves this."

She never thought the stranger who had chatted with her about the stars by the sea would step back into her life like this, nor did she imagine the future Superman would become the little blacksmith in Pirates of the Caribbean.

Although she wasn’t entirely satisfied with Orlando Bloom’s performance in the original film, she hadn’t had a definitive candidate before now. But now, that blurry figure had a clear face. Fate is indeed mysteriously unpredictable.

The two walked out of the audition studio. A cool night breeze blew by, carrying the distinct urban scent of Los Angeles.

The streetlights were dim and yellow, casting long shadows of the two. Irene raised her hand to pull at her coat collar and was about to bend over to get into the car parked by the road when her gaze inadvertently caught a tall figure standing under the shade of a tree not far away. It was none other than Henry Cavill, who should have left long ago.