Chapter 383: Dispensable

Chapter 383: Chapter 383: Dispensable

In February in Milan, the chill had not yet fully faded, but the air was already filled with an atmosphere of fashion and vitality.

The hotel where Irene Coppola and Sophia were staying was located near Via Montenapoleone in the center of Milan, a three-hundred-year-old Baroque-style building.

The dark red brick walls, exquisite relief decorations, and vintage revolving doors all highlighted its profound heritage.

Of course, what was most satisfying was the hotel’s location; it was only 200 meters from the main venue of Fashion Week, reachable in a three-minute walk, which was perfect for them as they needed to rush between shows.

But this convenience came with unavoidable drawbacks.

Since the opening of Fashion Week, the hotel had been completely plunged into noise and bustle.

Stars, models, fashion editors, reporters, and fans from all over the world gathered here; the lobby was always crowded with people coming and going, the sound of camera shutters "clicking" and the excited whispers of fans could be heard from the corridors from time to time, and even late at night one could hear the faint sounds of parties from afar—it was hard to find a quiet corner.

Irene Coppola did not mind the noise; on the contrary, she found this liveliness quite fresh.

Her and Sophia’s room was on the fourth floor of the hotel, and pushing open the window, one could see the bustling crowds downstairs.

The second morning after checking in, she had just walked out of her room, ready to go for breakfast, when she bumped into Angelina Jolie opening the door of the room next door.

Angelina was wearing a simple black trench coat and sunglasses, her temperament cold and glamorous yet elegant.

Since the release of Tomb Raider, she had quickly risen to the ranks of A-list Hollywood actresses thanks to the role of Lara; her sharp features and unique personal charm made her the focus of global attention.

Seeing Irene Coppola, a flash of surprise crossed Angelina’s eyes; she took off her sunglasses and revealed a warm smile.

"Irene Coppola? I really did not expect to meet you here! I really like your movies, especially Million Dollar Baby; it was so stunning."

"Thank you, Ms. Jolie, I also really appreciate your work." Irene Coppola responded with a smile, reaching out to shake her hand gently. "Tomb Raider showcased Lara’s courage and charm perfectly; you were the only choice for this role."

"You are too kind." Angelina stepped aside to let Irene Coppola pass, and the two walked side by side in the corridor, chatting casually. "Are you here in Milan for the shows? Or do you have other work arrangements?"

"Mainly to accompany my sister Sophia to attend Prada’s joint press conference, and to soak up the atmosphere of Fashion Week along the way," Irene Coppola said. "What about you? Are you here for a brand collaboration?"

"Sort of, I have some collaboration discussions with Dior." Angelina nodded, then changed the subject, asking with a hint of anticipation, "Speaking of which, do we have a chance to collaborate on a movie? I have always wanted to try the kind of works you specialize in that combine commercial appeal and artistry; I really like your directorial style."

Hearing this, clips of Mr. & Mrs. Smith immediately flashed through Irene Coppola’s mind.

She had previously seen the script for this movie in a project list in Hollywood; it told the story of a couple who appeared to be loving but were actually rival spies, who fell in love again after experiencing a series of ridiculous conflicts.

Truth be told, before filming the sequel to Pirates of the Caribbean, she had considered whether to take on this project, but after careful consideration, she gave it up; after all, the plot of the movie itself was not particularly classic, and the spy showdown segments were relatively conventional.

The main reason this movie became a huge hit was because of the emotional entanglement between Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt, and Angelina Jolie outside the film.

You have to know that at this stage, Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt were still a famous golden couple in Hollywood.

The two fell in love in 1998 and married in 2000; their relationship was deep, they cherished each other, and at the time, they were a couple praised by everyone.

Yet they suddenly announced their divorce in January 2005.

Before they officially divorced, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie filmed Mr. & Mrs. Smith together, and during the filming, rumors spread that they had developed feelings for each other on set.

Even in March 2005, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie admitted their relationship.

As for whether Angelina Jolie really intruded into the marriage of Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt, it would become the biggest gossip during the movie’s release.

The production team almost gleefully hyped this up, so the movie was a huge box office success after its release.

If Irene Coppola were still in the rising stage of her career, she might have used their romance to make a fuss, but given her current status and the IPs she held in her hands, such projects that used romance to hype up popularity were already dispensable.

She remembered that this movie should have entered the preparation stage by now; she just did not know if Angelina had already received an invitation from the production team.

"Collaboration is certainly something I would be eager for," Irene Coppola said with a smile. "I do have a few projects in preparation, but there are no roles particularly suitable for you at the moment. If there is a suitable opportunity, I will definitely contact you immediately."

"That is great. I am looking forward to it." Angelina revealed a sincere smile.

After the two exchanged contact information, they each headed to their respective destinations.

After returning to her room, Angelina leaned on the sofa, her mind still ruminating on the conversation she just had with Irene Coppola.

She had received the script for Mr. & Mrs. Smith a month ago; the production team was very satisfied with her.

Basically, as long as she nodded in agreement, the lead actress position would be hers; she even had a certain amount of say and could participate in the selection of the lead actor.

But she had not made up her mind.

Although the story line of the script was interesting, the overall framework was slightly cliché; she worried that it would turn out to be a mediocre commercial film, affecting her acting career path.

But meeting Irene Coppola today, her thoughts suddenly changed.

Irene Coppola’s directorial ability was obvious to all; whether it was a super commercial blockbuster like Pirates of the Caribbean or an award-chasing art film like Million Dollar Baby, she could handle it with ease, and almost every one of them was a harvest of both box office and critical acclaim.

If she could get Irene Coppola to direct Mr. & Mrs. Smith, at least she would not have to worry about box office and quality issues, and it might even be possible to shoot a conventional spy film with a different effect.

Thinking of this, Angelina immediately picked up the phone and instructed her assistant.

"You immediately contact the production team of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, tell them that I am very interested in this project, but there is one condition: I hope to invite Irene Coppola to be the director of this movie. If they can make this happen, I will sign the contract immediately."

The assistant was a bit surprised, but immediately responded, "Okay, Ms. Jolie, I will go contact them right now."

Not long after, the assistant sent back a reply: "The production team said there is absolutely no problem; they are very willing to invite Irene to join. As long as Irene agrees, they can adjust the shooting schedule according to her time."

Angelina nodded with satisfaction, her anticipation for this movie increasing a little more in her heart.

She believed that with the blessing of Irene Coppola, Mr. & Mrs. Smith would definitely become a unique work.