[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starting-from-stealing-the-role-in-1995-huayu":3,"chapter-starting-from-stealing-the-role-in-1995-huayu-starting-from-stealing-the-role-in-1995-huayu-chapter-323":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Starting from Stealing the Role in 1995 Huayu",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2321312,4540,"Chapter 323","starting-from-stealing-the-role-in-1995-huayu-chapter-323",323,"\u003Cp>Upon hearing Wu Yuchen’s idea, Wen Ziren couldn’t help but open his mouth in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, a look of excitement spread across Wen Ziren’s face as he exclaimed, “This is fucking brilliant!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, Wen Ziren began enthusiastically analyzing:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Small Robert Downey’s bad reputation is well known; many viewers and fans who know him automatically dislike him. In any other film, this would be a major liability—but we’re making *Saw*!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saw punishes evildoers. Having Small Robert Downey, a man with a criminal past, appear in *Saw* lets audiences watch someone they hate suffer—it’ll give many viewers a sense of satisfaction!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Ziren grew even more excited: “Besides, although Small Robert Downey’s reputation is poor, his fame is still substantial—he’s even borderline A-list. Hollywood’s B-list stars won’t touch bloody horror films, but Small Robert Downey is different. Right now, he has almost no opportunities and earns next to nothing. So if we offer him a deal, he won’t say no!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen nodded and smiled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What we’re doing now is recycling trash. And there’s another thing I’m looking forward to. Suppose—I’m just saying, suppose—Small Robert Downey kicks his addiction after filming *Saw*. What do you think the audience will think of Saw then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Ziren blurted out: “That’ll bring in a huge wave of Saw fans! Many will even develop a kind of worship for Saw!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then he added, “But Director Wu, that’s probably impossible, right? Quitting is so hard…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen smiled and shook his finger at Wen Ziren: “No, no—you don’t understand mass psychology or Hollywood. Wen, tell me this: if a bad man can pretend to be good his whole life in public, is he good or bad?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Ziren was beginning to grasp Wu Yuchen’s idea: “You mean…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen smiled faintly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, whether Small Robert Downey actually kicked his addiction doesn’t matter. What matters is that promoting the idea he quit benefits everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The public loves redemption stories; the media loves the traffic it generates; we producers make a fortune. Small Robert Downey himself gains immensely—and I might even give him a chance to return to his peak later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he quits, great. If he doesn’t, but manages to fool everyone into believing he did, what difference does it make to us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Ziren was clearly stunned by Wu Yuchen’s words—it was a new lesson he’d learned since arriving in Hollywood! Hollywood truly was full of lies and deception—he was growing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Ziren nodded: “Director Wu, I understand. We’ll negotiate with Small Robert Downey—we’ll make sure Saw helps him quit!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, watching Wen Ziren’s retreating back, Wu Yuchen smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, in his past life, no one ever knew the truth about whether Small Robert Downey had quit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe his wife and children leaving him recently had truly shaken him, prompting him to change his ways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe he never quit at all—maybe he just matured, learned to fake it well, and was always a great actor. Later rumors surfaced that he’d relapsed, but by then, thanks to Iron Man, his stakes were too high; people would quietly clean up the negative press for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Wu Yuchen’s goal was twofold: to use Small Robert Downey to boost promotion and profits for *Saw 3*, and to see whether this guy had truly matured into the man who could one day carry Iron Man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Iron Man* was a pivotal moment for Marvel’s rise. And let’s face it—Small Robert Downey was perfectly suited for Iron Man. Originally just a B-list hero, *Iron Man* became a top-tier character rivaling, even surpassing, Captain America, all because of the film. In short, Small Robert Downey and Iron Man elevated each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he passed the probation period, behaved himself, and became an adult capable of controlling his emotions and actions, then he’d be worth using.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he’s down on his luck now, earning next to nothing, easy to control—we could lock him into several contracts early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he fails the probation? Let him stay in the horror world and keep entertaining audiences!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Wu Yuchen thought of another point. When *Iron Man* truly shines, Small Robert Downey’s appearance in *Saw 3* will draw even more traffic, boosting its earnings. Everyone will be curious: what does Iron Man look like when he’s tortured?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If so, it’s not just Iron Man—we could bring a superhero into every future *Saw* installment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the Hulk, Hawkeye, Thor, even Thor’s little brother Loki—all their actors are currently low-profile, barely A-listers in Hollywood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let them each enter the *Saw* series, undergo Saw’s punishment and education, then go on to play superheroes. Linking Marvel and *Saw* through the actors will make the latter even more popular!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When *The Avengers* finally comes out, fans will realize: all Marvel’s superheroes were tortured in *Saw* in every possible way. Is the horror world really that superior to the Marvel universe?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen couldn’t help laughing out loud at the thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, right—you too, Big Purple Potato, Thanos!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You think you’re so tough? You think snapping your fingers will wipe out half of Earth’s population?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fine. Since you’ve come to Earth, first endure Saw’s justice!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can’t escape. Tremble in Earth’s horror world!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lizi, has Zhang Ziyi come to see you again?” Wu Yuchen asked Zeng Li over the phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She came. I told her your words. She said she isn’t afraid of controversy and will fight for it. Will *Memoirs of a Geisha* really be that controversial?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen chuckled and shook his head: “Lizi, if it were truly a great opportunity, would I not recommend you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, I know. Don’t worry about it—let Ziyi decide for herself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hanging up, Wu Yuchen sighed and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recently, Zhang Ziyi had contacted him through Zeng Li, hoping he’d introduce her to Spielberg—essentially asking him to be her recommender.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Memoirs of a Geisha* was originally Spielberg's own project, but now that he has stepped back to a supporting role, he is only producing; the director is now Oscar-winner Rob Marshall, though Spielberg still wields significant influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen said the film was controversial for good reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The author of the original novel was American—meaning this was an American’s fictionalized account of geishas. Though called a memoir, it was pure exotic fantasy crafted for Western tastes. The novel itself sparked huge controversy in Japan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The film then cast three Chinese actresses—Zhang Ziyi, Gong Li, and Yang Ziqiong—in the lead roles. So it was an American-written story, directed by an American, performed by Chinese actresses, portraying a Japanese tale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After its release in his past life, it was boycotted by both Japanese and Chinese audiences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Japan boycotted because they felt the film distorted geisha culture. “Gei” and “ji” differ by only one radical—but mean worlds apart. A geisha represents the idealized woman—admired from afar, never touched. But the film’s heroine flaunted nudity and lost the essence of the geisha entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Japan was also angry because a Japanese story featured three Chinese actresses as leads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>China’s backlash was simpler: most people saw geishas as prostitutes. The film included scenes of geishas being humiliated—especially Zhang Ziyi’s character being ridden and defiled by a Japanese man—which enraged many fans. They felt Zhang Ziyi, as an international star, was disgracing the Chinese image.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, next year marked the 60th anniversary of China’s victory in the War of Resistance, and Sino-Japanese relations were tense; anti-Japanese boycotts were already underway. So public reaction in China would be fierce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was absurd: both Japanese and Chinese people objected to Chinese actresses playing these roles, yet Hollywood didn’t care—they only cared about their own influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, Zhang Ziyi, Gong Li, and Yang Ziqiong had more clout than Japanese actresses, so the American producers picked them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Ziyi wanted Wu Yuchen’s help because she’d heard director Rob Marshall’s first choice wasn’t her—he’d approached Zhang Ziyi’s rival, Zhang Ziyi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of these two women, Wu Yuchen shook his head again—he didn’t want to help either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his past life, rumors said Zhang Ziyi hesitated to take the role due to the 60th anniversary of the War of Resistance, but ambitious Zhang Ziyi pushed herself forward, approached the director directly, and snatched the role—leaving Zhang Ziyi stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was just one of their grievances. Their feud began during *Hero*, when Zhang Ziyi stole too many scenes and had Zhang Ziyi’s cut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then came *2046*, originally intended for Zhang Ziyi as lead. She spent the longest time on set, shot the most scenes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when the film released overseas, Zhang Ziyi’s scenes were cut to just thirty seconds; Zhang Ziyi became the lead. In the domestic version, Zhang Ziyi appeared only in a single backshot—many didn’t even know she’d been in the film, and viewers thought she’d merely made a cameo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This turned them into bitter enemies and permanently broke Zhang Ziyi’s relationship with Wong Kar-wai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the 57th Cannes Film Festival, Zhang Ziyi didn’t walk the red carpet for *2046*—she walked with the *Clean* crew. When asked, she replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I only brought one dress for *Clean*, because no one told me whether I even had a role in *2046*. I don’t feel entitled to walk the red carpet—I’m not a meaningful character in the film.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words revealed deep resentment. Then she won Best Actress at Cannes for *Clean*, while *2046* won nothing—she delivered a perfect comeuppance, pure wish-fulfillment drama!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen guessed Zhang Ziyi would still win this time—age-wise, Zhang Ziyi was too old for the lead, and her influence in America was still weaker than Zhang Ziyi’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this, their feud went public. Zhang Ziyi would say of Zhang Ziyi: “No amount of money would make me work with her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, at the 2013 Golden Horse Awards, Zhang Ziyi won Best Actress for *The Grandmaster* and took the stage—where Zhang Ziyi was the presenter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Dehua tried to hand the trophy to Zhang Ziyi so she could present it to Zhang Ziyi, but Zhang Ziyi kept refusing, pulling her hands back. Eventually, Liu Dehua had to present it himself. Zhang Ziyi turned and walked offstage immediately—the scene was excruciatingly awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen didn’t mind. He didn’t blame Zhang Ziyi—it was the organizers’ fault for arranging this. A little research would’ve revealed their feud. Compared to Xie Kaiqi publicly insulting Jiang Yanyan on stage, Zhang Ziyi was downright refined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kind of awkward presenter arrangement wasn’t new—several times, ex-lovers had been paired to present awards. Was it intentional sabotage?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yuchen had no intention of meddling in their feud. Who was right or wrong? He wasn’t involved. As for *Memoirs of a Geisha*, he had no plans to involve anyone close to him—it wasn’t worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days later, Wu Yuchen received another old acquaintance: fellow Chinese Li An.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Director Li, you shouldn’t let one failure make you doubt your entire ability.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li An shook his head: “Director Wu, I don’t have your talent—you balance commercial and art films effortlessly. I can’t find that balance. I’ll stick to art films from now on—it’ll save me the headaches.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After his failure with *Hulk* a few years ago, Li An had spent the past two years deciding he’d no longer make commercial films.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sighed: “In the past, Chinese cinema—on both sides of the strait—praised art films and scorned commercial ones as trash. But commercial films aren’t easy to make at all!”\u003C\u002Fp>",1890,"2026-06-20T16:09:30.828Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","3132669a2458cdc01e31c83a2729b7d30cf71ec2f8c0250ac88f0844c9fee880","starting-from-stealing-the-role-in-1995-huayu-chapter-324","starting-from-stealing-the-role-in-1995-huayu-chapter-322",335,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarting-from-stealing-the-role-in-1995-huayu-cover.jpg"]