[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr":3,"chapter-the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-408":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Academic Director: Reborn in the Film Industry",{"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},2297408,4493,"Chapter 408: The Casting Issue","the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-408",408,"\u003Cp>Whether Jeff Robinov could take it to heart, Cao Yang did not know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A person capable of reaching a position like President of Warner Bros. Pictures, while perhaps impulsive for the sake of immediate gain, would likely be able to think things through once calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because someone in this position has some understanding of Americans and Jewish capital; they know a thing or two about the unsavory operations and methods that ordinary people are unaware of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jeff Robinov was silent for a while before sighing, dropping the subject, and asking Cao Yang:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cao, to be honest, after reading the script, if... it really happens, 'Joker' will be the strongest contender for Best Picture and Best Director at next year's Oscars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, even if it might not necessarily perform at the box office, for the sake of the Oscars, we must treat this film seriously.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, Jeff, what do you mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jeff Robinov waved his hand grandly and said, \"The best! I want the configuration for this film to be the best—the actors, the crew, the equipment, the locations, everything, use the best.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he laughed and continued: \"Of course, we already have the best producer, director, and screenwriter; that is the most important thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally, I plan to add a separate budget of ten million dollars; from this moment on, the purpose of this money is to campaign for awards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To hell with the Oscars that just passed; a new war, a new awards campaign war, has begun, starting right now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uh, at this moment, Cao Yang didn't quite know what to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had seen campaigns start eight months early, six months early, and even three or four months early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But had he ever seen a campaign start a year early?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Jeff Robinov’s words, Cao Yang could tell that this President of Warner Bros. Pictures seemed determined to win the Oscars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But regarding the box office, he seemed a bit less optimistic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made sense; even Batman, with his massive fan base as a superhero, hadn't been a huge hit, so \"Joker,\" a villain within that world without much popularity, didn't look like a box office smash when pulled out to be made into a movie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, as could be seen from the script, the film itself was an arthouse piece filled with irony, exploring human nature and reflecting reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's a pity that Heath Ledger died.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jeff Robinov shook his head with a sigh and said to Cao Yang:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cao, I know you initially might have wanted to link 'Joker' with the 'Batman' sequel, and Heath Ledger was your choice for the lead, but he died from a drug overdose a month ago, which is a great pity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I know his death might have disrupted your plans, but things must be resolved; do you have a backup candidate?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang could tell there was regret in Jeff Robinov’s words, but it wasn't regret for Heath Ledger’s death; it was regret for the trouble his death caused for \"Joker.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had misunderstood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought that after Cao Yang collaborated with Nolan to produce the \"Batman\" sequel, the \"Joker\" film he directed himself would definitely use Heath Ledger, the actor who played the Joker in \"Batman,\" to create a crossover effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, such a crossover, provided the \"Batman\" sequel was a massive hit, would in a sense serve as a super-luxury promotional advertisement for \"Joker,\" and having the same person play the Joker in both films would be more conducive to audience immersion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang certainly had a backup candidate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, it couldn't be called a backup; from the very beginning, he had never intended to use Heath Ledger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang was somewhat inclined to use the original lineup, with Joaquin Phoenix as the male lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although it was ten years early, Joaquin Phoenix had been working in the arthouse film circle for years, and his acting skills were quite good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This could be seen from the fact that he had been nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor at the Golden Globes, as well as Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor at the Oscars, through different films.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Cao Yang’s requirements for acting weren't high; the main thing was that he had to fit the image.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, Cao Yang had a very deep impression of Joaquin Phoenix playing the Joker, especially his dance sequences; that twisted release after repression was an excellent shaping and interpretation of the Joker’s personality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only thing Cao Yang was slightly worried about was whether a Joaquin Phoenix ten years younger would fit the image of the Joker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you have any candidates?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang asked Jeff Robinov.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the other party had brought up the issue of the lead actor, he must have been prepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, with \"New Pirates of the Caribbean,\" directed by Cao Yang, about to break 1 billion dollars, even the President of Warner Bros. Pictures could not interfere with his hiring decisions for a film with an investment of \"only\" seventy or eighty million dollars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At most, he could only offer Cao Yang some suggestions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jeff Robinov smiled and said, \"What do you think of Nicolas Cage? His recent 'National Treasure' film series has had decent box office, and his acting is good; after all, he has won an Oscar for Best Actor. I think he should be able to play the Joker well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I heard he’s not doing so well lately; it’s said his financial situation is on the verge of bankruptcy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang thought for a moment and said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cage’s acting was indeed good, the type that could handle both arthouse and commercial films, and his age fit the Joker, but his image was a bit off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang really couldn't imagine him playing Arthur the Joker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is precisely because he is not doing well that there will be a significant concession in his salary; the cost-performance ratio is quite good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jeff Robinov explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang thought again about the image of Cage playing the Joker... better not, it didn't fit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nicolas Cage was starting from this year to first go bankrupt, and then, in order to pay off debts, step by step become the \"King of B-Movies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang was confident that if Cage played in his \"Joker,\" it would very likely make him popular again, which would likely allow him to avoid becoming the \"King of B-Movies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Cage’s image was just not suitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could act out decadence, but his decadence carried a certain ruggedness and roguishness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was different from the Joker’s decadence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forget it, his image doesn't fit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang refused directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jeff Robinov nodded; since Cao Yang said his image didn't fit, then it didn't fit. He didn't think he could compare to Cao Yang when it came to choosing actors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What about Depp? We could also invite Depp.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Depp was now one of the most expensive actors in Hollywood, his acting skills went without saying; two-time Oscar Best Actor wins were the best proof.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for box office appeal, \"Inception\" and \"New Pirates of the Caribbean,\" two consecutive films grossing over 900 million dollars worldwide—did that even need to be said?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Yang shook his head and said with a smile, \"His image doesn't fit either.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Depp’s image was not only suited for playing \"eccentrics,\" but when he played other roles, he carried a certain \"nobility\" and \"aloofness,\" which was one of the reasons he was rated by Hollywood media as the sexiest man in the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was not suited to play a bottom-of-the-ladder character like the Joker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though the \"small character\" he played in \"Sweeney Todd\" was a \"small character,\" there was no denying that his \"small character\" was sexy and possessed nobility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, he was a bit out of touch with the common people.\u003C\u002Fp>",1313,"2026-06-20T05:36:33.656Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","784165f6c316bfc4e0265fee37643bdc14b59348a0dab0213491370b04446e64","the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-409","the-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-chapter-407",411,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-academic-director-reborn-in-the-film-industr-cover.jpg"]