"So, do we take this role or not?"
Rob was a bit indecisive for a moment.
"Of course we take it!"
Cassius answered decisively.
"Huh? Then just now you..."
"Taking this role doesn't mean we can only accept it passively!"
Cassius got more excited as he spoke:
"Rob, help me fight for something. Before the official audition, I want to see the draft script!"
The phone went silent for a few seconds.
Then came Rob's incredulous voice:
"Bro, you're playing with fire! Questioning the script before even getting the role?"
"This is a huge taboo in our industry!"
"This isn't questioning; this is showing our sincerity and value!"
Cassius corrected him:
"They're interested in me because they think I can bring something new, right? So I'll put the new stuff on the table!"
"If they aren't even willing to listen, then this project is fundamentally just old wine in a new bottle, and there's no need for us to jump into this pit!"
Rob digested these words.
After a while, he replied fiercely on the other end:
"Fuck it! Let's do it! Fortune favors the bold! I'll contact them right now. Even if I hit a wall, I have to try!"
"You really have guts!"
Hanging up, Cassius took a deep breath.
He knew this move was risky.
For an actor with little foundation in Hollywood to suggest changes to an A-list production project, it was easy to be labeled as arrogant.
But he knew even better that if he did nothing, there was a high probability of repeating past mistakes.
In that case, he would miss this opportunity.
Cassius hung up the phone.
He turned on his computer and started searching for all public information about this Green Lantern reboot.
At the same time, he recalled the sharp complaints about the original movie from netizens in his past life and improvement suggestions from some big shots.
The director was Martin Campbell.
He directed Casino Royale and The Mask of Zorro. He was skilled in action scenes and character shaping.
This was good news!
But for the final film effect, the intervention of screenwriters and the studio was crucial.
A few days later, Rob brought back a reply:
"They agreed to your request!"
"Director Campbell and the producers will arrange an informal meeting next week!"
Rob's voice carried a hint of lingering fear:
"You shocked them too! But Director Campbell is said to be very interested in you, wanting to hear what good ideas you, a mysterious force from the East, might have."
The opportunity had arrived!
Cassius immediately threw himself into preparation.
He locked himself in the study and began organizing his thoughts.
He didn't need to change the movie beyond recognition, nor would the director and producers agree.
He first sorted out the major complaints about Green Lantern from the internet in his past life and organized several core issues.
The main problem with Green Lantern's flop in his past life was that the protagonist was like a paper cutout, lacking personal charisma!
Netizens in his past life complained that Hal Jordan was just a brave pilot label machine, with a flat personality and stiff transformation.
Without a main line, Green Lantern was too weak!
Hal's shaping failed; he drifted with the tide without pre-set goals, making follow-ups difficult!
After thinking, Cassius started typing on the keyboard:
"Lack of convincing character arc!"
"The transformation from an arrogant test pilot to a cosmic cop needs more delicate inner struggle and growth foreshadowing, not just relying on a few slogans!"
He remembered in the original film, Hal seemed to have an epiphany just by chatting. That stuff couldn't even fool short video users nowadays.
He typed furiously into the document!
"Earth scenes in the early stage are too lengthy, world-view introduction drags, while the cosmic adventure and epic showdown the audience expects are compressed."
Cassius recalled the original version seemed to spend over an hour on Earth matters, with the real OA planet and Parallax battle ending hastily!
False advertising!
"Pacing needs rebalancing. Suggest speeding up entry into core conflicts in the early stage, but retaining key emotional anchors."
Then the big villain!
In the past life's Green Lantern, Parallax as a cosmic threat lacked convincing deterrence and defeat methods!
The design was even harder to describe!
Mocked by netizens as a poop monster!
Finally, action design and budget!
Action design could only be honed on site, and he wasn't in charge of the budget, so it depended on communication with the director and producers!
Preparations were about done!
Cassius looked at the document he wrote, feeling a bit ridiculous!
He was actually revising the script for a superhero!
If this were in his past life, it would be a fantasy!
But now he had no other choice!
If the script remained like the past life, he'd rather not act in it than carry the title of box office poison early in his career.
The day before the meeting, Rob called nervously:
"Brother, how's the prep going? Don't actually go lecture them tomorrow; we're going to fight for the role!"
"Relax!"
Cassius looked at the organized points, his tone calm. "I'm not going to crash the party!"
"Better be!"
Rob muttered. "I don't want to be thrown out by security tomorrow!"
Hanging up, Cassius checked his notes again.
He knew this was risky, like walking a tightrope.
But high risk brought high returns.
If he could convince the other party, even if they only adopted part of his suggestions, the prospects of this project might be completely different.
At night, Kristen finished recording a late-night talk show and dragged her tired body back to the Beverly Hills villa.
The house was quiet, only a sliver of light shining from under the study door.
Thinking Cassius was still reading scripts or playing games, she pushed the door open lightly, wanting to scare him.
However, the scene before her made her freeze.
Cassius sat at the desk with his back to the door, the light of the computer screen reflecting on his profile, looking exceptionally focused.
His brows were slightly furrowed, fingers tapping rapidly on the keyboard, stopping occasionally to contemplate the dense document on the screen.
Scattered on the desk were several printed pages filled with arrows and some structural diagrams.
This didn't look like reading a script; it looked more like writing one!
"Hey!"
Kristen spoke up, curious.
"What are you busy with so late? Researching the Feng Shui for Boss Han Lee's restaurant next season?"
Cassius was startled by her.
Turning around and seeing it was Kristen, he reached out and pulled her into his arms, sitting her on his lap!
Cassius casually gathered the papers full of symbols on the desk.
"Nothing, just random thoughts!"
Kristen didn't believe it.
She leaned in, resting against the desk, her gaze sweeping across the computer screen.
It was a Word document titled Green Lantern: Rise of the Azure Dragon.
Green Lantern?
Half of Kristen's sleepiness vanished instantly.
She knew Warner had intentions toward Cassius, but she didn't expect him to have started researching to this depth.
She originally thought Cassius was at most pondering character personality and practicing lines.
She couldn't help but lean forward, looking carefully at the content on the screen.
This look surprised her secretly!
The document was full of analysis of the character and script!
Most surprisingly, this Green Lantern script was different from all the Green Lantern comics she had seen in the past!
Kristen scrolled down with the mouse.
At the very bottom, there was a roughly drawn three-act structure diagram!
It marked the advantages of the new script, and at which nodes richer character inner drama and comedic elements could be injected.