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Seeing the script.
Cassius suddenly had a new idea.
Anyone with a bit of industry knowledge would know this script was terrible.
The problems in the script were almost blatantly obvious.
Moreover, after watching Green Lantern in his past life, Cassius had specifically searched for the creative background.
He didn't know until he searched, but the search shocked him!
This project was truly a huge pit!
Not only were the director and Warner Bros. executives at odds, even the lead actor Ryan wasn't chosen by the director, but finalized by Warner behind the director's back!
Furthermore, the studio interfered with editing, leading to repeated reshoots due to script issues, and eventually, the director even lost the final cut privilege!
The final cut fell into the hands of Warner and DC executives!
It was like Cassius wanted to make scrambled eggs with tomatoes, but there were eight chefs in the kitchen representing the eight major cuisines.
Every chef had their own understanding of cooking!
This project was actually doomed to fail before filming even started. Now, only one person was needed to rip off this fig leaf!
Cassius, who knew the project background very well, prepared to play something exciting!
He stole a glance at Rob.
Found Rob standing by the window without turning back.
Cassius silently apologized to Rob in his heart.
Tomorrow he'd have to remind him to bring heart medication or something!
Did they have Suxiao Jiuxin Wan in America?
More than an hour passed.
Cassius closed the script and let out a long breath.
Hearing the movement, Rob turned around and looked at him nervously: "How is it?"
His legs were numb from standing by the window!
The kissing couples outside the window had changed one pair after another!
Cassius carefully put the script back into the kraft paper bag, handed it back to Rob, and smiled:
"Even more rigid than I imagined!"
Rob froze for a moment, then understood his meaning and cursed under his breath:
"Shit. Big problems?"
"Big, but not incurable!"
Cassius's tone was calm. "And now I'm very confident about winning this role!"
Seeing the confidence in Cassius's eyes, Rob's suspended heart dropped halfway.
He took the script and locked it back in the drawer like hiding treasure.
"Good! That's the effect we want!"
Rob slapped Cassius's shoulder hard:
"Tomorrow, stick to our preparation! Throw your genius ideas at them in the most convincing way!"
"Let them know that if they want to save this project, finding you, Cassius, is their wisest choice!"
Leaving Rob's office.
Cassius sat in the car but didn't start it immediately.
He recalled the rigid, boring first draft of the Green Lantern script filled with clichés he just finished reading.
The problem wasn't a specific point, but that it was rotten from the root.
Patching it up was like painting the walls of a dilapidated house with an unstable foundation. It might look better temporarily, but collapse was a matter of time.
Ryan Reynolds' lesson was right there.
"Instead of tinkering with someone else's mess, why not start from scratch?"
Once this thought popped up, it quickly occupied his mind!
A crazier plan gradually became clear.
He wanted to completely overthrow the previous optimization idea and directly create a brand new Green Lantern story tailored for him.
A story that could truly leverage his strengths while breaking all stereotypes.
Combining Eastern philosophy, modern technology, and grassroots humor—a superhero completely different from the traditional American style.
Green Lantern: Rise of the Azure Dragon
Thinking of this, he felt his blood heat up.
Cassius didn't go home.
He drove directly to a nearby 24-hour cafe, found a quiet corner, opened his laptop, created a new document, and typed rapidly on the keyboard.
In this moment, inspiration flowed like a spring!
First was the subversion of the core concept!
The protagonist was no longer Hal Jordan.
After all, in previous DC comics plot changes, Hal Jordan became a villain.
Plus, given Hal's inherent character issues, a brand new story could completely avoid this huge pit!
The test pilot setting was too cliché and too far removed from ordinary people.
He wanted to create a new protagonist who could resonate with more young audiences today, especially those growing up in multicultural backgrounds.
Cassius, 28 years old, second-generation immigrant in San Francisco Chinatown.
A coder struggling in Silicon Valley!
Full of banter, good at using self-deprecation and roasting to deal with life's helplessness, kind-hearted but worn down a bit unconfident by reality.
On weekends, he was the tail of the community lion dance team, which gave him super core strength, balance, and understanding of traditional culture.
Yes, the kind of neighborhood hero who looked a bit like a loser on the outside but was reliable at critical moments.
The way of obtaining the Green Lantern ring also needed to change!
Not some fearless test pilot, but an accident.
While witnessing a robbery in Chinatown, his ancestral jade pendant resonated with a fragment of a crashed alien spaceship containing the core technology of the Green Lantern ring, accidentally granting him the ring's energy.
The opening could be him manifesting a sky full of coins to knock out the thugs, or losing control and crashing into the hot pot restaurant next door—full comedic effect.
The mentor role had to change too!
Could design a strong female character as a mentor!
A former Marine, pragmatic, tough, tactics-first.
She scoffed at Cassius's attempt to understand ring energy through metaphysical meditation and learning moves from Kung Fu Hustle!
The two would have sparks flying from training methods to worldviews!
This contrast itself was dramatic!
Arrange a female lead too!
A journalist!
Cassius's secret crush.
She uses media to investigate the truth, expose conspiracies, and ultimately becomes Cassius's most solid backing on Earth!
Their emotional arc could heat up naturally while fighting side by side.
Optimize a few supporting roles, and finally the villain!
Cassius's hand speed got faster and faster!
As if the script was already in his mind!
...
Warner Bros. conference room.
Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows were the iconic water tower and continuous soundstages of the Burbank lot.
The aroma of premium coffee beans wafted in the air.
But no one was in the mood to savor it right now.
When Cassius walked in accompanied by Rob, four people were already seated at the conference table.
In the leading position was a man in his forties wearing a fitted suit.
His hair was meticulous, eyes sharp, obviously someone who had been in a high position for years.
The whole person carried an overbearing aura.
Through Rob's whispered introduction, Cassius knew his identity.
He was Greg Silverman, the vice president responsible for DC film development.
Next to him was the casting director Sarah, whom he had contacted before.
The other two: one was a white-haired but spirited old man, Director Martin Campbell; the other was a young screenwriter wearing black-framed glasses who looked a bit nervous.
Cassius quickly scanned the favorability above their heads.
Generally hovering between 30 and 40, standard business meeting level.
Only the young screenwriter had a favorability of 55, probably a viewer of 2 Broke Girls.
The moment Cassius entered and met Greg's gaze, a deep purple attribute orb popped out:
[High-Status Aura +7]
Cassius absorbed it immediately.
A sense of steady power surged through his body.
He felt his back unconsciously straighten, his gaze steadied, and the slight nervousness of facing big shots vanished instantly.
And the [Aura] attribute on his panel jumped fiercely, breaking through the critical point:
[Aura Attribute Leveled Up! Current Level: Lv3 (5/600)]
Leveled up!
Rob was about to introduce him but noticed Cassius's change and unconsciously took a second look.
After simple pleasantries, everyone took their seats.
Greg spoke first, his tone polite but distant:
"Mr. Cass, your performance in 2 Broke Girls and Thor was outstanding, especially your comedic rhythm and likability!"
"This is the main reason we invited you here!"
Director Martin Campbell also nodded, but his eyes held more curiosity.
Seeming to weigh whether this young man could carry a superhero blockbuster with a budget of over a hundred million.