"Captain, are you alright? You look like you've just taken a ride on a pirate ship."
Standing in the courtyard, the late summer sun was no longer scorching. Its gentle rays fell softly on the skin, gradually easing the tension from his muscles.
Edgar took a small breath, but his burning stomach hadn't fully recovered yet. He couldn't help but take a few deep breaths.
Slowly, he finally came back to his senses, and then Edgar saw a faint smile on Anson's lips, filled with a bit of mischievous glee and teasing.
Edgar shook his head lightly and said self-deprecatingly, "God, I thought I'd seen it all."
Anson chuckled, "They'd be very happy to hear that."
Unconsciously, Edgar's gaze lingered on Anson for a moment longer. "Your family has a great atmosphere. Now I know where your confidence comes from."
The answer, however, wasn't quite correct.
Anson's confidence actually came from this extra life he had stolen.
But Anson didn't plan on shattering Edgar's imagination.
Edgar paused, "Unlike me…"
A touch of melancholy spread between his brows—bitter and gloomy, with a hint of loss and loneliness.
This was the first time Anson had seen Edgar like this.
Come to think of it, they were work partners, rarely prying into each other's personal lives. Anson knew next to nothing about Edgar.
But before being a manager, Edgar was first and foremost himself. He had his own story, his own experiences that shaped him into who he was today.
Just like when they first met, even as a junior manager, he was neither arrogant nor humble, showing a calm maturity that didn't match his age or experience.
That kind of demeanor—Anson understood.
It wasn't confidence, but rather the early maturity that comes from being forced to grow up quickly and stand on one's own due to life's storms.
It seemed Edgar was also someone with a story.
However, Anson didn't plan to pry.
Anson didn't speak; he didn't say things like "I understand" or offer any words of comfort because he knew that at this moment, any words would be superfluous.
He simply smiled sincerely at Edgar, standing by his side.
Edgar didn't let the memories drag him into the abyss. He took a deep breath, controlled himself, and resumed his usual professional demeanor.
"Sorry, I got a bit distracted."
"Are you sure discussing work here is really okay? With your family in Los Angeles, you should be enjoying a work-free vacation. I can come back another day."
Anson smiled and waved his hand.
"They're busier than I am. I'm actually the most free one in the family."
"Maybe their phones have already rung while we were talking."
"So, what brings you here today?"
After a brief adjustment, Edgar had recovered. Since Anson put it that way, he didn't continue to hesitate.
"It's about the next project. A script has come across my desk that I think is perfect for you, so I wanted to discuss it with you."
"Last time when we were discussing the future after 'The Elephant,' it obviously sparked some conversation in Hollywood; but I don't think you need to worry too much. No matter what move you make now, they'll find a way to criticize it."
If Anson followed up with another commercial film, the media would say Anson should consider his artistic aspirations as an actor.
If Anson continued doing similar action films, the media would say he was trying to become the new representative of the next generation of action stars.
Everything has two sides: if the media wants to praise Anson, then every decision is right; if they want to question him, every decision can be wrong.
In Edgar's view, the media and Hollywood weren't prepared—
"Spider-Man" unexpectedly exploded to such an extent.
Without warning, the second film after "Titanic" to surpass $600 million in North America emerged, so could Anson become the next Leonardo DiCaprio?
Looking back at the enormous media pressure Leonardo faced after his rise to fame, it's understandable why the media is now in chaos with Anson's meteoric rise.
Clearly, Hollywood isn't ready to welcome another superstar of Leonardo's caliber.
This is all temporary and also the inevitable situation that comes with overnight fame.
Edgar wasn't worried.
However, all this commotion gave Edgar an idea.
"We just need to focus on ourselves."
"In fact, you're now the top pick on Hollywood's list of young actors. For roles aged eighteen to twenty-five, you're the priority."
"For several important projects currently under discussion, you're the first choice."
"Can you believe it? Universal Pictures is preparing to shoot 'The Hulk,' and they actually asked if you're available."
"Oh, God."
The 2003 version of "The Hulk"?
This was Ang Lee's first time directing a commercial film. Unfortunately, it was a box office failure, which left Ang Lee so disheartened that he considered taking a break. It was during this dark period that he took on the little-known "Brokeback Mountain."
Anson raised an eyebrow slightly. "How did you respond?"
Edgar didn't hesitate. "I turned it down. Why, are you interested? If you are, I can call them back. I'm sure they'd be more than happy to sit down and have a detailed discussion with you."
Anson waved his hand. "No, I'm just curious about your reason for refusing."
"Image," Edgar blurted out. "Although Spider-Man and the Hulk are both Marvel characters and there's no conflict of interest, Sony Columbia is planning 'Spider-Man 2,' and you appearing as the Hulk on the big screen would be a bad idea for marketing."
"Of course, we can continue doing genre films, but we should avoid repeating superhero roles. Otherwise, this path will only get narrower."
Anson gently raised his chin, a hint of appraisal in his eyes as he looked at Edgar.
Edgar didn't rush but met Anson's gaze, confirming that their communication was smooth.
Anson smiled. "I agree. Please continue."
Edgar also chuckled lightly.
"Not just 'The Hulk.' For any project with a budget over $100 million, they can't not consider you. Even if you're not the first choice, you're certainly in the top three or five. The number of projects coming to test the waters is endless."
This is also why Edgar wasn't worried about media criticism:
The box office numbers speak for themselves. Every major studio has its own calculations, and no one can ignore the current heat and traffic Anson is generating in North America.
So, Anson's concern isn't about not having a next project but rather finding the right one from the countless offers.
If Anson wanted, his face could appear in the next three, four, or five blockbusters until audiences started complaining that Hollywood had no other actor but him.
But Edgar wasn't planning on that. Such a strategy would be short-sighted and unsustainable.
His expectations for Anson were far higher than just a few quick hits. This was just the tip of the iceberg in their long-term plan.
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