"Darling, you're absolutely sizzling today!"
Cameron Diaz stood before Martin, twirling playfully. Her tight jeans hugged her long legs, accentuating her curves in a way that was utterly captivating. Her loose, casual top added a touch of girl-next-door sweetness.
"So, did I pass the audition?" Cameron asked, flashing a sugary smile.
"You're in," Martin said, pulling her into his arms with a grin. "Though we still have to go through the formalities. Honestly, I don't know what those 'skinny is beautiful' folks are thinking. Curves are where it's at. Those stick-thin types look like walking skeleton-nothing beats a full, healthy figure."
Cameron poked him in the ribs. "I heard you're planning to lose weight again?"
"Yeah, the role calls for it. Gotta slim down."
"Don't rush it," she warned. "Take it slow—don't hurt yourself."
"Don't worry, I've got it under control," Martin said, chuckling. With his uncanny knack for controlling his physique, he could shed or gain weight at will, no harm done. Still, he soaked up her concern.
Slipping off Cameron's shoes, he took her bare feet in his hands, massaging them gently. Cameron leaned her head on his shoulder, savoring the moment as they chatted.
(GodOfReader: So for those of you who don't know, he has foot fetish like Hideo Kojima.)
"You're not worried?" she asked.
"About what?"
"The first Obama-McCain debate."
"Nah," Martin said. "I've done all I can. The rest is up to fate."
"Oh, did you see last night's news?" Cameron said. "Apparently, Sarah Palin competed in the Miss Alaska pageant and won 'Most Charismatic.' Word is, some women voters think her pageant past clashes with her feminist image, and her approval ratings are slipping."
Martin laughed. "Yeah, I heard. That tidbit came from Pamela Massey, a fellow contestant from back then. She even provided bikini photos of Palin. Total bonus points for us."
"Wait, that wasn't your team's doing?"
"Nope, not this time," Martin said. "That's the price of fame. Get rich, get famous, get power, and all sorts of snakes come slithering out—some for profit, some out of envy—to take a bite. That's why I say, too many skeletons in the closet? Better to stay low-key and make a fortune quietly."
…
Casting was split into two parts. Key roles were auditioned at Meyers Pictures' headquarters, while minor roles were handled by CAA, overseen by Jeff Raymond to ensure no unqualified connections slipped through.
Downstairs, Martin was ambushed by reporters and agreed to a brief interview.
"Mr. Meyers, is your new film really about the DC villain, the Joker? Why choose a character like that?"
"Correct, it's about the Joker, set in Gotham," Martin confirmed. "As for why? I want to give the Joker his due. In Batman: The Dark Knight, I showed his evil side. Now I want to show the world why he's evil."
"We know DC comics never gave the Joker a clear backstory. So this is an original story?"
"Exactly. It borrows DC's backdrop, but while it's set in Gotham, the story itself is original."
"Will Batman be in it, Mr. Meyers?"
Martin grinned. "Maybe, maybe not. I'm not spoiling anything now. You'll have to wait for the film to find out. Alright, that's it for now—see you!"
…
The audition process was straightforward.
The cast mirrored the original timeline closely:
Robert De Niro as Murray. Frances Conroy as Penny. Zazie Beetz as Sophie (replacing Zoe Kravitz, who was only 17). Shea Whigham as Detective Burke. Bill Camp as Detective Garrity.
One role diverged: Thomas, originally played by Brett Cullen, caught Martin's eye when a familiar face auditioned—Joaquin Phoenix. Yes, the actor who, in the original timeline, played the Joker.
Perhaps out of some compensatory impulse, Martin cast Phoenix as Thomas. Joaquin was beyond grateful, unaware he'd just missed the role of a lifetime—a blockbuster that would've earned him a Best Actor Oscar.
…
As The Joker's pre-production ramped up, the U.S. presidential race reached fever pitch.
After the first debate, Gallup polls showed Democratic nominee Barack Obama leading Republican John McCain, 50% to 43%.
The New York Times published a scathing editorial: "Sarah Palin was once McCain's box-office elixir. Now, while not quite his poison, she's no longer boosting his campaign."
In the earlier vice-presidential debate, CNN polls revealed 84% of viewers thought Palin performed better than expected. Still, most agreed the debate was won by the Democrats' Joe Biden.
Palin's performance offered Republicans a small sigh of relief. Compared to her earlier, cringe-inducing TV interviews, the fact that she didn't utterly embarrass herself felt like a win.
Yet, despite her exceeding expectations, Palin couldn't shake the widespread perception that, should McCain be unable to serve, she lacked the chops to step up as vice president.
During a break from pre-production, Martin watched the debate in New York with his film crew.
Joaquin Phoenix, a politics buff, chimed in repeatedly: "Palin's dodging the moderator's questions. That's a bad look—easy for the other side to pounce on."
Sure enough, moments later, Biden jabbed, "You've said a lot, but I still haven't heard a single solid plan."
Martin shook his head. "Palin's in over her head. Her experience and ability just aren't enough for the vice presidency. You can tell from her empty responses—she's running on fumes."
Producer Gray added, "I heard the Republicans gave her three days of intensive coaching before the debate, but it clearly didn't stick. You can't cram that kind of knowledge and make it your own in just three days."