566-570

*Chapter 566: Is Someone Deliberately Smearing Me?*

“‘Atonement,’ set against the backdrop of World War II, tells the story of a little girl who, not yet understanding love, selfishly separates a loving couple and spends her life seeking redemption. ‘I will go back, find you, love you, marry you, and face life bravely.’ The story is profoundly moving, easily making it the most beautiful and touching love story of the past five years.”

— Italian Evening Post

“Green dress, lotus pond, running under the sun, flowers, a woman waiting—every frame is as exquisite as an oil painting. The five-minute tracking shot on Dunkirk Beach is grand and breathtaking. Director Joe Wright uses stunningly beautiful cinematography to tell a deeply oppressive tragedy. After watching the film, one feels the helplessness and dread brought by impulsiveness, jealousy, and class differences.”

— La Repubblica

“Playboy Luca Kelly and English Rose Keira Knightley deliver a tense and sensual love scene in ‘Atonement,’ arguably the most passionate moment of the year. Keira Knightley breaks away from her usual innocent image, showing maturity and depth, giving her a strong shot at the Best Actress award at the film festival.”

— Venice Film Review

“Playboy? Is that really how the Italians see me?”

Luca shook the newspaper and frowned.

“It’s pretty accurate, isn’t it?”

From the bed, Keira Knightley chuckled, pulling the blanket halfway up to cover her chest.

Luca shook his head. “That’s too one-sided. They completely ignore my looks and talent. But they praise you highly, saying you’re beautiful, fresh, and talented.”

“Isn’t that true?”

Keira teased, tracing her finger along his chest.

“Of course, it’s true. They even say you have a good chance of winning Best Actress at Venice. Are you staying for the awards ceremony?”

“What about you?”

“It’s too long. I’ve got work with the crew and can’t wait that long.”

The Venice Film Festival runs from late August to mid-September, spanning two weeks. Before it begins, the festival announces only the films competing for the Golden Lion and other main awards, keeping the nominations for actors and actresses a secret until much later. Many attendees can’t stay for the entire event, making the awards red carpet significantly less lively compared to Cannes.

“I’m not staying either,” Keira said. “We haven’t finished filming ‘The Duchess,’ and there’s still a lot to do on set.”

“So, we’ll have to part ways again?”

Luca tossed the newspaper aside and lifted her chin.

“Seems like it. What are you planning to do?”

Keira bit her lip and blinked playfully.

“Haha, what else but keep bullying you?”

Luca wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled the blanket over them.

“Jerk! Let me go! Ugh—”

---

After a delightful breakfast, the two left the hotel together.

On the second day of the festival, several more films in the main competition and non-competition categories were screened, including The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Unforgiven, I’m Not There, and Lust, Caution.

Luca and Keira, blending in with regular attendees, watched film after film in various screening halls.

This year’s films had a common thread—most of the intimate scenes were highly artistic. Movies like Lust, Caution, Help Me, Love God, and The Love Story of Mr. and Ms. Perfect featured even more explicit and striking passion than Atonement.

Especially Lust, Caution, which stood out as a masterpiece in this regard.

“I thought our love scene was already impressive, but Lust, Caution elevated it with more refinement and artistry,” Keira commented, watching the screen.

“True. Even though Director Lee often tells the press he’s shy and dislikes filming such scenes, he’s actually a master of it. You can see that in Brokeback Mountain and Lust, Caution.”

Luca laughed.

“And Tang Wei seems shy too, yet she excels in this film.”

“Perhaps it’s because of Director Lee. He’s very good at guiding actresses.”

Luca chuckled lightly.

Clap, clap, clap.  

The film ended to resounding applause, with enthusiastic cheers in multiple languages—English, Italian, French, and Cantonese—proving that pervy fans exist across cultures.

“Lee, congratulations. Your films never disappoint.”

Luca approached Director Ang Lee to congratulate him.

“Thank you, Luca. Your movie is excellent too.”

“Yes, we’re kindred spirits—making the best movies out of passion.”

Luca bragged shamelessly.

Ang Lee forced a smile. This guy has no sense of humility, does he? “Luca, didn’t you want to talk to Director Zhang? He’s eager to meet you. Come, I’ll introduce you.”

“Great!”

Luca followed Ang Lee and had a brief chat with Zhang Yimou.

As it was their first meeting, the conversation remained polite and shallow. Zhang Yimou, being more serious, didn’t share Ang Lee’s easy-going demeanor.

---

Later, Luca and Keira left the festival venue, spending the rest of the day exploring Venice. They visited landmarks like the Golden Palace, St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, and the Bridge of Sighs, leaving their footprints all over the city.

The next day at Marco Polo International Airport, after seeing Keira off, Luca boarded a flight back to Los Angeles.

Upon his return, he dove into post-production for 21, spending a week on dubbing, fixing problematic scenes, and reshoots.

---

On September 7, Atonement was released in 2,856 theaters across the U.S., grossing $16.04 million over its opening weekend. For a period drama, this was a solid performance.

Critics praised the film’s exquisite visuals, moving story, and strong performances from Keira Knightley and Saoirse Ronan.

Some even complimented Luca for his acting and looks, but these were often followed by criticisms.

Many argued that Luca wasn’t suited for the role of Robbie because, in real life, everyone knew he was an incorrigible playboy. His public image made it hard for audiences to buy into his portrayal of a devoted lover.

Some joked that during the scene where he and the heroine part ways, instead of feeling sad, viewers were relieved for the heroine.

“Nonsense!”

Luca slammed the newspaper down and called his agent, Ed.

“Ed, have you seen the papers? Is someone out to smear me?”

“Actually… from what we’ve observed, the current criticism seems normal. There’s no malicious intent.”

Ed replied.

“Normal? European critics are praising me, while the U.S. media won’t even focus on the film or my acting. All they care about is gossip!”

Luca complained.

“Criticism is inevitable. Compared to past reports, these are much softer and more nuanced. They don’t want to offend you but also don’t want to lose readers. So, they’re just taking a few playful jabs.”

“So, I’ve put them in a tough spot?”

“Haha, I’d say so.”

Ed chuckled.

Luca shook his head. “Fine. I’m a public figure, so I can’t stop people from criticizing me.”

“That’s the spirit. Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on the public opinion to ensure it doesn’t affect the box office.”

“Alright then.”

Chapter 567: You Almost Won the Award  

"Luca, come down and have some pears!" 

Kate called out from downstairs.  

"Coming!"  

September had arrived, and the big pear tree had yielded over 270 green pears, each about the size of a fist. Crisp, juicy, and flavorful, these pears were far better than anything you could buy at the store.  

"How's the new movie coming along?" 

Kate asked as she cut the pears into bite-sized pieces and placed them on a plate.  

"With Ross around, everything's going smoothly."  

Luca speared a piece with a fork and took a bite. "A bit tart!"  

"Should I sprinkle some sugar on it?"  

"No need. Adding sugar would take away the natural taste."  

Luca ate another piece, and this one had just the right balance of sweetness and tartness.  

"When are you heading to France?"  

"Next week. Ross and Eli have been busy over there for more than half a month, pestering me to come sooner. I can’t laze around any longer," Luca said with a smile.  

"You know you're slacking, right? If you don’t want to move around so much, you can stay put. We’re not exactly strapped for cash anymore."  

Kate picked up a piece of pear, dipped it in cream, and popped it into his mouth.  

Luca chuckled.  

The two of them were more than comfortable financially. Besides owning stocks worth three or four billion, they had numerous other assets: a film company, a fashion brand, a design firm, and various properties.  

Even more valuable were the copyrights to their novels, including Twilight, Me Before You, Fifty Shades of Grey, and The Hunger Games series.  

The royalties from these books alone brought in over $20 million annually. With revenue from film adaptations added in, they made at least $60 million a year.  

"Sure, we’re not short on money. But would you ever complain about having too much?"  

Luca teased as he reached out to wipe a bit of cream from the corner of Kate’s mouth.  

"Maybe a little. Back when we didn’t have much, we stayed close all the time. Now that we’re well-off, we’re always running around and hardly see each other. Remember when we were in New York? You were just a small-time model and actor. After work, you’d come home, cook, clean, and even massage my legs. Now I have to take care of you every day!"  

Kate laughed lightly and dabbed some cream onto Luca’s face, painting him a little masterpiece.  

Luca grabbed her hand and licked the cream off her finger.  

"Are you a puppy?"  

Kate scolded playfully.  

"Yes, I am!"  

Luca gently embraced her. "Honestly, I miss those days too. It was just the two of us, with nothing else to worry about. Now, with so much going on—and so many people around—it feels less meaningful. Maybe after this year, we should start our plan to retire to a grand estate."  

"Could you really give it all up? You’ve said you want to win an Oscar. And what about the women in Hollywood? A whole new batch of fresh faces has come in. A few of them even caught my eye."  

"None of that matters. I told you before—you’re the most important thing to me, and that hasn’t changed."  

"I know."  

Kate patted his shoulder. "But leaving next year feels too rushed. How about we make a three-year plan? We can gradually step back by 2010."  

"Okay, we’ll do it your way. Honestly, I only entered the industry because you encouraged me to become a big star. Now that I am one, with recognition and influence rivaling Leonardo DiCaprio, I think we’ve achieved our goal."  

Kate chuckled at the memory. "If I’d known, I wouldn’t have pushed you into showbiz. I should have told you to stay home, do the laundry, cook, and chat with me every day."  

"So, I’m just your servant?"  

"What else?"  

Kate smiled slyly and carried the plate of pears to the sofa.  

"Fine, a servant it is."  

Luca sat down, lifted her long legs onto his lap, and began to massage them.  

"How’s my technique? Still as good as ever?"  

"Pretty good," Kate admitted with a raised eyebrow. "You don’t give massages to those other women you date, do you?"  

"Of course not! I don’t have the time."  

"You’d better not. If you dare, I’ll pull your ears off!"  

Kate tugged at his ear playfully. "Feels good. Maybe my fingers were made to grab your ears."  

"Enough! I’m someone of status now. Could you stop pulling my ears?"  

"Oh? What status?"  

"I’m... I’m your little brother!"  

"Haha, good boy!"  

Kate laughed and let go. "Later, pack up the pears and deliver them to everyone."  

"Got it!"  

That afternoon, Kate packed the harvested pears into boxes, and Luca drove around the neighborhood delivering them.  

At Tom Hanks’ house, Tom was playing golf on the lawn and invited Luca to join him for a match. Luca declined, chatted briefly about movies, and continued his deliveries.  

He reserved some pears for Lima, Aniston, Britney, and a few kids—little George and Katherine, who now had baby teeth and could eat pears.  

He also called Charlize Theron, Rachel, Scarlett, Ambrosio, Eva, and others, offering to deliver pears if they couldn’t come by.  

While most of them insisted he deliver them personally, Luca wasn’t falling for it. Knowing it would cost him more than just time, he chose to send the pears by courier instead.  

On September 12, the Venice Film Festival concluded. As expected, Li An and Lust, Caution were the big winners, taking home the Golden Lion for Best Film and the Best Technical Contribution award.  

Brad Pitt won Best Actor for The Assassination of Jesse James, while Cate Blanchett won Best Actress for I’m Not There.  

Atonement received only the symbolic Film and Literature Forum Award.  

After reading the news, Luca called Li An and director Joe Wright to congratulate them.  

"Luca, you know, if you’d stayed in Venice, you might have won Best Actor," Li An teased over the phone.  

"Really? With Tony Leung, Christian Bale, Tommy Lee Jones, and Brad Pitt in the running, there’s no way it would’ve gone to me."  

"I’m serious! Since I won the Golden Lion, Tony couldn’t compete for Best Actor. Among the remaining contenders, the performances were pretty even. Pitt only won because the others had left early. The organizers had no choice but to give it to the biggest name still there."  

Luca shook his head. If the award went to whoever stayed, that seemed pretty careless. But Li An had a way of joking seriously, so he wasn’t sure what to believe.  

"Doesn’t matter. I’ll try my luck next time."  

"Alright. Best of luck to you."  

After hanging up, Luca wondered if Li An’s story was true. If it was...  

Sigh, that guy always finds a way to be annoying.  

No pears for him this year!  

The phone rang again.  

"Luca, don’t forget about tomorrow’s shoot," Natalie Portman reminded him.  

"Don’t worry, I won’t!"  

(Chapter Ends) 

 *Chapter 568: Want to Come Up for a Bit?*

“Boss, the set is over here.”

“This place is really out of the way.”

In the morning, Luca followed Annie to the set of I Love You, New York. He had previously promised Natalie Portman that he would play the male lead in the short film. Even though he had been very busy lately, he still found time to honor his commitment.

The set was located in a dance studio in Queens, New York.

The venue was somewhat run-down, but the chaotic graffiti on the walls, the pulsating music, and the dancers moving tirelessly to the rhythm brought the place alive.

When Luca arrived, more than a dozen crew members were bustling around. Natalie Portman, wearing a baseball cap and a gray hoodie, was standing by the camera, discussing shots with the cinematographer. She was also shouting at the lighting crew to dim the lights and create shadow effects.

“Mr. Kelly is here!” someone called out.

“Luca, how does this location look for filming?” Natalie asked with a smile.

Luca glanced around and nodded. “Not bad. When do we start? I need some time to warm up.”

“No problem. I still have some prep work to do before shooting. Is an hour enough for your warm-up?”

“Plenty.”

Luca removed his hat and jacket, then took a bag from Annie and handed it to Natalie. “Some pears from my garden. I brought a few for you to try.”

“Oh, thank you… but are you sure about this?” Natalie blinked, her expression a mix of surprise and hesitation as she took a cautious step back.

Luca froze for a moment and opened the bag to show her. “They’re just pears, nothing else. What’s the problem?”

“Well…” Natalie hesitated. “I heard from Scarlett that you give pears to your… women every year.”

“‘Women’? I give them to friends, colleagues, and anyone I know—not just women. I was actually planning to mail them to you, but since I was coming here for the shoot, I brought them along instead.”

“Is that so?”

“Exactly. If you don’t want them, forget it.”

“Of course I want them! Your pears are famous in the industry. I heard they’re delicious.”

Smiling, Natalie took the bag and muttered, “I thought you were hinting at something. Too bad you weren’t.”

“Too bad?” Luca raised an eyebrow.

“Never mind. Thanks for the pears,” Natalie replied with a grin. “Luca, please start getting ready. We only have one day to shoot this.”

“OK!”

Luca put on a T-shirt and sweatpants, then headed to the dance studio to warm up and practice dance moves.

The short film they were shooting that day was related to dance. It told the story of a man in his thirties who went to pick up his daughter from a community dance class.

At a Latin dance practice room, he heard a familiar song and saw people dancing gracefully to the music. In that moment, he was transported back to his youth. He had been a professional dancer, training since childhood, competing countless times, and even performing on Broadway and at Lincoln Center.

However, a car accident ended his dreams just as he was about to shine.

Afterward, he left the dance world, got married, had a daughter, and settled into family life.

As he reminisced, he began dancing outside the studio, moving to the music just as he had on stage years ago. Though his body was no longer as agile, his heart was still ablaze with passion.

It wasn’t until he heard someone call “Dad” that he stopped, returning to his role as a father and leaving the dance center with his daughter.

A simple short film, it was a story about dreams.

At 9:30 a.m., the crew began shooting. The most challenging part of the film was the dance sequences.

The male lead was portrayed as a Latin dance expert whose leg injury had left him out of practice for years. The performance required showing skilled yet slightly rusty movements, conveying a stark contrast between the exuberance of the dance and the limitations of the body.

This was difficult to execute well. Luca worked closely with the dance coach and Natalie, breaking down complex moves into smaller segments for filming.

The scenes at the dance center weren’t completed until the afternoon.

Due to a strict 24-hour shoot schedule, the crew had a quick meal before heading to a Broadway stage to film the flashback sequences.

These scenes featured fast-paced dancing. Luca performed some parts himself, while a stunt double handled others, including the car accident. The entire five-minute short film wasn’t finished until after 3 a.m. the next day.

The shoot involved five location changes and was a chaotic race against time.

“Filmmaking is supposed to be a meticulous process. What’s the point of rushing like this?” Luca asked Natalie on the ride back.

“Isn’t competition fun? Same city, same amount of time, same theme, and a five-minute film—whoever makes the best one wins. I love competition,” Natalie said, brushing her hair aside and setting down her director’s notes with a smile.

“You’re a newcomer. Competing against veteran directors puts you at a clear disadvantage.”

This competition included renowned directors like Jiang Wen from China, Mira Nair from India, Shunji Iwai from Japan, Fatih Akin from Germany, popular U.S. indie director Zach Braff, and Venice Golden Lion winner Andrei Zvyagintsev. Compared to them, Natalie was undeniably a rookie.

“I know. That’s why I recruited you. None of the other teams have a bigger star than you,” Natalie teased.

Luca shook his head. “Don’t count on me too much. My reputation isn’t exactly stellar.”

“That’s fine!”

“Miss Portman, we’ve arrived at the Kingston Hotel,” Annie interjected.

“Thank you!”

As the car stopped, Natalie stood up.

“Luca, want to come up for a coffee?”

“Coffee?” Luca looked at her in surprise. He couldn’t believe she didn’t know what such an invitation meant, especially at this hour.

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I just want to talk about the film. Nothing else,” Natalie said, her cheeks flushing slightly. She immediately regretted asking.

“Forget it. If there’s nothing else, I’ll pass. If there were something else, I might reconsider,” Luca joked.

“Hmph!” Natalie glared at him, grabbed her assistant, and got out of the car.

“Natalie, don’t be mad. I was just kidding,” Luca called out, not wanting to be accused of harassment.

Natalie paused, then smirked slyly. “Luca, if there were something else, would you dare come up?”

Luca glanced at her and remembered her pepper spray. “Forget it. It’s almost dawn. Not enough time. How about next time?”

“Ugh, you scoundrel!” Natalie flipped him off and walked away without looking back.

Luca chuckled softly. “Let’s go, Annie.”

“Alright!”

The car roared off into the night, speeding toward 76th Street on Third Avenue.

(End of Chapter)  

*Chapter 569: Next Time, Even If You Beg, I Won't Let You Off*

“Luca, I heard you and Natalie were busy until late last night?”

In the morning, Scarlett called.

“Yes, we wrapped up filming around 3 a.m.,” Luca said, wiping sweat in the gym.

“And after 3 a.m.? Anything... extracurricular?” Scarlett teased.

“Of course not. Stop imagining things,” Luca replied.

“That’s a pity. Such a perfect chance last night, I thought you’d finally make a move on her.”

“Don’t joke around. Natalie doesn’t have the best impression of me. Last time she came to my office, she even brought pepper spray.”

“Seriously? Hahaha~” Scarlett burst out laughing over the phone.

“Stop laughing. Have you wrapped up Midnight in Barcelona yet? I’m heading to France in a couple of days,” Luca asked.

“I’ll meet you in France. My shoot is only 60% done; I’ll need about 20 more days,” Scarlett said.

She was in Spain filming Woody Allen’s new movie, Midnight in Barcelona.

“Alright, see you there,” Luca said.

“Wait, Luca, let’s get back to Natalie. Do you want her? If you do, just go for it. Don’t worry about resistance. Natalie’s only reserved on the surface. Deep down, she’s into you. If you push her down, she won’t fight back. Want to give it a shot?”

“Not necessary. I may be a bit of a flirt, but I’m not that indiscriminate.”

“Really? What a shame. I was hoping you were so amazing that Natalie and I could team up to handle you.”

Scarlett’s voice turned sultry. “Last night I even dreamed about you. Mmm~ you were so rough. My voice was hoarse afterward. Don’t believe me? Listen. Ah~ Oh~”

“Stop!”

Listening to Scarlett’s coquettish tone, Luca felt a stirring heat in his abdomen. “You little vixen, next time, even if you beg, I won’t let you off.”

“Hahaha~”

Click!

Luca decisively hung up the phone. Otherwise, it’d be easy to lose focus during his workout.

---

“Luca, time to eat!” Lima called from outside.

“Coming!” Luca took a quick shower, changed into casual clothes, and left the gym.

Kate was busy in the kitchen, Lima was breastfeeding baby Louis, and Miranda, yawning, came downstairs in minimal clothing, completely unbothered by Luca’s presence.

“Mind your attire at home!” Luca tossed a towel at her.

Miranda froze, pouted, and said, “If you want to look, just look. Don’t pretend to be a gentleman.”

“What’s there to look at? All that flab is unappetizing.”

“What did you just say?!” Miranda bristled.

Luca pointed at her slight belly.

With a huff, Miranda pulled in her stomach, revealing defined abs.

“And here.” Luca gestured to her arm, clearly bulkier than before.

“That’s muscle, genius!” Miranda flexed her arm, tossed the towel at him, and stormed into the bathroom.

Luca shook his head and headed to the dining table, picking up the baby. “Louis, are you full?”

The little one, round-bellied, pointed at the meat pie on the table, drooling.

“Which one do you want?”

“Meat pie!” the little guy gurgled.

“Ha, just like me, a meat lover from the start.” Luca reached for the pie, but Lima smacked his hand away.

“No more. Too much will constipate him,” Lima said.

“I know. I was just going to let him have a taste. Look at him drooling!”

“No. Meat pies are too greasy. He can try some chicken and vegetable porridge later.”

“Fine. We’ll wait.”

“Daddy! Meat pie!” the little one cried, pointing again.

Luca shrugged. “Your mom won’t let you. What can I do? I can’t beat her.”

“Don’t say nonsense in front of the baby,” Lima glared, scooping up Louis.

“Waaah!” Louis wailed.

“Shut it, or I’ll throw you out!” Lima snapped.

The little one blinked, tears receding in shock, then looked at his dad with a pitiful face.

“Don’t feel bad. You’ll get used to it. I went through the same thing,” Luca laughed.

“Stop laughing and bring out the porridge,” Kate called.

“On it!”

---

After breakfast, Kate, Lima, and Miranda left for work, busy with Fashion Week.

Luca also had a packed schedule as he prepared for an upcoming European shoot. Britney, meanwhile, planned to vacation at Lake Constance with little Max, conveniently near his filming location.

Ding-ding-ding~  

While sorting through documents, Luca’s phone rang. To his surprise, it was Leonardo DiCaprio.

“Leo, what’s up?”

“Luca, got a minute? There’s something I’d like to discuss,” Leonardo said.

“What’s it about?”

“The script for Shutter Island. Your company owns it, right?”

“Shutter Island? Not sure. Ever since my reputation for picking scripts got out, my company’s been swamped with submissions. I’ll need to check.”

“No need. It’s under Brazen Pictures. We spoke with Mr. Scott, who said you’d need to approve it. Can we talk?”

“Alright.”

---

Half an hour later, at a lakeside café in Central Park, Luca met Leonardo.

“Leo, remember early 2003? It was freezing. Lima and I sat here, basking in the sunlight, when we ran into you and Gisele. How’s she doing?”

Leo scoffed, “Let’s skip the small talk and get to business. How much to buy the rights to Shutter Island?”

Luca shook his head. “I checked with Scott on my way here. We plan to start filming next year, with me as the lead. So, it’s not for sale.”

“You as the lead?” Leo raised an eyebrow. “Even if you can pull it off, can you find a director? And your company—can it handle a $100 million project?”

“Thanks for your concern. We’ve got it covered.”

Leo sighed. “Luca, we’ve had our issues in the past, but we’re both in the same industry. Let’s let bygones be bygones.”

Luca smiled faintly. “I agree—peace and prosperity.”

“Great. Then can we discuss transferring Shutter Island? I love the script and believe this role could win me an Oscar.”

Luca considered before replying, “Alright. Two options: outright sale or collaboration.”

“Outright sale?”

“We bought it for $2 million with a seven-year license. The script has a lot of potential, so... how about $6 million?”

Leo frowned. “Luca, I thought we were friends.”

“We are. $6 million is a friendly price. Scripts I approve of routinely sell for $5 million just because I glanced at them. Shutter Island is worth far more.”

Leo hesitated. “And collaboration?”

“Brazen Pictures will fund the project, and you’ll be the lead. What do you think?”

Leo shook his head. “I don’t like uncertainties. I need control.”

“Then let’s drop it. I’ve got other matters to attend to,” Luca said, standing up.

“Wait. $4 million.”

“Leo, now the price is $8 million. Call me if you reconsider.” Luca left without looking back.

---

“Damn him! Does he think money gives him the right to act so high and mighty?!” Leo muttered, smashing his coffee cup before calling someone.

“Brad, it’s me…”

*Chapter 570: Trouble Is Here*

"I got it. I'm on a plane right now. Let’s discuss this when I arrive."

In the business class cabin, Luca hung up the phone, his face clouded with concern.

"What happened?"

Brittany asked.

Luca smirked slightly. "Nothing major. Two actors had to drop out of the crew. We'll need to recast them."

"Two at the same time?"

Brittany, having been around the industry for a while, immediately sensed something was off.

"Yes, two minor roles. It won't impact the project much."

Luca dismissed it casually.

"Well, trouble seems to follow you easily," Brittany teased.

"Guess it's because I'm just too good," Luca quipped with a wry grin.

Just earlier, Mr. Ross had called to inform him that the second female lead, Diane Kruger, and the third male lead, Christoph Waltz, who was playing the main antagonist "The Jew Hunter", had both backed out of the production. They had even voluntarily paid the penalty fees.

Diane Kruger’s role in the film was that of a renowned German movie star who secretly worked as an Allied spy. During the casting process, the team had two criteria:

1. A German beauty.

2. Some level of international fame.

While many Europeans share similar features, subtle details make it easy to distinguish German women from French or American women. German women tend to have a more striking, robust aesthetic compared to the softer allure of French women, at least on screen.

After much consideration, Diane Kruger was deemed the perfect fit.

Kruger had made her silver screen debut in The Pianist in 2002, winning the Cannes Festival's Best Newcomer Award. In 2004, she starred alongside Nicolas Cage in National Treasure and Brad Pitt in Troy, making her Germany’s top female star.

Her departure was a disappointment, but Luca wasn’t devastated.

However, Christoph Waltz leaving was a significant blow.

Waltz was cast as the film’s main villain, Colonel Hans, also known as The Jew Hunter. A cunning and twisted butcher, his actions set the stage for the story's primary conflict.

Waltz’s portrayal of Hans in the original movie had been a highlight, overshadowing even the protagonist with his cold-blooded, eccentric, and chilling performance. He went on to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Cannes Best Actor Award for this role.

Now that Waltz had exited, the film lost a major selling point.

Luca massaged his temples. Should he visit Waltz in person to persuade him? Or should he recast the role entirely? And who could possibly replace him?

---

After a grueling 10-hour flight, Luca and his team arrived in Paris. The production had two main shooting locations: Strasbourg in northern France and Brandenburg in Germany.

After landing, Luca saw Brittany and her entourage off. She, along with her child, assistants, nannies, and bodyguards, boarded a private jet to Lake Constance.

Luca then drove to the crew's hotel, where Mr. Ross, Director Eli Roth, producers, editors, art directors, and other key personnel were waiting.

Upon meeting, Mr. Ross delivered another piece of bad news.

"What? A third of the crew left?"

Luca was taken aback.

"Yes. Most of them were brought in by Quentin Tarantino. Apparently, Quentin has a new project, so they chose to leave. They even paid the penalty fees," explained Eli Roth with a shrug.

Luca’s face darkened for a moment before he chuckled. "If they’re gone, they’re gone. They’re not irreplaceable. We’ll hire the best replacements, won’t we, Eli?"

"Of course. But the set design, location scouting, and other preparations will be delayed, which will cost extra."

"No problem. We have time, and we have money," Luca said confidently.

Reassured by his attitude, Eli Roth and the others relaxed.

"I’ll start reaching out to new partners immediately, Mr. Kelly," Eli said before leaving with his team.

"Mr. Kelly, should we hold open auditions for the cast, or send out specific invitations?" asked casting director Jenny Johanna.

Luca thought for a moment. "Do you have any strong candidates in mind?"

"Yes, here are some profiles we’ve considered," Jenny replied, handing over a stack of actor profiles.

Luca flipped through them. For female leads, three notable options emerged: Nina Hoss, Claudia Schiffer, and Heidi Klum—all well-known German beauties.

Nina Hoss, aged 33, had recently won the Best Actress Award at the Berlin Film Festival for Yella. Her image and acting skills were excellent, earning her the nickname "Germany's Nicole Kidman." However, she lacked international recognition compared to Kruger.

Claudia Schiffer and Heidi Klum, both supermodels, had the fame. Heidi, in particular, was someone Luca knew personally. But their acting skills left much to be desired.

For male actors, five names stood out: Armin Goss, Tim Roth, and Til Schweiger—established stars in German cinema.

Luca carefully analyzed their profiles, comparing them to the role of Colonel Hans, but none seemed to match Waltz’s brilliance.

"Jenny, for the female role, contact Nina Hoss first and see if she’s interested."

"Understood, Mr. Kelly."

"As for the male role, we need to broaden the search. This character is crucial, no less important than the lead. He doesn’t necessarily need to be German—someone who looks the part will do."

"Got it!" Jenny left with her assignment.

With the room now quieter, it was just Luca and Mr. Ross.

"Isn’t directing a pain?" Ross handed Luca a glass of water.

"Absolutely. It’s a thousand things at once. Being an actor is so much easier."

Luca shrugged.

Ross chuckled. "Honestly, directing in Hollywood isn’t hard. You’re just doing too much—investor, producer, director, writer, costume designer, set designer—you’re a one-man army."

"Next time, I’ll delegate more," Luca remarked.

Ross nodded. "This situation came out of nowhere. I should’ve seen it coming. That’s on me."

"It’s not your fault," Luca reassured him before sharing some insights about the Shutter Island project.

"You think it’s DiCaprio?"

"Not just him—Pitt, Tarantino, maybe others," Luca mused. "Tall trees attract the wind. I guess I’m just too exceptional. But no matter. This is just a minor setback."

Over the next few days, Luca bounced between France and Germany, finalizing locations, supervising set construction, rehearsing with actors, and overseeing costume and prop design. Every detail demanded his attention, leaving him utterly exhausted.

After more than a week of preparation, the crew was ready to start filming.

However, the unresolved casting issues forced Luca to pause production and focus solely on finding replacements.

(End of Chapter)