I am a literary giant in Europe

Chapter 619 Third Brother!!!

Upon returning to Toulouse, Liu Jin received bad news.

Javier Bardem rejected The Bélier Family.

"Amos, it's not that I don't want to act, it's just that my schedule is already full."

I'm about to join the cast of "No Country for Old Men"...yes, the movie directed by the Coen brothers, a very interesting role.

After the "Nothing to Do in My Old Age" series, I was about to join the cast of "Love in the Time of Cholera".

That's right, it's Gabriel García Márquez's "Love in the Time of Cholera"... You know, I'm a big fan of his books.

Moreover, this role was personally requested of me by Mr. Márquez, and I couldn't refuse!

As the most outstanding writer in the Spanish-speaking world, Gabriel García Márquez holds a prominent position in Spain.

As the most outstanding and famous middle-aged male actor in Spain during this period, Javier could not refuse Márquez's invitation.

and so……

"I have a feeling you're showing off to me!"

"Haha, no, you're my favorite author too."

"That's just perfunctory. Oh well, that's fine then, busy man."

Liu Jin hung up the phone.

He sat on the windowsill, looking down at the narrow and quiet street below, and for a moment he felt a headache coming on.

If Javier Baden can't come, then it's just Jean Reno!
However, this guy...

Liu Jin had already thought of Havel's role in "No Country for Old Men".

An assassin with a neatly combed mushroom haircut, carrying a new type of weapon that looks like a fire extinguisher!
For some reason, Liu Jin suddenly laughed.

The mushroom-headed killer is definitely a very distinctive character in "No Country for Old Men".

To be honest, if he hadn't known Javier, he wouldn't have even known that the character was played by Javier...

His image is very different from his portrayal in other works.

I've gained at least 20 pounds!

Javier won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for this role.

Furthermore, Liu Jin hadn't seen the movie *Love in the Time of Cholera*, but he had read the original novel! If the novel's description were accurate, Havel would not only have to lose those twenty pounds, but he would also have to be even thinner than before.

So these actors really put in a lot of effort!
And then there's Matthew McConaughey, they all seem to have eaten the Gum-Gum Fruit, gaining weight and losing weight so easily...

To be honest, Liu Jin was quite impressed with them!
……

Alizee carried two cups of coffee into the living room.

He handed Liu Jin a cup.

"What's wrong? Not going well?"

"Yes, there hasn't been a reply from Genet yet, and I'm a little worried that he might not agree."

"why?"

Liu Jin picked up the cigarette case from the windowsill and took out a cigarette.

Alizee lit it for him with a match.

Genuine cedar wood matches...

It was originally meant for lighting cigars, but Liu Jin used it to light cigarettes.

Rich and willful!
"It's an Oscars, so they probably won't be interested in this kind of low-budget production."

"Then what do you do? If director Jeunet doesn't take it on, who are you planning to turn to?"

“I’m thinking about it…”

Suddenly, a movie flashed through Liu Jin's mind.

He frowned slightly, picked up the phone, and dialed a number.

"Maggie, where are you?"

"Me? I'm in Shanghai!"

Zhang Manyu was also very surprised to receive a call from Liu Jin.

"Hey, do you have Olivier's contact information?... Do you know what he's been up to lately?"

There was a moment of silence on the phone.
A moment later, Maggie Cheung said, "Ossayas just finished filming 'The Gate' and seems to be resting."

When we talked the other day, he said he was going to Provence for vacation... What, are you asking him to make a movie?

"Are you still in contact?"

"Nonsense, we're just getting a divorce, not mortal enemies."

“Okay, I misspoke… It’s like this, there’s a story in my book, Amos’s Fantastic Journey, about the Bélier family. I initially planned to ask Pierre Jeunet to direct it. But a month has passed and he hasn’t replied. I figured he wouldn’t take it! So I needed a backup plan, and that’s when I thought of Olivier.”

"Okay, then I'll send his phone number to your email in a bit."

"Thank you!"

Liu Jin was about to hang up the phone.

Just then, a familiar voice came from the phone: "Jin, it's your third brother."

Who's so bold...?

Liu Jin was taken aback, but he quickly realized what was going on.

"Chairman Han?"

"What are you calling me, Mr. Han? You're being too distant... We haven't seen each other in a while, why don't you recognize your third brother?"

Liu Jin slapped his forehead.

When filming for "Beautiful Life" began two years ago, Liu Jin acknowledged Han Shanping's identity as "Third Brother" because of Aunt Xiaotang.

But it's been almost two years!
He really forgot.

"Third Brother, when are you coming to France? Let me show you some hospitality."

"Don't bring that up. I just want to ask you, what's this about 'The Bélier Family' that you were talking about with Miss Zhang earlier?"

Liu Jin handed the coffee cup to Alizee and jumped down from the windowsill.

"What, Third Brother, are you interested?"

"You fucking helped Lao Ren launch a satellite, and now when I see him, I have to bow my head."

"Little brother, you have to get your face back for your older brother!"

At the dinner table, everyone stopped talking and looked at Han Shanping in surprise.

In their eyes, the dignified Zuo Shandiao rarely spoke to others in such a tone and attitude.

Especially when he mentioned 'Old Ren', many people guessed who was on the other end of the phone!

Jiang Wen, who had just finished filming "The Sun Also Rises," asked Zhang Manyu in a low voice, "Amos?"

Zhang Manyu nodded.

"He's going to film 'The Bélier Family'?" "Yes, Sisi has been taking classes with him lately."

"Didn't she graduate? What classes is she taking?"

"Sign language class!"

"Hey, what the hell is this 'The Béliès Family' story? That girl started learning sign language in Beijing, so why is she still learning it in France? Is the main character mute?"

Zhang Manyu was used to Lao Jiang's foul language.

"Director Jiang, haven't you read his book?"

"He writes books like he's giving birth to piglets, while I only finish one movie in over a year. He's written so many novels... I can't possibly read them all! Besides, very few of his books are published in China; even now, they're still just a few from his early years."

It's all in English, or French, and last year they even wrote one in Spanish... How am I supposed to understand it?!

Zhang Manyu kept giggling.

That Beijing accent mixed with the occasional traditional Chinese phrases was really interesting.

"I'll relay your words to him later."

"No need, I'll ask him directly later."

"It's the story of a Chinese girl adopted by a French family and pursuing her dreams."

Sissi's character is a normal person, but her adoptive parents and brother are all deaf and mute. Therefore, Sissi had to master a large amount of sign language, specifically sign language appropriate for the French context… Amos even cast Isabelle Huppert as her co-star.

"What the hell?"

Jiang Wen's voice suddenly rose in pitch.

So much so that everyone else at the table looked at him.

Han Shanping glared at him fiercely, then took the phone and walked out.

"Mr. Han, after you've finished talking to him, don't hang up. I need to talk to my brother."

Xu Qing, who was sitting next to him, glanced at him in surprise.

He's a proud and arrogant guy; most people don't even catch his eye, let alone willingly be called 'little brother' by him.

Of course, Jiang Wen has a younger brother.

But when Jiang Wen calls Jiang Wu, he doesn't sound this affectionate.

Han Shanping nodded and said, "Understood!"

After saying that, he walked out of the private room.

"Who!"

Xu Qing asked.

But Jiang Wen didn't bother to answer, and opened his eyes wide, saying, "Isabelle Huppert, that Huppert?"

"Yes, who else could it be?"

"My brother's amazing! He managed to get Isabelle Huppert to act alongside Sissi?"

"Sissi? Liu Yifei!"

Wang Zhonglei, who was sitting diagonally opposite, chimed in.

Jiang Wen nodded, then looked at Zhang Manyu and said, "Who is the adoptive father? Could you change it to Chinese? I'm willing to do that!"

"you?"

Zhang Manyu smiled and asked, "Are you fluent in French?"

"They're all deaf and mute, they don't need to speak anyway."

"Then you should ask your brother, but you should ask him sooner rather than later, he's incredibly popular right now."

His new book has received excellent reviews in French literary circles, selling over a million copies in a month, and he's rumored to be getting an award.

"I have a Knight's Medal too!"

Jiang Wen laughed, looking completely unconcerned.

"Yours is a Knight's Medal, his is a Commander's Medal, how can they be the same?"

"Fuck!"

Jiang Wen swore again.

"In our country, it seems that only Lao Zhang was promoted from Knight's Medal to Commander's Medal in February of this year."

"Mr. Cha from Hong Kong Island is also one."

"Old Jiang, who did you just say Liu Yifei is going to act with?"

Wang Zhonglei couldn't help but chime in again.

"Isabel Huppert, and it's not Sissi playing a supporting role, it's Huppert playing a supporting role for her."

Old Wang, stop thinking about casting her as Golden Swallow.

Your film can't compare to this one; it's guaranteed to be selected for the three major film festivals, and might even get an Oscar.

Wang Zhonglei's cheek twitched slightly, and he shut his mouth.

Forget it, let's find someone else!

Originally, they planned to use "The Forbidden Kingdom" to bring Liu Yifei into Huayi Brothers, but now it seems unlikely!

The resources they have are probably even more ruthless than what he's doing.

Yes, Jet Li and his brother are awesome, but to compare them to Isabelle Huppert... damn it, who is Isabelle Huppert anyway...?

Anyway, judging from Jiang Zemin's demeanor, he's a big shot.

At this point, everyone at the table knew who Han Shanping was talking to.

Xu Qing showed a look of curiosity.

She is the typical artsy type, and with the personality of a girl from the capital, she is practically a princess in Beijing's social circles.

"Is it Amos?"

"Ok!"

"Old Jiang, when will you bring him over to meet us?"

"Hehe, don't even think about it, that guy likes big foreign women!"

Jiang Wen lowered his voice and said, "But it would be good to be friends. When he returns to China, we can get together."

Oh, by the way, this guy seems to have a courtyard house in Beijing too. I heard it cost over seven million yuan to renovate, but I haven't been there yet.

At this moment, Han Shanping entered from outside with a joyful expression.

He then handed the phone to Jiang Wen.

Jiang Wen took it and walked out, saying as he went, "Come in, it's me, Lao Jiang. In your play, do your adoptive father and adoptive mother have any scenes together?"
You know, I've always wanted to act opposite Isabelle Huppert!

……

(End of this chapter)