Reborn in Hollywood

The audition room was in Studio 3, and several people were already sitting at the entrance.

Li Rui glanced at it, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

I know quite a few people there.

Sitting in the corner was Ewan McGregor, with his legs crossed, flipping through a magazine.

When he saw Li Rui come in, he paused for a moment, then smiled.

"Raphael? What brings you here?"

Li Rui walked over.

"An audition? What, only you're allowed to come?"

Ivan stood up and bumped fists with him.

"Aren't you filming Fast & Furious? I thought you weren't interested in the role."

"Fast & Furious is Fast & Furious, Pirates is Pirates."

Li Rui smiled and said, "You can never have too many good roles."

Ivan nodded, lowering his voice.

"The competition is fierce. See that one over there?"

He gestured with his chin towards a man in a dark blue suit not far away, "Jude Law, and that one over there, Tobey Maguire."

Li Rui followed his gaze.

Jude Law sat by the window, legs crossed, holding a cup of coffee, his expression indifferent, revealing no emotion.

Tobey Maguire sat on the other side, looking down at the script, occasionally glancing up at passing staff members with a shy smile.

Li Rui stared in disbelief, thinking to himself that the little spider's usual behavior was quite in line with his character.

"Who else?"

Ivan shrugged.

"I heard that Orlando Bloom was originally going to come, but he had food poisoning yesterday and was rushed to the hospital, so he definitely can't make it today."

Li Rui raised an eyebrow.

Orlando Bloom – originally slated to be Will Turner, the blacksmith.

Food poisoning?

The reason... is a bit of a coincidence.

It seems that it's the "will of the universe" at work again.

But he didn't say anything, he just nodded.

"Then let's compete fairly."

Ivan smiled.

"Fair competition? Are you serious?"

"What's wrong?"

"Have you forgotten how you humiliated me on the Star Wars set?"

Ivan lowered his voice, a hint of teasing in his tone, "With your swordsmanship, plus the kind of technique that Jerry Bruckheimer finds most effective—you've got a pretty good chance of winning."

Li Rui didn't reply, he just smiled.

The two chatted for a few more minutes before a staff member came out.

"Raphael Lee, please come in."

Li Rui stood up, nodded to Ivan, and followed the staff into the audition room.

The room was large, with a long table at the front and five people sitting behind it.

Right in the center is a middle-aged man with gray hair and a powerful aura—Jerry Bruckheimer, a top Hollywood producer and the helmsman of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" project.

To his left sat a bespectacled man, director Gore Verbinski.

To the right is a woman in her forties, the casting director.

There were two other people Li Rui didn't recognize, probably screenwriters or producers.

"Raphael Lee".

Jerry Bruckheimer looked down at the data sheet in his hand and read out his name, "Fast & Furious, Star Wars: Episode II – The Matrix Reloaded – you were very busy last year."

Li Rui nodded.

"Fortunately, they are all good projects."

Bruckheimer looked up and his gaze lingered on him for a few seconds.

Those eyes were sharp, like an eagle's.

"Star Wars: Episode II hasn't been released yet, but I've seen your swordplay video."

He paused for a moment, then said, "I received the letter of recommendation Bob Anderson wrote for you."

Li Rui was stunned for a moment.

Bob Anderson—the old man who taught him "swordsmanship" on the Star Wars set.

So he even wrote a letter of recommendation?

"Thank you," Li Rui said.

Bruckheimer leaned back.

"The character of Will Turner needs to be someone who can fight, but not too fierce. He is a blacksmith, an ordinary person, not a warrior. He picks up a sword only because he has to, not because he likes it."

He stared at Li Rui.

"Can you portray that feeling?"

Li Rui did not answer directly.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When he opened his eyes again, his entire demeanor had changed.

He is no longer the "Skywalker" who shocked sword masters on the Star Wars set, but a blacksmith.

A young man who has run a blacksmith shop in Port Royal for several years, forging iron every day, occasionally looking up at the sea, and harboring an indescribable emotion in his heart.

His shoulders relaxed slightly, his fingers naturally curved, as if holding a hammer. His gaze was fixed on a point in the void, carrying a hint of bewilderment, a hint of expectation, and a hint of inexplicable melancholy.

"I am Will Turner."

His voice was low and a little hoarse.

"I grew up in Port Royal and have never left. Every day I forged blacksmith's tools, knives, and horseshoes. Sometimes I wondered what was on the other side of the sea."

He paused.

"But I know I don't belong there."

The room was silent for a few seconds.

Bruckheimer's eyes lit up.

Verbinski pushed up his glasses and leaned forward.

As Li Rui continued speaking, his gaze began to change, transforming from blankness into a restrained determination.

"If anyone threatens her—whoever it is, no matter how many there are—I will draw my sword. Not to kill, but to protect her."

He spoke softly, but every word seemed to be nailed into the air.

There was no murderous intent, only a simple and unwavering determination.

The audition room fell silent for a few seconds.

Then Bruckheimer laughed.

He turned to look at Verbinski.

What do you think?

Verbinski adjusted his glasses.

"I think... everyone else can go back now."

Li Rui bowed slightly.

"Thanks."

He left the audition room and gently closed the door behind him.

In the corridor, several people looked up at the same time.

Ivan was the first to come over.

"How is it?"

Li Rui smiled.

"Let's wait for news."

Ivan stared at him for a few seconds, then sighed.

"Alright, I got it, it must be you."

"It's not decided yet."

"It's settled."

Ivan patted him on the shoulder. "I may not be good at much else, but I'm pretty good at judging people. Congratulations."

As the two were talking, the audition room door opened again.

The staff member poked his head out.

"Ewan McGregor, please come in."

Ivan winked at Li Rui and went inside.

Li Rui stood in the corridor for a while, just as he was about to leave, when Jude Law walked past him without looking at him and walked quickly.

His complexion was not good, and the corners of his mouth were pursed into a thin line.

Tobey Maguire walked over, a shy smile on his face, and extended his hand.

"Raphael Lee? I'm Tobey Maguire."

Li Rui grasped his hand.

"Hello there."

Toby smiled.

"I overheard a few lines of your performance at the door. It was amazing."

"Thanks."

Toby nodded, then turned and left.

Li Rui stood there, watching his figure disappear at the end of the corridor.

Twenty minutes later, the staff came out again.

"Raphael Lee, please come in again."

Li Rui pushed open the door and went inside.

Bruckheimer stood up, walked around the table, stood in front of him, and extended his hand.

"Will Turner is yours."

Li Rui grasped his hand.

"Thanks."

Bruckheimer smiled.

"You're welcome, you got it yourself."

Li Rui didn't say anything, he just smiled.

He remembered what Ivan had just said.

You can never have too many good roles.

When Li Rui came out of the Disney studio, he checked the time—11:30 a.m.

My flight is at 4 PM, so I have a few hours to relax.

He made a phone call to Jessica.

"Passed."

Jessica's joyful voice came from the other end of the phone.

"I knew it! Shall we celebrate tonight?"

"Not tonight, I have to get back to Miami."

"Okay, then be careful. Love you."

"Um."

The plane took off on time at 4 p.m.

At 8:30 p.m., Li Rui landed in Miami.

The film crew sent someone to pick him up and take him directly back to his hotel.

The filming continued early the next morning.

In the following days, life returned to normal.

Li Rui arrived at the set on time every day to rehearse with Paul, work with the stunt team, and repeat those car chase scenes again and again under the direction of Rob Cohen.

Everything was the same as before, except that he got Will Turner.

On Friday afternoon, Li Rui had just finished filming a chase scene and was sitting on a rest chair drinking water.

Paul came over and sat down next to him.

"I heard you landed that pirate movie?"

Li Rui turned to look at him.

"You're quite well-informed."

Paul smiled.

"What secrets are there in this industry? Your agent, Ali, was on the phone with Neil last night, and I happened to be there."

Li Rui nodded without saying anything.

Paul suddenly spoke up.

"Your character... is a blacksmith?"

"Um."

"The kind who can forge iron?"

"Um."

Paul looked at him with a strange expression.

"Do you know how to forge iron?"

Li Rui paused for a moment, then smiled.

"If you don't know how, then learn."

Paul smiled too.

"Honestly, I'd love to see you forging iron."

He stood up, patted Li Rui on the shoulder, and left.

Li Rui leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

Learn blacksmithing?

In that dream world, he broke countless swords while swinging them.

What's so special about blacksmithing?

A few days later, Li Rui's phone rang in the afternoon.

It was a call from Ali.

"The contract has been received."

Ali sounded a little annoyed. "Disney's."

Li Rui leaned back in his chair.

"How many?"

Three million.

Li Rui didn't speak; he knew Ali definitely had a lot more to say.

Ali continued speaking.

"Three million. The second male lead. Depp got ten million. They used that to pressure me, saying things like, 'Depp only got ten million, so three million is already very reasonable for a newcomer like you.'"

His voice rose.

"Reasonable my foot! The Matrix cost two million because of his small role, and Fast & Furious cost thirty million because it was filmed as two movies back-to-back! Three million? That's like throwing money away to a beggar!"

Li Rui waited until he finished speaking before speaking.

"How much did you bargain with them?"

"Eight million."

"What did they say?"

Ali still sounded furious.

"They showed me Depp's contract!"

Li Rui smiled.

"Ali, I have a question for you."

"What?"

"How many movies do you think could be made out of this?"

Ali was taken aback for a moment.

"Well... let's see how the box office goes."

"If the first one is a hit, there will definitely be a second and a third one."

Li Rui said, "At that time, the salary will not be three million."

Ali remained silent.

Li Rui continued speaking.

"If you stand up to them now and manage to get eight million, even if they give it to you, they won't be happy. Next time there's a project, I'll be the first one they kick out."

Ali sighed.

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

"sign."

Li Rui said, "But two more things must be added."

"What?"