Inside the temporary audition room at the warehouse set, the representatives from the actors' guild and Michelle Williams sat at the front, while Murphy and Gal Gadot sat further back, with a monitor in front of them. The monitor displayed the footage captured by the audition camera.
In front of the camera, a tall, muscular actor, standing over six feet tall, had just finished performing a dramatic scene.
Murphy didn't speak. He simply observed the male actor, whose rugged facial features were sharply highlighted on camera, giving him a chiseled, angular look that made him appear naturally like a leading man. His face was filled with determination, definitely not the type to be mistaken for a delicate pretty boy.
"Mr. Cavill," Michelle Williams said at this moment, "please take off your shirt."
As this procedure was outlined in the audition instructions beforehand, the actor named Cavill did not hesitate to strip off his shirt, revealing a well-defined muscular physique.
Murphy glanced at the monitor, then at the actor himself. Although his muscles didn't quite meet the role's requirements, he was still the best among all the male actors who auditioned today. With a physique like that, it wouldn't be difficult to develop even more impressive muscles through professional training.
"He's the best one today," Gal Gadot said, leaning over.
"Yeah," Murphy nodded slightly.
Although his acting skills were average, his facial features and physique were indeed suitable for the role of the leading man.
Michelle Williams noticed Murphy and Gal Gadot's exchange and sent an inquiring look their way. Murphy subtly gestured for her to continue with the audition process.
As the actor continued his audition, Murphy weighed the pros and cons. This actor had natural physical advantages. Since the film was realistic, the leading man, being a martial arts expert, couldn't possibly be a scrawny type—he had to be a strongman. If a delicate pretty boy easily defeated several big men in a scene, it would be laughable in theaters.
Such a dark, heavy film couldn't afford to have comedic moments.
As for acting skills, this type of film didn't require much acting prowess. There were hardly any scenes needing exceptional acting. Basic acting skills would suffice. When he initially planned the film, Murphy didn't expect the lead actor to deliver an award-winning performance.
The audition soon ended, and as the actor was about to leave, Murphy suddenly called out, "Wait."
The actor named Cavill immediately looked at Murphy, a flash of surprise in his eyes. "Director Stanton?"
"You're British," Murphy said as he flipped through his profile. "How's your American accent?"
"I've been working in the USA for many years," the British actor immediately switched to an Eastern American accent, sounding like a traditional New Yorker. "I'm used to the accent here."
Clearly, this actor had prepared well for the audition, even considering the character's accent.
Murphy appreciated smart and hardworking actors, as they benefited the shooting process. He closed the profile and finally said, "Mr. Henry Cavill, you can go home and wait for further notice."
"Thank you," Henry Cavill bowed slightly and walked out of the audition room.
Michelle Williams, who had previously served as Murphy's assistant, understood his habits. She immediately realized that Henry Cavill was the hottest candidate for the leading role.
During subsequent auditions, Murphy also saw other promising candidates, such as Chris Hemsworth and Jeremy Renner, but their acting skills were no better than Henry Cavill's. Besides, they had contracts with Marvel Studios, which could cause scheduling and marketing issues. Considering all aspects, Henry Cavill was more suitable for this film.
Additionally, Gal Gadot suggested that Henry Cavill's fee was lower, with a maximum of one million dollars.
After the male lead auditions ended, Murphy convened a temporary meeting with the directors and production team to discuss the selection of the lead actor. Though it was called a discussion, everyone—whether it was Gal Gadot, Michelle Williams, or the 20th Century Fox producer—relied mainly on Murphy's opinion.
Since a few years ago, Murphy had held the decision-making power for the lead roles.
Thus, the British Henry Cavill was chosen for the role of a New Yorker.
Even Murphy didn't expect that he would end up giving Henry Cavill a leading role after taking away his chance to play Clark Kent.
It just goes to show that many times, the world's development doesn't change based on individual will.
After selecting the lead actor, Murphy didn't directly participate in the female lead auditions. Instead, he spent some time with Henry Cavill, his agent, and the specially hired fitness coach, discussing Cavill's fitness plan.
Henry Cavill was already quite strong, but Murphy required him to become even more muscular to fit the role of a formidable martial artist.
No matter what, a muscular man was more in line with the image of a martial arts expert.
Moreover, the primary markets for the film were North America, South America, Europe, and Australia. In these regions' film aesthetics, muscular men were more appreciated. Slim, delicate pretty boys were merely seen as "effeminate."
Even though the film would inevitably be released in Japan and South Korea, where pretty boys were popular, Murphy wouldn't make unnecessary changes for the peculiar tastes of one or two markets.
The fitness coach's plan for Henry Cavill was professional yet straightforward—a three-month plan. Cavill needed to gain weight first, consuming 5,000 calories a day to reach a certain stage before shedding excess fat.
Henry Cavill currently weighed 190 pounds, with a goal of reaching 220 pounds and then dropping to around 205 pounds for filming.
This method of gaining muscle was common among Hollywood actors, though such rapid weight fluctuations were harmful to the body.
Many Hollywood actors, especially those seeking Oscar recognition, often used this method to show their dedication and win the approval of the Academy.
In the short term, it seemed fine, but frequent weight fluctuations would have long-term negative effects as they aged.
However, Henry Cavill had no choice but to follow the plan if he wanted the role. With a strong director like Murphy, saying 'No' would mean losing the opportunity.
After settling the male lead, Murphy attended the female lead auditions. Seeing Margot Robbie's performance, he immediately stopped the second round of auditions and confirmed her for the role.
With this, the four main roles were all set. Murphy left the remaining supporting and minor roles to Michelle Williams, as he always knew the importance of delegating and that he wasn't a superman who could handle everything personally.
"Tired?"
In the office, Gal Gadot handed Murphy a cup of coffee, placing it on the desk in front of him. "Have some coffee."
As she spoke, she moved behind Murphy and gently massaged his temples with her slender fingers.
Murphy took a sip of coffee and then turned to ask, "How do you have time now?"
They didn't share an office, and both had busy schedules—Murphy as a director and Gal Gadot as a producer and executive producer.
Gal Gadot smiled, "Maggie asked me to thank you."
"It's nothing, she's your friend."
Hearing this, Gal Gadot rolled her eyes slightly. Margot Robbie, dressed in a tailored professional suit for the audition, not only impressed Murphy but also everyone present.
If it weren't for such an impressive audition, Murphy wouldn't have decided so quickly to cast Margot Robbie.
Murphy seemed to guess what Gal Gadot was thinking and added, "Don't think I'm that heartless. I've known Maggie since she was a little girl. Of course, I'll consider her if there's a chance."
"Yeah," Gal Gadot knew Murphy wasn't like that and continued, "With this role, Maggie's mood will improve. She was close to landing the role of Harley Quinn, but Warner Bros. is dragging it out, and she might even get replaced."
"That's my fault," Murphy shook his head. "I wasn't thorough enough when I introduced her to Bruce Rosenblum, and it ended up hurting her."
Murphy had good intentions when he introduced Margot Robbie to Bruce Rosenblum. However, after "Batman v Superman" was released, Warner Bros. approached him again to rejoin the DC superhero film project. His exorbitant demands scared them off, likely affecting Margot Robbie in the process.
"Maggie said it's not your fault," Gal Gadot sighed. "Everyone knows she's my best friend, and I'm your girlfriend. These connections inevitably have some impact."
Murphy nodded. In both Eastern and Western societies, the influence of connections was significant.
Though the USA wasn't as much of a society based on personal connections, and Hollywood prioritized interests, these relationships often played a role.
However, these influences could be both good and bad.
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