Chapter 303: Scandal

"Murphy, can you come to my party tomorrow?"

Hearing the invitation over the phone, Murphy glanced at Gal Gadot sitting in the passenger seat. If Gal had time, he would, of course, accompany his girlfriend, but he knew Gal had an engagement tomorrow night and couldn't attend.

Go by himself? Despite not being the most socially adept, Murphy wasn't foolish.

Without any hesitation, he declined, "Sorry, Natalie, I have a meeting about a role tomorrow night and won't be available."

Hearing this, Gal looked at Murphy, her previously tense nerves relaxing in an instant. It was clear that Murphy cared greatly about her feelings.

At the same time, her negative feelings towards Natalie Portman were growing.

Days ago, Gal had vaguely mentioned her weekend school activities and the subsequent trip to San Francisco with her club. Yet, Natalie Portman chose this exact time to host a party and invited Murphy...

There were things Gal didn't want to think badly about, but she wasn't the naive, sheltered girl Natalie Portman might perceive her to be. Some underlying ugliness wasn't hard to see.

Why was Natalie Portman so keen on inviting Murphy? If it were in the past, Gal would think it's because Murphy was attractive enough to garner attention from other women.

But after seeing another side of Natalie Portman, she couldn't think that way anymore. How could a woman, whose outward appearance was so different from her inner self, suddenly have such a silly infatuation?

There was only one possibility: Natalie Portman was eyeing Murphy's new film, believing it had a high chance of success, and that the role of Amy would make her shine.

After that day, Gal took a closer look at the script and had to admit, the character of Amy, though not likable, left an incredibly strong impression.

This was just the script. What if it was portrayed on the big screen? Gal had great faith in Murphy's ability to craft characters, and Natalie Portman's acting shouldn't be an issue either. Weren't her daily life performances convincing enough?

For a while, Gal worried that if Natalie Portman pursued the role, Murphy might consider casting her, despite his disapproval of her.

For some reason, Gal disliked the idea of Murphy working with such a person. However, she never mentioned it, believing Murphy's work shouldn't be unduly influenced by external factors like herself.

But Gal soon set her worries aside, as Natalie Portman's name was nowhere to be found on Murphy's list of potential leading ladies.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Gal remembered the reminder about the party night. Had Murphy seen through Natalie Portman's facade from their very first meeting?

Regardless, Murphy didn't attend Natalie Portman's party alone and directly declined the invitation, which pleased Gal.

Having spent some time in Los Angeles, she had heard various stories and rumors about Hollywood. She knew many actresses eager to climb the ladder would do almost anything for a chance at a standout role.

She had never associated Natalie Portman with such actions, but now it seemed the actress might not be so different after all.

In a suite at the Beverly Hills Hilton, Natalie Portman put down her phone, her expression uncertain. Things were not going as smoothly as she had hoped.

"Natalie," Martin Miller, sitting in the suite's living room, spoke up, "According to you, that role is indeed excellent, and Murphy Stanton's capabilities are not in question. The project's future is indeed promising."

He shook his head, "My relationship with CAA is not great. If I step in to help you secure the role, the outcome might be worse."

"That's okay," Natalie stood up and paced, "I'll secure it myself."

Agents often look for opportunities, but some require the actor to pursue. She was no stranger to this.

Having dealt with George Lucas, she thought a young director like Murphy Stanton should be easier to persuade.

"Actually, the new role I found for you is also not bad," Martin Miller suddenly added, "You might consider it."

"The director from Hong Kong with sunglasses?" Natalie immediately shook her head, "How could he compare to Murphy Stanton? Martin, you must have heard, Murphy Stanton's new film has CAA and Twentieth Century Fox aiming for the awards season."

Martin sighed softly, advising, "Dear, you're too anxious. What's yours will come to you when the time is right."

"I'm already twenty-four," Natalie said, evidently impatient, "And I haven't received an Oscar nomination yet. I believe this role is a great opportunity."

Being Jewish, securing an Oscar nomination should be relatively easier, provided the role is solid.

"Amy is the most outstanding character I've encountered since becoming an actress," Natalie emphasized.

She wouldn't easily give up such an exceptional role.

The casting for the female lead was not going smoothly, and Murphy soon received news from Bill Rossi. Nicole Kidman was indeed interested in the role of Amy but was unwilling to compromise much on the salary. The offer of $8 million was far from satisfying her expectations.

Nicole Kidman's agent, Paige Kimsey, demanded $12 million, plus ten percent of the North American box office as a share.

Such conditions far exceeded Murphy and Kara Faith's expectations. Including his and James Franco's salaries, agreeing to Kidman's terms would necessitate additional investment, which would be a cumbersome process.

Murphy and Kara had no choice but to exclude Nicole Kidman.

Another candidate, Jessica Chastain, was also rejected by Murphy after one audition. Despite her suitable appearance, she lacked the cold, ethereal beauty the role demanded.

Jessica Chastain didn't pin her hopes on landing the role and later auditioned for a police officer role. Since "Planet Terror," she hadn't landed a leading role, setting her expectations low. After careful consideration, Murphy was almost certain to cast her in the role.

Throughout October, Murphy was exceptionally busy. The preparation was no less demanding than the shooting itself. Gal Gadot participated in her school's activity and followed her club to the San Francisco area, planning to stay there for at least half a month.

During this time, Murphy received several calls from Natalie Portman, all of which he politely declined.

He was no fool. After Gal showed him the script, he gradually understood that Natalie Portman was likely eyeing the role of Amy.

If some rumors were true, this Jewish actress might go to great lengths to secure a coveted role.

To avoid uncontrollable situations, Murphy thought it best not to meet her.

Indeed, Natalie Portman's acting was outstanding, but her appearance was not suitable for Amy. Simply put, she wasn't pretty enough.

Even if she were suitable, Murphy didn't want to cast her. The polarizing rumors he had seen about her were too significant to ignore. After all, such widespread gossip couldn't be entirely baseless.

Back when he lived across the Pacific, Natalie Portman was considered a goddess by many movie fans and even Murphy's film-studying classmates. Saying she was a winner in life was no exaggeration.

Back then, Murphy also liked her. However, a peculiar film titled "Jane Got a Gun," which Portman produced and starred in after winning the Oscar and giving birth, to prove she was more than just a filler in the "Thor" series, shook his stance.

The hidden agenda behind self-producing "Jane Got a Gun" was rumored to

 be a way to slap those in the industry and media who looked down on her public relations victory for the Oscar.

Just like the rumors about Tom Cruise being "glass," Natalie Portman's win for "Black Swan" sparked a flurry of gossip.

The biggest rumor was about her being Jewish... This need not be detailed, as those familiar with Hollywood understand.

Compared to these less credible views and the industry's reality, other rumors held more potential truth and impact.

Murphy was influenced by these, as he judged that rumors with specific incidents couldn't be entirely false.

Rumors suggested "Black Swan" was originally written by Darren Aronofsky for his then-wife, Rachel Weisz. It's well known there was a significant gap between the screenplay's writing and the film's production. Portman, seeing the script and character as potentially career-advancing, wanted the role, but Aronofsky, then besotted with Weisz, had no intention of casting Portman.

Like her persistence after being rejected for the role of Mathilda, running to director Luc Besson, Portman always found a way to get what she wanted.

Thus, she chose a roundabout way to get close to Aronofsky, ultimately taking both him and the script.

The aftermath, as typical of most Hollywood scandals, was dramatic. A furious Weisz, seeking revenge, got involved with Daniel Craig and eventually divorced Aronofsky.

If that were all, Portman's actions might not be blameworthy, as Hollywood is rife with similar stories. Using relationships to secure roles isn't considered shameful or scandalous enough to be widely criticized.