The Wallfacers

After settling on a role that was the easiest to finalize, the next thing Levi thought about was naturally another Wallfacer, the former U.S. Secretary of Defense, Frederick Taylor.

In the story, this character, a Wallfacer, is also the first one among the four to be seen through. He had his own strategy, but his strategy was too simple. It was easily guessed and cracked.

In the story, Liu is talking about the strategy of Westerners, which has weakened and declined due to the long-term possession of power. In the movie, Levi also thinks it is better to let him fall first.

If one of the four Wallfacers needs to fall first, he is the most suitable. Because this person's character is the former Secretary of Defense of the United States, and in the United States, this position is by no means a particularly flattering position.

At this time in 2005, the United States was fighting a war in Iraq. It was precisely because it was deeply mired in the Iraqi battlefield that anti-war sentiment was rising in the United States. 

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the representative of the Hawks in the United States, is also controversial and has always been known for his toughness. 

He continually faces ridicule and accusations in the media. From the warlords in the Pentagon to the recipient of the Most Incoherent Award in the United States, a plethora of disparaging remarks is directed at him.

Therefore, if Levi were to put a person with the status of the former U.S. Secretary of Defense in the movie, people would probably think that Levi was alluding to Rumsfeld. 

After all, Hollywood has traditionally been a stronghold for anti-war sentiments, which isn't surprising. Compared with foreign politicians and scientists, the Hawks in their own country were the first to be defeated. For many, this is a welcomed perspective.

Of course, Levi also knows very well that the satirical effect will not be achieved if the war is over by the time the movie is released. Levi may not be able to remember other things clearly, but he clearly remembers this. 

Will the war be over? Even when Obama took office, this battle was still going on. It is more likely that Rumsfeld will actually become the former defense minister.

As for the candidate for this actor, what Levi hopes to find is slightly different from the candidate for Rey Diaz. 

The character of Rey Diaz is an aspect that needs to be highlighted. He is portrayed as a character who is both good and evil, and Taylor's character is more of a 'tough guy' who reveals his vulnerable side after taking off his disguise. 

This character doesn't need to be that charming. But it needs to be more of a tough guy temperament.

In Levi's vision, the most suitable candidate is a natural one - Clint Eastwood would definitely be great to play this character. 

It's a pity that Eastwood is now the director himself, so he wouldn't be willing to take on a small role in Levi's movie. 

Even if he is really willing to act, judging from his reputation and status over the years, his salary will definitely not be too low. It is almost impossible for him to star.

And let's talk about veteran actors. Levi has just worked with Jeff Bridges, so of course, it's okay to let him star. Unfortunately, to Levi, his image didn't quite fit. He can do a good job playing a charming old man, but playing a two-faced politician would not be a suitable image for him.

Levi thought of another actor with suitable looks. That is Malcolm McDowell. His image also fits the image of a Hawkish politician. From age to looks, this actor is a very suitable candidate, so it would be good for him to play this role.

But after thinking about it, Levi also thought of another candidate: the actor Martin Sheen, who might be surprisingly good at playing this role.

Martin Sheen is also an old Hollywood actor. He has been making movies since the 1960s and has been active for over 40 years. His acting skills are outstanding, and he can be uniquely qualified to play this role.

In terms of image and ability, he is an outstanding actor. Moreover, at the turn of the century, he starred in the T.V. series The West Wing, which was also a long-running hit. In it, he also played a Republican politician. How could such a person not play the role of the former Secretary of Defense? It can be said to be a match made in heaven.

Inviting him might be a very good idea. After all, this role is not too positive. Two candidates are prepared. If one of them refuses to accept it, the other one can just fill in.

Write this name down, and the next name is the third Wallfacer, Bill Hines.

In the story, this is a British man. In the field of science, he won the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine and was a very successful researcher. In politics, he joined the European Union and served as the Chief of Staff for two and a half years. Unlike the previous two people, his strength lies in his proficiency in science and politics.

Moreover, there is another character behind this character: in the story, his wife, Yamasugi Keiko, is also an important figure. His wife has almost as many scenes as he does, and wherever he is required to appear, his wife also needs to appear. 

Therefore, when considering this person, he must also consider the choice of his wife's actor.

As for this character, what needs to be chosen is the image of a British gentleman. Compared with the charming Rey Diaz and the tough guy image of Taylor, his image is more representative of old Europe. 

From temperament to acting ability, he needs to be more graceful. Moreover, in the story, his plan was also the last one to be seen through. Even his wife, whom he spent time with day and night, was not able to see through his plan - to a certain extent, he is also an extremely sinister person. To interpret this character, those sinister British gentlemen are suitable.

When choosing this character, Levi, of course, set his sights on European actors, especially British ones.

As for the choice of this character, Levi decided on the candidate after thinking about it for a while.

The best choice, in his opinion, is Ralph Fiennes.

This actor can definitely adapt to any requirement in terms of acting skills. In Levi's memory, he has participated in many movies. From the officer in Schindler's List to Voldemort in Harry Potter, he can play them all. 

His acting career is broad enough, and his abilities are outstanding enough. It was Levi's choice — one of his most important reasons.

And another reason is that in terms of temperament, he is indeed extremely outstanding. 

In Levi's memory, when it comes to temperament, Cate Blanchett stands out as the most exceptional among female actors. And if there's someone who can match her temperament when acting opposite her, Ralph Fiennes is undoubtedly one of them.

Compared with some more active actors, such as Christian Bale and others, his popularity may not be as high, but he is definitely more skilled in terms of pure acting skills.

When Levi chose these characters, he took into account a crucial factor: these three roles require actors capable of portraying complex human nature, encompassing both good and evil. It's not just about expressing these qualities; they need to embody the nuanced morality of a politician. An actor adept at navigating such intricacies is deemed most suitable for the roles.

And Ralph Fiennes has such an ability.

It is not difficult for a British actor to perform with enough temperament. Levi believes that if he is asked to play this role, he will definitely be outstanding.

As for the role of his wife, Levi's idea is that it would be better to leave it to a Chinese actor.

Of course, just like Say's role, he is not unable to consider using some Asian actors who are more active in the United States. But what troubles Levi is that these Asian actors in the United States are really not good-looking. If he casts his movie on them, Levi is sure Asians won't appreciate it.

Chinese actors, especially the older ones, are highly skilled compared to Japan's older actors, especially the women. So, it's better to find a Chinese actor for the role.

Of course, he wasn't willing to alter this character's background. In the novel, this character is Japanese, an expert in brain science, deeply influenced by Timothy Leary, a significant figure in psychology with profound knowledge.

Chinese psychology has undergone significant development, particularly after the 1980s. However, compared to Japan, there is still a considerable gap. It would be more fitting to depict this character as Japanese.

After these few people were finalized, the only one left was the last Wallfacer, who can be called the protagonist of this movie, Luo Ji.

Just like in the first film, Levi also wants to adapt this character into an American. In the eyes of American audiences, the protagonist must be American to save the world. 

This character is distinct from the previous ones. The earlier ones were all politicians, each with their own perspectives and motivations, whether benevolent or sinister.

This character, to a large extent, is someone who joined the team of Wallfacers without possessing the political understanding of the others. He is cynical, leads a dissolute life, and acts willfully. Had it not been for the loss of his wife and children, he might not have mustered the courage to take responsibility.

His idea was originally to defraud scientific research funds and impress the public, but he was involved in this vortex and could not escape, and was eventually forced to fight the Trisolarans.

In a sense, this is also the epitome of more ordinary people. What makes them rise up can only be related to their vital interests. He is not a politician, and the selection criteria are naturally different.

However, the choice of actor for this character needs careful consideration. Despite the escalating threat of the Trisolarans, he continues to enjoy life and is ultimately forced to resist. If the wrong actor is chosen and fails to capture the character's charm, it could easily lead to disapproval from the audience.

As for this person, Levi immediately had a candidate after thinking about it.

*****

Thanks and kudos for my patreons 

Marcelo Maia

Britanna

Mandy G

Scott DePaepe

Oluwatimileyin Olayemi

Herylle Ian Gloria

You can read advanced chapters on my Patreon account: https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.