Moriarty

Andy had initially wanted to play a prank, even as Renly's manager, he often marveled at how this young man could consistently exhibit a maturity and composure beyond his age. He was curious whether Renly would lose his cool when his professional demeanor was put to the test by a prank.

Now Andy had learned one thing: never challenge Renly's authority in matters of his profession.

"In fact, I believe there's a role that's very suitable for you," Andy ignored Renly's teasing glance, bypassed the joke about "Twilight", and got straight to the point. "It's "Sherlock Holmes 2: A Game of Shadows". They're currently casting for this film."

Sherlock Holmes, there was no need for extensive introduction, standing alongside Doctor Who and 007 as one of the three greatest fictional characters in British history, it had been adapted countless times.

The version Andy referred to was released in 2009, directed by Guy Ritchie, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. With a $90M investment, the film achieved commendable box office results, raking in $200M domestically and $520M globally, an impressive performance that secured its sequel's place in the plans.

Andy's words flowed without pause as he continued to explain, "In this installment, they're introducing the character Professor Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes's greatest adversary. I think it's a good choice and a good challenge."

"But?" Renly didn't miss the nuances in Andy's words. He could sense that there was a "but" coming up. However, Andy didn't immediately reveal it, so Renly extended an olive branch.

Andy nodded with a light laugh. "But...," he paused slightly for half a second, not concealing the hint of regret in his expression, "but Warner Bros. thinks you're too young."

In the original work, Professor Moriarty was undoubtedly Holmes's greatest opponent and the most charismatic antagonist. He caused countless troubles for Holmes, even forcing Holmes to fake his own death. Thus, whether in TV adaptations, film adaptations, or stage plays, Professor Moriarty was always a pivotal character.

Expectations for Professor Moriarty were not just about creating a formidable adversary for Holmes; they also hoped for him to display a powerful charisma. He was a character that one could both loathe and be captivated by.

With the evolution of commercial films, the significance of antagonist roles had grown. Only a powerful adversary could bring out the strength of the protagonist. "The Dark Knight" is immortalized in history due to its portrayal of the splendid Joker; "Star Trek Into Darkness" was heavily criticized by die-hard fans due to its failed portrayal of Khan, one of the series' most captivating antagonists.

Professor Moriarty was similar in this regard.

In Andy's view, Renly could undoubtedly imbue the role of Moriarty with unique charisma, even an enchanting quality. When faced with the invitation to play Thor, Renly's interest in Loki surpassed that in Thor himself. This also indicated that Renly didn't mind playing supporting roles; what he truly valued was the essence of the character.

"So, how do you feel? If you're interested, I can communicate with Warner Bros. again," Andy asked carefully, "This type of antagonist role might not reach the heights of the Joker, but it would give you a lot of room for performance, an opportunity to explore different styles. Moreover, Guy Ritchie's directing style is more humorous, bordering on comedic performance."

Andy hadn't forgotten Renly's interest in comedy.

"No, there's no need," Renly flashed a faint smile, shaking his head in negation.

Professor Moriarty was indeed an intriguing character, but this was limited to the original work. How he would be portrayed in the film depended on the script and the director.

Thanks to the success of the first installment and the fervor of numerous fans, the focus of "Sherlock Holmes 2: A Game of Shadows" was on bromance. The intense bond between Holmes and Watson was now front and center, openly displayed without any concealment. The other characters were mere sidekicks. Moriarty? Not to mention performance space, his screen time was quite limited, a mere plot device to advance the story.

Andy hadn't read the script, so he was under the impression that Renly was just being polite. He continued, "I don't think age is an issue at all. I have some connections with their producers; I can communicate with them again. At the very least, I can arrange a meeting for you to talk to them. They'll know that age has never been the standard for determining an actor's excellence."

Renly chuckled; he could sense Andy's confidence and sincerity. "I know age isn't an issue. But besides that, there are many other concerns, especially with such a large production team, right?"

Although Andy didn't elaborate, Renly could still perceive some hints.

A smile paused briefly on Andy's lips, then curved upward. He lowered his gaze. Even without further explanation, he had tacitly confirmed it.

In fact, Guy Ritchie was quite fond of Renly's performance in "Buried". He was willing to offer Renly an audition opportunity. After all, Moriarty was a fictional character, and this version of the film had made changes to Doyle's character. In the current script, the professor's age was adjusted to being in his early thirties, which was still plausible.

However, when Robert Downey Jr. heard the news, he firmly declined the proposal. His stated reason was that Renly was "too young and wouldn't match."

As the biggest rival to Holmes, Professor Moriarty's age was supposed to be close to Holmes's, even slightly older, making it a more fitting portrayal. But Renly was only twenty-one years old. It was indeed too young for him to play Holmes's lifelong adversary.

But in reality, Robert's true concerns were different.

Robert was worried about Renly stealing the show. As a recent rising star who was very much in the spotlight, discussions always revolved around Renly's acting skills. Robert had to worry not only about his rhythm being disrupted during scenes shared with Renly but also about the overall effect of the film. Renly might steal more spotlight, leaving him in a supporting role.

It wasn't just Renly; Robert had vetoed other actors as well, including Javier Bardem, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Gary Oldman.

Being outperformed in an acting showdown was embarrassing enough. If he lost to a twenty-one-year-old youngster, it would be even more humiliating.

Robert's refusal was unequivocal and without room for negotiation.

Faced with this situation, Andy felt helpless. After his resurgence with "Iron Man", Robert was indeed riding high, and his temper had grown. He even forbade the media from bringing up his past during any form of interviews. However, the media could only mock him, as they had no real leverage against him.

Initially, Andy thought that if Renly were genuinely interested, he could communicate with Guy Ritchie and try to persuade the two producers. There might have been a way to salvage the situation. However, now that Renly had declined, there was nothing more to be done.

Today, Andy's main purpose wasn't to finalize a script; otherwise, he wouldn't have come empty-handed without any scripts in hand. Lately, Andy had been utilizing the extensive network of contacts provided by the Innovative Artists Agency to explore more development opportunities. Thanks to the success of three consecutive works, there was a noticeable increase in production teams interested in Renly. However, everyone was in a state of exploration and observation at the moment.

The commercial films were waiting for feedback on "Fast 5", while the indie films were testing the waters regarding Renly's current salary. As a newcomer, Renly's rapid rise to fame had taken everyone by surprise, making it difficult for anyone to accurately gauge the situation. More time was needed for communication.

Given this, opportunities were plentiful, but everyone was treading cautiously. Therefore, Andy needed a clearer strategy to proactively approach these opportunities. Renly's rejection of "Sherlock Holmes" was entirely reasonable in Andy's view. This rejection could serve as a reference for his upcoming script selections.

Being an excellent agent, Andy always strived to be thoroughly prepared to handle various situations. Renly's career had had a dreamlike start, and he hoped to maintain that momentum.

Andy didn't rush to speak again; instead, he fell quiet, pondering carefully. He sifted through his mental repertoire of projects, searching for more suitable prospects.

Renly, however, was not in a hurry. He sat across calmly, waiting.

After a short while, Andy finally looked up. "There's another project as well. It's quite special and a bit tricky." Andy paused slightly, organizing his thoughts. "The character is interesting and can be considered the male lead, but the emphasis in this work leans a bit more towards the female lead, and the male lead's role isn't as substantial."

"However, I believe this character is worth exploring in depth. His character attributes aren't so straightforward, and it's a challenging role for an actor. Of course, this is just my judgment as an outsider. The specific situation will need your evaluation." Andy's gaze landed on Renly, noticing that he was still listening attentively without interrupting. Andy continued, "But there's one tricky aspect, just like with "Sherlock Holmes"."

Renly chuckled knowingly.

"The male lead's age is set to be quite old, forty-three, if I'm not mistaken." After Andy finished speaking, he chuckled to himself; it wasn't an easy task to find a suitable role or script for a twenty-year-old young man. "The current problem is that I've only heard about this project briefly. I have some basic understanding. If you're interested, I can get in touch with the production team to learn more."

Being the male lead but overshadowed by the female lead and also being relatively older in age, this indeed wasn't the ideal choice.

Renly nodded slightly, without rushing to make a decision. "What's the project's name?"

"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" was Andy's reply.