Differing thoughts

"Thor"

Merely seeing this title on the cover, Chris's heart raced rapidly, pounding against his chest with intensity. The rush of excitement was so sudden and fierce that it caught him off guard. The sensation was so overwhelming that it felt as though his sternum might shatter.

His pupils began to dilate slowly, and a storm of thoughts raged in his mind. Chris was caught in a moment of mental paralysis.

In recent times, the entertainment industry had been abuzz with news about the casting of "Thor". The selection of the male lead for Thor had been a hot topic of discussion. Almost every day brought new updates, and the flood of information, both true and false, made it difficult to discern fact from fiction. Without a doubt, it was one of the most sought-after projects of the recent period, a top-tier production that left no room for doubt.

So far, rumored candidates included Brad Pitt, Channing Tatum, Daniel Craig, Charlie Hunnam, Alexander Skarsgård, Joel Kinnaman, and many more.

Even top-tier entertainment magazines like Entertainment Weekly had focused their attention on the casting of Thor.

Moreover, Paramount Pictures and Marvel Studios held this project in high regard. They had even invited Kenneth Branagh to direct the film.

Kenneth wasn't your typical commercial director; he was a British director with a background in theater. Skilled in staging and artistic depth, he had garnered nominations for both the Academy Award for Best Director and Best Actor more than twenty years ago for his self-written and self-directed "Henry V", which was rich with the characteristics of stage plays and the realism of films. Not just in Hollywood but globally, he was recognized as a director-actor with outstanding talents.

The inspiration for the "Thor" comic came from Norse mythology. It was clear that by inviting Kenneth, Paramount Pictures hoped to infuse the film with a Shakespearean epic quality, creating a commercially successful movie that would also shine with critical acclaim.

Chris had spent over a month in Los Angeles mainly for "Thor"! And it wasn't just him; even his younger brother, Liam Hemsworth, was actively vying for the same role. However, the problem was that they hadn't even secured a chance to audition!

Yes, they had been running around and networking in Los Angeles, with their agents tirelessly seeking opportunities to showcase themselves to the producers. It was all for the chance to secure the lead role in this top-tier production. Chris knew well that his previous Hollywood works had been minor roles, not even comparable to the magnitude of "Thor". From the scale of investment to the preparation of the cast, even to the secretive audition invitations, everything indicated that this was a project that could launch any unknown actor into stardom!

Wasn't this his ultimate goal in coming to Hollywood?

But, as expected, Marvel Studios had set the bar high. Chris's agent had to put in considerable effort just to hear whispers about auditions, but breaking into the waiting list for auditions seemed impossible. Currently, those receiving audition invitations were all focal points of the five major talent agencies. Even newcomers had strong backing from well-established agents; it was a league that Chris couldn't compare to.

After a month of struggle, he returned to New York empty-handed, feeling defeated. Liam was still in Los Angeles, seeking information everywhere, ready to notify him of any updates.

But now, the script for "Thor" was right in front of him, almost within arm's reach. Chris felt as though his brain's capacity was insufficient for the weight of the situation, as if the whole world was unraveling.

So, what was going on exactly?

Could it be... Could it be that Renly had received an audition invitation for "Thor"? Had Marvel Studios even handed the script to Renly directly? And without the assistance of an agent? Could it be that, based solely on "The Pacific", Renly had caught the attention of Paramount Pictures? Or did Tom and Steven, the two producers, vouch for Renly behind the scenes? Could it be that Renly, who had been polishing his skills on Broadway, had finally been noticed for his talent, just like Kenneth had become famous through Shakespearean dramas? So, did Renly accept the offer? Or did he decline?

Looking at the script casually placed on the shelf, seemingly unattended, did that mean Renly had turned it down?

In Chris's view, Renly was an idealist, possessing the skill but clinging to unrealistic dreams, refusing to compromise with reality. Even worse, Renly might not even have the talent – at least Chris couldn't see it – and his performance in "The Pacific" had been lackluster.

Throughout the past year, it had been the same. Chris was always a step, even three or four steps, ahead of Renly in his career development. Chris had become a leading actor in films and even collaborated with big names like Sean Bean. The next step for him was becoming the lead in a major production, just like... just like "Thor".

As for Renly, he had just finished his first project's performance, a TV drama at that. His career had only just begun, advancing incredibly slowly. Not to mention becoming the lead in a major production, even landing a role in his next project wasn't that easy. The distance between them was increasing, and its rate of expansion was accelerating.

But the reality was that the script for "Thor" lay on Renly's shelf. Regardless of whether it was Steven Spielberg's influence or whether "The Pacific" had impressed Kenneth Branagh or any other reason, it didn't matter. What mattered was that Renly had received an audition invitation, and he hadn't.

Thinking back to the mockery and advice he had given Renly just now, it felt like a colossal joke. Chris's cheeks flushed red-hot, and an indescribable anger threatened to consume him, as if he would shatter into pieces from the sheer intensity of it all. The shame surged from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

It must be fake, it had to be fake! There was no other explanation!

Chris repeated this to himself, but a vestige of reason told him that this couldn't explain why Renly would fabricate a "Thor" script. Setting aside the fact that Renly was clueless about Hollywood's ways, how could he have pinpointed "Thor" just like that? Even if he did know, why would he do such a thing? Was it all just a prank? To rile him up?

His fists involuntarily clenched tightly, and every muscle in his body trembled slightly. Fake or real? Real or fake? He just needed to open it up and take a look. No, this wasn't right. If it turned out to be fake, it would be a prank. But what if... What if it was real? What should he do then?

The voice in his mind continued to echo, yet his right hand was uncontrollable. It moved slowly downward until his fingertips touched the cover of the script. The rough but textured sensation was almost burning his fingertips, yet he clenched his teeth, firmly grasping the script. Just like retrieving a chestnut from the fire, he swiftly grabbed it, tremblingly opening the script with his right hand.

Due to extreme nervousness, he had to attempt three times before successfully opening the script's cover.

He started to read quickly, his gaze scanning rapidly. His heart trembled lightly, and he could even hear the whistling noise rushing by, yet his vision was incredibly clear, word by word, distinct and vivid. It was as if the words were engraved in his mind just like the art of printing.

It's real, it's truly the script for "Thor".

The shock was so immense that Chris felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his entire body freezing in place, unable to move. Renly had truly become the understudy for Thor! What was even more ridiculous was that he had casually tossed it onto the shelf, showing no respect whatsoever.

"Should I seize this opportunity?"

Once this idea took root in his mind, it became unstoppable, like wildfire spreading rapidly.

Suddenly, Chris turned his head towards the door, scanning the hallway. He was afraid Renly might suddenly appear. The anxiety and unease made his steps feel like dancing on the edge of a knife. Yet, the deep-seated desires of his heart – greed, and lust – were burning fiercely. The thrilling sense of danger and the palpable feeling of reality made every cell in his body start to pulse with excitement.

Anyway, Renly wasn't interested in commercial films, which was exactly what Chris was urgently hoping for. So, even if he claimed it for himself, it wouldn't matter much, would it? Wasn't that right? Wasn't this just logical and reasonable?

Before Chris could fully realize it, his steps had crossed the entire hallway, entering his own room. He forcefully closed the door, pressing his body against it, panting heavily, sweat pouring like rain. The script was already damp from his sweaty hands. Looking at the script, an uncontrollable sense of joy surged, and his ecstasy was like a tornado sweeping over him.

"Chris? We're running low on fabric softener. Remember to add it to the shopping list." Renly's voice came from the hallway. Chris jumped up, paced back and forth in bewilderment, and finally shoved the script under the mattress once he was sure it hadn't been exposed. He took a moment to catch his breath and called out, "No problem!"

Quickly wiping the sweat from his hands, he opened the door, pretending to be composed as he stepped out. "What are you planning to do now? Aren't you going to sleep?"

Renly's footsteps hesitated as he entered the room. He turned around, his expression conveying bewilderment as he looked at Chris. Chris's heart raced to his throat. Did Renly sense something unusual? What should he do? But then Renly chuckled, "I'm not planning to work out, anyway."

Chris forced a couple of dry laughs, following suit, "Heh, heh. I know you're not." His mouth felt parched, almost tasting bitterness, "I... I'm going to take a shower. I'm covered in sweat." Chris greeted in a rather awkward manner, then swiftly escaped, returning to his own room.