Intriguing

Renly wasn't surprised to see Paul Walker; what shocked him was that the two actors, who should have been busy shooting on set, appeared in Telluride.

"Good evening," Renly shook Paul's right hand, tilting his head slightly with a curious look between his brows. "So, does this mean you've been preparing for the movie shoot since our last encounter in the Verdon Gorge?" Renly was referring to their previous meeting there.

(A/N: Please tell me if the name of Gorge is correct or not….)

Paul's smile blossomed brightly, revealing a row of perfectly white teeth. "No, that was just a personal hobby. But if it helps with the movie shoot, that's even better."

"Paul, you know each other?" Vin, who had been standing in front, stepped aside and patted Paul's shoulder. His gaze shifted between Renly and Andy, finally resting on Renly with a direct and frank look, hinting at a subtle sense of superiority. That big star demeanor unintentionally revealed itself.

In contrast, Paul looked more like a surfer who had wandered into the wrong place.

"We met by chance while free climbing in Europe. He's an exceptional climber. I watched him climb fifty meters high without any equipment. God, it was incredible," Paul introduced Renly to Vin with admiration in his eyes. Then he turned back to Renly, "I never thought we'd meet again under these circumstances. So, you're the actor everyone is talking about?"

Renly offered a faint smile and chuckled lightly. "I don't know if the rumors are good or bad, but yes, I am that actor."

This humorous response made everyone chuckle. "I didn't expect you to be a climber. You don't look like an athlete at all," Vin initiated the conversation again, his face beaming with a bright smile, his white teeth contrasting with his bald head, and his muscular build exuding a tough yet goofy charm that endeared him to many fans.

However, his gaze always carried a lingering scrutiny, an unintentional reveal of his inner sense of superiority.

Renly's eyes flickered, a trace of playfulness flashing across them. In Hollywood's fame and fortune arena, stepping on the weak and flattering the strong was the norm, and feeling good about oneself was basic. Intrigues were everyday affairs, not targeting anyone specifically, just a habitual instinct. But compared to the British aristocracy, this seemed like child's play.

Renly shrugged lightly and said nonchalantly, "You don't look like an actor either." His words instantly created a bit of tension, and Renly could see Vin's smile stiffen and break, as if a mask hidden on his face had emerged. Such scenes were fascinating.

After a deliberate half-second pause, letting the awkwardness and tension spread, Renly continued, "You look more like a wrestler, or maybe a boxer. You know, Muhammad Ali."

The atmosphere melted like snow. Vin's eyebrows conveyed his delight and joy—being compared to the greatest boxer of all time naturally made him happy. His smile even showed a bit of shyness. "This isn't the first time I've heard that."

"Are we planning to continue standing here, or is this spot reserved for us?" Neil H. Moritz, who had been quietly standing by, seized the moment, cutting through the tension smoothly and seating everyone.

Neil's gaze lingered on Renly meaningfully. What seemed like a routine audition had brought unexpected surprises.

During the brief exchange earlier, Renly's words had remained gentle and humble, with a touch of light humor. His calm tone revealed no hint of sarcasm or mockery. However, Neil, a seasoned veteran, could sense the subtle tension in the air. In a blink, Vin had already lost the upper hand.

This composure, this demeanor, this resilience—it all made Neil take notice. Many could overpower Vin in a face-to-face standoff, but Renly was just a twenty-year-old newcomer, making his poise remarkable. His subtle wisdom also showed promise.

Even more surprising was the brief conversation between Renly and Paul, revealing Renly as an adept climber, indicating good physical coordination. This meant he could handle action scenes well, which was crucial for the "Fast & Furious" series, more about car chases and explosions than intense fight scenes.

It seemed Renly possessed the right qualities to complete their envisioned trio, potentially creating a compelling villain, perhaps even more fitting than Dwayne Johnson.

Neil knew that replacing Dwayne was a last resort. He almost suspected Renly had orchestrated this encounter.

The "Fast & Furious 5" crew didn't want to replace Dwayne Johnson, just to warn him. Dwayne demanded $3.5 million, which was unacceptable. With a $125 million budget, Neil wanted to keep the actor's share under $40 million, ideally $30 million. They could afford Dwayne's demand, but was it worth it?

Vin, as actor and producer, took $15 million; Paul received $8 million, without box office bonuses. This was justified by their pivotal roles since the series' beginning. The disastrous third film led Universal to bring them back at a high cost, ensuring the fourth film's success. Their salaries were reasonable, even a bargain.

But Dwayne? He was joining the series for the first time as the third lead, demanding $3.5 million, close to his usual $4 million as a lead. It was exorbitant.

Dwayne knew the crew's weakness—despite action stars being undervalued, Hollywood had a shortage of young action stars to rival Vin. Dwayne wasn't the only choice, but the best one, giving him leverage.

After several negotiations, Dwayne remained uncompromising, even as filming began. He knew the crew couldn't afford delays. Each day costs money—location rentals, equipment, staff salaries. Dwayne's absence cost them daily. The crew was desperate.

Every Hollywood project was a negotiation, a battle for interests. Someone had to yield, or it would collapse. In anger, Neil paused the shoot, bringing the leads to Telluride, ostensibly for the film festival, but actually seeking a replacement actor.

Telluride offered an open stage where newcomers could meet top directors and producers. Many actors flocked there, including major agents. At this moment, Telluride was a better casting ground than Los Angeles.

Neil understood finding Dwayne's replacement was almost impossible, requiring script changes and adjustments. The costs and workload were daunting.

So, Neil's trip was to show their tough stance to Dwayne: no one was irreplaceable, not even him. But meeting Renly sparked a thought—what if they changed Hobbs' character entirely?

This was just the beginning of the audition. Neil suppressed his thoughts, signaled everyone to sit, and discreetly observed Renly. In that brief moment, Renly's gaze met his directly, surprising Neil.

Renly smiled casually, as if unaware of Neil's scrutiny, nodding politely.

Neil's smile broadened in response. Today's audition was getting more intriguing.