Chapter 69: Nicole's Decision

Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, at Nicole Kidman's villa.

Agent Pat Kingsley was sitting across from Nicole on the sofa. "Carpe Films said they will start filming Mr. & Mrs. Smith in April, with Brad Pitt as the male lead."

"It's an action film, and with Brad Pitt drawing too much attention, my role won't stand out enough," Nicole Kidman, at the height of her career, preferred films where she had a leading role.

"Last year, I shot Birth and The Stepford Wives, both of which will be released this year. One is an art film, and the other is a commercial film, both centered on my character!"

Pat Kingsley then pointed to another script placed nearby, "Look at this one, directed by Nora Ephron, Bewitched, with Sony Columbia offering an unprecedented $17.5 million for a foreign actress."

"Although its budget of $85 million doesn't quite match Carpe Films' over $100 million for Mr. & Mrs. Smith, it focuses on you. You know Nora Ephron; she has the capability!"

The writer of When Harry Met Sally..., who went on to write and direct highly acclaimed romantic films like Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail, stood out among female directors.

In all respects, Bewitched seemed more appealing than Mr. & Mrs. Smith, plus it offered a higher paycheck.

"Well, let's turn down Carpe Films. I already have another drama, The Interpreter, set to shoot this year," Nicole Kidman decided. Without Bewitched, she might have taken the role, but with one commercial film and one drama, her schedule was already tight.

Charles Carpe, though young, was no ordinary producer. She had helped get the script for Underworld to Screen Gems Productions, and Charles owed her a favor.

"Never mind, I'll arrange to meet Charles Carpe for a chat. It's been a while since I last saw him, back at the Chateau Marmont," Nicole Kidman was inclined to trust Charles; after all, he had chosen her as the lead in his first big production, indicating some form of gratitude.

Pat Kingsley nodded. Charles Carpe indeed was impressive; his rapid rise in the industry was remarkable.

Building a good relationship with a young Hollywood producer was crucial.

"By the way, is Tom changing his agent?" Nicole asked suddenly.

Tom Cruise's agent had been Pat Kingsley's collaborator for years. Nicole Kidman signed with her after marrying Tom Cruise and moving to Hollywood.

However, after their divorce, their career paths diverged significantly.

Tom Cruise landed one quality role after another and even achieved his long-cherished Oscar.

"The Last Samurai only got a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Drama, and didn't even get an Oscar nod. He's been quite dissatisfied with me these past years. He'll probably announce his change of agents soon," Pat Kingsley admitted reluctantly. But with Nicole Kidman's flourishing career, her focus shifted more towards Nicole.

Tom Cruise was initially discovered by the experienced agent Paula Wagner. In the '90s, Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner established their own production company, Cruise-Wagner Productions, and Paula had to step back from being an agent.

She became the head of Cruise-Wagner Productions, and Pat Kingsley became his agent until now, spanning over a decade.

"I presented the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama. Sean Penn won for Mystic River, and Charlize Theron surprisingly took home Best Actress in a Drama," Nicole Kidman mused. "Charlize is under Evelyn Carpe's management, which might mean she's tied to Charles Carpe too."

Charles Carpe had a knack for spotting the brilliance in low-budget indie films.

"Charlize is also a favorite for this year's Best Actress Oscar for Monster, thanks to her transformative performance," Pat Kingsley acknowledged. However, Nicole's Cold Mountain didn't make it to the Oscars, only securing a Golden Globe nomination.

Pat knew winning the Best Actress Oscar twice was incredibly difficult for Nicole, but it was still on her mind.

"Did you and Lenny Kravitz already break up?" Pat Kingsley usually didn't meddle in celebrities' love lives, but sometimes PR management required some insight.

Lenny Kravitz, a talented Black rock star from New York, had a brief affair with Nicole Kidman last year.

Nicole nodded, "We had different ideas. We broke up before Christmas last year."

"There were tabloids saying you were engaged, but those are just tabloids, so no big deal," Pat Kingsley didn't press further.

That evening, Nicole specifically called Charles Carpe.

"Who is it?" Charles' voice came from the phone.

"This is Nicole Kidman. Charles, are you in LA?"

"Oh, Nicole, good evening! I'm still in New York, but I'll be back in LA in two days. What's up?"

In New York, Charles was chatting by the fireplace with Britney, when Nicole's call came in.

"I was thinking of inviting you out for coffee. You're a big name in Hollywood now, and we actors need to stay in good terms with producers," Nicole's cheerful voice came through.

"Sure, no problem. I'll call you when I get back to LA," Charles responded, keeping Britney at bay.

"Alright, see you then!"

Charles hung up the phone, understanding Nicole's call likely concerned discussing the Mr. & Mrs. Smith script.

"Are you close with Nicole Kidman?" Britney asked, wrapped around Charles' neck.

"Not really, my mom manages an artist named Naomi Watts, who's friends with Nicole. She introduced us, and Nicole has helped me out once. I'm considering her for a role in a movie, so it's probably about that," Charles surmised.

Given Nicole's close ties with Miramax, especially frequent collaborations with Harvey Weinstein, he pondered his standing.

Could he really compare with Weinstein, the king of indie films, with no Oscars to his name?

Harvey Weinstein had amassed numerous Oscars, including major ones like Best Picture, Best Director, and both acting awards.

"So, you're heading back to LA?" Britney wasn't too pleased.

Charles kissed her gently, smiling, "I've got a movie premiering next month. It's crucial! I'll spend the next two days with you."

"Alright then!"

*****

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