Chapter 180

Martin participated in the first three days of casting, but after realizing that the chosen candidates for Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley were all the original actors from the movies he remembered from his previous life, he confidently left London and flew back to the United States.

Before leaving, however, he secured an actor for the role of Albus Dumbledore—Richard Harris.

The veteran English actor, who had portrayed Dumbledore in the original timeline, initially refused the crew's invitation. His reason? He didn't want to be typecast by such a universally recognized character.

Martin, however, took a different approach. He visited Richard Harris's granddaughter, 11-year-old Aina Harris, a passionate Harry Potter and Martin fan. After hearing about her grandfather's refusal, Aina was furious.

She gave her grandfather a "stern warning"—if he didn't play Dumbledore, she wouldn't speak to him again.

Richard Harris, without much choice, reluctantly accepted the role.

However, during a media interview, he couldn't hide his frustration: "Martin's too clever. He knows my weakness. He's just a little fox," he grumbled.

The reporters quickly relayed the comment to Martin, who couldn't help but laugh. He responded playfully, "Thank you, Professor Dumbledore, for the compliment. It's an honor to be praised by the greatest wizard in history."

As April rolled around, the filming for The Matrix finally began. The movie was originally planned as a four-part series, but Martin decided to condense it into three films, cutting down on some of the confusing scenes from the original and adding a few new, spectacular ones.

The film would be a collaboration with Warner Bros., and the deal was made under the contract between Cruise Pictures and Paramount. Warner Bros., who had initially rejected Pirates of the Caribbean, had been concerned that Martin might alienate them, but they eventually relented.

For the director, Martin once again turned to the Wachowski Brothers—before they became sisters—knowing they were the right fit for the film's visionary style. Martin was committed to using as much of the original cast as possible, avoiding any surprises. However, there was one role he was eager to make his own decision on: the role of Neo.

Martin decided to change the character of Neo from an adult to a high school student. After all, high school hackers would resonate more with the younger audience.

As Martin's first major commercial blockbuster, The Matrix was a film he cared about deeply. He made sure the main actors underwent extensive kung fu training to prepare for their roles. He also negotiated a significant publicity budget with Warner Bros.

Nicole Kidman stood beside Martin, watching the actors scream in pain as they struggled through their training. Her concern was palpable.

"Do we really have to do this kind of kung fu training?" she asked, clearly nervous.

"Of course," Martin replied, grinning. "You'll need at least three months of training."

Nicole looked at him, feeling a little overwhelmed. "Three months? What about you?"

Martin smiled confidently. "I don't need to train as much. I just need to remember the movements. These basic stretches, squats, and leg presses are no problem for me."

Nicole's eyes widened in disbelief. "And you're still going to be involved in the action scenes?"

"Of course," Martin said with a wink. "But don't worry, you'll look amazing in that black leather jacket when you're doing all those moves."

Nicole laughed. "I feel like I've stepped into a pirate movie."

"No," Martin teased, "you're stepping into my world."

Nicole rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling as she moved toward the training area.

Meanwhile, Yuan Heping, the legendary martial arts choreographer, approached Martin.

"Mr. Martin, would you like to try the moves yourself?"

"Are they ready?" Martin asked, clearly intrigued.

"Yes, they're well designed, with elements of Tai Chi and Bagua to ensure they look beautiful," Yuan replied.

The two walked over to an open space surrounded by a rope circle, where a young man stood ready to demonstrate.

"This is Tiger Chen," Yuan introduced. "He's my apprentice, and I asked him to practice the moves first."

Martin nodded. "Let's see it."

Tiger Chen moved into position and began his set of punches—a fluid combination of hardness and softness, with smooth, graceful steps. It was impressive, and even the actors training around him stopped to watch.

Once Tiger finished, Yuan asked, "What do you think, Mr. Martin?"

Martin smiled. "Very good. Let's do it exactly like that."

Yuan beamed. "Once you learn the movements and create muscle memory, it will be much easier when you perform them on camera. I'll have Tiger slow down and teach you each move, starting with single techniques and building up to the full routine."

Martin shook his head. "No need for that. I've got it."

Yuan's eyes widened in disbelief. "You've got it? After just one look? That's impossible."

Martin raised an eyebrow. "You don't believe me?"

Yuan hesitated. "This isn't a time to joke, Mr. Martin."

"Ha! You'll see," Martin replied with a grin. He took off his jacket and stood on the mat in just a black T-shirt and jeans. "Tiger, make some room for me."

Tiger stepped aside, still doubtful, but he couldn't deny Martin's strong, muscular build. The man had the physique of someone who looked like they practiced martial arts—not the typical muscle mass of someone who'd spent too much time in the gym.

Martin assumed the first position and began his set of moves.

Yuan's eyes went wide. He couldn't believe it—Martin was performing the moves flawlessly, every punch and step as precise as Tiger's demonstration.

The room fell silent as everyone watched in awe, realizing that Martin was not just the mastermind behind the film, but also a formidable martial artist in his own right.