novellhall Chapter 341 Iron Man's Surprise
Chapter 341 Iron Man's Surprise
Chapter 340 Iron Man's Surprise (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
Marvel Studios headquarters building.
Exclusive audition room on the top floor.
This audition room was set up temporarily; it was originally a meeting place for senior executives.
The audition room was packed.
The person in the main seat is Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige.
On the left is Jon Watts, director of "Spider-Man: Homecoming," and on the right are executives from Sony Pictures who flew in specifically from New York.
After all, the film and television rights to Spider-Man are still held by Sony, and even Kevin Feige cannot bypass them to finalize the casting.
In the back seats.
The core executives of Marvel's content department, IP management department, and publicity department were all present.
Even Robert Downey Jr., who was originally only required to join the cast and act alongside the male lead, specially canceled his schedule for the day and sat on the far side of the judges' panel, dressed in a casual suit and wearing sunglasses.
This setup is exactly the kind of spectacle a Hollywood A-list production's lead actor would ultimately decide on.
And all of this is because of one person.
Chen Xun.
The waiting area at the side entrance of the audition room.
The atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.
Tom Holland was repeatedly moving his facial muscles in front of the mirror, silently reciting his audition lines.
The once lively and cheerful boy now had a furrowed brow and unconsciously gripped the script he knew so well.
Asa Butterfield, standing next to him, leaned against the wall, closing his eyes and taking deep breaths.
Even Charlie Plummer, who is usually the most composed, was pacing back and forth, his script worn out from being flipped through so many times.
All three were outstanding candidates who stood out from thousands of auditionees.
They were originally confident that they would get the role.
But when the news came out three days ago that Chen Xun was going to participate in the final audition for Spider-Man, it instantly shattered all their confidence.
That's Chen Xun.
The first Chinese actor to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, winner of the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, and the core male lead in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy series.
He single-handedly turned Star-Lord, a second-tier hero, into a top-tier actor in the Marvel Universe.
The three of them were just newcomers, having only acted in a few low-budget productions at most.
Auditioning alongside an actor like Chen Xun, who stands at the pinnacle of Hollywood, is akin to an amateur fighter competing against a professional boxing champion—the pressure is so immense it's almost suffocating.
"Tom, do you think we still have a chance?"
Charlie Plummer stopped, his voice tinged with bitterness: "He's a Golden Globe winner, we have absolutely no chance against him."
Tom Holland lowered his hand and gave a wry smile: "My agent told me that Sony and Marvel had been arguing for half a month without deciding on the actor, and now everyone is waiting for his audition results. The three of us are more like runners-up now."
Asa Butterfield opened his eyes, sighed, and said nothing.
They all knew that even if Chen Xun's audition performance was only mediocre, Marvel and Sony would give him priority consideration based on his current global popularity, box office appeal, and industry status.
Moreover, no one would think that an actor who could win a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor would have a mediocre audition performance.
On the judges' panel, Robert Downey Jr. took off his sunglasses and unconsciously fiddled with his cup.
He was in a state of great inner conflict at that moment.
Prior to this, his favorite candidate had always been Tom Holland.
This kid is physically fit, knows acrobatics, and has a clean, youthful air about him that perfectly matches the fledgling Peter Parker who needs Iron Man's guidance. He also has a likable personality.
He had already spoken with Kevin Feige and was inclined to settle for Holland.
But the news that Chen Xun was going to participate in the audition completely disrupted his plans.
His first reaction was rejection, and he even felt somewhat uncomfortable.
He played Iron Man in Marvel for almost ten years and is the soul of the MCU, watching this universe being built up little by little.
Spider-Man is America's most popular superhero and a part of countless Americans' childhoods.
If a Chinese actor were to be cast in this role, his first thought would be something strange.
It's like handing over something you've protected for years to an outsider.
But over the years, he had witnessed every step Chen Xun took in Hollywood.
Not to mention, Chen Xun's accurate market predictions and deep understanding of the film's content have even earned high praise from Kevin Feige.
He couldn't help but feel a bit excited when he heard that such an actor was going to play Spider-Man.
He knows all too well what kind of soul a good actor can infuse into a character.
"Donnie, what do you think?"
Kevin Feige turned his head and asked in a low voice, "You're Iron Man, Peter Parker's mentor, your opinion matters."
Downey raised an eyebrow and said casually, "Let's see how the audition goes first. Whether someone can play Spider-Man isn't about how many awards they've won, but whether they can capture the soul of Peter Parker."
Despite saying that, his gaze still unconsciously drifted toward the entrance of the audition room.
The auditions officially began at 9:00 AM.
Charlie Plummer was the first to enter.
The audition scene he chose was the one where Peter Parker first donned his homemade suit to stop a robbery on the street, only to be surrounded by the police.
He portrayed the naivety of a young man, the panic and excitement of becoming a hero for the first time, vividly and skillfully, earning nods of approval from many judges.
Next to enter was Asa Butterfield.
He chose the scene where Peter Parker is alone in his room after Uncle Ben's death, staring blankly at Uncle Ben's photo.
The emotions progressed layer by layer, from suppressed sadness to a resolute look in the eyes. The acting was delicate and stable, and even Sony executives couldn't help but praise it in a low voice.
The third person to enter was Tom Holland.
He immediately chose the most challenging action scene.
The performance, without any props, showed Spider-Man swinging on webs between buildings and chasing villains. The body movements were fluid and natural, and even without special effects, the audience could clearly feel Spider-Man's agility, exuding youthful energy.
After a scene was finished, Downey smiled, clapped, and gave him a thumbs up.
After three auditions, each had its own highlights and unique characteristics.
Jon Watts looked at the rating sheet in his hand and couldn't help but sigh.
To be fair, all three children performed very well, far exceeding his expectations.
But for some reason, he always felt that something was missing from the performance of the three of them.
The core essence of the Spider-Man character is missing.
"We've watched all three of your auditions. Thank you for your hard work."
Kevin Feige spoke into the microphone, his gaze shifting to the entrance, pausing briefly before saying, "Next, please welcome the last auditionee, Chen Xun."
The moment those words were spoken, the entire audition room fell silent.
All eyes turned to the entrance of the audition room.
The side door was pushed open, and Chen Xun walked in slowly.
He wasn't wearing his usual well-tailored suit; instead, he wore a simple white hooded sweatshirt, washed denim jeans, and white sneakers. His hair was casually combed without any styling, and his face was clean and tidy, without even foundation.
The moment he stepped into the light, everyone in the room was stunned.
They've seen Star-Lord, the roguish and flamboyant character in Guardians of the Galaxy, the gentle and romantic Sebastian in La La Land, and the composed and reserved Best Actor Chen Xun at the Berlin Film Festival, but they've never seen him like this before.
The youthful energy is palpable!
He's just like that introverted, shy boy next door in every high school, who hides a sharp edge.
Everyone then suddenly realized that Chen Xun was only 24 years old this year.
He reached his peak right from the start, and the awards and achievements he won were so dazzling that everyone subconsciously overlooked the fact that he was only a few years older than Peter Parker.
He's very fitting to play a high school student now.
Jon Watts sat bolt upright, his eyes lighting up instantly, and the pen in his hand froze in mid-air.
His biggest worry was that Chen Xun, having won the Best Actor award, would have too strong an aura and wouldn't be able to portray the boy-next-door charm of Peter Parker.
But now it seems that his worries were completely unnecessary.
The three candidates in the waiting area saw this scene through the glass, and the color drained from their faces instantly.
The last shred of hope in my heart vanished completely.
Just by standing there, without acting anything, he already fits the image of Peter Parker. How can they be compared?
Chen Xun walked to the marked spot in the center of the audition room, bowed slightly to the judges' panel, and said in a calm tone: "Hello, teachers, I am Chen Xun, and the role I am auditioning for today is Peter Parker."
Kevin Feige smiled and nodded: "Chen, once you're ready, we can begin. Which scene would you like to try?"
"I'll choose two sections!"
Chen Xun smiled and said, "The first scene is the one where Peter Parker finds Uncle Ben in an alley after he is shot and watches him die."
"For the second scene, I'd like to ask Mr. Downey to help me with a scene, like the first time Peter Parker meets Tony Stark, in the hotel room. Is that okay?"
"
The moment those words were spoken, the entire room fell silent.
No one expected that Chen Xun would choose the most challenging dialogue scene in the entire film right from the start, and also have to improvise with Downey.
Downey paused for a moment, then raised an eyebrow, stood up, and walked to the center of the audition room with a smile, picking up the script on the table: "Of course, I want to see what a Golden Globe Best Actor is capable of."
He spoke jokingly, but he was actually on high alert.
He wanted to see what kind of Spider-Man this Chinese actor, who was being hailed as a superstar by all of Hollywood, could actually portray.
The lights dimmed, and the audition officially began.
There were no props, no set design, no special effects, only a spotlight shining on Chen Xun.
He slowly squatted down, and his once clear eyes instantly changed.
His pupils were filled with panic, his hand flailing in the air as if cradling his uncle who had been shot and collapsed. His lips trembled uncontrollably, and even his voice shook: "Uncle, look at me, the ambulance is coming soon! Hang in there!"
His eyes instantly reddened, tears welling up, but he stubbornly refused to let them fall.
That was the panic of a young man facing death for the first time, the collapse of losing his only relative, and hidden beneath that collapse was the self-blame for indirectly causing Uncle Ben's death because of his own willfulness.
One second he was a sunny and clean-cut boy next door, the next he was Peter Parker falling into the abyss.
He lowered his head, his forehead touching the void.
Hearing Uncle Ben's last words, "With great power comes great responsibility," tears finally fell.
But his eyes changed little by little the moment the tears fell.
From collapse, self-blame, and panic, to a gradual calming of determination, and the heavy burden of having to grow up overnight.
Without hysterical screams or exaggerated physical movements, the entire process of a young man losing his loved ones and taking on responsibility in an instant was fully presented to everyone through his eyes and micro-expressions.
It contains the sense of responsibility and heaviness etched into Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man, the deep-seated brokenness and tenderness of Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man, and the unique naiveté of Tom Holland's Spider-Man.
He perfectly blended the characteristics of the three versions together, ultimately creating a Peter Parker that was uniquely his own.
The audition room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone stared intently at Chen Xun in the light, their eyes filled with shock.
Jon Watts' pen had long since fallen onto the table, and he stood there with his mouth agape, unable to utter a single word.
Isn't this the Spider-Man he's been looking for for half a year?
Youthful spirit, a sense of brokenness, a sense of responsibility —
Chen Xun embodied all these qualities to the core, delivering a truly vivid and convincing performance.
Even Robert Downey Jr. looked at Chen Xun under the lights with surprise in his eyes.
The first scene has ended.
Chen Xun took a deep breath, adjusted his emotions for two seconds, and when he looked up again, he had transformed back into Peter Parker, the somewhat shy high school student who had been called to Iron Man's hotel room.
He stood there, nervously clutching the hem of his hoodie, avoiding eye contact with Donnie, and stealing glances every now and then.
He perfectly captured the awkwardness and unease of a teenager, just like an ordinary student being called to the front of their idol.
Downey instantly got into character.
Arms crossed, eyebrows raised, he looked at him casually, in Tony Stark's tone, and said, "You, a kid who hasn't even grown his hair yet, are the friendly neighbor Spider-Man from Queens?"
Chen Xun lowered his head even further, his ear tips turning red, and whispered, "It's—it's me."
"Yeah?"
Donnie took a step forward, closing in on him: "I saw your video. You were pretty good at fighting those thugs on the street, but do you know how dangerous what you did was?"
Chen Xun subconsciously took half a step back, but then suddenly stopped, raised his head, and looked at Donnie.
The hesitation in his eyes disappeared, replaced by the stubbornness of a young man. Even when facing Iron Man, he did not back down in the slightest: "I just want to help those who need help."
"If I have the ability to prevent bad things from happening, but I don't do it, then it's my responsibility if something bad happens."
This statement is the core essence of Spider-Man.
When he said those words, Donnie's heart skipped a beat.
He looked at Chen Xun in front of him. He was still the same boy in the hoodie, but his aura had completely changed.
His eyes held the purity of youth, the unwavering commitment to justice, and a deep-seated sense of responsibility.
In that instant, he saw not the actor Chen Xun, but the living, breathing Peter Parker.
The impromptu scene ended, and the lights came back on.
Chen Xun straightened up and bowed slightly to the judges' panel.
The entire room remained completely silent.
Jon Watts was the first to jump up, clapping enthusiastically until his face flushed: "Perfect! This is the Spider-Man I wanted! This is Peter Parker!"
Kevin Feige stood up with a smile, clapped vigorously, and his eyes were full of admiration that he had just realized it.
Sony's executives also stood up, clapping and excitedly exchanging ideas.
Robert Downey Jr. walked up to Chen Xun, smiled, extended his hand, and shook it firmly, his tone full of approval: "Chen, you acted wonderfully!"
This statement essentially finalizes the outcome.
The three candidates in the waiting area watched Chen Xun's entire audition through the glass, and they all looked disheveled, completely losing their previous high spirits.
They had to admit that Chen Xun's performance was a complete game-changer.
They played Spider-Man, and Chen Xun was Spider-Man himself.
Tom Holland gave a wry smile and put down his script: "There's no need to compete anymore. We accept our defeat wholeheartedly."
The applause in the audition room lasted for a long time.
Kevin Feige picked up the microphone, looked at the audience, and announced with a smile: "I think we don't need to vote anymore. The final choice for Peter Parker, the male lead in 'Spider-Man: Homecoming,' is—"
—Chen Xun!
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire audience erupted in thunderous cheers once again.