"Also, I need to clarify something. Roy wasn't picked up from the streets by me. It was his allure, his potential that caught my eye and brought him to Hollywood. People can't choose their backgrounds, and their past life doesn't have much to do with their future. If it does, it's a motivation for them to keep progressing," said Laila.
This was the first time Anthony had seen Laila provide such a detailed response to a question, showing how important Roy was in her heart. He knew when to change the topic, so he redirected the conversation back to the movies.
"Tell us about Roy's performance in 'Chicago.' When he got the role, it sparked some discussions. Do you think he was suitable for such a role, especially considering you mentioned his poor dance skills earlier?"
While this question seemed somewhat critical, it also provided Laila with an opportunity to defend Roy.
She sensed his rare goodwill and nodded, "I think many people assume that I recommended Roy for the male lead role in 'Chicago' just because I'm the director."
"In reality, it wasn't like that at all. I had no involvement in the casting process, and I only received the final list. I had no idea Roy was auditioning until he told me after passing the second round."
"As for those concerned about his performance, I believe that when the movie is released, everyone will see for themselves. Right now, even if I were to praise him excessively, no one would believe it," Laila chuckled. "Let the facts speak for themselves."
Anthony also smiled, "It seems like you're quite satisfied with his performance. So, do you plan to continue using him for the main role in 'Iron Man'?"
"No, in my opinion, he's not suitable for Iron Man," Laila replied. Many directors have their go-to actors and crew to ensure smooth collaboration and shooting. However, Laila didn't see it as an advantage. Regardless of an actor's talent, there are roles they excel in and others they don't. Roy had already played a role, Captain Jack, that would remain popular for a long time. If he were cast as Iron Man, it could potentially break the immersion for some viewers.
"So, what kind of character do you envision for Iron Man?"
This was an easy question to answer, and Laila replied without hesitation, "It should be slightly different from his portrayal in the comics. Comic Tony Stark is intriguing, but he's always questioning himself. In my vision, Iron Man should be passionate, charismatic, and a bit rebellious, even a bit narcissistic."
The original character had been adjusted this way, altering Tony Stark's personality to make him more appealing to the audience. Otherwise, why would Iron Man, a second-tier superhero in the comic book realm, become such a beloved character in the movies? This adjustment had been very successful, and Laila had no intention of changing it.
"Do you already have someone in mind for the role? Can you reveal their name?"
Looking at Anthony's eager eyes, Laila hesitated for a moment but decided to mention Robert Downey Jr.'s name to gauge the audience's reaction to him playing Iron Man.
"He is Robert Downey Jr."
This name left Anthony momentarily stunned. If he recalled correctly, that guy had been in some second-rate TV shows and unimportant supporting roles in movies since he got out of prison. Was it appropriate to cast such a person as a superhero?
"Why him? From what I know, he hasn't had any good roles for a long time," Anthony said, not mentioning that Downey's charm had likely faded since his downfall. Could such a person be suitable for playing a superhero?
"I understand your skepticism," Laila said, shaking her head with a smile. She, too, had been worried about him in the beginning. "You asked me what Iron Man looks like in my vision, and I can confidently say that Downey is my Iron Man."
This was the truth. Her past experience with Iron Man had left a deep impression, deep enough that she would find it odd to cast anyone else in the role. If the connection weren't so profound, she would have replaced him and saved herself the stress.
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I couldn't imagine what kind of Iron Man he would bring to us," Anthony voiced the thoughts of everyone present. Well, everyone in this context only referred to the photographer and assistant he had brought along. However, he was confident that once today's interview was published, there would be no concerns about the newspaper's sales.
The one-hour interview went by quickly. Anthony left satisfied, and the photographer and assistant, who were sweating bullets over his questions, hurriedly bid farewell and left.
They didn't say it out loud, but in their hearts, they secretly swore that they would not participate in another interview with the boss. No, they would definitely not participate in interviews with Anthony ever again; it was utterly horrifying! How could he dare to ask such pointed questions and make the boss answer them? He was perfectly fine, but those standing by watching were nearly scared out of their wits!
Anthony was completely unscathed and, upon returning to the company, had his team compile Laila's interview. Just like the last time, he decided to split the single interview into several parts to be printed in the newspaper. Laila's interview opportunities were so scarce that he had to rack his brains each time to maximize the benefits. Fortunately, he received a good salary, or else he wouldn't know how to replenish all the brainpower he had consumed.
The next day, the first part of the interview was prominently placed in the newspaper, with the headline reading, "Laila's Interview Part One: Tell Roy I Still Love Him."
Laila, upon seeing this headline, nearly exploded. She wished she could immediately call Anthony over and punch him hard. What was that? Huh? It was just misleading clickbait!
Anthony had included her answers about Roy and spun them into a romantic story. If she didn't know better, she'd think she was reading a fairytale!
She had answered the questions seriously, so why did the article make it seem like a tear-jerker love story from "Gone with the Wind" or "Titanic"?
But she had to admit that the newspaper's sales would undoubtedly skyrocket. Even her grandfather called her to praise Anthony for being a smart and effective operator.
As for Roy, he didn't need any words. After reading the newspaper, he went directly to her and nearly drowned her in his eyes, filled with emotions and tenderness.