It was early October, and Lucas still had some time before his audition for "The Hunger Games" with Lionsgate, scheduled for November.
After the hectic schedule of "Inception" promotions, due to his contract obligations, Lucas missed out on joining the indie film "Drive," which went to Ryan Gosling instead.
Meanwhile, the indie film "Drive" had gone with Ryan Gosling, but there was still a chance for "50/50" if he moved quickly. Lucas had been in touch with Will Reiser and Seth Rogen. Now, he was on his way from Los Angeles to Vancouver, Canada, where production for the new project awaited.
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In Vancouver, at the location provided by Summit Entertainment for "50/50," Will Reiser and Seth Rogen were discussing the film's casting. Originally, production was scheduled to start earlier, considering James McAvoy and other actors like Lucas Knight for a key role.
However, due to scheduling conflicts, many potential candidates were unavailable. McAvoy, who had impressed both Will and Seth with his audition, stood out particularly as other auditions didn't measure up. This left them leaning towards McAvoy for the part.
Just as Summit Entertainment, along with Will and Seth, thought "50/50" was set to proceed smoothly, James McAvoy unexpectedly left the project due to the joyous occasion of his child's birth. This sudden departure threw the casting for the role of Adam into disarray. With Joseph Gordon-Levitt unavailable due to a busy schedule, the production team turned to Lucas Knight, who was free at the time. Without other options, they decided to forgo further auditions and offered the role directly to Lucas.
Although Lucas Knight's standout performance was mainly from his debut in "127 Hours," this was enough to catch the production team's attention. They couldn't be sure if Lucas was a consistent actor or if his intense performance in "127 Hours" was just a one-off success. However, his compelling performance in that film was the initial reason they considered him for "50/50" in the first place.
"I really hope Lucas can nail this role, given our tight schedule, we've had to fast-track him to the lead," Will sighed.
"I'm confident he'll deliver. Did you see his work in '127 Hours'? He was phenomenal, and frankly, that role was tougher than Adam's," Seth replied, full of optimism.
"Let's hope so." Will nodded. While Lucas's performance as Aron Ralston in "127 Hours" showcased his ability to handle physically and emotionally taxing roles, the character of Adam, grappling with a sudden cancer diagnosis, requires a different approach. Lucas's acting needs to adapt to the subtleties and nuances of Adam's journey. If he were to approach Adam with the same intensity as Aron, it might not translate well and could come off as excessive or misplaced.
"I know you're concerned about how the film, which is based on your life, will turn out," Seth reassured his friend. "If Lucas isn't the right fit, we could consider waiting for Joseph Gordon-Levitt to free up or revisit James McAvoy once he's ready after his family commitments."
"I don't think the producers and Summit Entertainment will be willing to wait that long. It's already been delayed enough," Will said with a chuckle.
"Then let's just pray everything will go well with Lucas," Seth replied, his tone laced with seriousness as he patted Will on the back. Will just laughed, knowing well that Seth wasn't one for religious sentiments, and recognized his words were said in jest.
Will appreciated Seth's effort to lighten the mood with humor. Reflecting on the situation, Will realized that maintaining an optimistic outlook wasn't unfounded. Lucas Knight had demonstrated considerable talent, especially with his notable performance in "Inception," which had significantly raised his profile in the industry. It made sense to hold onto hope for Lucas's contribution to their project.
Moreover, despite the serious tone that "50/50" might convey at first glance, Will and Seth had already laid out plans to infuse the film with comedy elements. Upon reviewing Lucas's resume, which boasted his comedic prowess, particularly showcased through his portrayal of Dylan in "Modern Family," Will couldn't help but feel a glimmer of optimism that Lucas might be just right for the role.
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As the plane landed at the airport at Vancouver, Lucas wasted no time. He quickly hailed a taxi to get to the 50/50 production set. Along the way, he reached out to Seth over the phone to let him know he was on his way.
Upon arriving at the set, Lucas was warmly welcomed by Seth and Will.
Seth reached out for a handshake, his smile genuine. "Pleasure to meet you, Lucas Knight. We're thrilled to have you here."
Lucas returned the smile, feeling the warmth of the greeting. "Likewise, Mr. Rogen."
Seth chuckled lightly. "Just Seth, please."
Then it was Will's turn to introduce himself. "Hey there, I'm Will Reiser. Feel free to just call me Will."
Lucas shook hands with Will, saying as he walked inside the house alongside Seth and Will, "It's great to see you, Will." He paused before inquiring, "If I'm not mistaken, you're the writer of the project '50/50'?" Although Lucas already knew Will was the writer and that the project was based on his life, he still asked to familiarize himself with Seth and Will.
"You are correct. In fact, this project's story is based on his life. He originally named this project 'I'm with Cancer' before the executives at Summit Entertainment were 'turned off' and demanded a change. Consequently, it was renamed '50/50,'" Seth explained, albeit in a light and humorous tone.
Lucas chuckled softly at Seth's explanation, finding the situation amusing. Will joined in, raising an eyebrow at Seth's shrug. "What do you mean, 'turned off'?" he retorted before turning to Lucas with a nod. "Yeah, that's right. The story behind this project is based on my life. Admittedly, my life might not seem all that exciting for the screen, but Seth and my friends convinced me that it could inspire others..."
Lucas nodded in agreement, genuinely touched by the potential impact. "I agree with them. Your journey as a cancer survivor, portrayed in the script, could definitely be a source of inspiration for others going through similar situations."
As they conversed, Lucas felt himself becoming more at ease with the two industry veterans, discussing the ins and outs of the 50/50 film project and gradually breaking down any remaining barriers of unfamiliarity between them.