"Richard, what kind of role do you play in The Talented Mr. Ripley?" asked the host, Conan, on the set of TNT's talk show in Los Angeles.
"A piano teacher—young, handsome, and refined. A really great guy, just like me," Richard replied with a smirk, lounging on the couch.
"Richard, there you go again, bragging," Jude Law teased.
"Hey, it's the truth," Richard said, playfully waving his fist. "Do you dare to deny it?"
"Uh, I wouldn't dare!" Jude Law shook his head, laughing.
"Richard, your character is supposed to be a refined teacher, not a boxing champion, so please don't blow your cover," Gwyneth Paltrow added with a smile.
"Thank you for the reminder," Richard chuckled, lowering his fist.
"Richard, everyone knows you as a world boxing champion, a powerhouse. But on screen, you often play a completely different type of character. Is that because you prefer these kinds of roles?" the host inquired.
"Not really. I enjoy acting and playing different characters. Before I became a boxing champion, I was often cast in more artistic roles, like the piano teacher in The Talented Mr. Ripley. The reason is simple: my image fits. After becoming a champion, I started getting more action roles, again because they suited me," Richard explained with a grin.
"Richard, I heard that while filming this movie, you were also preparing for a boxing match. Did that affect your training?" the host asked.
"Not much. Even on set, I would stick to about four hours of training a day. My scenes weren't too extensive, so I had plenty of time to balance both," Richard responded.
"I heard you were attacked by a shark while filming The Talented Mr. Ripley. Is that true?" the host pressed further.
"That happened after my scenes were wrapped. I stayed on the island to train, and during one dive, a baby shark sneaked up on me. I punched it away and only got a minor injury," Richard clarified.
"Gwyneth, Jude, were either of you there when this happened?" the host asked, turning to the other guests.
"I wasn't. My scenes were done in August, so I left the set early. When I heard about it afterward, I was shocked. Luckily, he was okay," Jude Law replied with a smile.
"I was there, and I saw his wound. It was pretty scary. For two months after that, I couldn't even eat meat," Gwyneth said, wrinkling her nose at the memory.
"Richard, did you compete in a match with that injury?" the host asked.
"No, my injury looked worse than it was. I was fully recovered after a month of rest," Richard said with a laugh.
"Alright," the host nodded, moving back to movie-related questions.
The interview continued, focusing on behind-the-scenes stories from the movie. As part of the promotional tour, Richard, along with Gwyneth, Jude Law, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, traveled in small groups to promote the film across different locations.
After several days of promotion, on November 12th, The Talented Mr. Ripley premiered in 960 theaters across the United States. It earned $12.2 million in its opening weekend, ranking fourth behind Toy Story 2, The World Is Not Enough, and Sleepy Hollow. The film performed well, and the reviews were mostly positive, especially praising the three leads—Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jude Law. Jude Law, in particular, received the most acclaim for capturing the essence of a playboy.
As for Richard, some reviews noted that he portrayed his role as a handsome and refined piano teacher quite well, to the point where one could hardly believe he was a boxing champion. However, many critics felt that his performance was somewhat out of place, describing it as "a tiger dressed as a lamb," which led to mixed reviews.
"These critics are impossible to please," Richard said, setting down the newspaper in his office.
"Don't let it get to you. You're a boxing champion; breaking into this circle isn't easy," Old Hall reassured him with a smile.
"Yes, the more famous you are as a champion, the narrower your acting range becomes. It's going to be tough finding the right roles in the future," Richard sighed.
Old Hall chuckled. "Don't worry. Your situation is similar to Stallone and Schwarzenegger's. They were both muscle-bound action stars—Stallone had Rocky and Rambo, and Schwarzenegger had The Terminator. If you can create your own movie series, you could become an action superstar too."
Richard nodded in agreement, realizing that this made perfect sense.In addition to the two muscle-bound stars Old Hall mentioned, there are also Mel Gibson's Lethal Weapon series, Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible series, and Bruce Willis's Die Hard series. Most top-tier stars have their own successful movie franchises.
So, where's my franchise?
Richard pondered this as he reviewed Vin Diesel's filmography. The Chronicles of Riddick and Fast & Furious had both become series, but neither seemed to have catapulted Vin Diesel into the upper echelons of action stardom. It seemed that just having two series wasn't enough.
"Richard, the James Bond series has been doing well at the box office, but the current star, Pierce Brosnan, is getting older and his salary demands are high. MGM might be considering a replacement. If we could land that role for you, it could be your ticket to becoming an action superstar," Old Hall suggested with a sly smile.
"James Bond?" Richard stroked his chin thoughtfully. "That sounds promising, but The World Is Not Enough just came out. When would the next film be?"
"Waiting is fine," Old Hall replied. "You haven't had a breakout success in films yet, and you don't have a signature hit. Right now, your chances of landing the role are slim. But in a couple of years, who knows?"
Richard nodded slightly. "Old Hall, keep an eye on the big studios. If any spy movie roles come up, let's go for them."
"Will do. My goal before I retire is to see you become an action superstar."
"Haha, that's something to look forward to," Richard laughed.
Knock, knock, knock—the sound of someone at the door interrupted their conversation.
"Richard, Old Hall, it's time to clock out. Want to hit the bar with me?" Anthony asked as he walked in.
"You guys go ahead; I'll pass," Old Hall said, waving them off.
"Come on, let's head to the Fist Bar and watch some boxing. It's lively there," Richard suggested.
"Yeah, Old Hall, I heard that seniors have trouble sleeping. Are you sure you'll be able to sleep if you go home this early?" Anthony teased.
Old Hall thought for a moment and then agreed with a nod.
The three of them called up another colleague, Stephen, who was also working late at the office, and together they left the building.
"Anthony, I ran into Michelle at the Victoria's Secret show the other day. She mentioned you," Richard said as they drove.
"Haha, she told me," Anthony replied.
"Oh, so you two still keep in touch?" Richard asked curiously.
"Yeah, we talk on the phone and text pretty regularly," Anthony said, holding up his phone.
"And what's your relationship now?" Richard pressed.
"We're just friends," Anthony answered.
"Just friends? You haven't dated anyone in almost a year, and you're not hitting the clubs anymore. What's your plan? You're almost twenty-six; it's time to think about settling down. Cathy's been concerned about it," Richard said.
"My mom's a pain. She keeps nagging me on the phone and now she's got you doing it too," Anthony groaned, shaking his head.
"So, what's your take on it?" Richard asked.
"I'm not in a rush. I want to focus on building the company first; then I'll think about marriage," Anthony replied.
"I don't think getting married would hurt your career. Or are you still hung up on Michelle and planning to break up her family?" Richard asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
Anthony grinned, "No, nothing like that. I just played around with too many women in the past, and now I'm sick of it. I need a break. How's that for a reason?"
"Suit yourself. But remember to call home. Cathy said you haven't called in nearly a month," Richard reminded him.
"I don't want to. Every time I do, they ask when I'm getting married. It's driving me crazy. Sometimes I envy you," Anthony said.
"Shut up. If my parents were still around, I'd never make them worry about me," Richard chuckled.
"Alright, alright. I'll call them," Anthony said, shrugging.
"By the way, I've noticed Evan and Shanna around the office a lot lately. Haven't you lined up any auditions for them?" Richard asked.
"I have. We treat all our newcomers the same. Evan and Shanna have both gone to about seven or eight auditions. Evan has a decent look, but his acting skills are poor. We managed to get him a supporting role, but he was replaced by the production team within days. Shanna's even worse—she gets nervous in front of the camera and forgets her lines," Anthony sighed. "I have to admit, I'm not as good as you at spotting talent. The actors you've picked—Jessica, Lisa, Franco, and Naomi—are all amazing."
Richard smiled, "What's your plan for them? Keep trying?"
"We've invested in them for a few months now, so it wouldn't be cost-effective to give up. I'm giving them a bit more time. If they don't improve, they'll have to either leave or stay on as assistants or agents. They've gotten familiar with the business, and I'd feel bad kicking them out," Anthony said.
Richard nodded in agreement. That seemed like a fair approach.
They arrived at the Fist Bar, where Richard parked the car. After waiting for Old Hall and Stephen to catch up, the four of them went inside together.
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