"Mm..."
Anson gently raised his chin and stretched out the last syllable, showing a pensive expression.
"So, you noticed me not because of my acting work, but because of the band?"
The tone was loaded with meaning, making it hard to tell if this was a good or bad thing.
However, Mangold didn't care, nor did he bother reading into Anson's expression.
"Yes."
Simply and directly, Mangold admitted it.
"We heard 'Ho Hey.' By the way, that's a great track. We loved 'Ho Hey,' but with 'Long Live Life,' we felt..."
Mangold paused for a moment, not saying much more. He waved his right hand as if he was struggling to find the words.
"Haha." Anson burst out laughing. This Mangold guy was definitely a character.
Beside him, Kitche facepalmed.
Yet, Mangold seemed totally oblivious to his bluntness, barging through the conversation like a bull in a china shop.
"To put it simply, we like you."
"Johnny too. To be precise, Johnny was the first to mention you. He thought you might bring a pleasant surprise. It was an unexpected but right choice."
"We all agreed."
"In my vision, every performance in the entire movie needs to be done by the actors themselves. We not only need live singing, but even the equipment will all be the old stuff from the '60s and '70s. Everything as authentic as possible to capture Johnny's charm."
"So, singing is acting, and it's a crucial part."
"Considering everything, you're the best choice."
"No, the perfect choice!"
Finally, after a long-winded explanation, Mangold got to the point.
This was indeed unexpected.
Anson hadn't expected that what started as a casual band project could actually land him an acting job. It was quite a surprise.
Anson looked seriously at Mangold, "But?"
Because Mangold's words suggested a twist was coming.
Kitche shook his head repeatedly.
Unfortunately, Kitche wasn't quick enough to stop Mangold.
"But, we're worried about your acting." Mangold didn't mince words.
Kitche covered his face with both hands, utterly despairing.
Mangold finally noticed Kitche's reaction but didn't care. "Hey, James, let's be honest. Anson isn't Joaquin, right? You've always been concerned about Anson's acting, haven't you?"
Kitche couldn't hold it any longer and let out a groan, "Oh God, James, you really need to learn how to shut up. The world would be a much better place."
Mangold wasn't fazed at all. "I bet you want me to shut up and let you feed Anson some Hollywood PR crap that you don't even believe yourselves. Trust me, Anson's smart. He'd know you're lying."
"In my opinion, honesty is a form of respect."
Kitche raised his hands in surrender, refusing to argue further.
Mangold turned back to Anson.
"We got Joaquin Phoenix. You know Joaquin Phoenix, right?"
Anson nodded in agreement—
Joaquin Phoenix, the younger brother of the late River Phoenix. Although he started acting in the early '90s, he had long lived in his brother's shadow as the "genius prodigy."
In 1993, River tragically passed away from an overdose outside Johnny Depp's nightclub. Both Johnny Depp and Joaquin Phoenix were there.
His brother's death had always been a haunting shadow for Joaquin.
In 2000, with his brilliant performance in Gladiator, Joaquin was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars, finally making a name for himself as a prominent actor. He went on to become one of the most exceptional performers of his generation, with standout roles in The Master, Her, and others, ultimately winning Best Actor at the 92nd Academy Awards for Joker.
So how could Anson not know Joaquin?
Mangold, though, continued on without paying attention.
"Joaquin openly admitted he lacked confidence in playing the role, in portraying the character, and in performing live. He's not a professional singer."
Anson interjected, "Neither am I."
Mangold was momentarily stunned, "But to us, you're professional enough."
Anson smiled, "Thanks."
Mangold grinned. "Exactly."
"So, we've been weighing our options. We know you have a reputation—a pretty face, a guy who could make it big just on looks alone."
"Choosing Joaquin, or some other actor, they might nail the acting but could be a disaster in the music department."
"Choosing you, your live performances and musical interpretation would be flawless, but the acting could be a challenge."
Anson quipped, "Ouch."
No further words were needed. Anson clutched his chest and let out a playful groan—that said it all.
Mangold's expression became a bit awkward. He froze mid-gesture, looking slightly embarrassed as he met Anson's gaze.
"Too sharp?"
"I thought I had thick skin, but apparently, I need more practice."
"Sorry, I guess I just don't know when to stop. How about we start over?"
"To get roasted all over again?"
Despite the banter, both men smiled, and soon they were laughing in sync.
Mangold raised his right hand. "But Anson, there's one more thing."
"Yes, we have concerns; but after meeting you, those worries disappeared."
"Ask him. We all agree now—you're the best choice."
Kitche nodded frantically.
"So, what do you think? Does that 'but' sound convincing enough?"
Both Jameses turned to Anson.
Anson pondered for a moment, "So this is the conclusion of your initial answer? I've made the cut, right?"
Mangold nodded enthusiastically, "Once we met in person, we could feel it. You may not look exactly like Johnny, but there's a strange connection in your aura and charm."
Kitche finally joined in, "It's the way you interact with others, the way you handle strangers, your smile, your gestures—it's the best reasoning we have."
"Remember 'The Man in Black'?"
"That nickname originally came about because of Johnny. Throughout most of his career, he always wore black."
Mangold naturally added, "Though I've never said this, Joaquin's height is way off compared to Johnny's."
"In Hollywood, finding someone tall, handsome, and striking like Johnny isn't easy."
Tom Cruise, Robert Downey Jr., Joaquin Phoenix, Tobey Maguire—all caught a stray bullet in that remark.
Mangold looked Anson up and down once more, "All I can think right now is that you're the perfect choice. I truly hope you'll take this role. This will be a masterpiece. I guarantee it."
Kitche nodded again, "Completely. One hundred percent."
The two Jameses, playing off each other in unison, conveyed their passion and conviction, their overwhelming enthusiasm washing over Anson.
He could clearly feel their energy, burning like a roaring fire.
His gaze shifted between the two men, a smile quietly creeping up on his face.
"So, let me summarize and see if I've got it right?"