After going around in circles...
Caught in a mix of hesitation, doubt, and unease, Edgar still had lingering concerns about the script and the overall project. Despite that, he obediently handed the script over to Anson while continuing to gather information about the project.
Whether we like it or not, a bit of fate always plays a role between an actor and a piece of work. Anson's encounter with Walk the Line was not a simple coincidence.
To be more precise, Johnny Cash spotting Anson amidst the glitz and glamour of Hollywood carried a sense of destiny.
According to the intel Edgar gathered, the first person to mention Anson's name among the backup actors wasn't Ketcher or Mangold—it was Johnny Cash himself.
Initially, Johnny's attention was entirely focused on Joaquin Phoenix, believing he could see a reflection of his younger self in Joaquin's eyes.
However, by a stroke of fate, Johnny caught sight of the music video for "Wake Me Up" on TV, rekindling a memory he had of the profound impression "Ho Hey" once made on him. After watching a video of August 31st Band's unplugged street tour in Europe, his eyes lit up.
"That's him. That's the kid," Johnny had said.
At least, that's the version of the story Edgar heard, though there's no way to verify it directly with Johnny now.
Unfortunately, Johnny Cash passed away last month, just five months after his wife, June Carter. He joined her in death.
When it comes to fate, some believe in it, while others don't. Everyone interprets it differently.
But without a doubt, Anson catching Johnny Cash's attention is the stuff of legend.
This past summer, August 31st Band took Europe by storm, and their album Midnight in Summer skyrocketed in popularity. From the long climb of "Ho Hey" to the Billboard Hot 100's number one spot for "Long Live Life," everything about their rise felt like a legend.
Warner Records had been patiently waiting for the right moment to spark the next explosion.
"Wake Me Up" was their trump card.
The success of "Long Live Life" exceeded all expectations, prompting Warner to delay the release of "Wake Me Up" until the first week of August. They then released a music video for the track, using footage from the band's European street tour. The song hit radio and television stations everywhere.
For the first time.
Up until that point, August 31st Band had never filmed a music video, nor had they actively promoted their songs on TV or radio. Their success was built purely on word of mouth.
But now, Warner seized the moment.
Johnny Cash happened to catch the band's music video on MTV—it was "Wake Me Up" that triggered his memory of "Ho Hey," which he'd heard on a radio show and found unforgettable.
This was Anson's first entry into Johnny's radar.
Upon learning that Anson was also an actor, Johnny didn't hesitate to appoint him as the lead in his biopic.
Warner Records could never have predicted this.
It also proved, once again, that everything is interconnected in this world.
Both Ketcher and Mangold were caught off guard.
Their first reaction?
"The Spider-Man kid? Are you crazy? He can't act! All he's done is pose in front of a green screen. What else can he do?"
However, Johnny remained adamant. At the time, he was still grieving June Carter's death.
"If June were here, she'd understand."
"Everyone used to say all she had was a pretty face, and if it weren't for being part of the Carter family, she wouldn't have gotten any chance to record music."
"But you all know that was a lie."
June Carter was the sister of Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States. The two were close, and the Carter family often gathered for reunions.
June's career, though, was largely self-made. When she began singing, Jimmy hadn't even entered politics yet. But people love to create conspiracy theories in hindsight, masking their ignorance with prejudice.
Johnny's words led Mangold to yield first.
After all, when Mangold cast Angelina Jolie in Girl, Interrupted, many thought he'd lost his mind and had no idea what he was doing.
Clearly, Mangold wasn't someone who judged others at face value. His ability to extract unique qualities from actors came from his patience and keen observation.
So, he believed Anson deserved a chance.
After diving deeper into the matter, Mangold was completely blown away by the revolution happening in the music world—something he had neither understood nor cared about.
It was overwhelming.
In the first week of August, "Wake Me Up" was officially released as the third single from Midnight in Summer.
With the foundation laid by the previous two singles, the album, which had once gathered dust in obscurity, was now front and center in the public eye. Warner Records strategically reminded everyone how the August 31st Band had risen step by step to their current place, long before the album even launched.
Just like the title of the song, "Wake Me Up," memories that had been dormant for nearly two years slowly began to awaken in the minds of listeners.
"That's them!"
"I know this song!"
"Finally! It's been almost two years, and I've been searching for this song!"
"Oh my god, it's this song!"
"So, it's the August 31st Band!"
One after another, people were enlightened and thrilled. For those who hadn't already heard "Ho Hey" and "Long Live Life," there was no way they could miss it now.
The craze had begun.
At the time of "Wake Me Up"'s release:
Beyoncé and Jay-Z's duet "Crazy in Love" was sitting at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, with the August 31st Band's "Long Live Life" at number two, while "Ho Hey" still held its spot in the top ten. 50 Cent even had three singles in the top ten.
The competition was fierce, and it was clear.
Earlier that year, die-hard music fans joked in online forums that the music market in 2003 was split three ways between the August 31st Band, Beyoncé, and 50 Cent. The question for the second half of the year was whether someone would emerge as the undisputed champion or if it would remain a battle between many contenders.
The buzz was everywhere.
In the first half of the year, 50 Cent dominated. In the second half, Beyoncé was on fire.
"Crazy in Love" claimed three consecutive weeks at number one, then five, then seven... and kept rising.
For two whole months, despite fierce competition from the August 31st Band, 50 Cent, and other chart-topping hits of various genres, no one could dislodge Beyoncé. Her solo debut after Destiny's Child was making a powerful statement.
So, the question remained—who could finally break Beyoncé's winning streak?