Every time Gilbert launched a new movie project, it undoubtedly became the focus of the entire Hollywood.
Each time he selected actors, and the roles they would play, it sparked widespread discussion in Hollywood.
This time was no exception. The released role was a protagonist named Elizabeth Swann a protagonist! Oh God!
The character profile described her as the daughter of the British royal governor, a noblewoman who falls in love with a young blacksmith named Will Turner.
Immediately, all the British actresses were moved. And actresses from other countries weren't disappointed either. After all, opportunities are earned through effort.
The character could be British, but the actress didn't have to be. Just look at Harry Potter the actor playing Harry Potter was American.
Many actresses with powerful connections started pulling strings, hoping to secure a chance at the role, or even just a shot at auditioning anything to get on Gilbert's radar.
Gilbert's assistant director, Annie Burton, even mentioned to him that she encountered a few aspiring actresses who wanted to kiss her to get ahead.
But Annie Burton preferred handsome men and had no interest in women, so she turned them down.
Besides, Annie Burton was already a mother of two. She had long since stopped engaging in such casting couch tricks.
Casting director Richard, on the other hand, was enjoying himself. Generally, only Gilbert had the final say on lead roles. Richard didn't have that authority.
But aside from the main characters, the minor roles those with a few lines or brief screen time were usually not on Gilbert's radar.
The actors selected by the casting director would be listed and submitted to Gilbert, who would review and approve them without much issue.
Of course, if any of the chosen actors failed to perform well or didn't fit the role, the casting director would be held responsible by Gilbert.
That said, although Richard liked to have fun, he never made basic mistakes. Work always came first.
Gilbert also understood that making movies as a team wasn't about finding moral role models. His art director, Serena, loved sleeping with handsome men often more than one at a time but never let it affect her work.
As for people's private lives, Gilbert never interfered. As long as the work wasn't compromised, he didn't care. If someone did mess up, they had to take responsibility for it.
In reality, most Hollywood crews were the same. If you came to Hollywood looking for moral paragons, you were definitely in the wrong place.
Back to the casting of the female lead since it had been publicly announced, and since it was Gilbert himself who would conduct the audition the attention surrounding the Elizabeth Swann role was immense.
George Lucas even gave Gilbert a call: "Gilbert, can you give Nat a shot at the audition? She's really interested in the role."
In fact, Natalie Portman wasn't interested in the role. She was interested in Gilbert.
She had met Gilbert when she was still young, while filming Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, and they had made an ice cream promise together.
But afterward, they didn't have much contact or interaction.
Natalie Portman was a deeply calculating actress. When it came to scheming in Hollywood, there were few who could match her.
This time, Natalie Portman was looking to reconnect with Gilbert. A union between two Hollywood "squid bloods" would surely be the most exciting prospect for the squid faction.
As for Gilbert's many women, Natalie Portman didn't care. After marriage, they could live their own lives, do their own things she was fine with that.
So she turned to George Lucas, who believed in her strongly, to help secure an audition.
And George Lucas's request was something Gilbert had to honor. So he didn't think too much and simply said, "No problem. Just have Nat come over to audition when the time comes.
But George, let me be upfront I won't cast Nat if she doesn't perform well at the audition."
Though Gilbert said it was about performance, he had already ruled Natalie Portman out. While her acting was solid, she didn't match the character's image.
George Lucas understood this as well. "Just giving her an audition opportunity should be enough. I don't think she'd have any major objections."
After this matter was discussed, George Lucas also chatted with Gilbert about Lucasfilm and the Star Wars franchise, revealing his intention to retire.
"After finishing the prequel trilogy, I plan to retire, Gilbert," George Lucas said.
Gilbert had already anticipated this, but he still responded, "George, isn't it a little too early to retire now?
If you retire, it would be a major loss for Hollywood."
George Lucas replied, "Actually, I've been thinking about retiring for a long time. I'm getting old I can't keep up with the times anymore."
Then George Lucas shifted the conversation: "What I'm most concerned about is Lucasfilm and the Star Wars franchise. If possible, I hope you can take over, Gilbert."
"Me?" Gilbert paused for a moment before saying, "I'll think about it, George."
In fact, Star Wars didn't particularly attract Gilbert, but Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic were top-tier assets.
Since George Lucas personally brought it up, he would surely give priority to Gilbert under equal conditions.
But this matter was still far off George Lucas still had one more Star Wars film distribution contract to fulfill with 20th Century Fox.
Besides Natalie Portman being confirmed for the final audition, after a round of selection, Amanda Seyfried, Alexandra Daddario, Emily Blunt, and Keira Knightley were also chosen as audition candidates.
Amanda and Alexandra were known for their prominent features no enhancement needed and their refined appearances were more than sufficient for the role of an eye-catching beauty.
Emily Blunt and Keira Knightley, on the other hand, were both British actresses.
Gilbert took another look and slipped Anne Hathaway into the mix. Along with Natalie Portman, that made six final audition candidates.
Amanda, Alexandra, and Keira were all relatively young born after 1985. In the script, Elizabeth Swann was also supposed to be around seventeen or eighteen years old.
In terms of acting ability, Natalie Portman and Emily Blunt undoubtedly stood out. Anne Hathaway's edge, however, was her unusually close relationship with Gilbert.
Each of these actresses had their own advantages, and the final audition showdown took place at the Melon Studio in Los Angeles in late August.
Natalie Portman wasn't very interested in the audition itself she was just going through the motions. What truly mattered to her was reestablishing a connection with Gilbert.
This was a part of Natalie Portman's overall plan. If she wanted to become a legendary actress in Hollywood, she had to use every person and every advantage.
Anne Hathaway didn't really care, either. She wasn't very interested in the role. But since Gilbert had asked her to audition, she didn't want to refuse directly.
In Gilbert's own words, she was there to put pressure on the other actresses.
The real contenders were the other four actresses. Who would ultimately land the role would only become clear after the auditions.
A bit earlier, the newly formed Pirates production team had already signed actor contracts with Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom.
Veteran Hollywood actor Geoffrey Rush had also agreed to join the production, playing the role of Barbossa.
For this round of female lead auditions, the three confirmed male actors would all be present to audition alongside the actresses to see who had the best chemistry.
....
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