The cast lineup for Inception was indeed quite impressive.
Leonardo DiCaprio needed no introduction—one of the hottest actors in Hollywood and among the highest-paid.
Heath Ledger was also a bona fide acting powerhouse, having already proven his strength in Brokeback Mountain.
Compared to Ethan's previous films, this movie was clearly on a grander scale.
This took many people by surprise. They had assumed Norton's Eye would only produce low-budget films, but they hadn't expected them to venture into big productions so soon.
However, for this very reason, many people weren't optimistic about the film. Ethan had no prior experience directing science fiction films.
To industry insiders, Ethan excelled more in thriller and romance films.
Berger from The Hollywood Reporter published an article predicting the film's future:
"First of all, Inception, produced by Norton's Eye and directed by Ethan, is clearly a sci-fi film related to dreams just from the title. As we all know, sci-fi is one of the most challenging genres to direct because it involves intricate scientific logic and heavy visual effects, testing a director's imagination and directing skills.
"Looking at Ethan's resume—Saw, Memoirs of a Geisha, Fifty Shades of Grey—these films revolve around love stories or thrilling elements. Even when I reviewed his past music videos, I found that his strengths have remained consistent, always sticking to these themes.
"Minimal special effects, minimal virtual elements, and a strong focus on human emotions and relationships—that's what Ethan is good at. However, sci-fi films don't necessarily need romance, or at the very least, romance is the least significant aspect of them. That's why I don't believe Ethan's film will surpass Memoirs of a Geisha in terms of success.
"Hollywood has countless cases of companies that started small, accumulated capital, then went all-in on a big-budget film, only to lose everything. This happens time and time again, and I worry that Norton's Eye might follow the same path."
While media outlets weren't very optimistic about Ethan's ambitious attempt, the capital market was showing its enthusiasm through an influx of calls.
"Ethan, Universal, Sony, Warner, and all the major studios are calling to inquire about investment opportunities for the film."
"They have sharp instincts," Ethan nodded, setting down his teacup. "But let's put them on hold for now because we need to start the bidding process first."
"Bidding?" Jimmy was puzzled. "Why not secure the investment first?"
He didn't understand Ethan's approach. If Fifty Shades of Grey had proven its value due to the original novel's success, then making investors wait made some sense.
But Inception had no source material backing it. The only confirmed aspect of the film was the cast list. What reason was there to make investors wait?
Just because of Ethan's reputation?
Jimmy was deeply concerned that this film might end up draining all of Norton's Eye's earnings.
After all, the production budget was a staggering 150 million dollars!
"Don't worry, Jimmy. I've compiled a list of product placements for which we'll hold bids," Ethan said, handing a document to Jimmy. It listed various products.
"Cars, clothing, beverages, food…" Jimmy shrugged. "Quite a lot."
"Exactly. I believe that through these product placements, we can significantly reduce our production costs."
"But these brands aren't foolish. What if they refuse to bid?"
Ethan spread his hands and explained, "They will. Whether it's the scale of investment, the cast lineup, or myself, everything signals the ambition of this film. Plus, Inception will have a global simultaneous release. This is going to be a major commercial blockbuster!"
"You need to confidently tell them that. And we'll also set a minimum bidding price. Jimmy, I'd rather not sell any product placement at all than sell them for cheap."
"Alright, alright. Looks like you're really confident in this film."
Jimmy knew he couldn't persuade Ethan, so he could only nod in agreement.
"Of course," Ethan smiled and continued refining the script while sketching storyboard frames on a side sheet of paper.
Since finishing Juno, Ethan had barely taken a break. He didn't even visit any of his women and spent all his time in the office drawing storyboards.
After all, the storyboarding for this film was an enormous task. He needed to create an initial draft, which the art team would later refine into a complete storyboard book.
In fact, Ethan was already considering adding a small marking to the spinning top in the film—after all, it would likely become a highly sought-after piece of merchandise once the movie was released.
For the next week, Ethan shuttled back and forth between his office and the props team, helping them understand his vision and ensuring the sets met his exact specifications.
Meanwhile, supporting actors were eagerly preparing to audition at Norton's Eye.
Inception featured a large ensemble cast, and Ethan personally handled auditions for the main team and key supporting roles.
Of course, Heath Ledger, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ellen Page didn't need to audition.
On the day of auditions, Robert Downey Jr. drove up to Norton's Eye's entrance.
At the moment, he didn't have a personal agent and was securing film roles on his own, making him seem a bit lonely compared to other auditioning actors.
There weren't many people waiting to audition, but those who were there were far from unknowns.
For instance, Chris Evans, fresh off Fantastic Four, had come to audition.
Dressed in a white T-shirt and blue button-up, he looked strong and full of energy.
Then there was Matt Damon, whose clean-cut appearance and warm smile made him instantly likable.
More importantly, at this point, both of them had far greater box office appeal in Hollywood than Downey did. Seeing them, Downey quietly took a seat on the far end of the couch, waiting for his turn.
Although Downey remained silent, Matt Damon and Chris Evans quickly noticed him.
They walked over, and Matt Damon greeted him, "Downey… My God, I didn't expect to see you here."
"Ahem, hello." Downey stood up, keeping his expression neutral.
"I loved your Chaplin performance. You were amazing," Matt Damon said, mentioning the film.
Downey shrugged. "Appreciate that."
"You're here for an audition too? Which role?"
"Uh, Fischer."
"Fischer?" Chris Evans was surprised. "That's a pretty good role. I read the character breakdown—he's a corporate heir. But… are you sure you're the right age for it?"
"Don't say that, Evans. Downey's acting skills are unquestionable," Matt Damon countered.
Chris Evans immediately raised his hands. "I didn't mean it like that. I just… well, the role does call for someone younger."
In fact, he was also auditioning for the role of Fischer.
"Maybe," Downey responded without arguing. He found such debates pointless.
So, he made an excuse to leave. "I need to use the restroom. Excuse me."
"Go ahead, it's to the left," Chris Evans kindly reminded him.
"Thanks."
Inside the restroom, Downey splashed cold water on his face and placed both hands on the sink, staring at his reflection in the mirror.
He did look a bit older now, not as youthful and handsome as before.
He straightened his hair slightly, tightened his tie, and put on his gold-rimmed glasses.
In an instant, his aura shifted—he became more reserved and introspective, just like Fischer's character.
Ten minutes later, Downey stepped into the audition room.
Seated in the chair, he finally came face to face with the director of this film, Ethan.
The two locked eyes for a moment before Ethan smiled. "Welcome, Downey. So, have you decided which role you're auditioning for?"
"Fischer." Downey sat comfortably but not sloppily, maintaining good posture.
"Oh?" Ethan was slightly surprised but could understand his choice. He then asked, "What do you think drives Fischer as a character?"
The character outline was sparse—just a rough background and an ending—but Downey seemed to have grasped Fischer's past and future as if he had lived through the character's entire life.
"He's someone who never gained his father's approval. No matter how outstanding his academic achievements were or how brilliant his investment strategies were, nothing could change his father's perception of him."
"His father saw him as just a child, incapable of making independent decisions. Under constant belittlement and suppression, his mind filled with impractical and wild thoughts."
Downey spoke eloquently. "So, rather than simply inheriting the entire corporation, he wants to prove himself—to prove that he can climb to the same level as his father through his own ability."
"But such thoughts only manifest in his dreams, where they grow stronger. He is well aware of the gap between himself and his father, as well as the differences in this era. If he were to act rashly, he would only become a laughingstock—a fool."
"He's smart and rational."
After outlining Fischer's life, Downey concluded, "So, the turning point of the plot lies in Fischer's suppressed, reckless ambitions."
"Clap, clap, clap!" Ethan applauded. "Very impressive, Downey. You're absolutely right."
Ethan looked at him with admiration. "I must say, you've managed to see the full picture from just a few snippets. That's incredible. Now, it's time for you to perform."
He handed a sheet of paper over. "Here's a scene requiring deep inner emotions."
Downey took it, scanned the page carefully, then closed his eyes for a moment. After a brief pause, he said, "Alright, I'm ready."
Twenty minutes later, as Downey's figure disappeared through the door, Ethan turned to Carl and asked, "Well?"
Carl was stunned. "Oh my God. That performance… it was amazing! What did I just witness?"
In just a dozen seconds, several layers of emotions shifted across Downey's face before finally settling.
Without a single line or exaggerated movement, Downey embodied Fischer completely. His expressions alone made it clear that Fischer had made up his mind.
Carl was in awe—he had never seen such an outstanding live performance before. It was even more astonishing than watching it on the big screen.
"Ethan, you made the right choice. Wow, I even got goosebumps on my back."
Ethan smiled, crossed out Chris Evans' name on his list, and wrote Robert Downey Jr. next to the role of Fischer.
Meanwhile, Downey stepped outside, greeted by the blinding sunlight.
Hearing the honking of passing cars, he took off his glasses and slipped them into his chest pocket.
Then, he walked toward a parked car by the curb.
With each step, he felt lighter, as if an important matter had been settled.
Once inside the car, Downey inserted the key, shifted gears, and glanced at himself in the rearview mirror.
Suddenly, he clenched his fist and punched the air. "I knew it! You've still got it!"
His entire body relaxed as he leaned back in the seat. Thinking about his performance, he smirked and said to himself, "This might be a small step for Downey, but it's a giant leap for the world to recognize Robert Downey Jr. again. Inception—great. I just hope Ethan doesn't turn it into a disaster. Otherwise, I swear, I'll have to punch him."
With that, Downey started the engine and drove toward his apartment.
For the next two weeks, Inception remained silent—no new updates were announced.
It seemed as if the film had entered a closed production phase, leaving The Hollywood Reporter journalist Berger feeling rather bored.
However, in late May, Inception suddenly revealed its full cast list.
At first, this seemed like a routine announcement—people would simply check which actors were involved.
But one name caught Berger's eye, setting off his gossip radar.
In The Hollywood Reporter, he commented:
"Robert Downey Jr.—now that's a name we haven't seen in a long time. Ever since he was arrested three times, he seemed to have vanished from Hollywood."
"According to our sources, since his release, he's been working as a supporting actor in low-budget indie films. You have to admire his resilience—anyone else in his position, after receiving an Oscar nomination, would find it humiliating to be relegated to minor roles in independent productions."
"But now, at last, he's been cast in a major commercial film. And judging by the lineup, it looks like a significant role. I don't doubt Downey's acting skills. My only concern is… will this little 'Chaplin' end up behind bars again before the film is finished?"
Following his report, many movie fans started paying attention to Robert Downey Jr. once more.
Suddenly, a flood of news articles emerged, questioning whether he had truly overcome his past.
Many people even began boycotting the film, arguing that his presence on screen would set a bad example for young audiences.
...
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