[Chapter 271: The Batman Candidate]
As Hollywood underwent changes, Link brought the crew of The Sixth Sense to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the East Coast for filming.
The decision to shoot there stemmed from Philadelphia's rich history, which gave the city an ancient feel with its numerous older buildings. The serene environment and lush greenery made it an ideal location for a supernatural film. The film Philadelphia, which earned Tom Hanks an Oscar for Best Actor, had also been shot there. However, at the time the crew began filming, Hanks was still focusing on how to portray a psychologist and had not joined the team, leaving Link to miss the chance to see his familiar expression upon revisiting the city.
...
"Scene 1, take 1! Action!"
With Tom Hanks not present, the crew started with the scenes featuring young Cole, played by child star Haley Joel Osment. At just seven years old, Haley was two years younger than the script called for but had already gained recognition for his role as Forrest's son in Forrest Gump. Over the past couple of years, he had matured significantly, appearing like a little adult, and showing more maturity than his peers. His cute and charming looks, along with his impressive acting skills, were reasons the crew had relaxed their age criteria to cast him.
The role of Cole's mother was played by Holly Hunter, who had recently won the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in The Piano. Her portrayal of a mother in that film was so well developed that she was a perfect fit for this character. Diane Lane played the role of the doctor's wife. She impressed during auditions and, as a friend of Jodie Foster and Michelle Pfeiffer, Link ultimately chose her in the final round. Once filming started, she delivered commendable performances, meeting Link's expectations.
The Sixth Sense began shooting in early October. Since the initial focus was on young Cole's scenes, the pace was slow, with only two or three takes filmed each day. Most of the time was spent chatting with the little guy, telling him stories, guiding him on how to act, and helping him gradually find his footing. Fortunately, Haley had a natural talent for acting; with just a little extra explanation, he could quickly deliver the required performance.
...
"What are you thinking, Momma?" Cole looked up at his mother, Lynn Sear. Just moments ago, Mrs. Sear had left the dining room for less than ten seconds, and upon returning, she found all the drawers and cabinet doors wide open. The doors were over a meter off the ground, while little Cole barely reached a meter himself -- it was impossible for him to have done this in such a short time alone.
Seeing the scene in the dining room, Mrs. Sear screamed in fright.
"Lots of things," she replied, standing in front of the dining table.
"Anything bad about me?" young Cole asked.
"Look at my face," Lynn bent over the table to meet Cole's eyes. "I wasn't thinking anything bad about you, got it?"
"Got it!" Cole nodded.
...
After watching the take, Link noticed a few issues. He approached the dining table to chat with young actor Haley Joel Osment, telling him he was doing a great job but suggesting a few adjustments for an even better performance.
Haley's father, Eugene Osment, was also a professional actor and served as Haley's agent and acting coach. Sometimes, Eugene would be nearby, giving guidance on how Haley should act.
During the second take, Haley delivered a much better performance. While there were still minor issues, Link opted not to interfere too much. To preserve the natural spirit of the young actor's performance, he allowed for some creative freedom rather than insisting he stick rigidly to the script.
...
As Link filmed in Philadelphia, he faced a barrage of negative media commentary. Some outlets criticized him for shooting another film while preparing for the sequel to Batman. They accused him of being irresponsible and unfocused, suggesting he could jeopardize both projects.
Other outlets claimed that Warner Bros. executives were unhappy with Link's approach and considered replacing him. Despite these reports, neither Link nor Warner Bros. offered any explanations; they felt it was unnecessary.
---
In early November, after completing the project's budget, Warner Bros. transferred the first filming budget of $55 million into the project's account. The preparation for the Batman sequel was smoothly underway. Following Link's directives, the prop department, costume designers, modelers, set designers, sculptors, and others began creating necessary props and sets for filming in New York, Chicago, and Cincinnati.
Casting efforts commenced as well. It was finally decided that Gary Oldman would play Two-Face. Oldman had previously delivered a remarkable performance as Dracula in Bram Stoker's Dracula and had also played a corrupt cop in Leon: The Professional. Jim Carrey was cast as the Riddler, a role tailored specifically for him, as he was the perfect fit. Nicole Kidman took on the role of Dr. Chase. Originally, the character was meant for Monica Bellucci, but she didn't want to play such a trophy role, and she had better roles to choose, leading to Kidman being cast instead.
Michael Caine would portray Alfred, the butler, known for his role in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. At age 61, he was highly regarded for his acting skills, fitting perfectly for the older butler role. Ryan Phillippe was set to play Robin, fitting the character's sunny and handsome traits. Drew Barrymore was cast as the villain's assistant.
Michelle Pfeiffer continued her role as Catwoman in the Batman sequel. The stunt coordination was led by Yuen Woo-ping, and the main character, Batman, would be portrayed by Ben Affleck.
During casting, the crew considered several male stars, including Oscar-winner Daniel Day-Lewis, rising stars Brad Pitt, Matthew McConaughey, and Jean-Claude Van Damme. While some excelled in acting, others boasted great fame or physical prowess, they ultimately fell short compared to Ben Affleck.
Affleck stood tall at 6'3", matching the tall and handsome image expected for Batman. Following his breakout role in Se7en, his popularity soared, establishing him as a leading man in Hollywood with significant box office appeal. His tendency to maintain a stoic, expressionless demeanor during acting also aligned well with Batman's character.
Having reviewed the audition materials for several actors, Link approved Affleck for the role. He had initially contemplated inviting Christian Bale to take on the role of Batman, but Bale was still establishing his career in the UK and lacked the experience and star power necessary for such an iconic character. Under these circumstances, Link had to settle for Affleck.
...
"Link, thank you! Thank you for giving me this role! I promise I'll do my best to make this version of Batman the most classic one ever," Affleck excitedly called to thank the production team after receiving the announcement.
Link shook his head lightly. "Don't get too excited just yet. After casting, the crew will provide you with intense training, focusing on fight choreography, martial arts, boxing, and more. If you can't keep up, we might have to consider recasting."
"Ha! Rest assured, Link, even if it kills me, I won't give up during training," Affleck asserted, pounding his chest confidently.
"Also, your physique is too lean. During the training period, you'll need to bulk up. We want visible muscle definition; the stronger you are, the better."
"Ha! No problem! I'll work on it, and by the next time you see me, I guarantee my physique will rival that of a bodybuilder!"
"Let's hope you can achieve that," Link concluded as he ended the call.
...
"Yay!" Affleck shouted excitedly, pumping his fist in the air.
"Ben, did Link really make you Batman?" asked Casey Affleck, Joaquin Phoenix, and Summer Phoenix with curiosity in their voices from the villa.
"Of course! I'm Link's go-to actor. It makes total sense for him to cast me as Batman," Affleck grinned, his pride evident.
"That can't be right. I heard from Sophia that your performance in the crew was terrible. You always held them back, needing Link to coach you repeatedly to get it right. She said Link was getting fed up with you. How could he entrust such an important role like Batman to you?" Casey teased.
"Hmph! Don't listen to Sophia. She has no idea about the camaraderie we men share. Link and I are not just great partners; we're friends. He's even told me I'm the most promising actor he's worked with. If he didn't believe in me, would he say that?"
"Link has told many actors similar things -- that they were the most promising, the most talented, or the most charismatic. Don't take those compliments too seriously," Joaquin smirked.
"You're just jealous! I'm in a good mood today, so I won't hold it against you guys," Affleck laughed, glancing over at a quiet Matt Damon. "Hey, Matt, relax a bit. Don't feel too much pressure. Though I've become a big star, I'm still your friend. I'm not the type to forget my friends after gaining fame."
Matt gave him a side-eye. "The one who should feel pressure is you. Batman is a superhero with tons of fans, and if you don't deliver a satisfactory performance, don't blame me if I don't recognize you as my friend at the premiere."
"Hmph! Don't worry; I'll definitely nail Batman." Though Affleck had initially felt elated, Matt's warning suddenly added weight to his shoulders.
Batman first appeared in comic books in the 1930s and quickly gained massive popularity, amassing a dedicated fanbase in the U.S. and around the globe. When adapted into film, Batman achieved remarkable success, establishing him as a classic cinematic figure alongside Superman. If Affleck messed up this role, the consequences would be severe.
Feeling the pressure, Ben abandoned his earlier bravado and quickly brought out the script to study it diligently.
*****
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