….
March 14, 2014.
Location: LIE Studio - Casting Department
Date: April 28, 2014 - 9:15 AM
….
A month and half later.
And within that time, [Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban] third film, [Deadpool] completed its scripting, and did the [Superman].
While the first film will be diving straight into production in a couple of weeks, [Deadpool], and [Superman] are still in the casting phase of pre-production.
Fortunately, Regal could simply leave [Deadpool] project to his team and Reynolds to handle, while he focuses on [Superman].
The casting office had been transformed into a command center.
Regal paused, reading the 'requirements' that he had written.
SUPERMAN CASTING - CRITERIA:
Physical Requirements:
6'2" minimum (must appear larger than life but not cartoonish)
| Athletic build (not bodybuilder, more Olympic swimmer)
| Strong jawline, kind eyes
| Must look believable as both Kansas farmboy AND symbol of hope
Acting Requirements:
Capable of stillness (Superman doesn't fidget or overact)
| Natural warmth (must make children feel safe instinctively)
| Underlying strength without aggression
| Can convey internal conflict through minimal expression
| Comedy timing (Clark is awkward, Superman is confident)
And the Deal-Breaker: Must be able to cry without losing authority. Superman's vulnerability comes from caring too much, not from weakness.
….
Three walls covered with headshots, audition notes, and screen test schedules.
The fourth wall displayed a massive digital board showing the complete Superman casting breakdown:
CONFIRMED:
Director: Regal Seraphsail
| Production Start: June 2, 2014
| Release Date: December 19, 2014
CASTING STATUS:
Clark Kent/Superman: OPEN
| Lois Lane: OPEN
| General Zod: OPEN
| Martha Kent: SHORTLIST
| Jonathan Kent: SHORTLIST
| Perry White: SHORTLIST
….
Regal stood before the wall of headshots, coffee in hand, studying faces that ranged from unknown theater actors to established film stars.
Darren, his friend and the line producer, entered with another stack of portfolios–
"Morning. I have got seventeen more submissions that came in overnight. Most are responding to the official casting call we put out last week."
"Don't bother. As I said, we already locked on with Superman."
"I know, but it won't hurt to have options if things go otherwise, or at least try to portray as if you have considered them.
"Like, you have rejected every A-list actor we have suggested for Superman - all perfect physically, all interested, all willing to audition."
"It is not that I rejected them. I already got what I want."
"You mean the B-list actor–
"Henry Cavill?"
"Yep. He is my Superman, he is literally born for this..."
"Whatever man, do remember the studio will push back." Darren warned. But he immediately sighed. "But by now, I am sure even they realise they couldn't do much about it, except for grumbling."
"Thanks for the complement."
Andrew simply moved on. "Okay. What about Lois Lane? We have got serious interest from many 'famous' actresses."
"Kristen is interested?"
She is the main female lead from his [DeathNote] film.
"Well, she was interested in Pepper Potts' role in [Iron Man] too."
"Hmm, give her a call for a test shoot, but I honestly doubt she would fit for the role and more so after looking at the other options."
"Did you already decide on that too?"
Regal studied the three headshots. "Rachel McAdams. She has got the right energy - sharp, determined, but also warm. Lois needs to feel like someone who would risk everything for the truth, but also someone Clark could genuinely fall in love with."
"Rachel is a strong choice, then." Darren agreed. "What about Zod?"
"Michael Shannon."
Darren blinked. "That was fast."
"He has got the intensity we need. And Shannon can play that ideological conviction without making him cartoonish."
"I will reach out to his team." Patricia was typing rapidly on her tablet. "Supporting roles - Martha and Jonathan Kent?"
"Diane Lane for Martha. She has got strength and warmth. For Jonathan..." Regal paused, thinking–
"Stephen Hawking Sr."
Diane, still half on autopilot, nodded. "Yeah, Stephen Hawking Sr… nex—"
He froze mid-sentence as the name finally registered. The image snapped into place in his mind.
"…wait. For real?"
"Hm."
"Like for real, real, real?"
"Yeah. For real, real, real."
Diane sank into a chair.
"He is retired."
"I will convince him to come back."
"…well, it's a big name. And if you actually pull that off, the studio won't just be happy - they will lose their minds and most probably overlook half the casting sheet without blinking."
"It would be a marketing juggernaut." He added, gears turning. "The greatest star to ever touch the screen returning? That alone would pack theatres."
His producer instincts were running hot, but Regal stayed flat.
"I am not casting him for some extra buzz. If that was the point, I would have done it long ago–
"He is perfect for the role."
Diane met Regal's eyes - there it was again, that flare of conviction bordering on madness.
He waved him off. "Yeah, sure, sure… stop making those scary faces."
"What's my schedule today?" Regal asked, already back to his usual self.
"You have auditions starting at 10 AM. Twelve actors read for various supporting roles. Then at 2 PM, you are meeting with the production design team to review Krypton concepts. At 4 PM, a costume design presentation for the Superman suit."
Regal rubbed his eyes. "Right. Let's start with the auditions."
….
The audition room was deliberately simple - a chair, a camera, and Regal sitting behind a table with Diane and the casting associate.
The door opened, and Henry entered.
In person, he had an imposing physical presence - 6'1", with a naturally powerful build that seemed almost sculpted for the role. But what struck Regal immediately was the combination of old-fashioned maturity and underlying warmth in his demeanor.
"Mr. Cavill, thank you for coming." Regal said, rising to shake his hand. "Please, have a seat."
Henry froze for half a second. Seeing Regal in person had hit him harder than he expected.
The man was a giant in the industry; meeting him face-to-face was something else entirely.
Regal, meanwhile, kept his expression neutral, Hollywood had drilled that skill into him, but inside there was a spark. Seeing Henry Cavill, this Henry Cavill, here in front of him for this role? That stirred something close to excitement.
Henry sat down, posture a little stiff but earnest.
"Thank you for the opportunity." he said, his crisp British accent clear. "It's a pleasure."
"Yeah. Pleasure here as well." Regal replied, slipping straight to business.
"So, Mr. Henry… What made you believe you fit the character? What made you apply?"
Henry drew a breath.
"The first time I learned about this man, this human, was in my childhood. Over the years, I forgot he even existed as a figure with that kind of moral clarity. Then I reconnected with him recently through your comic, Superman: Up In The Sky." His voice steadied with conviction. "It struck me. It reminded me what it meant to be a hero again."
He paused, thoughtful.
"Whether or not I fit him… that's secondary. What mattered is that reading it made me want to be someone like him, and that is incredibly difficult."
A faint smile. "So I thought I should at least try to act like him."
Regal felt the hit of that immediately - someone who didn't just want the job, but understood the soul of it.
"Alright…" Regal said, sliding a set of sides across the table. "Let's do a reading. I am assuming you have already dug into the character in your… research?"
Henry studied the material with focused intensity, his jaw working slightly as he absorbed the words. After a few minutes, he set the pages down. "I'm ready."
Regal recognized it instantly.
Henry stood.
Just the quiet confidence of someone stepping into a skin that felt familiar.
He held the page at his side rather than in front of him.
When he spoke, the room changed.
"With all the powers I have… I can't stand idle and watch people suffer."
The tone was gentle, not forced, almost like he was reminding Regal of something rather than performing it. He continued, gaze steady, warm but unwavering:
"You're scared of me because you think I won't stop. But the truth is… I could do so much more. Yet every day, I choose to hold back. To trust. Because that's what my father taught me."
Regal didn't blink.
Henry's voice dipped into something quieter, almost intimate:
"I am here to help. That's all I have ever wanted."
Silence followed.
It wasn't a dramatic silence, just the kind that comes when the room knows something clicked.
Regal leaned back, studying him.
Diane leaned forward, almost breathless. "God…"
Henry finally broke the stillness, clearing his throat slightly. "Apologies. I… improvised a little."
Because coming here, Henry did his research, Regal wasn't the orthodox director who just stuck to the paper.
He always welcomed a change.
Regal shook his head. "No. That was the point."
And for the first time since the audition began, a small, satisfied smile tugged at his mouth.
"Henry." Regal said, "I need you back tomorrow for a screen test. Full costume, cinematography, the works. Can you make 10 AM?"
Henry's professional mask slipped, revealing genuine excitement. "Absolutely. I will be here."
"Red Studios will contact you about measurements. This is serious - you understand?"
"I understand completely." Henry stood, offering his hand again. "Thank you for this chance. You won't regret it."
.
….
[To be continued…]
★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★
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