Episode 453: Speed of Light (5)



In the vast filming area, amid the flickering embers of burning wreckage, Joker—no, Kang Woo-jin—stood at the center of it all.

And then—

*Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.*

Applause thundered through the set, growing into a wave of cheers.

Director Ahn Ga-bok, still gripping his monitor, let out a satisfied breath. Beside him, producer Nora Foster beamed, her usual sharp wit replaced by a rare, genuine smile.

The applause wasn't just for Woo-jin—it was for all of them.

The hundred or so crew members who had poured sweat and soul into this production. The Hollywood actors who had shown up, even when they weren't scheduled to film. The dedicated teams working behind the scenes. The executives of Columbia Studios, who had bet big on this project. And Kang Woo-jin's own team, including Choi Sung-geon, who stood off to the side, watching with quiet pride.

This was it.

The end of Perriot: Birth of a Villain.

The film that had sparked endless buzz and controversy had finally completed its journey.

Applause rained down, not just for Woo-jin's chilling performance, but for the sheer relief of finishing the grueling shoot without disaster.

Director Ahn Ga-bok was the first to move, stepping forward to shake hands with the crew, offering quick words of gratitude. The Hollywood actors, including Chris, laughed and exchanged hugs, the weight of months of effort finally lifting.

Even the Columbia Studios executives—usually reserved, always calculating—clasped hands and shared knowing glances. They had something special on their hands.

A film that wasn't just a film.

A performance that wasn't just a performance.

A Joker the world would never forget.

Choi Sung-geon stood still, watching the scene before him, feeling a thrill bubbling up from deep inside. This entire moment was both surreal and absurd.

'The Hollywood giant, Columbia Studios, laughing and celebrating. Hollywood's hottest actors genuinely delighted over the crank-up. And in the middle of it all— Woo-jin was there.'

He was still in full Joker makeup, his face a haunting canvas of red lips and pale skin, but the menacing grin was now softened by exhaustion. The foreign staff flocked around him, shaking hands, taking photos—caught in the strange magnetism that Kang Woo-jin exuded.

As Choi Sung-geon watched him, a memory surfaced.

The Cannes Film Festival.

A year ago.

The moment Woo-jin, brimming with quiet confidence, had said—

"Let's meet in Hollywood."

It felt like yesterday, yet a year had already flown by.

'I swear, time moves differently around Woo-jin, haha.'

Every day had been packed with madness—unbelievable, absurd events that pushed them forward at breakneck speed. He'd barely had time to process the fact that Woo-jin had recently won the Emmy Award for Best Actor. And now? They were already setting their sights on the Academy Awards.

Choi Sung-geon exhaled, shaking his head with a smirk.

'Of course, there's still an endless mountain of work ahead.'

Woo-jin was already filming Beast and the Beauty, and there were several other projects lined up—including 'Guest', their latest investment. Rest wasn't in the equation.

Just then—

*Thud.*

A familiar presence approached.

Kang Woo-jin, still in his Joker persona, walked over with his usual quiet intensity. His face—painted into an eternal smile—could easily be unnerving, but Sung-geon had long since gotten used to it. Instead, he gave a small grin and a thumbs-up.

"Thanks for absolutely killing that last cut. You worked hard, Woo-jin."

Woo-jin bowed his head slightly, his voice calm and low.

"Thank you for your hard work, sir."

"I already know what you're gonna say, but—how do you feel?"

'How did he feel? Honestly?' Irritated.'

This whole thing, all this fuss, all these emotions—he wasn't great at handling them. But Woo-jin, ever the master of his own image, only shrugged, voice laced with nonchalance.

"It's just like that."

"Haha, I knew you'd say that. That's Kang Woo-jin for you."

Woo-jin didn't respond. Instead, he turned slightly, surveying the bustling set.

Despite being in Hollywood—despite being surrounded by a sea of foreign faces—the energy wasn't all that different from Korea. The staff, the actors, the executives—they were all basking in the thrill of a completed journey. Some were relieved, others excited for the road ahead.

Woo-jin felt the same.

Except...

There was something else.

'Why do I feel different? Is it because this is Hollywood?'

Maybe it was the weight of it all. The realization that he had just wrapped a film as the lead—for Columbia Studios, one of the 'Big Five' of Hollywood.

If he didn't feel anything right now, he wouldn't be human.

The feeling pressing against his ribs, tightening his chest, was overwhelming.

Soon, the whole world would see his Joker.

And for the first time in a long time— Kang Woo-jin felt nervous.

'Damn. My heart's pounding a little.'

At that moment, footsteps approached.

Director Ahn Ga-bok, who had just been deep in conversation with Columbia's executives, walked up, his familiar wrinkled face set in an expression of satisfaction. Woo-jin forced down the emotions clawing at him and greeted him with a slight bow.

The director let out a small chuckle.

"Finally, this day has come."

"Thank you for your hard work," Woo-jin replied.

"What did I do? This was easier than Korea. You had it harder than me."

Ahn Ga-bok studied him for a bit before asking, "So, are you diving straight into Beast and the Beauty now?"

"Yes."

"Figures." The director nodded. "I'm starting the editing process tomorrow."

Though filming had ended, there was still more to do—additional poster shoots, voiceovers, promotional work. But all of that could be handled in a matter of days.

Then, with a glint of something unreadable in his eyes, Ahn Ga-bok clapped a firm hand on Woo-jin's shoulder.

"I'm treating this edit like it's the last film I'll ever make." His voice was steady, certain. "I told Columbia I'd deliver something unforgettable. Now, I have to prove it."

"······"

"I'm a little scared," Ahn Ga-bok admitted with a chuckle. "Heh, not exactly fitting for someone my age, right? But my convictions are rooted in too much understanding and purpose."

Then, he mentioned it—the Academy Award.

"But one thing is certain—your Joker will consume the world."

Kang Woo-jin, never one to shy away from confidence, smirked slightly and added his own bravado.

"I think so too."

—

By the next morning, news of Perriot: Birth of a Villain's completion had spread across Hollywood.

'As expected, they moved fast.'

Given the film's high-profile nature—being the launchpad for Columbia's ambitious cinematic universe and starring Kang Woo-jin fresh off his Emmy win—the media wasted no time covering the crank-up with fervor.

『LA TIMES / "See or Skip?" Kang Woo-jin's Perriot: Birth of a Villain Wraps Filming Yesterday』

『CNM / 'Crank-Up' for Perriot: Birth of a Villain—Columbia Studios Negotiating Release Date』

Most headlines included Woo-jin's name, but there was one notable absence.

Nowhere did the words Academy Award appear.

'They don't see it coming.'

It made sense. No one in Hollywood had ever done what they were about to attempt—delaying a worldwide release to strategically position the film for an Oscar campaign, starting with a limited LA debut.

Once this information got out, it would be chaos.

But for now, the buzz surrounding Perriot was already spiraling beyond Hollywood, reaching Korea and Japan.

『[Breaking News] Kang Woo-jin & Director Ahn Ga-bok's Perriot: Birth of a Villain Wraps Filming! Fans Demand a Release Date』

The news spread like wildfire.

Normally, a film's completion wouldn't trigger such an uproar. But Perriot was different. Public reaction was an explosive mix of excitement and controversy—cheers and criticism alike. Love it or hate it, the world was watching.

And just as the Perriot frenzy escalated—

"Action!!"

Kang Woo-jin had already moved on.

This time, he wasn't a Joker—he was a Beast.

Dressed in tight motion-capture gear, he threw himself into his next role with the same intensity. Perhaps because he had just come off Perriot, his energy was feral.

"Mr. Kang Woo-jin, you're always incredible, but today—why do you seem even wilder?"

"That's right! Even in that special suit, I can see the beast in you."

—

Meanwhile, back at Columbia Studios—

The Perriot: Birth of a Villain team, led by Ahn Ga-bok, had already begun the battle of post-production.

In a dimly lit editing room, the glow of monitors illuminated the faces of key staff members. The air was thick with quiet intensity.

Ahn Ga-bok scanned the screens, his gaze sharp, hands adjusting settings, checking footage, analyzing every frame.

'Whew—now it's a race against time.'

The first step of a grand plan had been taken.

And now, the real fight began.

Meanwhile, over at Universal Pictures, John Persona was quietly making progress.

Under the direction of Danny Landis and Joseph Felton, the film was in the thick of pre-production. Casting was locked in, set construction was underway, and the shooting schedule had been meticulously aligned with the storyboard.

'Unlike other high-profile projects, John Persona wasn't making headlines—but it felt like a blade being sharpened in silence.'

Of course, there was one name that inevitably came up.

"What does Kang Woo-jin think of this cast list?"

"He said it doesn't matter at all."

It was a simple response, yet it carried weight.

Hollywood heavyweight Danny Landis was gradually increasing his communication with Kang Woo-jin.

—

Time moved fast.

Suddenly, it was the last day of September.

The second part of Beneficial Evil had arrived, riding the momentum of Kang Woo-jin's Emmy win and massive global anticipation.

『[Issue Pick] Beneficial Evil Part 2—Once Again Dominating the World Charts!』

『A Global Sensation! Beneficial Evil Part 2 Holds #1 Worldwide for Two Consecutive Weeks—An Emmy Favorite?』

Another miracle.

It held its throne at the top of global streaming charts, solidifying both Kang Woo-jin's status and the influence of Korean content on the world stage.

As the industry rode this wave into October, progress on other projects continued at a steady pace.

[Perriot: Birth of a Villain entered its third week of editing, accelerating toward completion.]

[Beast and the Beauty, already past its midpoint in filming, moved forward without major setbacks.]

However, amidst these steady advancements, a new development surfaced in October.

A different project began to take shape.

The film 'Guest.'

—

"Hello, Jennifer Thurman."

"Welcome, CEO Choi."

Choi Sung-geon had stepped into a new role—not just as a manager, but as a key investor.

BW Entertainment, now the main backer of 'Guest', had officially kicked things into motion. At the small yet ambitious production company A8 Media, Sung-geon, Jennifer Thurman, and others gathered for the film's first major production meeting.

The primary agenda:

"First, we need to finalize the director and core staff."

The conference room buzzed with discussions. The names of several prominent Hollywood directors and industry veterans were thrown into the mix. The same went for actors—tentative lists of potential leads floated around the room.

But then, reality settled in.

"Given the scale of this production and the size of our company... casting A-list actors will be difficult. However, we can at least send scripts to them."

This was the truth. 'Guest' wasn't a massive studio-backed blockbuster. Even well-known Hollywood actors hesitated to sign on to mid-budget projects.

At that moment, Sung-geon Choi found himself recalling a recent conversation with Kang Woo-jin.

"Sir, regarding actors—take your time during pre-production. Stretch it out as long as possible."

"Why waste time?"

Woo-jin had only smirked.

"Because I dropped some bait."

Although Kang Woo-jin's words were vague, Choi Sung-geon didn't question them.

At this point, his faith in Woo-jin had reached near-religious levels.

"Jennifer, let's hold off on discussing the casting for now," he decided.

Jennifer Thurman, seated across from him, narrowed her eyes.

"...I was thinking the same thing. But when choosing a director, the potential cast often plays a role in that decision."

Sung-geon smirked.

"Well, we'll use Woo-jin's special appearance as a smokescreen. Let's table the actor discussions for now."

And just like that, while the pieces hadn't yet fully fallen into place, 'Guest' had officially taken its first steps into pre-production.

—

Late October.

"Mr. Woo-jin."

On the lavish set of Beast and the Beauty, Miley Cara approached Kang Woo-jin, her golden curls shimmering under the studio lights.

Woo-jin, dressed in an elegant ball gown and wig, exuded the aura of a regal prince, while Miley, as Belle, embodied grace and beauty.

She lowered her voice as she sat beside him.

"I read the 'Guest' script you gave me."

Woo-jin, adjusting his gloves, glanced at her.

"---And?"

A slow smile spread across her lips.

"I was completely absorbed in it. It was brilliant. The pacing, the twists... and the way the narrative devices were used—it was unexpected."

She leaned in slightly.

"So----why did you give it to me?"

Woo-jin held her gaze for a moment, then replied casually.

"Just a feeling."

"A feeling?"

His voice remained steady.

"I think you'd be perfect for it."

Miley studied him for a beat before chuckling.

"Well... you certainly know how to pique my interest."

The seed had been planted.

—

A Few Days Later.

The whirlwind of October passed, and as November arrived, the world started shifting toward the end-of-year festivities. Coats and scarves returned, and the air grew crisp with the scent of approaching winter.

Then, on November 1st, something unexpected happened.

Without warning, a video dropped on the official YouTube channel of Columbia Studios.

—

【Perriot: The Birth of a Villain】1st Teaser｜Columbia Studios

—

The first teaser trailer for Perriot: Birth of a Villain had arrived.

And the world was about to explode.