Episode 459 Prologue (2)



[Perriot: The Birth of a Villain]

The English title appeared in the center of the screen. As Kang Woo-jin looked at the slightly rough title, he felt a mix of emotions and unfamiliarity.

'Ugh— the English title feels a bit weird.'

He had done a lot of work up to this point, but this was his first time seeing an English title for one of his films. Now, here he was in Hollywood, watching his first project, Perriot: The Birth of a Villain, unfold on the big screen. Thinking about everything that had led him to this moment filled him with an overwhelming sense of emotion and excitement.

How could he describe this feeling?

'A sense of accomplishment? A sense of elation?'

He wasn't sure, but whatever it was, it felt incredible.

Woo-jin felt immense pride—not just because he was the lead actor in a film backed by Hollywood's major studios and industry giants, but also because he had brought the 'Joker' to life in the very first scene with such a striking presence. Though his expression remained calm to fit the concept, if he allowed himself, he could have jumped up and danced with excitement.

'Anyway, the quality, the mysterious atmosphere, the sound—everything is perfect from the start. This is going to be amazing.'

Even though it was his own film, Kang Woo-jin watched the screen with the eager anticipation of an ordinary moviegoer.

-♬♪

The music that had been ringing out grew louder, and the title that had appeared in the center of the screen disappeared. At that moment, Producer Nora Foster, who sat with her legs crossed and an air of authority, had a deep smile on her face. It was a smile of joy.

'The villain 'Joker' appeared right from the beginning—his outrageous acting and striking visuals dominate the atmosphere of this theater.'

The appearance of 'Joker' wasn't long, but the audience in the future would be the ones to judge. This movie was undeniably fascinating. And it was all thanks to Kang Woo-jin's first appearance—his grotesque laughter, mischievous lines, commanding presence, striking visuals, and expressions that drew in the audience.

'I'm getting goosebumps.'

Goosebumps spread across Nora's arms. She glanced at Kang Woo-jin. He was staring at the screen as if nothing was wrong. Was he satisfied? Or was he feeling regretful? His face was completely unreadable.

'How can he watch his Hollywood debut so calmly? It's quite unusual.'

Then, Nora shifted her gaze slightly to the wrinkled face of Director Ahn Ga-bok. He was wiping his cheek with one hand, yet he couldn't take his eyes off the screen. At first glance, he appeared calm, but his eyes were clearly filled with excitement.

'The directing is excellent. I didn't expect them to handle that scene this way.'

Even with the same script, the final product could vary greatly depending on the director. Sometimes it resulted in a masterpiece, and other times, a disappointment. It all depended on the director's vision, skill, and execution. The opening sequence of Perriot that she had just seen was slightly different from the original shooting storyboard.

'Originally, it was just an interview with 'Joker'.'

However, Director Ahn Ga-bok had incorporated music that tied into Henry Gordon's awakening during the interview and chose to depict Joker's memories of the past. The black-and-white scenes symbolized Joker's emotional state. It was still too early to say, but Nora believed this was the right creative decision.

'That cut not only sparks curiosity about his backstory but also highlights the terrifying, unfiltered side of the 'Joker'.'

'Joker' laughed heartily as he recalled his past, filled with carnage, speaking about it as if it were a pleasant memory. From the very beginning, the audience was introduced to a terrifying clown.

Nora Foster clenched her fists.

Her anticipation and sense of success grew stronger. Naturally, everyone else in the theater felt the same way—executives from Columbia Studios, including the bald man in the front row.

'How can anyone not be captivated by this performance from the very first scene? This is incredible. Even if it were released worldwide right now, it would still hook audiences instantly.'

'Kang Woo-jin's acting—I saw it on set, but the overwhelming impact he delivers on screen is twice as powerful. I'm glad he's the one ushering in the beginning of this cinematic universe.'

'This is insane. It's already so much fun. Have you ever seen anything like this before?'

The key staff of Perroit: The Birth of a Villain, along with all the industry professionals in the theater, kept their eyes fixed on the screen, praising Kang Woo-jin. No—worshipping him.

His acting was of a quality that truly deserved recognition.

Then, instead of the villain 'Joker' on the black screen, a weak-looking 'Henry Gordon' appeared. His back was hunched, his shoulders slumped, and his eyes were filled with disappointment and emptiness. It was the face of a man who had lost all hope in society and the world.

The beginning of Perriot: The Birth of a Villain unfolded with the hardships and persecution of 'Henry Gordon.'

["What? What are you looking at?! Can't you just turn it off?"]

["Sorry, sorry!"]

However, depending on how one viewed it, this might seem 'ordinary.' But as the film progressed, Kang Woo-jin's portrayal of 'Henry Gordon' changed subtly. His expression evolved, shaped by the accumulation of neglect, contempt, discrimination, prejudice, and violence.

A monster was being born.

And so, the Joker came into existence in the world of Perroit: The Birth of a Villain.

Choi Sung-geon, watching Kang Woo-jin's performance on screen, was moved to tears.

'Ugh— it's too much, it's overwhelming.'

Though the transformation was marked by bloodshed and brutality, it was strangely cathartic—perhaps because of the sheer frustration and despair that 'Henry Gordon' had endured in the beginning. Everyone in the theater, starting with Choi Sung-geon, felt the same way.

'This must be the phenomenon that occurs when you become completely immersed in a character.'

The 'Joker' on screen was committing outrageous acts, yet his appearance was refreshingly uncool. And somehow, in that chaos, Kang Woo-jin's true essence shone through.

Two hours passed by in the blink of an eye.

Everyone, including Kang Woo-jin, was completely absorbed in Perriot: The Birth of a Villain. They only snapped back to reality when the ending credits began to roll, signaling the film's conclusion.

At that moment, a sudden round of applause erupted.

*Clap clap clap clap clap!*

The applause was even louder than the ending music in the theater. Columbia Studios executives, including the bald head executive, stood up and clapped vigorously.

*Clap clap clap clap clap clap!*

It was a standing ovation—a tribute to Kang Woo-jin and Director Ahn Ga-bok. The applause quickly spread to everyone present. Nora Foster, the staff, Choi Sung-geon, Chris Hartnett, and the actors—every single person in the theater expressed their admiration and congratulations through thunderous applause.

*Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!*

Director Ahn Ga-bok, who had finally relaxed a bit, muttered softly.

"Phew, I'm tired."

Kang Woo-jin, who had joined in the applause and stood up without a care, also adjusted to the mood—his expression was indifferent. However, inside, he was trembling with excitement.

'Wow!! This is so much fun! This is so much fun! This is crazy!!'

After the applause that had been going on for a while died down, the people gathered in the theater naturally began talking, as if on cue. Woo-jin effortlessly mingled with Director Ahn Ga-bok and Nora Foster. Then, Nora turned to Woo-jin and spoke.

"Mr. Kang Woo-jin."

Woo-jin, still buzzing internally from the excitement, immediately responded.

"Yes, Producer Nora."

Unaware of his inner turmoil, Nora smiled and gave him a thumbs-up.

"Your 'Joker' was the best."

Following her, Director Ahn Ga-bok, the executives, and actors like Chris all gave similar praise. Feeling slightly embarrassed, Woo-jin chose to remain silent. At that moment, Nora let out a small breath.

"Haaa—"

She then continued, glancing at the screen where Perriot: Birth of a Villain had just finished playing.

"We'll begin promotional marketing soon, and in a few days, we'll also announce the pre-release date for Perriot: Birth of a Villain."

She was talking about the future of Perriot.

"For your information, the pre-release date for Perriot has been confirmed as February 9th, so there's about a month left."

__________

After the preview test of Perriot: The Birth of a Villain, Kang Woo-jin took a two-day break. Having already completed two projects since arriving in Hollywood, it was time for him to rest. Choi Sung-geon mentioned that he would have liked to give him at least a week off, but with multiple delayed and upcoming scheduled events, it was difficult.

As Woo-jin's influence in Hollywood continued to grow, his schedule became even more grueling than before. Though Kang Woo-jin pretended not to care, he grumbled internally.

'Aish, I'm telling you, it'd be way more fun to just keep filming.'

It felt like filming would be a hundred times better than dealing with all this.

Meanwhile, whenever he had time, Kang Woo-jin kept an eye on global trends, including Hollywood.

'As expected, Beast and the Beauty is making waves. Korea loves it, but the international response—yeah, it's on another level.'

The hottest topic in Hollywood and the global entertainment industry was undoubtedly Beast and the Beauty. Recently, 'World Disney Pictures' had announced the wrap-up of Beast and the Beauty.

Of course, the Korean media had been fixated on Kang Woo-jin for quite some time.

[Issue Pick] Beast and the Beauty Filming Completed—How Will Kang Woo-jin's Beast and Miley Cara's Beauty Be Received?

Kang Woo-jin's Beast—The First Korean Actor! International Film Communities Are Buzzing Over Kang Woo-jin [Photo]

The domestic public, including SNS and YouTube, was buzzing with excitement, spreading expectations and speculation.

- Wow... Beast and the Beauty filming is finished... I can't even imagine Kang Woo-jin as the Beast, lol.

- But I'm getting super patriotic again, hahaha. A Korean actor is the male lead in a Disney live-action film. That's insane!

- So when's the release date?

- The international fans are losing their minds, lol. At this rate, the opening week numbers for Beast and the Beauty are going to be insane.

- I saw some leaked photos from the filming... Kang Woo-jin and Miley Cara look amazing together.

- Wait, leaks?? Where did you see them???

In Korea, the response was overwhelmingly positive. However, globally, reactions were more divided—almost fifty-fifty. The initial controversy surrounding Beast and the Beauty had quieted down during production, but as the film wrapped, it reignited heated debates.

There was just as much praise as there was criticism.

But at this point, what could anyone do? Beast and the Beauty was already in the can. With only a few minor finishing touches left, the movie was heading straight into post-production. World Disney Pictures had no choice but to see it through and deal with the outcome.

_________________________________January 15th, early morning.

Inside a large meeting room in downtown L.A., employees of A8 Media, the production company behind the upcoming film 'The Guest', were gathered in the rented space. Among them was Jennifer Thurman, her short brown hair neatly styled. She sat at the head of a large, square conference table, watching as staff members busily set things up.

Jennifer gulped as she looked at the still-empty seats.

"Finally... is everything coming together?"

About an hour later, the once-empty meeting room was now bustling with people. At least twenty key members of the production team had arrived. Some were catching up with old colleagues, others were introducing themselves.

"Hahaha, it's been a while."

"Yeah, about two years, right? Looks like we're working on the same project again."

"Looking forward to it."

"Same here."

Jennifer Thurman watched them with satisfaction. The reason was simple—this group of people was the core production team for 'The Guest'. Each one held a crucial role, from the director to the heads of various departments. Their resumes were dazzling, filled with past work on blockbuster films. Even the mustachioed director had an incredibly impressive filmography.

That's right.

Today was the first official meeting of 'The Guest's' key staff.

Just then—

—Click*.

The door opened, and a blonde woman stepped into the meeting room filled with production staff.

"Hello—"

It was Miley Cara, Hollywood's top actress, fresh off filming Beast and the Beauty. Dressed in a beige short puffer jacket, she entered with effortless grace. The moment she arrived, the energy in the room soared.

Jennifer Thurman, the director, and the production team immediately gathered around her, eager to greet the A-list actress. Given Miley's status as one of Hollywood's elite, this was only natural.

But she wasn't the last surprise.

"Oh—Miley got here first! How have you been? Haha, everyone looks excited."

Following Miley, another top-tier actor entered the room. His dark brown eyes, full of charm, instantly drew attention.

Chris Hartnett.

Fresh from wrapping up Perriot, Chris's arrival sent the room into a frenzy.

"Ohhh! Chris, come in!"

The meeting room erupted into chatter as Chris Hartnett walked in. The presence of not one, but two of Hollywood's top actors had everyone buzzing with excitement. The reason was simple—Miley Cara and Chris Hartnett had been confirmed as the top two 'Guests' in the film.

At that moment, a freckled staff member from A8 Media couldn't help but stare in disbelief at the surreal scene unfolding before him.

'I was looking forward to this, but seeing it in person—damn. My jaw is on the floor. How did this even happen??'

Just a short while ago, 'The Guest' was on the verge of being scrapped, a project nearly abandoned. But now?

Now, it had a renowned director, a high-profile production team, and two global superstars leading the cast. The sheer turnaround was enough to make the freckled staffer wonder if he was dreaming.

'Please—please, if this is a dream, don't wake me up.'

Just then—

—knock*.

A new round of knocking echoed through the room. More people entered.

The first to step in was a man with his hair tied back in a ponytail.

Jennifer Thurman's eyes widened in recognition. Without hesitation, she rushed forward.

"CEO Choi Sung-geon!"

That's right.

The primary investor—the man who had poured hundreds of millions into 'The Guest'—had arrived. Choi Sung-geon greeted Jennifer with a warm smile and a firm handshake.

"Haha, looks like everyone's here."

But behind him, another figure stepped into the room.

A man clad in a gray coat over a black hoodie.

Expression unreadable.

Silent.

Unfazed.

Jennifer Thurman, seeing him in person for the first time, found herself momentarily frozen, her mouth slightly open.

'...Kang Woo-jin.'

That's right.

The rising enigma of Hollywood. The actor whose name was sending shockwaves across the industry. And the man who had been confirmed for a special appearance in 'The Guest'.

Meanwhile—

As Kang Woo-jin was settling into his new project, Columbia Studios was making waves of its own.

On their official social media, they dropped a bombshell announcement about Perriot: The Birth of a Villain.

[[BREAKING NEWS] 'Perriot: The Birth of a Villain' has successfully completed editing and testing. The film is now officially entering the race for the Academy Awards. Ahead of its global release, 'Perriot' will have an exclusive pre-release in select theaters across LA. The worldwide release is set for February 9th.]

Just like that, the pre-release date of Perriot was announced to the world.

And the industry?

It exploded.