The-Greatest-Showman

In Renly's view, Nightcrawler is Jack's best performance—perhaps even a career-defining masterpiece that cannot be surpassed.

Now, with the script for Nightcrawler in Renly's hands, there are two aspects to consider.

On one hand, if Renly Lyle played Louis, he would have approached the role differently from Jack.

To Renly, Louis is more than just a "nightcrawler." He represents the product of a fast-paced, contemporary society—one driven by entertainment and indifference, where interests always come first. In such a world, morals can be discarded, and laws can be broken if the price is right. This cold detachment from everything is what makes Louis's fall so inevitable.

Jack, on the other hand, imbued Louis with a darker, more chaotic energy. In his portrayal, Louis crosses moral and legal boundaries without a second thought, driven more by an inherent madness than by societal influences. It's not so much the result of external pressures but rather the result of an individual's inherent nature. Jack's Louis is similar to the Joker from The Dark Knight, whereas Renly's interpretation would lean more toward Two-Face from the same film—both embodying chaos, but through different lenses.

These two approaches are not only stylistically different but also lend entirely different energies to the film. The final result would undoubtedly vary based on the actor's choices.

From a professional standpoint, Renly doesn't believe his performance would be inferior to Jack's, but neither does he think it could surpass it. Jack's version of Louis aligns perfectly with what Dan Gilroy, the director, envisioned.

On the other hand, Nightcrawler and the role of Louis are deeply significant to Jack's career. Renly personally believes this film altered the trajectory of Jack's professional life. After its release, Nightcrawler earned widespread acclaim, but Jack's performance stood out even more, with praise pouring in from all corners. He became a frontrunner during the awards season, even surpassing Brokeback Mountain as the best potential Oscar contender.

Jack received nominations from various prestigious bodies like the American Independent Spirit Award, the National Critics Association, the Golden Globe Awards, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and the Screen Actors Guild. However, when the Oscar nominations were announced, Nightcrawler only received one nomination for Best Original Screenplay. Jack was unexpectedly snubbed.

Bradley Cooper, in American Sniper, managed to secure a Best Actor nomination, despite failing to land a nomination at most precursor events. He owed his success to a strong public relations push by director Clint Eastwood and Warner Bros., while Jack, without the backing of a major studio, was left behind. This caused a massive upset in the industry.

The shock waves from the snub echoed across Hollywood, with fans and insiders alike expressing their disappointment. This moment marked a significant turning point in Jack's career, one that still weighed heavily on him. Despite Jack's continued efforts, from roles in Broken Life to Iron Fist to Desperate Altitude, he struggled to regain momentum. Even his portrayal in Nocturnal Animals, another dark role, garnered accolades but no Oscar nomination.

It became evident that Jack's performances were becoming increasingly intense, perhaps too ferocious, as he sought Oscar recognition. His obsession with the Academy Award may have begun to detract from his artistic integrity. Until Renly's reincarnation and arrival in Hollywood, Jack's career seemed stuck in a loop. It was as though he had trapped himself in a cage, unable to break free.

Renly believes that Nightcrawler and Jack's Oscars snub are at the core of this cycle.

In Renly's mind, Oscar owes Jack a nomination for Nightcrawler. While Renly doesn't consider himself necessarily the best actor for the role, he does feel a sense of responsibility to see Jack finally receive the recognition he deserves. He may not want to play Louis, but he does want to see Jack succeed in that role. Renly holds Jack in high regard as one of his few true friends in Hollywood, and as a fan, he genuinely hopes Jack will get the Oscar nomination he was denied.

Renly, however, knows that missed opportunities in life, whether they involve roles or friends, can be irreversible. While he may one day return to roles he passed up, he doesn't want to see Jack's career fall into a similar pattern. The influence of this small butterfly effect—the presence of Renly—may shift the trajectory of the future. But for now, Renly remains determined to see Jack's version of Nightcrawler on the big screen.

Renly's decisiveness is one of his defining traits, and after carefully reading the script, he looks up to meet Andy's confident gaze. A small, mischievous smile tugs at the corner of Renly's lips.

"No, I don't like it." Renly said flatly, placing the script back on the coffee table and leaning back.

Andy's expression froze, his self-assured grin turning into confusion.

"Why?" Andy asked, perplexed. "I thought you'd love this project. The script, the character, the level of performance—it's a great challenge, something you've been talking about. Are you sure?"

Renly relished the moment, watching Andy scramble for answers. Andy's response faltered, as Renly simply stared back, giving nothing away. The silence stretched, and Andy, who usually had no trouble reading Renly, began to feel the weight of the moment.

Then, suddenly, realization struck. A small laugh escaped Andy, and he shook his head in disbelief. "Jesus Christ, you did it on purpose, didn't you?" he asked, his tone a mix of frustration and amusement.

Renly just shrugged, a half-smile playing on his lips. "Andy, I really do like this script. But I can't take this project."

"What?" Andy's confusion deepened. "Why? You like the script, and no one is stopping you—except you."

"As you said, it's a great script. I genuinely like it—from the characters to the story. It would be interesting to play Louis," Renly began, imagining what it would be like to take on such a role. It wouldn't be easy, but he couldn't ignore the sense of duty he felt toward someone else.

Renly paused, choosing his words carefully. "But I think someone else is better suited for this role than me. If he misses this opportunity, I'll regret it. I want to recommend him to the producers of this project. Trust me, he's a better fit than I am."

"Who?" Andy asked bluntly, not seeing anyone else who could match Renly's ability.

"As your agent, your confidence is flattering," Renly said, a playful tone creeping into his voice. Andy looked at him with a mix of exasperation and disbelief. Renly revealed his choice: "Jake Gyllenhaal. I'd recommend him for this role."