Chapter 381: Overwhelmed (10)

Translator: Santos

*Walt Disney Pictures* boasts a massive global fan base, with a reach that spans across ages, genders, and nationalities. Their catalog is filled with iconic animated movies and beloved characters, some of which remain fan favorites even decades after their debut. This enduring popularity is what powers *Walt Disney Pictures*.

Whenever a new animated movie or sequel is released, fans from around the world flock to see it. The same is true for live-action adaptations—especially for films that already hold immense popularity. And one of *Walt Disney Pictures’* flagship titles, recognized by nearly everyone worldwide, is none other than *Beauty and the Beast*—a film whose title alone brings to mind its iconic soundtrack.

But now, rumors about a live-action adaptation of *Beauty and the Beast* were starting to circulate.

—[“Not a bait post, I swearㅋㅋㅋ. I live in LA, and there’s legit a rumor that Disney is prepping a live-action *Beauty and the Beast*!”]

This comment appeared in one of Korea’s biggest film communities, known for its large user base and for evaluating popular movies, including Kang Woo-jin’s works like *The Drug Dealer*, *Island of the Missing*, and *The Parasitic Mate*.

Right now, *Beauty and the Beast* was the topic on everyone’s mind.

—[“What? *Beauty and the Beast*? Are you serious? If this is real, I’m stoked!!!”]

The excitement was building quickly.

Meanwhile, in LA.

On the grounds of one of the city’s iconic *Big Five* studios—a sprawling property that’s famous as a tourist destination—was the well-recognized logo of *Walt Disney Pictures*. Much like the other major studios, *Walt Disney Pictures* operates on a vast scale, with warehouse-sized sound stages and outdoor sets that rival those of any competitor. The one difference here? The grounds were adorned with familiar characters beloved around the world.

Inside one of the large offices at *Walt Disney Pictures*, a group of foreign staff sat around a U-shaped table, reviewing tablets and scripts. Despite the setup resembling a studio, it was clearly a meeting room, given the orderly rows of screens on the front wall.

This was the team in charge of casting the live-action adaptation of *Beauty and the Beast*, and they were deep in discussion, with photos of Hollywood's top actors flashing across the tablet screens. Miley Cara’s face even appeared.

“Any word back from Miley Cara’s team?”

“Not yet.”

“Isn’t she the one we’re most interested in? Did we downplay our enthusiasm when we made the offer?”

“Not at all. I even mentioned she was our top choice. She seemed keen during the meeting, but maybe she’s taking her time deciding.”

“If we don’t hear back by the end of the day, let’s follow up.”

“Understood.”

After discussing the remaining actresses who hadn’t yet attended preliminary meetings, the conversation shifted to the male candidates, whose pre-screenings had already wrapped up. The atmosphere became focused as some big names were mentioned.

“Good, all the initial meetings with the male actors went well, right?”

“Yes. We’re set to proceed with auditions and tests for the *Beast* role.”

“Is the OST for the vocal test ready?”

“It should be soon.”

“If that’s a challenge, couldn’t we use one of the tracks from the original animated film?”

“That’s true, but it’d be better if we used a newly arranged piece.”

“Yes, fair enough. And what about the piano version?”

“That might take a bit longer.”

As the team continued discussing auditions, an image of a hotly-discussed actor popped up on their tablets.

“Kang Woo-jin. What’s our plan for him?”

Kang Woo-jin had completed his preliminary meeting with the *Beauty and the Beast* team just days ago. However, things had grown complicated when *Columbia Studios* announced him as a lead candidate for *The Pierrot* shortly after that meeting.

“We had no idea *Columbia Studios* was after him too.”

“They must’ve kept it under wraps, just like us.”

“We should’ve reached out sooner.”

Concern flashed across the faces of several team members.

“Should we proceed as planned, or should we consider excluding him from the *Beast* role?”

“Hmm… It’s tricky. There’s a chance that the schedules for the two productions could clash once filming starts.”

“Would it even be possible for him to manage both projects? Theoretically, yes, but realistically, it’s rare for an actor to work on two Hollywood productions simultaneously. Physically, it’d be taxing.”

One of the casting team members chimed in.

“But Kang Woo-jin is known in Korea for juggling multiple projects at once. When he shot *The Parasitic Mate*, he was also working on other films.”

“Really?”

“But the production systems in Korea and Hollywood are quite different.”

“Yes, it’s challenging.”

A tall man with a decisive air looked around the room and spoke up.

“Do we hold onto him, or let him go? Let’s review the footage from his preliminary meeting.”

The team quickly prepared the video, and soon, the largest monitor in the room displayed the recording. The screen showed Kang Woo-jin’s focused face, and as he spoke fluently in English with the team, he suddenly stood and moved to the grand piano in the room, starting to play without hesitation.

The team had asked him for a piano performance during the preliminary meeting, and Woo-jin had responded instantly. The piece he played was one of *Walt Disney Pictures’* classic OSTs.

It was an immensely familiar song, but…

“This feels completely different.”

“Right? His unique style really shines through in the performance.”

“It’s still astonishing; can he really be just an actor?”

When Woo-jin played, it almost sounded like an entirely new piece. The piano performance filled the office, but then abruptly stopped as the video paused. The tall man clasped his hands.

“It’s not uncommon to see overlapping schedules in Hollywood, after all. Sure, *Columbia Studios* is a major player, but who here would be willing to let Woo-jin go after hearing that performance?”

The room went silent.

“All the other candidates we asked to play piano… Woo-jin was the only one who really captivated me. Overlapping projects or not, I think he’s worth the effort. We still haven’t seen his vocal or full acting test. Besides…”

The tall man stated decisively.

“His piano playing felt so real, like the *Beast* himself was at the keys.”

Elsewhere in LA, two large vans were speeding through the city. In the front vehicle, a familiar blonde woman stared out the window, her legs crossed.

It was Miley Cara.

Though she was on her way to attend a fashion show, her mind was far from the event.

“Should I turn down *Beauty and the Beast* after all?”

She’d been wrestling with this question ever since the offer came in. Considering her current commitments and the looming pressures of such a project, the decision wasn’t easy. She swept her long blonde hair back.

“Woo-jin is already a top candidate for *The Pierrot*. Knowing his energy, he’ll probably get the role. With that plus Joseph’s film, his schedule next year will be packed.”

For Miley Cara, whose calendar was already full with album promotions and various appearances, accepting *Beauty and the Beast* could mean that her entire next year would be taken up.

She furrowed her brows, deep in thought.

At last, they arrived at the hotel where the fashion show would take place. As she stepped out of the van with her coat in hand, she was greeted by a throng of reporters and attendees gathered around the entrance. Flanked by her team and security guards, she made her way up the stairs.

“Miley!”

She turned to see a familiar Hollywood actor with curly brown hair waving at her from the back. Her guards gave way, and he slipped next to her, leaning in with a grin.

“So, I heard you got an offer for *Beauty and the Beast*? Same here. But what’s the deal with Woo-jin landing the *Beast* role? You’re pretty close to him, right?”

Miley’s blue eyes widened.

“Wait, what did you just say?”

In *Beauty and the Beast*, the key roles were the *Beast* and *Belle*. As for *Belle*, she was among Disney’s most beloved characters—a gorgeous blonde with a quirky personality. Miley Cara had been offered this role for her looks, talent, and versatility as both an actress and singer. Only five actresses, including Miley, had been shortlisted for *Belle*, just as five actors were in the running for *Beast*, including Woo-jin.

But while the male candidates had completed their preliminary screenings, Miley and the other female candidates were still in the proposal stage. Based on the timeline, the male lead auditions and screen tests would come first.

Even though Disney was eager to cast Miley, she had been leaning toward declining for various reasons.

But now, that decision was shaken.

“Woo-jin? You’re telling me Woo-jin is being considered for *Beast*?”

Thanks to a casual remark from her Hollywood friend, Miley stopped in her tracks, her blue eyes widening as she looked at him intently.

The actor noticed her surprise and joked.

“What? What’s wrong? Haven’t seen me in a while and forgot how handsome I am?”

Despite his humor, Miley’s expression remained serious.

“Hold on, let’s go somewhere quieter.”

“Uh, okay?”

Pulling him along, Miley climbed the stairs quickly, away from the crowd of reporters. Soon, they escaped the commotion and stepped into the lobby of the building where the fashion show was taking place. Although there were still many people, the number of reporters had th

inned out.

Miley glanced around, then leaned in and whispered to the actor.

“Did you say Woo-jin? You mentioned Woo-jin, right?”

The actor scratched his head, realizing he might have spilled something confidential.

“Oh, yeah. You didn’t know? Oops.”

He looked slightly flustered, realizing he may have inadvertently leaked a secret. While casting discussions were generally confidential, actors often heard rumors through their networks, especially those who had received offers or confirmed roles.

Miley knew most of the other actresses in the running for *Belle*, but hearing about Woo-jin for the first time was surprising.

“Pretend you didn’t hear it. I just asked because I thought you were close with him.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep it to myself. But are you sure Woo-jin’s in the running for the *Beast*?”

The actor nodded.

“Based on the preliminary meeting, I can’t be certain, but yes, he’s been offered a role, just like I was.”

Miley muttered to herself, almost in disbelief.

“If this is true, Hollywood… no, the world’s attention will be even greater than it already is.”