Superstar 791
by CristaeThanks to Andaho’s scheme(?), Seo-jun was barely chosen, but the production company of New Eclipse, “New Age,” which had yet to realize it, began sending casting offers starting with actor Seo-jun Lee.
However, the atmosphere in the casting team office wasn’t exactly passionate.
Everyone sat with expressions that looked drained.
“Sigh—”
It wasn’t the fault of the New Age casting team employees. They were working hard enough.
It was just that,
“There are no replies…”
There were simply no responses from the actors or their agencies.
It felt like they were shouting at a brick wall.
“I mean, I get it…”
At someone’s muttered words, everyone nodded unknowingly.
The disastrous Eclipse had been released only four years ago.
It hadn’t even been five years—maybe ten at most—yet the awful memories were still vivid. What actor would want to take part in a remake of that film?
‘It’s a relief that it bombed so badly no one really watched it.’
Or… was that even something to be relieved about?
-When is Eclipse getting a movie adaptation? Cloud already got one.
=……It did. (Link to Eclipse movie info)
=Ah…
A casting staff member, unable to do anything but wait for actor responses, read online reactions about Eclipse and unknowingly chuckled. They thought the PR team must be having a rough time.
Of course, they themselves weren’t in a position to be worrying about others.
“We even finished the script first for this exact reason…”
The casting team leader spoke, more sigh than words.
The studio had fully anticipated that the catastrophic Failclipse would heavily impact the production of New Eclipse.
So for months, they had gathered the original author Laura Welton, director Wilma Evans, and the screenwriter to painstakingly complete the New Eclipse script first.
Here!
Once you see the script, you’ll realize it’s completely different from the last movie!
They planned to use that as their main point to convince actors.
But the problem was,
“They’re not even reading the script…”
“Exactly.”
Above the casting team’s heads, the image of an agency office formed like a cartoon thought bubble.
‘Team leader, New Age sent a script.’
‘New Age? What project is it?’
‘It’s an Eclipse remake.’
‘Trash it. Shred it and toss it.’
The imagined team leader’s reaction was so firm, they almost cried.
‘The bigger problem is that it’s not just imagination.’
Recalling how every industry person responded with, “Wait, why that one??” when they heard about the remake, the casting team leader sighed again without meaning to.
“If they just read the script, they’d see it’s not the same as last time.”
“I read it too, and while it sticks close to the original novel, it also really brings out the cinematic elements well.”
As members of the casting team tasked with persuading actors and agencies, they had been the first—and most thorough—readers of New Eclipse’s script among New Age staff. They knew just how well-written it was.
So it felt frustrating.
It was seriously good! It was seriously fun! It really felt like it could be a hit!
But what was the point if only they knew?
The other side had no intention of even reading it.
Seriously, thinking about the director, original author, and screenwriter who had painstakingly compiled lists of actors suited to the roles made them tear up.
“How far down the list should we go?”
Looking at the list of actors ranked from top priority to number ten, one staff member asked.
‘It’d be a miracle if they’re even on this list.’
The team leader swallowed their words. They might have to hold auditions.
“It’d be great if Ri took the role, though.”
Still waiting for unanswered emails and calls, another staff member spoke like they were talking to themselves, and everyone nodded again without realizing it.
Top pick for the male lead: actor Seo-jun Ri.
As the casting team thought of Seo-jun Ri, their expressions became dreamy, like they were walking on clouds.
“His acting speaks for itself.”
“He’s passionate about the work, so he’d really push—I mean, support—the director.”
“I heard he’s got a good personality too, and good chemistry with other actors.”
“The vibe on set is always good.”
“Even just his fans guarantee box office success. And that’s just his Korean fans.”
“Plus, he’s got a great eye for projects.”
The team leader added,
“None of the Korean or American films he’s been in have flopped.”
If Seo-jun Ri chose the role, New Eclipse would be a good film by default.
But as they said this out loud, they started to wonder whether an actor like him would pick New Eclipse over all the other great projects available.
If only he’d just open the script.
The casting team didn’t know about the relationship between original author Laura Welton’s sister, Grace Welton, and Seo-jun Ri.
“If we just get Ri on board, I think casting the others would be easy.”
“We wouldn’t even need marketing.”
Seo-jun Ri joining the cast?
Just that one sentence would shake the world.
The silent actors would suddenly say they’d love to join. Industry folks would be peeking in to see if any roles were left. Same with investors.
He was, without question, a superstar.
An actor with immense influence—Seo-jun Ri.
“…It’s not gonna happen, right?”
“Yeah. Doesn’t seem likely.”
Everyone drooped their shoulders.
But the next day.
An email had arrived at New Age’s casting team. It was the first reply since they had sent out casting proposals.
“Huh? Huhhh? HUUUUHH?!”
It was a confirmation from actor Seo-jun Ri that he would appear in the film.
At the home of Choi Si-yoon, the youngest member of BrownBlack.
Seo-jun, who hadn’t hung out with the BrownBlack hyungs in a while, rolled the dice.
“Why! Why does no one ever land on my properties!!”
Hwang Ye-jun whimpered as everyone passed by his properties again. He had borrowed money from the bank and even built landmarks, but no one ever landed on them.
At the sight of Ye-jun, Seo-jun, Park Seo-jin, Kevin Kim, and Choi Si-yoon burst into laughter.
“Ye-jun hyung, please pay the toll.”
“And why am I the only one who gets hit by everything…!”
At this rate, he was going to go bankrupt!
Leaving behind the shouting Ye-jun, Seo-jun and the three members of BrownBlack continued to roll the dice in harmony.
At that moment, Seo-jun’s phone rang.
“Hold on, hyungs.”
“Sure.”
Seo-jun took the call a short distance away from the living room. Upon hearing the loud voice coming through, he instinctively pulled the phone far from his ear.
-/Are you gonna do it!? Are you really gonna appear in it!? Jun!?/
It was his friend, Grace Welton.
‘What time is it in New York right now?’
It was probably dawn, yet Grace’s voice was as lively and energetic as if it were afternoon.
Maybe because she was so full of energy, even the BrownBlack members rolling the dice stretched their necks to look. Hearing the woman’s voice from Seo-jun’s phone, their eyes narrowed. Just from their twitching lips, it was obvious they wanted to tease him.
-/It wasn’t a mistake?/
-/It wasn’t a mistake!?/
It seemed Laura Welton was beside her, too.
“/It wasn’t a mistake. The script was great, Laura. Enough that I really wanted to be part of it./”
-/WAAAAAAH!!/
With cheers that sounded more like screams, Seo-jun once again pulled his phone away from his ear. His ear stung a little, but seeing how happy Grace and Laura were made him smile.
“/The contract will probably be brought over to New Age within a few days by someone from Kings Agency./”
Saying that much wasn’t a problem.
Grace wasn’t the type to go spreading things carelessly.
-/Wow. So it’s really happening……./
-/Aaah! I’ll buy you something delicious when you come to the U.S., Jun!/
-/Unnie says she’ll treat you to something good when you come!/
“/Haha. Alright./”
Just from their voices, Seo-jun could feel how happy they were, and he couldn’t help but laugh.
“/Now get some rest. It’s dawn in New York. Yeah. Okay./”
After ending the call with Grace, Seo-jun turned his head. And met eyes with the BrownBlack members, who were giggling.
“Girlfriend?”
“Is that your girlfriend?”
“Our little Seo-jun has a girlfriend now!”
“Grace. It was Grace.”
“Oh come on. A girl friend can always become a girlfriend~”
At Hwang Ye-jun’s words, Park Seo-jin, Kevin Kim, and Choi Si-yoon nodded along with smiling faces. Seo-jun smiled gently and said,
“Goodbye, hyungs. I’m heading out. It was fun.”
“No! Don’t go!”
“Don’t gooo!!”
Hwang Ye-jun and Kevin Kim threw themselves to the floor and clung to Seo-jun’s pants,
“It’s been so long since we’ve all been together!”
“Seo-jun, want some orange juice? It’s homemade.”
Choi Si-yoon looked at him with a sad expression, and Park Seo-jin tried to lure him with food.
Seriously… what happened to their age?
He couldn’t tell if they were hyungs or just friends.
When Seo-jun sat back down with a mischievous grin, Ye-jun and Kevin, who were holding onto his pants, asked, “You’re not leaving, right?” and let go. Seo-jin and Si-yoon hurried into the kitchen to bring back snacks.
“So, what was the call about?”
Crunch, crunch.
They continued the board game while munching on snacks. Hwang Ye-jun, the first to go bankrupt because no one landed on his properties despite all his building efforts, asked Seo-jun.
“My next project. A novel written by Laura is being made into a movie, and I’ve decided to appear in it.”
Ohhh.
“But didn’t She & Na just end?”
“Time will fly once prep and filming start.”
“Laura Welton, the author… which novel?”
Asked Park Seo-jin, who was quite the reader.
Rolling his eyes with a grin, Seo-jun replied. Somehow, he could already guess how the hyungs would react.
“Eclipse.”
“…What?”
……What did you just say?
With both eyes and mouths wide open, the BrownBlack hyungs stared at him, and Seo-jun couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
After having a blast with the BrownBlack hyungs and returning home, Seo-jun had dinner with his parents, then went into his room and sat at his desk. He began analyzing the New Eclipse script.
He wondered if he was starting too early since the contract wasn’t even finalized yet, but if there were any issues with the contract or other matters, Cocoa Entertainment, Da-ho hyung, and Tae-woo hyung would take care of it, so he wasn’t worried at all.
Of course, if there was an issue even the company couldn’t resolve, he’d have to drop it, but judging by Laura Welton’s attitude, that didn’t seem likely.
“Werewolf, huh…”
It had been a long time since he played a non-human character—since the play MOEB-436.
And now, a werewolf.
Spinning the pen in his right hand, Seo-jun smiled quietly, recalling the past.
That night.
When Seo-jun lay in bed and closed then opened his eyes, he arrived—as always—in the place that never failed to greet him.
The Library of Life.
A place filled with books he had read in the past, books he was currently reading, and books he might possibly read in the future.
Every story written in these books told of the lives he had lived in his past incarnations, now living under the name “Lee Seo-jun.”
“So that means…”
Seo-jun slowly walked, glancing at the surrounding bookshelves. And then he stopped in front of a specific shelf—his destination.
On that shelf were books with white covers, tinged faintly with gray, lined up neatly as if never touched.
He had discovered this shelf some time ago.
No, not just some time ago… quite a while ago, actually.
It was when he had opened the Library of Life’s “Intermediate-Advanced Gate.” Seo-jun remembered that moment clearly.
“Hard to forget.”
Muttering like a sigh, he scratched his cheek. Then he pulled out a pale gray book—one he had taken out and skimmed through only once before putting it back.
“Didn’t think I’d end up reading this…”
Seo-jun smiled faintly as he looked at the cover of the book.
This was the Library of Life, a space filled with all the reincarnated lives of “him” who endlessly cycled through rebirth.
And the life of “Lee Seo-jun” was no exception to that cycle.
Which meant—
Right before he was born as “Lee Seo-jun”—
The life he had lived then also existed here in this library.
[Albino Wolf]
That was Seo-jun’s former life.