I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 369

How many animated films has ‘Walt Disney Pictures’ released to the world? Among them are iconic works that everyone in the country knows, titles that instantly evoke memories of childhood innocence and boundless imagination.

Such animated films certainly held a place in Kang Woo-jin’s memories as well.

Stories of the sea, animals, and rubbing a lamp to make wishes—the list of memorable works was endless. Among them, Kang Woo-jin was particularly fond of the animated film where a lion becomes king.

Anyway.

‘Is this… the animated movie I know??’

The title that had seeped into his memories was emblazoned on the cover of the scenario in Woo-jin’s hand, now inside the van.

-‘Beauty and the Beast’

Of course, in Korea, it was more commonly known as ‘Beauty and the Beast’ than its English title. Woo-jin, still in his concept mode, briefly recalled the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ he had seen in the past: a snowy winter, a huge castle covered in snow, a beast living within, and a beauty with wide, innocent eyes.

‘The teapot and teacup characters are also so precious.’

More than anything, the songs sung by each unique character were all masterpieces, still vivid in Woo-jin’s mind. How old was I back then? Kang Woo-jin, who had been lost in the sea of the past, suddenly snapped back to the present.

‘Ah—wait a minute. This might not be *that* animated movie, right?’

Although he usually avoided them, there were movies with the same title, both in Hollywood and domestically. Still, with a faint sense of anticipation, he lowered his gaze to the scenario and then looked up. Choi Sung-gun, with his signature ponytail, was smiling faintly. Woo-jin, with a stiff expression, asked Choi Sung-gun in a low voice.

“CEO, is this scenario the same work I’m thinking of?”

“Hehe.”

Choi Sung-gun, who suddenly smiled strangely, gave a thumbs up.

“That’s right, the one you know. No, it’s safe to say that everyone in our country knows it.”

“Disney’s animated movie ‘Beauty and the Beast’.”

“Oh, that one.”

“Why is the scenario for that work here?”

“I’m not someone from that giant Disney company. Why do you think this scenario is here?”

Choi Sung-gun, with an even wider smile, pointed at Kang Woo-jin with his index finger.

“It’s here because it’s a scenario that came to *you*.”

Eeeek? Kang Woo-jin almost let out an exclamation without breaking his concept. A scenario had arrived. That meant ‘Walt Disney Pictures’ had sent a love call. And the work was ‘Beauty and the Beast’. It was amazing because it was a huge Hollywood film company, but it was even more surprising because it was something he had been familiar with since childhood.

‘Wow—crazy? Disney really wants *me*??!’

Although he barely managed to maintain his composure, Kang Woo-jin couldn’t help but gape internally. ‘Beauty and the Beast’ was quite different from ‘Pierrot’, which he had recently received. ‘Pierrot’ was still unknown to the public. But ‘Beauty and the Beast’ was something that almost everyone in the world, including Kang Woo-jin and Choi Sung-gun, knew.

‘Okay, wait a minute. Then what is it? Is this work a modern remake? Or a live-action version??’

Woo-jin, who forcibly calmed his increasingly pounding heart, asked Choi Sung-gun again. He was very calm, unlike his inner turmoil.

“Are you perhaps making a live-action version of ‘Beauty and the Beast’?”

Choi Sung-gun nodded immediately.

“Yes, a live-action version. Of course, Disney is still keeping this project top secret.”

“I see.”

“Why is your reaction so lukewarm? Dude, it’s Disney, Disney! ‘Columbia Studios’ was crazy too, but Disney is also sending you a love call! Two of the five major Hollywood film companies at the same time! Aren’t you excited??!”

I am, I am. His butt was practically wiggling, but Kang Woo-jin had to hold it in.

“A little.”

“…That’s so you. If this is announced, it’ll be a frenzy both domestically and internationally. Especially if the live-action work is ‘Beauty and the Beast’—oh man, this is more than a nuclear bomb. It’s like Disney’s symbol.”

“When did this scenario come in?”

“I also heard about it this morning. There are things to convey, but it’s too rushed to say anything detailed right now, so just be aware of the situation for now.”

Even while listening to the explanation, Woo-jin lowered his gaze to the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ scenario. Of course, there was a black square next to the scenario. Meanwhile, Choi Sung-gun, who seemed to be about to leave the van, lifted his butt and then spoke again.

“Oh, and the role you got is the ‘Beast’ role.”

-Thud.

Kang Woo-jin’s vision suddenly went dark. He had stabbed the black square without even realizing it. Woo-jin, who had entered the subspace, threw away his concept and everything else.

“Holy crap, it’s really Disney?? This is so cool.”

He moved immediately towards the white square floating in front of him. He was in the middle of filming ‘The Beneficial Evil’, so a full reading (experience) was a bit much, but checking the grade was no problem.

-Swish.

The recently added work was visible at the end.

-[11/Scenario (Title: Pierrot), EX+ Grade]

It was ‘Pierrot’, which had broken the highest grade in the subspace, and next to it, the newly added ‘Beauty and the Beast’ was visible.

-[12/Scenario (Title: Beauty and the Beast), EX Grade]

The grade of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ was EX. It was definitely amazing. Until recently, the EX grade was the highest in the subspace. As soon as he saw the grade, Woo-jin grinned.

“The grade is awesome too.”

There was no reason not to do ‘Beauty and the Beast’ in many ways. Besides the prestige of ‘Walt Disney Pictures’ and the high grade of the work, there were many reasons, but what stimulated Kang Woo-jin the most was the nostalgia of the memories.

“I can become that ‘Beast’, why would I hold back?”

It was a shared memory for everyone in the world, including Kang Woo-jin and the people he knew.

The opportunity to become that ‘Beast’.

This was something he desired as an actor, but also as the core Kang Woo-jin, his interest exploded. He immediately shouted ‘Exit’. In no time, his world returned to reality, back inside the van. Choi Sung-gun, who had lifted his butt from his seat, was about to leave the van. Woo-jin muttered in a low voice to the back of his head.

“CEO, I’ll do ‘Beauty and the Beast’ too.”

Stop. Choi Sung-gun, who was opening the van door, stopped moving and turned his head back. He saw Woo-jin’s firm face holding the scenario.

“Y-you’re just going to do this too? Without hearing any explanation?”

“Disney and the ‘Beast’ role, those two are enough. I can hear the explanation later.”

“…Aren’t you a little burdened? No matter what, it’s a live-action version of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ that everyone in the world knows.”

Woo-jin, with a deep poker face, shook his head.

“Not at all.”

Kang Woo-jin, who didn’t hesitate at all about ‘Pierrot’ and now ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Choi Sung-gun, who had been staring at Woo-jin for a moment, smiled wryly.

“Okay. Let’s crush Disney too.”

Around this time, in Busan.

At the entrance of the ‘Busan Cinema Center’, where the red carpet procession of the ‘Busan International Film Festival’ was in full swing, Director Ahn Ga-bok and Director Kwon Ki-taek stood at the photo zone. The broadcasting team and hundreds of reporters were in a frenzy.

Their excitement had been building for 10 minutes already.

“D-Director!! Did ‘Columbia Studios’ directly send a love call to you?!!”

“When did the talks begin?!”

“Is it completely confirmed?! Are you 100% taking on the role of director for the movie that ‘Columbia Studios’ will produce?!!!”

“Can you tell us what kind of work it is?!!”

“Did you sign the contract right after the Cannes Film Festival?!”

“Congratulations, Director Ahn Ga-bok!!!”

It was because of the bombshell statement that veteran director Ahn Ga-bok had suddenly dropped. He had decided to take on the role of director for a work by ‘Columbia Studios’, one of the largest film companies in Hollywood. Since there was no prior indication, their frenzy was quite understandable.

“H-how do you feel about being the first Korean to direct a Hollywood film?!!”

“When will filming begin?!”

“What about the actors!! Who are the Hollywood actors being mentioned for the work?!!”

Hundreds of reporters kept flashing their cameras and endlessly asking questions. No, they were shouting. But director Ahn Ga-bok, with a gentle smile, said.

“I will announce the details soon.”

He was sparing with his words. But just one thing.

“Even if you don’t know anything else, there will be something interesting on the actor side.”

He was referring to the actor of the hidden work ‘Pierrot’. It was a comment 100% aimed at Kang Woo-jin, but the hundreds of reporters had no way of knowing this. Then, director Ahn Ga-bok and director Kwon Ki-taek moved past the half-crazed reporters, and as they entered the ‘Busan Cinema Center’, the easygoing director Kwon Ki-taek opened his mouth.

“Senior, I was surprised.”

Director Ahn Ga-bok, with a wrinkled smile, patted his shoulder a couple of times.

“Sorry. There were some recent decisions, and I was also out of it.”

“No, it’s nothing to apologize for. Congratulations. Sincerely.”

“What. You’ll be here soon too.”

“You’ll be going to Hollywood soon. But director.”

“Hmm?”

“What you said earlier, ‘there will be something interesting on the actor side’. Perhaps—”

Director Kwon Ki-taek had an image of an indifferent-faced actor in his mind. But he quickly shook his head.

“No, it’s better to see it with my own eyes.”

Meanwhile, outside the ‘Busan Cinema Center’.

The hundreds of reporters who had been going crazy over director Ahn Ga-bok were still in a frenzy even after he had disappeared.

“W-wow, ‘Columbia Studios’!!”

“I thought there might be a love call from Hollywood since he won the ‘Palme d’Or’ [the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival] at Cannes—but to take on a project from that huge film company in one go!”

“This is, well, not just for Korea! In the history of ‘Columbia Studios’, isn’t this the first time for Asia??!”

“But what’s with the actor talk??”

“Is that the problem now?!”

And.

“This is a huge scoop!!”

The reporters, who had been gathered together, frantically took out their phones.

“Director Ahn Ga-bok’s Hollywood debut!!”

They had to spread this scoop to the public as quickly as possible.

Early the next morning, Saturday, the 13th.

The weekdays were over, and the weekend had begun. The location was Kang Woo-jin’s house in Samseong-dong. It was a little past 6 o’clock.

-Sigh.

Kang Woo-jin, with disheveled hair, got up groggily from the bed in the quiet master bedroom. Of course, his concept was gone, and he stretched out before saying.

“Ugh!! I’m dying.”

He moved to the living room. He had to leave the house in exactly one hour. But he was very tired. Kang Woo-jin rubbed around his eyes and walked to the living room table. There were two stacks of papers with black squares on them. ‘Pierrot’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’. Woo-jin picked up ‘Beauty and the Beast’.

Then.

-Thud!

Without much thought, Woo-jin stabbed the black square and entered the subspace in an instant. He had a desire to rest and also curiosity. Woo-jin, in the endlessly dark subspace, moved towards the white square.

He checked ‘Beauty and the Beast’ among them.

-[12/Scenario (Title: Beauty and the Beast), EX Grade]

Something suddenly came to mind.

“But—this isn’t the first time Disney has made a live-action version, right?”

That was true. ‘Walt Disney Pictures’ had already produced live-action films of some of its representative works. Of course, they were also released in Korea, and most of them were successful. The issue that came up every time was the actors who played the characters when the works of innocence were made into live-action films, the actors who were assimilated into the fairy tale.

Suddenly, a question mark appeared in Woo-jin’s head.

“Hmm—who will play ‘Beauty’?”

What kind of actress would play the female lead, who was known as an absolute beauty even in the animated film? As his curiosity grew, Woo-jin touched the white square of ‘Beauty and the Beast’. The text quickly changed.

-[You have selected 12/Scenario (Title: Beauty and the Beast).]

-[Lists the characters available for reading (experience).]

-[A: Beast, B: Candlestick Josh, C: Clock Luke······]

They were very familiar characters. Soon, Woo-jin’s index finger moved towards ‘Beast’. It was to do a reading (experience) right away. Lately, Woo-jin usually read the scenario completely before doing a reading (experience). This was to understand in advance if he would suddenly kill or be killed. That’s why he was reading the ‘Pierrot’ scenario first.

However, ‘Beauty and the Beast’ was different. He already knew the story.

-Swish.

The role Woo-jin chose was, of course, the ‘Beast’ role. Soon, a robotic female voice was heard throughout the subspace.

[“Abilities beyond the basic specs have been detected. ‘Beastification’ will be acquired first.”]

Kang Woo-jin, with narrowed brows, tilted his head.

“Huh?? Beast what??”

But the robotic female voice didn’t give him any time.

[“Preparing for ‘Beastification’ reading······”]

[“······Preparation complete. Starting the ‘Beastification’ reading.”]

Immediately, a huge gray mass covered him.

How much time had passed?

With the woman’s voice as the end.

[“The reading (experience) of ‘Beastification’ is complete.”]

Kang Woo-jin, who opened his eyes, was in his own living room, not the subspace. Soon, without saying anything.

“······”

Kang Woo-jin was drawing out the ‘Beastification’ ability he had just acquired.

“There’s no change in my appearance.”

There was no significant change in his appearance. However, there was a change in the concept and the core Kang Woo-jin.

Solid control and restraint, and a rough beastliness.

“…Is ‘Beastification’ perhaps this.”

It had to be seen as a strengthening of the concept.

End