I was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor [EN]: Chapter 403

Around the afternoon of the 12th.

Having finished the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ audition in the morning, Kang Woo-jin was now in a van speeding down the road. He was wearing a rather thick gray blazer, with full makeup and styled hair, because he had just finished an interview with a famous Hollywood media outlet.

-Vroom!

After about an hour-long interview, Kang Woo-jin’s team was on their way to have a meal. The menu was pizza, recommended by Han Ye-jeong, who said there was a great place nearby. Anyway, Kang Woo-jin, with his legs crossed and gazing out the window, fully embracing his concept, murmured to himself.

‘Hmm—is the ‘Beast’ role audition all done? Or is it still going on?’

He was curious. ‘Pierrot’ was a public audition, so he could see when it ended, but ‘Beauty and the Beast’ was private, making him even more curious. Soon, Choi Sung-gun, sitting to his right, seemed to have the same thought, looking at his phone’s clock and muttering.

“Woo-jin, there are four people after you. Hmm, judging by the time, the ‘Beast’ role audition and screen test should all be over. Or maybe you were the last one. I wonder what the director and production team are thinking, what their final reactions are.”

The team members, including the stylists, chimed in. They said they wanted to see it too, and that the scale of the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ filming set was insane. Kang Woo-jin was also curious, but he pretended not to be and acted tough.

“They’ll contact me soon.”

“Hehe, a call saying you passed?”

“Yes.”

“Seriously, is there no reverse gear in your head?”

“Probably not.”

At that moment.

-Vvvv, vvvv.

Kang Woo-jin’s phone vibrated loudly. The caller ID showed Miley Cara. Woo-jin put the phone to his ear and spoke in a calm English tone.

“Yes, hello.”

Cara’s slightly excited voice came from the other end of the phone.

“Hi. I was just thinking about you and called. You had the ‘Beast’ audition, right?”

“Yes.”

“How was it?”

“What exactly are you asking?”

“I’m just asking how you felt. Do you think you did well?”

“Probably.”

“…That’s confusing. Anyway, I heard from a friend that you two met? Didn’t you see him?”

Cara explained about her friend. Woo-jin recalled the permed-hair Hollywood actor he had seen earlier.

“I saw him. But I didn’t greet him.”

“He’s probably feeling competitive because you showed him up. Well—I hope you get the ‘Beast’ role, sincerely. You know this is a first in Hollywood, right?”

“I’ve heard that.”

Cara, a candidate for the role of ‘Belle,’ chuckled softly and changed the subject.

“I heard that the ‘Belle’ role auditions and screen tests will be held after the ‘Beast’ actor is confirmed.”

Oh, really? He didn’t know that. Woo-jin replied nonchalantly.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. The ‘Beast’ actor will probably attend the ‘Belle’ auditions. They’ll be matching the ‘Belle’ candidates with the ‘Beast.’ You’ll probably see all the ‘Belle’ candidates, including me, right?”

“…It’s not confirmed yet.”

“Oh, right. That’s true, isn’t it?”

After a laugh, Cara spoke again.

“Personally, I’d love to sing to the piano you play, as ‘Belle.'”

Meanwhile.

At the ‘spt studio,’ a 50,000-pyeong [approximately 165,000 square meters] set complex where the live-action ‘Beauty and the Beast’ would actually be filmed. In one of the several huge warehouse-style stages, where the ‘Beast’ audition had been held since morning, about a hundred foreign staff members were busily moving around.

They were in the middle of cleaning up.

Because the ‘Beast’ role auditions and screen tests were all over. Therefore, the lighting, cameras, and audio equipment installed in the set banquet hall were being moved back to the trucks. Amidst all this, director Bill Lautner, with his hair half-receded, was seen near the golden piano in the set banquet hall, which was decorated with elaborate patterns.

“······”

Unlike the hundred or so busy staff members, he was looking down at the piano with a serious expression. He seemed to be recalling the audition scenes from the morning. The executive producer approached Bill Lautner.

“Director, what are you thinking about?”

Bill Lautner took off his black horn-rimmed glasses and chuckled.

“I’m not thinking, the thoughts are forcing their way out. Violently.”

“······Kang Woo-jin?”

Bill Lautner, not immediately answering the question, scanned the banquet hall set. It was an incredibly detailed and well-made set. In fact, it was so good that it could be used as a real banquet hall. For a director, it was impossible to forget Kang Woo-jin, or rather, the ‘Beast,’ who had been running wild in this place. At least, that’s how Bill Lautner felt.

“Just with his piano performance, he expressed the ‘Beast’s’ appearance, personality, and his life. I’ve never seen such an absurd performance in my life. And his vocals and acting as well…”

He trailed off, then made eye contact with the executive producer.

“I understand why he suddenly appeared and won the Best Actor award at Cannes, why he easily mentions the ‘Academy Awards,’ and why he was confirmed as the lead in ‘Pierrot: Birth of a Villain.’ I understand why he’s shaking up Hollywood right now.”

“…Well, I have similar thoughts. Disney executives even called him a ‘monster.'”

“I’m dying to put makeup on him.”

“Excuse me?”

Bill Lautner was thinking about Kang Woo-jin, who wasn’t there.

“I’m saying I want to see Kang Woo-jin as the real ‘Beast.’ Honestly, the other actors today weren’t lacking either, and we’ll have to have an in-depth meeting about today’s auditions later. I know that Disney has to consider the controversy surrounding Kang Woo-jin and the eyes of the global public.”

“······”

“But I’m telling you my true feelings early on.”

Bill Lautner conveyed his sincerity to the executive producer of ‘Beauty and the Beast.’

“Right now, I can’t think of anything but ‘Beast’ Kang Woo-jin.”

Later.

The news that the ‘Beast’ role auditions and screen tests were over spread to Hollywood the next day, the 13th. Since it was such a globally popular work, the foreign press couldn’t miss this news.

『LA TIME/It seems that ‘World Disney Pictures’ live-action ‘Beauty and the Beast’ finished the ‘Beast’ role auditions yesterday』

Due to this quickly spreading issue, the buzz was rampant again in communities around the world. Of course, Kang Woo-jin’s name was very prevalent. It was already a hot topic that he was a candidate for the ‘Beast’ role, but it became even more intense after he landed the lead role in ‘Pierrot: Birth of a Villain.’

What was it about him that made Hollywood so enamored?

However, there was a slight difference from the beginning. The reactions of the overseas public had become a bit more lenient.

-It’s not like Kang Woo-jin as the Beast is completely out of the question, have you all seen ‘Beneficial Evil’?

-I agree. He’s handsome and a good actor, I think Kang Woo-jin is quite suitable for the Beast role.

It was the power of ‘Beneficial Evil’ that had suddenly swept the world. For reference, ‘Beneficial Evil,’ which had been launched about ten days ago, was currently.

『’I only meant to watch one episode but ended up watching all night’… The whole world is currently suffering from ‘Beneficial Evil’』

It was truly a meteoric rise.

『[Video] ‘Beneficial Evil’ is a sensation despite mixed reviews… Between freshness and familiarity, and flashy action, still number 1 in the US!』

『Due to the global popularity of ‘Beneficial Evil’… SNS followers of actors like Kang Woo-jin and Hwa-rin are exploding!』

‘Beneficial Evil,’ which was widely expected to end within a few days, had been maintaining the number one spot in the US and several other countries besides Korea for ten days already.

Even.

『’Beneficial Evil’ sweeps the world, number 1 in about 22 countries including the US for ten days since its release』

It was achieving the number one spot on Netflix in over 20 countries.

People around the world were talking about ‘Beneficial Evil.’

-I didn’t know much about Korea, but after watching Beneficial Evil, I want to go to Korea!!

-When is part 2 coming out? Netflix, do some work!

-I’m looking for Korean dramas on Netflix because of Beneficial Evil, but there’s nothing like it

-The action is good, but the story is not that great, I don’t know why it’s such a hot topic?

-I can’t focus either

-I’m interested in a Korean actor for the first time… Kang Woo-jin is so cool

It was like a global syndrome.

『’Beneficial Evil’ that the world is going crazy for, breaking Korean records… Kang Woo-jin’s global recognition explodes exponentially!』

And then, on the 14th, a day later.

『[Issue Pick] ‘Beneficial Evil’ is rewriting Korean dramas, maintaining number 1 in the US, etc. World overall ranking announced, ‘Beneficial Evil’ achieves Korea’s first world number 1!』

『’Beneficial Evil’ really caused an accident… Reaches number 1 on Netflix worldwide!』

The first overall ranking of ‘Beneficial Evil’ was released.

『Kang Woo-jin has taken over the world, ‘Beneficial Evil’ number 1 on Netflix worldwide… Highest record for a Korean drama』

『[Comprehensive] ‘Beneficial Evil’, number 1 in 22 countries including Korea, the US, and Japan, and 2nd or higher in the remaining 50 countries… ‘Beneficial Evil’ achieves world number 1』

『’Beneficial Evil’ reaches world number 1 in about ten days since its release, if this momentum continues, it will be an unprecedented result!』

It was the first Korean drama to reach number one in the world.

At this time, a little outside of downtown LA.

A rather large two-story building could be seen. It was mostly gray and surrounded by transparent windows. A large garden with many trees surrounded the building. In this vast LA, it wasn’t a particularly surprising scale, but there was definitely something that stood out.

It was a large statue in front of the building.

This statue, more than three times the size of a person, depicted a winged woman holding a sphere and looking up at the sky. It vaguely resembled a trophy.

In fact, this statue was a trophy.

It was just a greatly enlarged version of the original trophy size.

In fact, the trophy of a winged woman holding a sphere and looking up at the sky was incredibly famous not only in the United States but also around the world. In the film industry, it was the ‘Academy Award’ [also known as the Oscars], in the theater and musical industry, it was the ‘Tony Award.’ And in the broadcasting industry, it was the ‘Primetime Emmy Award.’ Commonly called the ‘Emmy Award,’ this woman statue was the trophy of the ‘Emmy Award.’

The ‘Emmy Award’ was the most prestigious global award ceremony in the broadcasting industry, often called the ‘Academy Award’ of broadcasting.

Therefore, it was natural that the world’s broadcasting industry would risk everything to participate in this award ceremony. The ‘Emmy Awards’ included not only terrestrial channels but also cable and various OTT [Over-the-Top] platforms. There were several sections like Cannes, but the main one was the ‘Primetime Emmy Awards,’ which was usually referred to as the ‘Emmy Awards.’ Of course, there was also a Best Actor award.

Anyway, the reason why the ‘Emmy Award’ trophy statue was proudly erected in front of this building was simple.

Because this was where the ‘Emmy Awards’ were hosted.

It was called the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS) and held the ‘Primetime Emmy Awards’ every year. Interestingly, in a meeting room in the building where this organization was located, a diverse group of foreigners of various ages were gathered.

“‘Beneficial Evil’—its momentum is unusual.”

The Korean work ‘Beneficial Evil’ was being spoken from their mouths.

“I agree, it reached number 1 in the US on Netflix just one day after its release. It’s the first Korean work to do so.”

“That’s not the end of it, it’s now number 1 in over 20 countries, and the remaining 50 countries are either 2nd or in the top ranks.”

“It’s gone beyond an unusual trend. It’s breaking new records every day.”

Their conversation, with dozens of people gathered, was quite serious.

“Currently, it’s number 1 on Netflix worldwide. There aren’t many American dramas with this record, are there?”

“We need an accurate survey, but I think there are probably only a handful.”

“The work itself is fun and well-made, the direction is good, and the action scenes are particularly outstanding.”

“Kang Woo-jin—he’s definitely causing a sensation. Following Cannes, he’s doing ‘Pierrot: Birth of a Villain’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’ at the same time… And on top of that, ‘Beneficial Evil’ has become a global hit. Is this even possible?”

“It’s possible, so it’s happening in reality.”

“Anyway, it’s clear that ‘Beneficial Evil’ and Kang Woo-jin have created a miracle.”

“Kang Woo-jin’s miracle is still ongoing.”

For reference, the ‘Primetime Emmy Awards’ collects candidate works from April of the previous year to April of the current year, and after passing through the votes and processes of numerous judging members, it is held grandly in August. It was February now, so it was the time when they were collecting works to be nominated.

At this time, a foreigner with a thick mustache spoke.

“‘Beneficial Evil’—is it okay to put it up as a candidate work?”

A foreigner with a protruding belly crossed his arms and replied.

“We need to watch it a little more. However, if the momentum continues, I think it’s enough.”

As a result, most of the foreigners gathered nodded. Soon, the foreigner with the protruding belly spoke again.

“If ‘Beneficial Evil’ is officially nominated—it would be the first non-English language work.”

The ‘Emmy Awards’ recognized ‘Beneficial Evil’.