Harry met Daniel in a more subdued environment this time around.
A cozy private room at a hotel restaurant that Daniel had practically claimed for the week. Blind Man's Gambit had done more than just succeed—it had flipped Daniel's career on its head overnight. He carried himself with a new confidence now. Not cocky, but definitely self-assured.
"You're late," Daniel remarked, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
Harry pulled out the script and set it down on the table.
"I brought some work."
Daniel snatched it up right away. He didn't just skim through it; he dove in. That was one of the things Harry appreciated about him.
Fifteen minutes ticked by before Daniel finally spoke.
"This is darker."
"Yeah."
Daniel nodded thoughtfully. "I like it."
Harry leaned back in his chair. "Kevin."
Daniel glanced up.
"That's the role."
A brief silence hung in the air.
Daniel didn't outright reject it, but he didn't jump at it either.
"I have some doubts, but my agent's going to have an issue with that," he replied.
And the agent did.
The next day's meeting took on a more formal tone. Daniel's agent wasted no time getting to the point.
"After Blind Man's Gambit, Daniel isn't considering a secondary role."
"It's not secondary," Harry countered.
"It's not primary," the agent shot back. "Not in this script."
Harry held back his immediate response.
"We're looking at Omi or Lang," the agent continued. "Those are the roles that matter. That's where Daniel belongs."
"And the salary," he added, almost casually, "needs to reflect his current standing."
Harry could see where this was headed.
"How much?" Elizabeth asked.
The figure came out crisp.
Too crisp.
Too steep.
Harry stayed silent. Elizabeth did too.
The meeting wrapped up without any tension. Which somehow made it feel worse.
---
Back at the office, Elizabeth didn't waste any time.
"We can't afford him at that price."
Harry sat there, the script laid out in front of him.
"He's asking for Omi or Lang," he said.
Elizabeth nodded. "And he expects to be paid like the lead in a big production film."
Harry lightly tapped the page.
Omi.
Lang.
Kevin.
He mentally ran through the options again.
Daniel could definitely handle it. No doubt about that.
But Omi needed presence, not just performance.
Lang required control, not just presence.
Harry leaned back in his chair.
"Javier would be a better fit for Omi," he suggested.
Elizabeth didn't push back.
"And what about Lang?" she inquired.
Harry stayed quiet.
He was now confused between Daniel and Bale.
—
A week later, the decision seemed to make itself.
James walked into the office with a different look on his face.
"James Cameron reached out to Daniel."
Harry looked up, intrigued.
"For what?"
"A new film. It's in the early stages. Big scale. Rumor is, he is going to use a lot of new technology."
James paused for a moment.
"The title's Avatar."
Harry pursed his lips but didn't say anything.
"It's risky," James continued. "Heavy on technology. Long production time. No guarantee it'll work."
Harry already understood the implications.
"And Daniel?"
"He signed on."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Harry closed the script.
He didn't seem angry—just… disappointed.
Not at Daniel. But at the timing.
At the momentum slipping away.
After a brief moment, he nodded once.
"It makes sense. His agent would have probably liked the cheque they were offering," he finally said.
James didn't reply.
---
The screening room at Fox Studios was cozy, almost intimate.
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen were seated a few rows ahead. Greg looked like he hadn't caught a wink of sleep in days. And off to the side, quiet and seemingly detached, was Cormac McCarthy.
The film rolled on without a hitch.
When the credits finally rolled, a heavy silence hung in the air.
Harry lingered in his seat a moment longer than the rest.
Then he stood up.
He made his way to the Coens first.
"That was excellent," he said, keeping it simple.
Joel gave a slight nod, while Ethan offered a small smile.
"Glad it worked for you," Ethan replied.
Harry genuinely meant it.
Next, he turned to Cormac.
"Feels like the book," Harry remarked.
Cormac met his gaze for a brief moment before giving a subtle nod.
"That's all it needed to be."
Finally, Greg stood up, stretching his shoulders a bit.
"I'm dead," he joked.
Harry almost cracked a smile.
"You'll survive," he replied. "Finish Prestige, then take a breather."
Greg looked at him, surprised.
"You serious?"
"Absolutely."
Greg didn't push back.
He just nodded in agreement.
—
Harry didn't waste any time after that.
He reached out to Javier Bardem.
The meeting was straightforward.
"I have something for you," Harry said.
Javier listened intently as Harry laid out the details about Omi.
He didn't interrupt.
When Harry wrapped up, Javier leaned back a little.
"This man," he said, "he doesn't say much."
"Nope."
"But he calls all the shots."
"Exactly."
Javier nodded once, decisively.
"I'll do it."
Elizabeth took care of the numbers.
Harry moved on.
With Daniel gone, it was time to recast Kevin.
He already had someone in mind.
Jake Gyllenhaal.