The Ellen Show aired.
The very night the episode broadcasted, #CassiusOnEllen shot straight to the top of the Twitter trends list.
"Holy shit, Cassius is hilarious! He's completely different from the dull, rigid image I had of Asian actors!"
"I laughed so hard at the part where he roasted Chris Hemsworth's drinking tolerance!"
"I can't believe Boss Han Lee has so much presence just by changing his outfit!"
"His English is so fluent, and his reactions are super fast. He caught every joke Ellen threw at him!"
The online reception was almost unanimously positive.
The humor, clear logic, and that humble yet steady aura Cassius displayed on the show completely overturned the single-minded stereotype many American viewers held about Eastern faces—that they were either wooden or only knew Kung Fu.
On The Ellen Show's official YouTube channel, the view count for his interview segment skyrocketed, and the comment section turned into a massive "I stand corrected" festival.
"I used to think he and Kristen didn't match, but now I'm officially announcing that I ship them!"
"Converted from a 2 Broke Girls fan to a fan of the actor himself! This guy's personal charisma is even more mystical than Han Lee's Feng Shui!"
---
Rob watched the explosive positive feedback on social media, grinning so hard the corners of his mouth almost touched his ears.
Calls were coming in one after another—all invitations for various shows and inquiries about brand endorsements.
"Bro! Did you see the data? You're one of the most popular new faces in America right now!"
Rob shouted excitedly over the phone.
Cassius, however, was quite calm. He was curled up at home, reading the script for Green Lantern: Rise of the Azure Dragon that Director Martin had sent over for further polishing.
The heat from The Ellen Show continued to ferment.
Cassius's public image and favorability with the general public were rocketing upward.
Taking advantage of this wave of popularity, Warner Bros. and DC Comics dropped a bombshell.
They officially announced: The Green Lantern movie is officially titled Green Lantern: Rise of the Azure Dragon, and will star Cassius as the Green Lantern.
As soon as the news broke, public opinion exploded.
The rumors about the audition had only been circulating in small circles before, but this was official confirmation!
Supporters and those just there for the fun cheered:
"YES! I knew it! Cassius is a badass! An Asian superhero is finally here!"
"Rise of the Azure Dragon! That title sounds sick!"
"From a coder to a superhero? I can get behind this setting! Can't wait to see Cassius's version of the power ring!"
"Warner finally did something right! This casting is brilliant!"
However, the voices of doubt and opposition were equally loud, perhaps even more piercing:
"WTF? Isn't Green Lantern supposed to be Hal Jordan? How did he turn into a Chinese guy? Is DC crazy?"
"Cassius? The guy from that sitcom? Can he carry a blockbuster with a budget of over a hundred million? You gotta be kidding me!"
"Waiting for the box office to bomb!"
"I bet he'll use the ring energy to conjure chopsticks and an abacus! (Mocking face)"
"Why change our classic hero into an Asian? This is cultural appropriation!"
---
Social media instantly split into two camps, arguing fiercely.
Various sarcastic memes started popping up.
Some photoshopped Han Lee's head onto the Green Lantern suit, while others edited the Yin-Yang symbol onto the power ring—
The internet trolls were having a field day.
Cassius's phone was instantly jammed with messages and missed calls.
He glanced at them roughly; there was concern and congratulations, and naturally, there were those who weren't optimistic.
Kristen video-called him directly. Her background looked like a break room on a set.
"Did you see those comments online? Don't listen to those idiots!"
Seeing her puffed-up, angry face, Cassius laughed. "I haven't looked much. It's the expected reaction!"
"You have such a good mindset!"
Kristen admired him. "If it were me, I would have been online clapping back at them all morning!"
"Clapping back won't make them buy movie tickets."
Cassius was very pragmatic. "Let the work do the talking!"
That said, Rob was still facing a formidable enemy. He urgently arranged several high-profile media interviews, attempting to guide public opinion.
In a written interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the reporter asked a sharp question:
"Mr. Cassius, regarding the opinion of some viewers that you cannot represent a classic American hero, and the worry that this will be a failed attempt at political correctness, what are your thoughts?"
Cassius's answer was crisp:
"I believe heroes shouldn't be limited by skin color or cultural background! The essence of Green Lantern is willpower—it's overcoming fear. This quality belongs to all of humanity!"
"The character I play, Cassius, is an ordinary coder who grew up in San Francisco. He's humorous, has flaws, gets scared, but ultimately chooses to shoulder responsibility."
"This is a story about growth and courage. It has nothing to do with whether he is Chinese or American!"
"I think any ordinary person who is sincere, hardworking, and has a spark can become a hero to others in certain moments. This has nothing to do with their race!"
Cassius didn't directly answer the reporter's trap question.
He elaborated on the core of the character, elevating the discussion to a level of universal values, avoiding triggering racial discrimination debates!
When asked about the mocking comments regarding "using the ring to make chopsticks," Cassius laughed:
"Why not? If I need chopsticks to eat a bowl of noodles that saves the world at a critical moment, I think that's pretty cool!"
"The ring is a creation of imagination, and imagination shouldn't have boundaries! Besides, who's to say that a unique Eastern philosophical understanding of willpower and energy won't allow the ring to do some new tricks?"
"Feng Shui resonating with cosmic energy... that doesn't sound any more far-fetched than alien technology, right?"
He diffused the malice with humor and conveniently promoted the potential new settings of the movie.
After these interview contents were released, combined with the good image he had accumulated on The Ellen Show, the effect was surprisingly good.
Many neutral viewers started to think: "This guy has a clear head. He makes a point."
"And he's so humorous. He didn't even get mad at the roasting. I'm a fan now!"
Although different voices still existed, Cassius's base was secured.
At this point, Cassius didn't need to say much more; others would defend him!
---
Just as Rob breathed a sigh of relief...
A piece of "dirt" regarding Cassius was exposed by an anonymous account claiming to be a USC alumnus, and was quickly reposted by media outlets who loved to stir the pot.
The headline was explosive: "New Green Lantern is a Dropout? Cassius Exposed for Not Finishing USC Degree. Academic Credentials in Question!"
The content was vivid, stating that Cassius studied at the USC School of Dramatic Arts back in the day but failed to graduate for unknown reasons and didn't get his degree, making him a veritable Hollywood dropout.
The post also commented sarcastically:
"Can someone who didn't even finish college really understand and portray such a complex superhero character? Are Hollywood's standards getting lower and lower?"
As soon as this news came out, the online sentiment reversed rapidly!
"Ha! I knew it! I said it wasn't that simple! Turns out he's uneducated!"
"Didn't even finish college? Then all that logical talk in his interviews was just an act?"
"USC School of Dramatic Arts is top-tier. Getting kicked out? That's a huge red flag!"
"Now Warner is embarrassed, right? They picked a lead actor without a diploma!"
"Looks like you don't need a college degree for Feng Shui and fortune-telling (Doge face)."