Casting Actors: Gregg or Coulson

Simply put, Salma Hayek had appeared in quite a few revealing films, so she was definitely uninhibited.

There was no problem with her playing the female lead.

Kevin selected a short scene from the script and had Salma Hayek perform it.

After preliminarily determining that her acting skills and figure were up to standard,

Kevin finally asked:

"Do you have an agent?"

Salma Hayek was delighted. The implication was, in all likelihood, that she had secured the female lead.

She quickly shook her head. "No. I haven't been in Hollywood for long, and I'm still learning English. My English isn't particularly good yet."

Kevin nodded and continued, "If you're ultimately chosen as the female lead, you'll have to sign with my agent at CAA. Is that okay?"

"No problem!"

Salma Hayek answered decisively.

Kevin nodded and had Salma Hayek leave first.

Over the course of the next few hours, dozens more women came in for the remaining female roles.

But none of them stirred that same impulse in him as Salma Hayek had. Although quite a few actresses gave him all sorts of hints during their auditions, this was his first project.

More than anything, Kevin wanted to see the film succeed.

As for beautiful female stars, Hollywood had as many as anyone could want. Once you succeeded, there would naturally be no shortage of lovely women surrounding you.

Once the auditions for the female lead were over, those for the male lead wrapped up quickly as well.

After all, the male lead in a horror film was not particularly important. The female lead, on the other hand, had certain fixed requirements because some scenes involved nudity.

Sexy and glamorous.

At long last, auditions began for the soul of the entire script: Jigsaw.

He auditioned dozens of people, yet none of the candidates for Jigsaw satisfied Kevin.

Although Jigsaw did not have much screen time in the film, his importance was beyond question.

But at this point in time, Tobin Bell, the original Jigsaw, had not yet entered the entertainment industry.

And with the timeline moved thirteen years earlier, Kevin could not simply copy the original version. Besides, Saw itself had quite a few flaws.

Those were all things he needed to put thought into.

As dusk fell, Kevin stretched lazily, looked at the people leaving downstairs, and took out his phone to call Dawson.

"Hello, this is Dawson. What is it, Kevin?"

"There's no suitable candidate for Jigsaw. None of the actors over forty meet my requirements. Notify them and loosen the age requirement."

"We can handle the specifics with makeup later."

"Kevin, I have a friend. I think he might fit the Jigsaw image you have in mind. How about you come to my house tonight?"

Faced with Dawson's invitation, Kevin hesitated for only a second before agreeing.

This agent had helped him a great deal. He was only asking Kevin to meet someone; whether to use him would still be Kevin's decision. There was no need to refuse such a small favor.

"Okay, see you tonight!"

A detached house, the standard American middle-class home, stood in a white neighborhood.

Inside, the hostess was diligently preparing dinner for the guest who would soon arrive.

Dawson and a kind-looking white man with a large forehead sat chatting on the living room sofa.

"Gregg, trust me, you have that kind of potential..."

"I never thought you saw me that way, Dawson. Am I really that suited to playing a serial killer?"

The white man called Gregg spoke half-jokingly.

The two had been friends for many years and were extremely close.

Seeing his friend struggle in Hollywood for several years, able to take only jobs too minor to even earn a credit, Dawson happened to have a project on hand. Out of friendship, it was only natural for him to lend a hand.

In fact, Gregg's background was not bad either.

As a graduate of the New York University School of the Arts, an institution on par with the University of Southern California and the University of California, two top art schools,

there was naturally no issue with his abilities.

But sometimes, what people needed most in this industry was an opportunity.

Perhaps Clark Gregg had simply been unlucky. He had never managed to get an opportunity, and while his family had some savings, they clearly were not enough to support his development in Hollywood.

Naturally, he would not refuse his friend's goodwill.

The portion of the script before him concerning Jigsaw had already deeply captivated him.

The doorbell rang. Dawson rose to answer it, while Gregg also stood up, slightly nervous.

The front door opened, and Dawson called out loudly:

"Welcome, my friend and future great director, Steve Kevin..."

Kevin looked speechless. At the company, Dawson was rather steady and intimidating, but at home, he seemed like a completely different person.

It seemed that at home, relaxed as he was, Dawson let his true nature show a little.

"All right, no need to be so over the top. This is the friend you mentioned, right?"

Kevin walked in naturally, shook hands with Clark Gregg, who was standing to one side, and only then sat down.

At the same time, he had already made up his mind. Jigsaw would be given to him.

As for why,

with a slight reversal of Clark Gregg's future performances in films and television, he could bring out the Jigsaw Kevin had in mind.

The good guy among agents, the man who brought the Avengers together, the future director of S.H.I.E.L.D.—Coulson.

That was the very Clark Gregg standing before him.

Out of his fondness for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Kevin had once looked up a little information about Clark Gregg.

His background was fine, and he had attended the prestigious New York University School of the Arts.

In his previous life, he did not receive a screenwriting credit in a film until 2000, and it was not until 2006 that he took a supporting role in a television series.

That was enough to show that he had truly not done very well in Hollywood.

But there was one thing Kevin was very satisfied with: audiences liked him.

Combined with his sufficient ability, Kevin believed he was more than capable of playing Jigsaw.

And judging by his appearance, a little makeup would be enough to make him look like a man in his fifties or sixties.

Kevin meant nothing by it; he simply did look exceptionally mature and steady.

In other words, he looked old for his age.

Naturally, Clark Gregg had no idea that the role he wanted had already firmly fallen into his hands.

The thirty-something man looked at the young man before him and could not help sighing inwardly.

Compared to himself, who had struggled in Hollywood for so long, Kevin truly counted as a genius.

He had been called a genius director in school, and now, before even graduating, he had received investment from New Line Cinema.

He was able to direct his own film.

That kind of opportunity was truly not something one could envy into existence.