From A Producer To A Global Superstar-Chapter 252: Officially Done

It was standard practice in the industry.

Once casting was completed, the director made it public.

Dayo knew this, and he had no reason to delay it any longer.

Early that morning, he posted a simple update across his official media platforms.

"The cast for Train to Busan has been completed. Production begins soon."

No long caption.

No explanation.

Just a statement.

The reaction was immediate.

In the United States, the response was confusion mixed with shock.

Many people had not heard Dayo’s name in months afterall Dayo was know for his hype after he came back so a lot of people didnt know his whereabouts.

At one point, he had been everywhere. Music charts. Sports headlines. Interviews. Performances. Then suddenly, he disappeared. No announcements. No scandals. Just gone.

Now his name was back again.

And not as a musician.

Not as an athlete.

But as a director.

"What?"

"Since when did Dayo start directing movies?"

"Is this real?"

"This has to be a joke rightv?

"I thought he went silent to create new music."

"Yeah I thought the same thing who knew that he would go direct a movie."

"Lol well i knew me and Dayo actually took directing class about a few years back so seeing this news make me exicted."

"Why are you exicted i mean i know Dayo is a great musician and an amamzing swimmjnh athlete but directing is a whole new level."

"Hehe I just said we took classes together so u should understand when I tell you Dayo is a fuvking good Director.

Entertainment blogs in the US rushed to repost the update. Some praised the bold move. Others questioned it.

"But speaking of this I never heard of Dayo taking a movie where is he like what state ?."

"Hehe sorry not state a new country Korea."

"Korea?"

"Why Korea?"

"Why not Hollywood?"

"Hehe of course he would go to Korea does he think movie is that easy to make."

"You above have no idea of what youre talking about lwt me tell u Dayo would shovk you all mark my words."

"Yeah shock us all with a bad movie Hahah."

Speculation spread quickly.

A lot of criticism some praised so asked when the movie would be out but all in all almost everyone was aware Dayo was making a movie.

But it was nothing compared to what happened in Korea.

The Korean entertainment industry went into chaos.

The Top Five agencies had made it clear. Dayo was blocked. Completely. No actor. No actress. No cooperation.

That was common knowledge inside the industry.

So when his post went live, confusion turned into disbelief.

"How did he complete the cast?"

"That is impossible."

"Who would dare work with him?"

"Is he lying?"

"Is this just a publicity stunt?"

"This has to be a stun right ?."

"Yeah I mean who has the guts to work with this guy knowing the consequences."

"Dont worry time would expose him."

Inside industry group chats, messages flooded nonstop.

One producer typed,

"There is no way he has actors. The Top Five sealed every route."

Another replied,

"Unless he smuggled them in from abroad."

A third sent back,

"Even foreign actors need local cooperation. This doesn’t make sense. I have seen the script it’s a Korean movie so it doesn’t work anyways."

Some believed it was fake.

Others thought Dayo was trying to force attention.

"If he announces a cast without revealing names, it’s just noise," someone scoffed.

But others were uneasy.

"No," another message appeared.

"Dayo is not stupid. He doesn’t bluff."

Rumors spread faster than facts. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

In China, the reaction was even louder.

Social platforms exploded with discussions.

"Did you see Dayo’s post?"

"Yes. This is crazy."

"How did he get actors?"

"The Korean industry blocked him completely."

"I think there’s something hidden here."

One popular entertainment account posted,

"Either Dayo is lying, or he has done something no one expected."

Comments poured in.

"Impossible."

"He’s trying to bait investors."

"No one survives without the Top Five."

"But what if he already planned this?"

"He disappeared for years. Who knows what he was doing?"

Live streams popped up discussing the situation.

"This guy vanished and came back with a finished cast?"

"Does he think the Korean industry is a joke?"

"If he really has actors, this will shake everything."

Dayo saw all of it.

He did not respond.

He did not clarify.

He did not deny.

He simply put his phone down and smiled faintly.

None of the noise mattered to him anymore.

The hardest part was already over.

The cast was complete.

The contracts were signed.

No one could undo that.

Later that afternoon, Dayo sat in his office when his assistant informed him that Jang Wook had arrived.

"Send him in," Dayo said.

Jang Wook entered the office with a strange expression on his face.

He looked impressed.

And unsettled.

"Director Dayo," Jang Wook said honestly, "I will not lie. I was shocked."

Dayo leaned back slightly. "About the announcement?"

"No," Jang Wook replied. "About the cast."

Dayo raised an eyebrow. "You haven’t even seen them all yet."

"That’s exactly the problem," Jang Wook said. "I don’t recognize most of the names. Park and Minji, yes. But the others... they are new. Fresh."

He paused, then continued,

"And yet, you already have them signed. Ready. Prepared."

Dayo nodded. "That was the goal."

Jang Wook let out a breath.

"You built an agency without anyone noticing. You trained actors quietly. And now you bring them out all at once."

He shook his head slightly.

"You do realize what this will do to the industry, right?"

Dayo smiled faintly. "That is not my concern."

Jang Wook laughed softly.

"I should have known. Every time I doubt you, you prove me wrong."

He became serious again.

"I used to think you were reckless."

Dayo looked at him. "Used to?"

"Yes," Jang Wook admitted.

"But now I see it clearly. You plan ahead. You always have."

There was a short pause.

"I’ll be honest," Jang Wook said.

"At first, I didn’t like the idea of working under someone younger. Especially someone crossing industries."

Dayo said nothing.

"But now," Jang Wook continued,

"I know something."

"What?" Dayo asked.

"You could direct better than most people I know," Jang Wook said.

"And you could produce better than me."

Dayo chuckled. "That is generous."

"It is realistic," Jang Wook replied.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Then Dayo leaned forward.

"Now that casting is done," he said, "production begins. I called you here to discuss what we need."

Jang Wook straightened immediately.

"Schedules?"

"Locations?"

"Crew?"

"All of it," Dayo replied.

"We move carefully. No leaks. No unnecessary attention."

Jang Wook nodded.

"I understand."

They spent the next hour discussing logistics.

Shooting order.

Actor training schedules.

Set security.

Backup locations.

Jang Wook noticed something during the discussion.

Dayo was calm.

Not nervous.

Not rushed.

This was his first film, yet he spoke like someone who had done this many times.

At some point, Jang Wook realized something uncomfortable.

Dayo was not just capable.

He was dangerous.

Not because he was aggressive.

But because he prepared quietly and acted decisively.

When the meeting ended, Jang Wook stood up.

"I’ll get everything ready," he said.

"Production can begin soon."

Dayo nodded. "Good."

After Jang Wook left, Dayo remained seated.

The rumors were still spreading.

The industry was still confused.

But none of that mattered anymore.

He had crossed the hardest stage.

From here on, the movie would speak for itself.

Dayo picked up his phone and made one last call.

"Begin preparations," he said simply.

The real battle was about to start.