The Villain Mom Awakens — Going Viral by Parenting on a Reality Show-Chapter 379 - 378: Official Announcement of the New Movie
A distant look clouded Anson Colt’s eyes. He stared blankly at Naomi Kenway, his eyes welling with tears as he spoke. "You look so much like my daughter. It’s not just your appearance—you both have the same bright, determined eyes. When I first saw you on television, I was stunned. For a moment, I almost believed my daughter, Erin, who passed away many years ago, had returned to me."
Hearing such a heavy, sorrowful story, Naomi Kenway needed a long moment to process it. A wave of indignation rose in her heart. ’All the human traffickers in the world deserve to die!’
After hearing Anson Colt’s explanation, Naomi Kenway finally understood why he had chosen her for the role. ’When it came to acting, there were certainly plenty of actresses in the entertainment industry better than me. To think the reason was simply because I looked so much like his daughter.’
’Anson Colt’s name is listed as one of the creators on the script. So it’s actually adapted from his daughter Erin’s real-life experiences...’
Anson Colt closed his eyes and sighed.
Laura Grant said, "Elder Colt, please take care of yourself."
Anson Colt spoke slowly. "I often think of Erin and Yvie. The image of their painful deaths is forever seared into my mind. I’ve wondered more than once, if Yvie hadn’t been abducted by traffickers back then, would our family be living a happy life today...? Erin would have continued her research on antiques, Yvie would have her own career and family, and I... I would be enjoying the happiness of having three generations under one roof..."
Anson Colt trailed off, the beautiful fantasy ending there.
"But alas, now I’m the only one left in the family. A while ago, I noticed several cases of missing children appearing online. It pained me to see, and it strengthened my resolve to make this film. Yvie’s tragedy was unavoidable, but... perhaps I can help other families. If I can do that, I think Erin and Yvie would be proud of me, if they’re watching from the great beyond."
Laura Grant said, "If Erin and Yvie knew how much you miss them, Elder Colt, I’m sure they would be very happy."
Anson Colt nodded. He composed himself and pushed the contract on the table toward Naomi Kenway. "Ms. Kenway, please review this carefully. If there are no issues, you can sign it."
"Alright." Naomi Kenway and Laura Grant carefully looked through the contract. After reading it, Laura Grant gave a silent nod.
Naomi Kenway signed the contract.
A faint smile appeared on Anson Colt’s old, weary face. "Good, good. I’ll arrange for the official announcement to be made next. I look forward to our collaboration."
He extended his hand.
Naomi Kenway shook it. "Then I’ll be counting on your guidance, Elder Colt."
*
The official social media for the film "Finding" released an announcement, stating that the venerable Elder Colt would be coming out of retirement to helm a new movie. They also released the cast list. Amidst a lineup of veteran, highly-respected actors, the female lead’s name was particularly conspicuous—Naomi Kenway.
As soon as the news broke, it instantly caused a massive uproar online.
[Elder Colt is making a new movie? Am I seeing things? Is he really making a new movie??]
[This is amazing! I never thought I’d live to see another classic from Elder Colt. This is so exciting!!]
[I support Elder Colt coming out of retirement! Ever since you retired, the number of watchable movies has dwindled. The films these past few years have been getting more and more trashy; they just don’t have that magic I remember from when I was a kid. If Elder Colt dares to film it, I dare to book out a whole theater!!]
[After twenty years... I thought Elder Colt would never make another film. I never expected...]
[Who’s the female lead? I’ve never heard of her. Doesn’t Elder Colt avoid using newcomers?]
[She’s a really popular actress right now. Her acting skills are solid.]
[Ah, why isn’t the lead Rowan Bell? I can’t stand to watch anyone else.]
[I guess Elder Colt’s judgment is failing in his old age. Makes sense. He’s ancient, probably wants to see what it’s like to be a doting old emperor and just pick the prettiest actress.]
[This is definitely a bribe. How else could she become the female lead in Elder Colt’s movie? He’s probably just giving face to the Shaw Family.]
[Stop being so ignorant. Is it that hard to admit someone else is talented? Getting a good role automatically means bribery? Didn’t you hear the official announcement say this is Elder Colt’s final work? He’s over eighty. Do you really think he’d drag his old bones out to make a movie just because some corporation told him to?]
[This insane luck has finally fallen on our girl! Nina, get ready, we’re about to level up right here!]
[Why are so many people in the comments finding fault with the female lead? Trust Elder Colt’s judgment. Looking forward to Naomi Kenway’s performance!]
...
Naomi Kenway saw the many discussions about her online, and her heart, which had been pounding with joy, began to calm down.
The online reactions to her casting were mixed. It was fantastic news, but it also came with a great deal of doubt and challenges. The female leads in Anson Colt’s previous films were all iconic roles that people still fondly remembered to this day. With such outstanding precedents to be compared against, it would be extremely difficult for Naomi Kenway to either match or surpass them.
But Naomi Kenway wasn’t flustered. ’In fact, a part of me is even starting to feel a faint sense of anticipation. The harder the task, the greater the challenge.’
*
Coincidentally, that afternoon the crew of "Trial by Fire" announced their final lead cast member: the actress playing the female lead, Jeanette Kensington.
Paul Grant’s film "Trial by Fire" had previously garnered a lot of attention, but after the huge impact of the news about Anson Colt’s new movie, the announcement of "Trial by Fire"’s female lead didn’t cause much of a stir.
Paul Grant didn’t seem annoyed by this at all. He posted a status update congratulating his mentor, Anson Colt, on coming out of retirement and also congratulated Naomi Kenway on landing the lead role.
A long time passed after Paul Grant’s post, but there was no reply from Naomi Kenway’s studio, leading many to speculate that there was some conflict between the two. Some resourceful netizens dug up the fact that the female lead for "Trial by Fire" was originally supposed to be Naomi Kenway, but she was inexplicably replaced by Jeanette Kensington. Paul Grant had stood Naomi Kenway up.
[Damn, so there’s a whole backstory of drama and resentment here?]
[Paul Grant is way too arrogant, isn’t he? He actually bailed on the young madam of the Shaw family?]
[What? Jeanette Kensington snatched the role? That’s impossible! Our Jeanette is so well-behaved, she would never do something like that!]
[Before, when I saw Naomi Kenway wasn’t replying to Paul Grant, I thought she was being really arrogant. But after finding out he stood her up, I get it now. Oh, so that’s what happened. No wonder she didn’t reply. Paul Grant brought it on himself!]
[What is Paul Grant thinking? Bailing on someone just like that? That’s so disrespectful. But right after he dropped her, Naomi Kenway’s new movie was announced, and it’s completely overshadowing his. I wonder what’s going through his head right now...]
[Got ditched by the student, so she started working with the master? Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant!]
[How are there still people defending Jeanette Kensington? Does nobody know about the stuff she’s done? Or does the internet really have no memory?]
