Chapter 157

Lucas Sheridan had already made up his mind.

The role in "Empress" demanded an actor with commanding presence. Those delicate, inexperienced actresses could never handle such a character.

But when Scarlett Winslow stepped onto the audition stage, Lucas's eyes instantly lit up.

Scarlett's striking beauty carried an undeniable aura of strength.

Without any costume changes, she flawlessly portrayed both Princess Xiaoyue and Crown Prince Yueqi through sheer expression alone.

Her seamless transition from a panicked princess to an authoritative heir apparent was mesmerizing.

"Sophia, where did you find this girl?" Lucas whispered excitedly to Sophia Laurent.

Such acting prowess stood head and shoulders above her peers.

Sophia watched the stage with satisfaction. "What do you think, Director Sheridan?"

"Brilliant!" Lucas gave a thumbs-up. "Tell her to wait for our call."

Though final casting decisions weren't solely his, he felt confident about convincing the investors.

Scarlett's relative obscurity might require some persuasion.

"Let me know if you encounter issues," Sophia said calmly. "Funding won't be a problem."

Lucas's face brightened as he rubbed his hands together. "Then I won't hold back."

These days, investors always interfered - either pushing their favorites or demanding script changes.

With Sophia's backing, he could firmly reject all those nepotism hires.

"Proceed as you see fit." Sophia nodded.

Pearl Entertainment had already committed half the budget.

She believed in the script. She believed in Lucas.

Having studied his previous films, she recognized his masterful cinematography, though weak scripts and casting had undermined them.

That failure had driven him from features to variety shows.

For years he'd longed to return to filmmaking, hindered by both lack of worthy projects and personal demons.

Now he was determined to prove himself.

He practically lived on set, obsessed with perfecting this production.

Especially to surpass that Richard Lowell.

So-called venerable director? Just a hypocrite in Lucas's eyes.

The next day, "Empress" officially announced its cast.

@EmpressOfficial: Witness the rise of a sovereign. A woman's iron will forging an empire.

Starring: @ScarlettWinslow

Co-starring: @GregoryThornfield @LeonardGraves...

With "River Banquet" having revealed its lineup earlier, netizens eagerly awaited "Empress"'s casting news.

The announcement sent shockwaves across social media.