Entertainment: Starting as a Succubus, Taking Hollywood by Storm

The previous chapters mentioned that Rupert Grint's career in the entertainment industry wasn't exactly overflowing with accolades.

But that didn't mean Rupert Grint's life was a failure, especially when compared to Emma Watson, who was studying at Brown University and preparing to transfer to Oxford, or Daniel Radcliffe, who was thriving in the film world.

In fact, in the original timeline, Rupert was the one among the three who lived the most freely and clearly.

Like Daniel and Emma, Rupert had once been plagued by the constraints of his iconic role, which disrupted his normal life. His early fame weighed heavily on him, making it hard to breathe. Going out meant covering his face, dodging relentless fans who followed his every move without fear of intrusion.

But great fame often came with great wealth.

Back then, as a young man facing this enormous fortune, he had no idea what to do with it.

Yet Rupert Grint was clever.

He knew what he needed to do. So, starting in high school, he began learning about wealth management and investment.

In truth, after wrapping up his Harry Potter days, Rupert's focus gradually shifted toward investments, and his involvement in acting dwindled in comparison.

In the original timeline, after the Harry Potter series ended, Emma Watson embraced her scholarly persona, while Daniel Radcliffe threw himself into bizarre, eccentric roles to shake off Harry Potter's shadow. Rupert Grint, however, started an investment company.

This investment company owned a real estate firm called "Eevil Plan Properties."

Through this real estate company, he purchased properties across the UK—not just for investment but also as gifts for his parents.

His investment company also owned a film and television production house and a gaming company, both of which were doing quite well.

Now, Rupert had begun to immerse himself in the investment world, adopting a more casual attitude toward his acting career.

Daniel, on the other hand, was the opposite, determined to carve a shining path in the entertainment industry.

...

Daniel asked Martin, "Martin, I really want to escape Harry Potter's influence on me. How should I do it? Do you have any good suggestions?"

Before Martin could respond, Emma cut in, "As long as you stop taking your clothes off, you'll be fine."

"Pfft!" Rupert couldn't help but burst out laughing. He'd been at that performance and seen it firsthand. Sure, it was art, but as a proper straight guy, Rupert had found it painfully awkward.

"What are you laughing at? You stripped too," Daniel shot back, glaring at him.

"Hey, we're not the same. Mine was for the film's plot. Yours was just… rebellion, right? OMG, the audience was stunned."

Ignoring him, Daniel turned back to Martin, hoping for an answer.

Martin thought for a moment before saying, "Honestly, for an actor to play a role that deeply resonates with people in their lifetime is no small feat. In that sense, you've all succeeded. But given your age and your desire to continue down the actor's path, you'll inevitably need to break free from the fixed image that role has created in the audience's mind."

"Especially you, Daniel."

"Harry Potter is too iconic. It's not a short-term process but a long one. You'll need to take on diverse roles across different types of films to gradually pull the audience away from seeing you as Harry Potter…"

Martin's words left Daniel Radcliffe deep in thought.

…

The theater lights dimmed, and the movie began.

Though Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint had already heard about Joker's massive popularity in North America, this was their first time watching it.

All three were utterly shaken by the film.

When they saw the Joker, crushed by society's pressures, finally snap the string of "reason" in his mind and begin his gleeful, vengeful dance, Daniel Radcliffe said in awe, "This is unparalleled acting. How does Martin manage to break free from every iconic role he's played? Legolas, Neo, Captain Jack Sparrow, Spider-Man, the Joker—it's like he's never trapped in any single character. It's miraculous."

Emma Watson said, "I think you've already answered your own question—unparalleled acting."

Rupert Grint added, "This film reminds me of V for Vendetta. Both movies explore how structural violence breeds radical resistance."

Rupert continued, "The story of Joker doesn't even need to be set in Gotham. It's so complete that even without the DC backdrop, regular audiences would still understand it and feel the emotions it conveys. If it were set in reality, this film would be even greater."

Daniel Radcliffe responded, "I think I know why Martin did it this way. Like V for Vendetta, if it were just about the historical event, it would've faced backlash from the politically correct crowd, accused of supporting extremist conservative terrorism. So the director set the story in a totalitarian society—a world ruled by Nazis in Europe, where fear reigns, and homosexuals and heretics are hanged. It's the kind of world liberals despise most, so V's violence can be justified as righteous resistance against tyranny."

"Joker is the same. If Martin had set the story in real-world New York, the film might've been banned for being politically incorrect. Even setting it in the DC universe, critics still claim it incites negative emotions."

"Makes sense," Rupert nodded. "But that makes it harder for the film to win awards. Such a shame!"

Emma Watson said, "Martin doesn't care about those awards. He's already won so many his hands must be tired. He doesn't need more. He'd rather his films reach as many people as possible."

"If only I could act like that," Daniel Radcliffe said enviously.