Se7en tells the story of two detectives tracking a serial killer, with each murder precisely corresponding to one of the "Seven Deadly Sins."
At first glance, the story doesn't seem complicated, but as you delve deeper, you'll find that every murder is bloody and cruel to the bone, with horrific scenes that seem to pierce through the paper and strike directly at the heart.
Moreover, behind each case are hidden intricate motives, which are like a tangled mess that screenwriters need to untangle and analyze bit by bit.
Now, the screenwriting team faces a daunting task: to polish these complex motives into something logical and reasonable.
The plot must withstand careful scrutiny, with no logical loopholes; the transitions between scenes must be natural and smooth, like a babbling brook, without any abruptness; and each character must be vivid and three-dimensional, full of life, as if they truly live among us.
After reading the script, New Line Cinema was not satisfied with the ending, finding it too dark, and wanted to change it.
However, Kazir and David Fincher firmly disagreed.
In their view, that seemingly cruel ending was the soul of the entire film, the core and essence of the whole story, and any modification would cause it to lose its original flavor and depth.
William Somerset is an old detective on the verge of retirement, and this Se7en serial murder case unexpectedly became the final case of his career.
Although the old man is advanced in years, his temperament is very steady; years of detective work have made him seasoned and perceptive, as if he can see through the truth behind all evil.
David Mills is a young and impetuous detective, and he partners with William to investigate the case.
This young man has a bit of a hot temper, like a bomb that could explode at any moment, but he's not bad at heart, and when he works on a case, he has a stubborn drive, refusing to give up until he reaches his goal.
These two characters have distinct personalities yet complement each other, and the screenwriters are working hard to bring them to life and leave a deep impression on the audience.
Of course, no matter how good the script is, whether the characters can truly stand out in the end depends on the actors' abilities, as actors are the ones who give life to the characters.
"Thank you, John. We'll let you know if we have any news."
John Cusack smiled and nodded, feeling that his performance during the audition was quite good, and the role suited his own temperament.
His previous film, The Road to Wellville, co-starring with Anthony Hopkins, had just been released on October 28th.
That film was adapted from a popular novel, and everyone had high hopes for its box office, but unexpectedly, its opening weekend box office was dismal, only bringing in 2.5 million.
After analysis and prediction, cinema rating agencies believed that the total box office for this film in North America would at most be 7 million.
This means it was a flop.
While 2.5 million doesn't seem like a small amount, the film's budget was as high as 25 million! It didn't even recoup a fraction of the cost, so the investors probably lost all their capital.
This time, when Se7en asked him to audition for the role of David Mills, he actually wasn't confident.
To be honest, John Cusack himself wasn't sure if this film would be a hit.
He had read two-thirds of the script, and it was full of bloody scenes that made him shiver. He hadn't finished the ending yet and hadn't fully grasped the killer's motives, so he wasn't very confident in his portrayal of the character.
He walked out of the audition room with a smile, and David Fincher turned to the person next to him and asked, "What do you think of John?"
He directed his inquiring gaze towards producer Arnold Kopelson and Kazir.
"If you ask me..." Kazir pondered for a moment and slowly said, "John's appearance is too 'goody-two-shoes'; he looks like a typical good guy. But the character of David Mills needs a bit of ruthlessness, a burst of impetuosity, and these qualities are completely absent in John. Even if we made him grow a beard, I doubt he could pull off that feeling."
Arnold and David both nodded, clearly agreeing with Kazir.
"His acting skills are indeed impeccable, but he's just not quite right for this role."
"Then let's call the next one. Kazir, this actor was your recommendation."
"Yes, it's him."
To find suitable actors for the two important roles of David Mills and William Somerset, they auditioned many people, even big stars like Al Pacino and Morgan Freeman.
After repeated consideration and discussion, the company had basically decided to cast Morgan Freeman as William Somerset.
His steady demeanor perfectly fit the role, as if the character was tailor-made for him.
Moreover, his acting skills were beyond reproach; having worked in the entertainment industry for many years, he had created countless classic characters, and no one would object to him playing this role.
'It's strange, Morgan Freeman always seems to play these mature and steady roles, but he's really suitable.'
Speaking of which, in Kazir's impression, Morgan never seemed to play younger roles; he always appeared as a mature and steady elder, as if he was born with a calm temperament that had weathered many storms.
As he was thinking, the next actor to audition pushed open the door and instantly caught everyone's attention.
"Brad, you're here."
"Hello, Director David."
Brad Pitt stood there, exuding a youthful impetuosity, like a burning flame, making it clear at a glance that he had put effort into studying the character.
For Brad, Se7en was also a big gamble.
This kind of dark and bloody film, with its sensitive subject matter, has a relatively small audience, and it could easily fail, negatively impacting his acting career.
But after reading the script, he was deeply captivated, feeling it was a very challenging role, and upon receiving the audition invitation, he came without hesitation.
David and Kazir exchanged glances and nodded secretly—this vibe was perfect.
The temperament and feeling that Brad exuded perfectly matched their image of David Mills.
Barring any surprises, this role would be his.
Brad's previous two films had achieved impressive box office results globally, both grossing over 100 million, so his salary would certainly not be low; three million was the absolute minimum.
After the audition, David casually asked, "Brad, what do you think of the character David Mills?"
"I think he's good at heart. Although he can be impulsive sometimes, he genuinely wants to make the world a better place; otherwise, he wouldn't choose to be a police officer, to uphold social order and justice."
"Well said. Thank you, we'll notify you as soon as we've made a decision."
"Thank you, everyone."
After Brad left, David nodded to Kazir: "You didn't recommend him wrongly; he can bring Mills to life. I'm confident entrusting this role to him."
"Let's continue the auditions."
Although he said that, everyone knew that while Brad seemed very suitable for the role, what if a more cost-effective actor emerged later?
After all, Brad's salary could be a large sum, which would put considerable pressure on the film's budget.
Finally, all promising actors were auditioned, and after repeated deliberation and comparison, Brad Pitt was still confirmed.
His box office appeal was undeniable, and his fame was sufficient, with a large fan base worldwide, which was a strong guarantee for the film's box office.
Ultimately, they were making a commercial film, not an art film; box office was the ultimate measure, and only with box office success could a film truly be considered a success.
Brad's agent engaged in intense negotiations with the production team, and his final salary was set at 4 million—a figure the team could accept considering his box office potential and standing in the entertainment industry.
Morgan Freeman's contract was for 2 million.
The salaries of these two alone accounted for nearly one-sixth of the total budget, showing that actor salaries constitute a significant portion of film costs.
The production team also confirmed the participation of Gwyneth Paltrow and Ronald Lee Ermey, whose additions also brought many highlights to the film.
The subject matter of Se7en itself is quite risky; it's dark and depressing, full of negative emotions and scenes, and may not appeal to the general public.
But these actors still resolutely took on this film, which was also a big gamble.