“Hey, Dr. Chadwick," Ripley said, cheeks tinting. Her admiration was plain as day, and it didn't escape Ariana's notice that Mitchel seemed to turn heads wherever he went.

Shifting her focus, Ariana and the director opted for the usual route: regular auditions.

With Remy directing traffic, each actress took their shot, script in hand. Ripley's act stayed with Ariana, resonating more than the others.

Following the auditions, Ariana and the director conferred, finally settling on Ripley for the lead role.

They went over the filming dates with Ripley, exchanged goodbyes, and got ready to leave. As they headed out, Ripley personally saw them off, waving cheerfully. For a split second, her eyes lingered on Mitchel before refocusing.