America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 776 The Joker Returns

Since he had decided to launch a large-scale selection event for the "Holy Maidens" group, Martin also used some resources and, through his connections at David Studio, recruited an assistant director and an assistant producer. The two had respectively participated in the preparation and organization of three Miss Universe pageants and four American Idol pageants.

The remaining staff members who had participated in the co-organization were also recruited, numbering more than a dozen.

Martin sent Alexandrovic to Los Angeles to communicate with them, keeping the suitable ones and eliminating the unsuitable ones.

Hollywood has no shortage of people like this who are waiting for their chance to shine.

As long as the salary is right and there are prospects for development, they would dare to venture into not only Ukraine, but also Afghanistan and Iraq.

"Boss, I've finalized the date for the finals and will let you know as soon as possible." Alexandrovich sounded exactly like a loyal underling concerned for his boss's well-being: "If your schedule allows, please come to Kyiv to be a judge for the finals."

Martin nodded: "I'll wait for your schedule."

Alexandrovich said, "It will be at least next year."

The planning and organization of such a program would take at least six months, which would coincide with the coldest season in Ukraine, making it unsuitable for hosting such a large-scale event. It would be best to wait until next spring.

Martin was somewhat looking forward to this "Holy Girls" talent show.

When Alexandrovich came to Los Angeles, he was alone. When he returned to Kyiv, he left with a professional team of more than a dozen people.

After seeing Alexandrovich off, Jessica took an invitation to Martin's office.

She placed the invitation on her desk and said, "It's from the crew of 'The Dark Knight Rises,' an invitation to the world premiere."

Martin picked it up and glanced at it. It showed the premiere time and location, which was next week, and the premiere theater was the Dolby Theatre.

This is the Kodak Theatre, where the Academy Awards ceremony has been held in recent years.

The list of inviters is co-signed by Charles Rowan, Christopher Nolan, and Emma Thomas.

Martin had just put down the invitation when he received a call from Nolan.

Nolan said, "Don't forget the premiere next week."

After Jon Berg stepped down, the revised version of Nolan's cut used a short clip of the Joker filmed by the crew of "The Dark Knight".

Warner Bros. signed a supplementary agreement with Martin, paying him a fee on the condition that he appear at the premiere of "The Dark Knight Rises".

Martin said, "Of course I won't forget. Just remember this: don't let me walk the red carpet with Bale at the same time. He goes crazy when he sees me, and we could really fight."

Nolan couldn't help but laugh and said, "Bale's abilities are mediocre, but he has a terrible temper. This is the last time I'll work with him. Don't worry, Martin, I'll talk to the person in charge of the red carpet and have him arrange for Bale to enter first, so you won't have to run into each other."

Martin laughed and said, "To avoid trouble, I'll try to avoid him."

"This time, Warner Bros. and DC invited many actors who appeared in the old Batman movies to the premiere," Nolan added. "Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, Nicole Kidman... oh, and Jack too."

"Jack might not go." Martin knew he was referring to Jack Nicholson, the old bastard who played the Joker.

But Nicholson has completely retired and rarely attends public events anymore.

Nolan changed the subject: "Do you have time to come to Warner Bros. Studios tomorrow? We can discuss Interstellar."

Martin thought for a moment and said, "I have piano practice and dance rehearsals in the morning and afternoon."

The two agreed to meet in the morning.

Martin hung up the phone, dialed Nicholson's number, and asked directly, "Jack, are you attending the premiere of *The Dark Knight Rises*?"

"I didn't really want to go, but Warner Bros. is really going all out this time, saying that the old and new Jokers will be coming together." Nicholson imitated Martin, letting out a strange laugh: "Hahaha, we'll walk the red carpet together and let those damn media see who's more perverted."

Martin bluntly replied, "You're fucking boring."

Nicholson still laughed: "Walking the red carpet is such a boring thing, of course we have to find some fun." He then asked: "Can this movie be as big a hit as 'The Dark Knight'? I see Warner Bros. has a huge promotional campaign, I estimate they've invested at least two hundred million dollars."

Martin said, "It shouldn't be bad."

After get off work in the afternoon, Martin drove back to Beverly Hills, seeing posters and GG (Game for the Dark Knight) everywhere along the way.

The largest GG sign on Sunset Boulevard was painted with a dark blue background two months ago, and the poster shows Batman standing on a police car on Wall Street, poised to face a large number of rioters.

Bruce, in the driver's seat, said, "I watched the trailer, and it's still a duel between two heroes. It seems like Nolan incorporated the Occupy Wall Street background into it."

He asked, "Will there be a fourth part? Robin's already appeared."

"There won't be any more." Martin had discussed this with Nolan long ago: "Nolan won't be working on superhero themes again in the near future."

The trilogy has reached its peak, and we can't involve the Justice League in it.

In fact, Warner Bros.' attention is no longer on Nolan's Batman trilogy.

What they want is a cinematic universe like Marvel's, not a real-life Batman who can't connect with other DC superheroes.

This Lord Wayne's combat skills are too low.

As Martin passed through Century City, he glanced out the car window at the city's largest GG signs and LED display screens.

Unsurprisingly, the list is full of bad luck from Batman movies.

He took out his phone and scrolled through Twitter; there was so much content about Batman.

However, besides Batman, the Joker is also a hot topic on Twitter.

"I heard the Joker will appear in the movie, I wonder how much screen time he'll have?"

"Without Martin's Joker, this series has no soul."

"I agree. Although Batman is the male lead in the trilogy, Martin's Joker is the most outstanding!"

"Someone inside Warner Bros. revealed that Christian Bale was very unhappy about the Joker appearing in the third movie, and reportedly argued with DC about it many times."

"A few days ago, Bale publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with Martin in an interview."

Similar messages are abundant on Twitter.

Warner Bros. also contributed to the hype, generating buzz for the film and attracting media and fan attention.

…………

Century City, the Death Star Building where CAA is located.

Christian Bale unbuttoned his suit jacket, paced around the office, looked at Brian Lord, the most powerful of his co-managers, and said, "I have definite information that Nolan and Warner Bros. have invited that disgusting bastard Martin Davis to the premiere."

Brian Lord reminded Bell: "Keep a calm mind. You need to approach Martin Davis with a calm mind. Only then can you possibly defeat him."

Bell, his face contorted with rage, said, "We can't figure out a way..."

"Your idea is extremely dangerous!" Brian Lord said. "WMA and CAA are currently the two biggest agencies in Hollywood. If we use unfair competitive methods to take away WMA's clients, do you think they'll just sit idly by?"

He shook his head: "Don't forget, Martin Davis has at least $20 billion in assets. His personal wealth is equivalent to the entire CAA's actual value. Do you know how terrifying it would be if that much money were released from its cage?"

If Bell wants to do something like this, he should do it himself; CAA won't go crazy with him.

Brian tried his best to persuade him: "Your problem with Martin originated from conflicts on set, which is very common in Hollywood. Once you're off set, it's all in the past. There's no point in dwelling on it. When your career surpasses Martin's one day, everyone in the industry and the media will praise you and criticize Martin instead."

Bale, however, said, "My relationship with him has long since extended beyond the film set. His actions led to Sibby Blacchik divorcing me and leaving me with our daughter."

Brian Lord frowned and asked, "What do you want to do?"

"Where I am, he is not!" Bell began, raising his voice, but then his tone faltered: "I will not work with Martin Davis in any way, I will not share the stage with him, and I will not attend the same events with him!"

Brian Lord said, "I can't do the premiere of The Dark Knight Rises."

Bell stared at him: "You're the CAA!"

Brian Lord shook his head: "You overestimate CAA. We only make a maximum of $3 million in profit each year. What can we use to blackmail Warner Bros.?"

Bell finally understood that CAA would never take risks with him beyond the scope of brokerage business.

"This premiere is the last one!" Bale said fiercely.

Brian nodded casually, not taking his words to heart at all.

Other things are fine, but Martin Davis attends the Oscars every year, while you, Christian Bale, will never attend again?

Bell left CAA looking somewhat disappointed.

On his way back, feeling depressed, he made a phone call and asked someone to meet up with him to chat and cheer him up.

Passing by Sunset Boulevard and seeing the huge poster with him at the absolute center, Bale suddenly had a feeling that the whole of Hollywood had gone mad, and everyone was biased towards Martin Davis. He felt that he should be more magnanimous and put aside his past grievances with Martin.

He doesn't want to let go.

Bell saw CAA's attitude and knew there was no way to overcome it for the time being, but he was patient and would wait for the day when he could surpass Martin Davis.

…………

The following morning, Martin arrived at Warner Studios early.

Besides being a filming area, this place is also a famous tourist area in Los Angeles.

Warner Bros. has recently been promoting "The Dark Knight Rises" on a large scale.

Many street artists have appeared near the film studio.

Many tourists can use them to dress up as the clown or Batman.

Similar to when "The Dark Knight" was released, there were far more clowns roaming the streets than Batman.

Given the numerous Joker-related freebies and robberies that occurred during the film's run, the LAPD had to increase patrols on the streets of Los Angeles.

When the last Batman movie was a hit, Jokers across America seemed to be in chaos, imitating the Joker from the movie and causing too many cases.

When Martin got out of his car in the studio parking lot, many clowns waved at him from behind the fence.

Someone even shouted, "Martin, why are you so serious!"

(End of this chapter)