America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz-Chapter 790 - 783 Joker Ascends to Godhood

If "The Dark Knight Rises" were evaluated on its own, it would still be a commercial film with a score over 80. But everything fears comparison, and with "The Dark Knight" preceding it, it's difficult for both fans and media not to compare the two films.

"Variety's" column pointed out directly, "There's a clear gap between the two films, and the biggest comes from the characters! Batman is still Batman, but Bane just doesn't have the villainous magnetism of the Joker! Looking back at the new Batman film after its release, Martin's portrayal of the Joker is more than just classic!"

"Hollywood Reporter" was blunt, "We mean no disrespect to Vin Diesel, his portrayal of Bane was also excellent, but next to Martin's perfect villainous Joker, Bane seems pale and powerless."

Given that Vin Diesel had passed away, the comments in the media were comparatively mild, preserving basic decency.

But it was a different story coming from the fans of the Batman trilogy.

Fans can sometimes be forgetful, they mourn when needed, but will speak out if they have complaints.

One comment received widespread agreement.

"Martin's version of the Joker could cause an uproar across America, incite people to create chaos, drive people to madness to the point of a massacre! Can Bane do that?"

"In any future Batman movie, Martin's version of the Joker is an inescapable topic for villains."

"After Martin, there will be no more Joker!"

"Before, we praised Martin's version of the Joker in 'The Dark Knight' enough, but looking back today, we realize the past praise was far from sufficient, Martin created a divine character!"

Such opinions deeply resonated on the internet, and the number of people dressing up as the Joker wandering the streets and movie theaters of America increased.

Joker-themed robberies and incidents of shoplifting have never ceased over the years.

Since the economic crisis of 2008, America's economic growth slowed, the upper class kept cutting the leeks of the middle and lower classes, making the latter's lives increasingly difficult, and social mobility became ever more restricted.

Not just those three gunmen, many people have fantasized about becoming the Joker.

The premiere shooting, Vin Diesel's Bane, the two Batman films, combined with the environment in North America, all these messy factors came together to truly immortalize Martin's version of the Joker on the internet.

Especially the shooting, which elevated the Joker to a level of belief.

In a society like America, it's impossible to ban the Joker.

If they did, Warner and all of Hollywood would explode.

......

At Warner Bros. Studios, Martin entered the "Interstellar" studio and arrived at the reception room to wait.

Nolan had something come up suddenly and would be there shortly.

Martin picked up his phone and scrolled through Twitter; perhaps because of the shooting, he saw many accounts from the actors of the "Fast & Furious" main cast.

Among them was Paul Walker.

Martin clicked to see Paul Walker's latest tweet, which was a tribute to Vin Diesel.

The photo was of him and Vin Diesel in "Fast & Furious" with the caption, "Heaven gained a real angel."

After reading it, Martin felt a particularly strong sense of contrast.

In his previous life, it was often Vin Diesel who remembered Paul Walker.

Probably from now on, it would often be Paul Walker remembering Vin Diesel.

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Martin followed Paul Walker's Twitter on the spot.

He also followed a few other main cast members' Twitter accounts, such as Dwayne Johnson, Michel Rodriguez, Gal Gadot, and Jason Statham, etc.

Then he got notifications that Dwayne Johnson and Gal Gadot had also followed his Twitter.

Nolan came back at this point, smiling at Martin, "Some last-minute issues with the crew, sorry to make you wait."

Martin put away his phone, "I've just arrived."

Nolan asked, "Is Old Cloth's recovery going smoothly?"

"No major issues," Martin replied on this visit, having received a piece of news, "I've heard that Warner Bros. is interested in having you take control of the entire DC superhero movie plan?"

Nolan nodded, "Kevin Tsujihara and the president of DC Films, Hamada, indeed talked to me about it, but I turned it down, this job... how should I put it, 'The Dark Knight Rises' may be my last comic book superhero movie, although it wasn't quite perfect."

He joked on purpose, "I didn't expect the internet-famed Joker, consecrated by fans, would become a reason and excuse for criticizing this installment of Batman."

Martin laughed, saying, "Mainly because you wrote a good script, you gave life to the Joker with your camera, turning him into a character with a complete evil ideology, and caused great terror."

Everyone likes to hear praise, and Nolan was no exception, he said, "I gave life to the Joker, but you gave him a soul."

Martin playfully asked, "Are we just engaging in mutual flattery?"

Nolan said seriously, "This is called having common interests."

Both of them laughed heartily at the same time.

Nolan returned to the previous topic, "I recommended Zack Snyder to Warner, the director who helmed 'Sparta 300 Soldiers' and 'Watchmen'."

Martin, of course, knew about Director Snyder and asked, "Does DC have any new plans?"

Nolan replied, "We're discarding Green Lantern and starting over with Superman."

Seeing Martin's interest in the DC series, he made a guess and asked, "Do you have ideas for the DC superhero universe?"

Martin replied directly, "The character of the Joker is extremely popular; as long as DC movies are being made, the popularity of the Joker won't diminish. We could make a standalone Joker movie."

Nolan understood what Martin meant; every time a DC superhero movie was released, the media and fans would inevitably bring up the antagonists for a comprehensive comparison with the Joker.

"The Joker indeed has the potential to carry a standalone film," Nolan said with a bit of hesitation, "The only issue is that he's a supervillain."

He then chuckled, "Given the current situation, being a villain isn't a problem."

Martin agreed, "Whether the Joker is a villain or not won't matter to the audience; what's crucial is that the plot shines, the character has style, and it meets the audience's expectations."

Nolan asked, "It seems you've thought this through."

Martin nodded slightly, "In 'The Dark Knight,' the Joker had a large number of loyal henchmen. Although the plot provides some explanation, it's not very detailed. Also, how the Joker became the Joker—regardless of the comic storyline, the audience is still curious about this version of the Joker's psychological transformation."

Nolan pondered for a moment and then asked, "Shall we jointly promote this project?"

"This version of the Joker was born from your film," Martin, who had been keeping an eye on public opinion and online trends, felt the timing was ripe and approached Nolan first.

The two were still collaborating, and the project couldn't possibly go on without Nolan.

Nolan readily agreed, "Let's jointly push Warner and DC to initiate this project. You're familiar with Daniel's side of things, so leave Warner Bros. Pictures to you. I'll talk to the folks at DC Films, there shouldn't be any problems."

Martin glanced at his watch and said, "Chris, I won't take up more of your time. I'll head over to Daniel's office when I go out."

Nolan mentioned, "I have a meeting with DC's Hamada and Zack Snyder to discuss things tomorrow. I'll make a point to bring it up."

Martin bid farewell and left, driving an electric car to the back door of the Warner building and calling Daniel before heading straight to his office.

Daniel's secretary was waiting at the office door and quickly ushered Martin inside as soon as he arrived.

"You haven't been here for a while," Daniel greeted with a handshake, "Warner Bros. Pictures is an old friend of yours."

Martin took the opportunity to say, "That's why I've come to ask an old friend for help."

Daniel immediately inquired, "Is there a movie project cooperation?"

"Have you followed the recent public opinion, about the Joker?" Martin didn't beat around the bush, he didn't meet God because of this character, the Joker.

The godly Joker was the one he portrayed, not the one from the comics. Warner and DC could not bypass him and Nolan if they wanted to make a Joker film.

Daniel was an old hand in the film industry; he understood Martin's intentions as soon as he heard them and asked, "Do you want to push for a film about the Joker?"

Martin replied, "Director Nolan and I want to promote a personal film about the Joker."

This did not surprise Daniel; ever since the media reported three people dressed as the Joker at the premiere shooting, the character of the Joker had been elevated by countless fans, to the point that calling him a god of ugliness was not overstatement.

But he had doubts, "Martin, the Joker is indeed hot, and this heat might even last for three to five years, but there's one thing I'm not sure if you've noticed—the Joker has been put on too high a pedestal."

Daniel gave an immediate example, "The Dark Knight Rises received a lot of bad reviews, and this has to do with how 'The Dark Knight' elevated many people's expectations."

"This is what I'm thinking..." Martin was prepared, and he selectively repeated some of what he had told Nolan, adding a few points, "Making a film from one peak to another is incredibly difficult, so we won't try to climb another peak but will turn back instead, focusing the story on the process of at the Joker became the Joker."

Daniel commented, "A story before 'The Dark Knight' happens? Like a prequel movie?"

Martin confirmed, "Yes, similar to a prequel to 'The Dark Knight,' a history of the Joker's evolution. By doing so, we are essentially starting from a new low starting point to climb the current peak known as the Joker."

Daniel laughed heartily, "Great idea!"

He needed performance outcomes since taking office and hastened to say, "Martin, how about this project be jointly pushed by you, Director Nolan, and Warner Bros. Pictures?"

Martin had no copyright, but he accepted, replying, "No problem."

Daniel became serious and said, "I'll have someone prepare the relevant materials today and try to expedite this project's approval. However, since the Joker involves DC, it must be approved by DC before it can get the green light."

Martin replied, "I won't go over to DC. You and Chris are enough."

Daniel nodded, "Wait for our good news."

Martin's objective was achieved, and he left Warner Bros. Pictures quickly.

As for the screenplay and director, these would be discussed after DC Films and Warner Bros. Pictures had greenlit the project.