Chapter 68: Chapter 68 Iconic Moments
After a brief holiday, Anton dove back into his work with renewed vigor.
He directed the crew to a new research facility set to serve as the next filming location for Cyborg.
Meanwhile, Quentin Beck and his team officially joined the project. Beck was immediately dispatched to Hollywood under Anton orders to lead the special effects department for Cyborg.
In other news, the "Lizard Incident" in New York City continued to fuel an unprecedented wave of admiration for Batman.
The Manhattan Bridge, the site where Batman had decisively defeated the Lizard, became a landmark for fans, attracting countless visitors.
Even The Daily Bugle, with its known ties to Batman, became a "pilgrimage site" for these admirers.
Eddie, noticing the influx of fans, set up a life-sized cutout of Batman at the Bugle entrance for photo opportunities.
When Anton heard about this, he decided to go a step further. He commissioned a custom-made Bat-Signal and instructed Eddie to install it on the rooftop of the Bugle headquarters.
Every night, for seven consecutive days, the Bat-Signal lit up the Manhattan sky, casting its massive emblem over the city and outshining even the moon.
Crowds erupted in cheers, their excitement palpable.
But on the eighth day, the Bat-Signal went dark, never to shine again.
Calls flooded The Daily Bugle, but Eddie refused to provide any explanations.
Many fans were left puzzled and disappointed.
But that a story for another time.
For now, The Daily Bugle reaped immense benefits from Batman popularity.
Not only did the paper gain internet fame, but its daily circulation soared, leaving rival newspapers green with envy.
However, no one dared to imitate their approach. The Bugle had an undeniable connection to Batman, especially with its enigmatic owner, Anton, who was also the director and writer of the hit film Batman.
Other newspapers attempting to ride the wave of Batman fame would not only fail but risk public ridicule, ultimately hurting their reputation.
Anton found the entire situation amusing.
In this world, the Bat-Signal wasn't just Commissioner Gordon call for Batman—it had become a tourist attraction.
Even so, he knew that eventually, New Yorkers would understand its true significance: whenever the Bat-Signal lit up, it would mean Batman was on the move.
Time flew by, and a month passed.
Filming for the research facility scenes was completed, and Anton transitioned back to Hollywood glitz and glamour.
At this point, the film had entered its final stages of production.
Anton was surprised by how quickly filming progressed.
By his estimation, the movie would wrap in just half a month, totaling less than 80 days of shooting.
Meanwhile, Quentin Beck, whom Anton had sent to Hollywood early on, was making waves in the special effects department.
Beck and his team introduced a groundbreaking holographic system. This technology allowed actors to appear as if they were undergoing surreal transformations in real-time through light projections, which were then captured in live-action filming to achieve hyper-realistic effects.
While this technology wasn't as advanced as it would be in the post-Tony Stark era, it represented a monumental leap for Hollywood.
It was akin to the industry shift from 2D to 3D effects.
Hollywood special effects community revered Quentin Beck as a visionary scientist, with many trailing behind him like eager apprentices.
A flood of special effects orders poured into Mysterio Studios, a division of DC Films established by Anton and led by Beck. The studio raked in substantial profits.
For Quentin Beck, this was more than just a financial success—it was a chance to rediscover his long-lost sense of purpose.
Grateful beyond words, he grew increasingly loyal to Anton, convinced he had finally found his true calling.
Anton Prepares for Promotion
Realizing that the production of Cyborg was nearing completion, Anton assessed the timeline. With Beck innovative technology streamlining post-production, he estimated that the film could be fully completed within a month and ready for release.
With a month still left before the premiere, it was time to start the promotional campaign.
After wrapping up the day shoot, Anton sought out Jim.
"It time to prepare the promotional plan!" Anton said bluntly. "The movie will be wrapped up in two weeks at most. With Beck technology accelerating post-production, we can finish everything within a month. Jim, I need a marketing strategy for Cyborg ASAP."
Jim was caught off guard.
"You're almost done already?" he exclaimed, dumbfounded.
While he knew Anton was known for his rapid pace, he hadn't expected him to approach promotional planning after just two months of filming.
Having spent most of his time bouncing between the sets of Superman and The Dark Knight, Jim hadn't closely monitored Anton progress. The realization that Anton was nearly finished felt surreal, reminiscent of when Anton had informed him of the completion of Batman months earlier.
A string of expletives caught in Jim throat as he processed the information.
After a moment, he managed to reply, "I'll coordinate with the marketing team immediately."
Jim was well aware that working with Anton left little room for negotiation.
He then asked, "Do you have any specific ideas for the promotion?"
"Movies are a universal art form. I'm confident in the quality of this film. As long as the standard promotional process is followed, the box office will do well," Anton replied thoughtfully. "However, since this movie features a Black lead, the key is to connect with Black audiences. If the campaign resonates with them, success is guaranteed."
With a meaningful look, he added, "Jim, you know what to do."
Jim nodded with a knowing smile. As a seasoned producer, he fully understood Anton intention.
After a brief discussion, Jim departed to start his work.
That evening, Anton returned to his hotel. After a relaxing bath, he was ready to wind down for the night when his personal assistant, Betty, knocked on his door.
"Hey, it pretty late!" Anton said, surprised.
Standing shirtless, he raised an eyebrow at Betty, grinning playfully. "I just warmed the bed for you. Care to join me?"
"Nice abs," Betty remarked, her gaze briefly flickering to his torso before brushing off his teasing with her usual composure. "I have some news you'll definitely want to hear."
Anton leaned forward, intrigued. "What is it?"
Betty revealed, "Tony Stark is alive. The military found him in the Afghan desert, and he likely already landed at a military airport."
"Tony been found?" Anton froze for a moment before a smile spread across his face.
The timing made sense. Three months had passed since the release of Batman and the near-completion of Cyborg. That was roughly the same amount of time Tony had endured in the Afghan desert.
"Stark Industries just released a statement," Betty continued. "Tony Stark will hold a press conference tomorrow morning at their Los Angeles branch."
Her expression remained neutral as she added, "It likely he'll say something significant during the event. Eddie and Phil have already taken a red-eye flight to cover the story. They believe The Daily Bugle can't miss this opportunity."
Pausing, she looked at Anton. "If you plan to attend the press conference tomorrow, I can secure an extra ticket for you."
"Why not?" Anton replied without hesitation, grinning. "I wouldn't want to miss an iconic moment."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone