Chapter 13: Chapter 12
Emma! Emma! Can you talk about having the confidence to win a bet?
Emma, what is your relationship with Xu Can now?
Does Mr. Xu really think he is Spider-Man?
What do you think of the resistance from some Marvel fans?
Xu Can and Emma Stone walked the red carpet hand in hand, Xu Can's eyes nearly blinded by the countless flashing lights. Microphones seemed ready to be shoved into his face. Emma Stone, just a rising star at the time, wasn't accustomed to this level of attention.
She was understandably flustered, lacking the poise she'd later become known for as an Oscar-winning actress. Fortunately, she clung to the handsome man beside her, who, in turn, tightened his arm around her waist reassuringly.
"Relax, you're a future Oscar winner. You've got to get used to this," Xu Can whispered.
"Phew, why do you always say I'm going to be a movie queen?" Emma sighed.
In their private conversations, Xu Can frequently mentioned that she would win an Oscar someday. At first, Emma thought he was joking, but soon she realized...
Wait, is he serious?
Even I'm not that confident. Where does he get this blind faith?
But with Xu Can's encouragement, Emma quickly calmed down, smiling naturally in front of the media.
"All I can say is that I'm very happy to play Spider-Man. I've taken this role seriously, and I hope you'll enjoy it," Xu Can said, his voice measured and composed, more so than most seasoned Hollywood stars on their first red carpet.
"As for the resistance from some Marvel fans, they just haven't seen the movie yet. I believe their opinions will change after watching it."
The pair answered a few more questions from the media, skillfully dodging any tricky ones with ease, leaving no room for the tense confrontation the press had anticipated.
Director Marc Webb, watching from a distance, exhaled in relief.
"I was worried that their youth and energy might lead to some clashes. They seem very composed."
"Composed? They were betting with people just a while ago," producer Avi Arad remarked with a shake of his head and a bitter smile.
"$500 million? We're estimating $400 million, and that's with a lot of luck," he added.
"Don't be so pessimistic. Do you not have faith in my movie?" Webb joked.
"No."
"Get lost! You idiot!" Webb retorted, though deep down, even he was uncertain. The only thing he could rely on was Xu Can's performance.
In the past, action scenes were often a blur of quick cuts, lacking any real impact. But this time, they had used real, continuous shots for many of the sequences. Xu Can never used a stunt double, performing nearly all of the stunts himself. It left Webb in awe.
If there's a miracle, it's Xu Can.
With a mix of excitement and anxiety, Webb entered Galaxy Cinema.
The theater, a massive hall that could accommodate up to 1,800 people, was already packed, with the audience filling every seat.
On the day of the ticket pre-sale, the queue at the box office reportedly stretched two kilometers. Many had camped out the night before just to secure a ticket.
In addition to the 5,700 theaters across North America, with over 1,000 screens, more than 35,000 yuan had already been generated in ticket sales. Despite the competition from Warner's theater chain, which offered limited showtimes, every major theater chain in the U.S. was set to release the movie simultaneously at midnight.
Naturally, the theaters showing the early premieres were packed, filled with Marvel fans and die-hard Spider-Man enthusiasts. For them, the quality of the live-action film was secondary—they were there to show their unwavering support.
Among the crowd were nerds Leonard and Howard, seated alongside their school friends, Sheldon and Raj. This small group of comic book fans treated the premiere like a holiday, with everyone dressed in Spider-Man costumes.
Getting tickets had been a challenge. They'd queued all night, nearly bursting their bladders, but finally managed to secure seats. Many others were similarly decked out in full Spider-Man gear, turning the premiere into a large-scale cosplay gathering.
As they chatted quietly, the film's star, Xu Can, entered the theater with Emma Stone on his arm.
Compared to the applause received by other stars, Xu Can's applause was noticeably lighter. After all, this was his debut, and he was relatively unknown—a complete amateur.
But Xu Can didn't mind. He took his seat beside Emma, a smile on his face, ready to watch the movie. The warmth of the applause wasn't his concern; his mind was focused on his first starring role, a new version of Spider-Man in this parallel world.
He hadn't even seen the finished film yet. Like the fans around him, this was his first time watching it.
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
"Dear Spider-Man fans! Welcome to the premiere of Spider-Man!"
"Our superhero is about to meet you. Are you ready?" The host's enthusiasm sparked excitement in the crowd.
"Yeah!"
"Spider-Man! Spider-Man! Spider-Man!"
The fans chanted in unison, their anticipation palpable. Everyone was on the edge of their seats.
"Now, please sit back, relax, and enjoy the movie."
As the host left the stage, the lights dimmed, and the screen flickered to life.
Xu Can noticed Emma Stone's cold hand reach for his, trembling slightly. He grasped her soft hand, transferring his warmth to her.
Slowly, Emma's trembling ceased, and she regained her composure.
Spider-Man was about to begin.
A beam of white light illuminated the black screen, and the camera panned down to reveal a dignified goddess statue holding a torch high.
Columbia Pictures and Sony Entertainment Company logos appeared, followed by a quick flip through comic book pages, showing familiar characters.
The iconic MARVEL logo emerged against a dark blue backdrop filled with silver spider webs.
The credits rolled in a visually stunning sequence, listing:
Produced by Columbia Pictures
Directed by Marc Webb
Starring: Xu Can
Featuring: Willem Dafoe, Emma Stone, James Franco…
The design-heavy title animation led to the film's title, Spider-Man, appearing on screen just as Xu Can's magnetic voice-over began.
"Okay, okay, I'll tell this story again."
"My name is Peter Parker. I'm just an ordinary high school student."
"When I was 6 years old, my parents' plane crashed. From then on, I was raised by Uncle Ben and Aunt May."
"For 10 years, I lived a carefree life, just an ordinary high school student."
Xu Can's narration was lighthearted, reflecting the rebelliousness and witty, talkative nature of Peter Parker from the comics. The background music had a hip-hop vibe, making it feel like a high schooler was telling his story face-to-face.
In three words: down-to-earth.
Within 30 seconds, the audience, used to Hollywood's polished productions, found themselves intrigued by this fresh take on the character.
The screen transitioned from comic-style images to live-action, seamlessly revealing Xu Can's sunny, handsome face in a mirror.
"Wow!"
"Holy…"
"Wait, what?"
Even from his seat, Xu Can could hear the murmurs of surprise from critics and fans alike. The flawless transition from 2D to 3D, without any sense of dissonance, amazed everyone.
Xu Can's clear, good looks earned him instant approval from the audience, causing even the most skeptical Marvel fans to relax.
"I knew it! He can totally be Spider-Man!" Leonard exclaimed excitedly.
"Alright, alright, here's your 10 bucks," Sheldon, who had initially boycotted the "Asian Spider-Man," begrudgingly handed over the money.
With just one glance, they could tell that Xu Can fit the role perfectly. What they didn't know was that this was only the beginning. The real surprises were yet to come.
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