章節 58: Chapter 58 An Unexpected Investor
"In recent days, Kingpin has been arrested, and his criminal empire has collapsed. Initially, I believed this had nothing to do with Stark Industries. However, it turned out that someone within our upper management had secretly colluded with him... I've already taken serious action, and the authorities are now involved. Please rest assured and continue to trust Stark Industries," declared Obadiah Stane with a stern, righteous expression.
Speaking to a sea of media cameras, Obadiah elaborated on Stark Industries' internal investigation regarding recent events.
In his speech, he completely distanced himself from any ties to Kingpin.
Even if someone came forward to accuse him of colluding with Kingpin, few would believe it—unless, of course, they could produce irrefutable evidence.
But no one had such evidence.
In the original timeline, even S.H.I.E.L.D. preferred scouring the Afghan desert for months in search of Tony Stark rather than attempting to gather clues from Obadiah Stane. Not a single piece of incriminating evidence was found against him.
This alone showed how formidable Obadiah could be.
"It seems Obadiah has realized that certain authorities are watching him closely," Anton mused as he observed.
He quickly searched for information on the scapegoat Obadiah had pushed forward. The unlucky individual turned out to be Obadiah's senior assistant, a trusted subordinate with significant influence within Stark Industries.
This was a classic case of "cutting off a limb to save the body."
"... Better leave this one for Tony to handle when he returns," Anton muttered with a shrug, turning off the TV.
He had far more pressing matters at hand.
After all, Tony Stark had been missing for nearly a month. Based on his knowledge of the original storyline, Anton estimated that in about two more months, Tony would stage his grand comeback as Iron Man.
Obadiah might be a crafty fox and challenging to deal with, but Anton had other plans. He wasn't about to get involved unnecessarily.
At that moment, Betty approached him.
"Anton, Batman will finish its theatrical run in one week," she reported. "As of now, its domestic box office revenue stands at $470 million, with $380 million from overseas markets. That's a total of $850 million globally. With one week left, it should reach around $880 million."
"If I'm not mistaken, there are still a few countries where it hasn't been released yet, correct?" Anton asked.
"Correct," Betty nodded, excitement creeping into her tone. "Once the global rollout is complete, it could very well reach $1 billion in total revenue. That kind of performance will undoubtedly place it among the highest-grossing films of the year. Anton, Hollywood has already named you one of its people of the year. I've also received numerous party invitations for you. Should I start accepting them?"
Her tone shifted to nonchalance at the end.
"Really? Maybe consider the ones happening in New York..." Anton's eyes lit up, though the enthusiasm soon dimmed. "On second thought, better not. I'm too busy these days. You know I have a meeting tonight with Jim to discuss my next film."
"Your next film?" Eddie, standing nearby, perked up. "Are you starting Batman 2 already?"
Anton flashed a mysterious smile. "No, it's a new project—a new superhero story."
"A new superhero?" Eddie was taken aback.
To him, it was baffling that Anton would pass up on an almost guaranteed moneymaker like the Batman series to work on a new superhero film. Perhaps this was just the kind of audacious thinking that came with being wealthy.
That evening, Anton met with Jim to discuss his upcoming project.
Jim was surprised to hear that Anton wasn't planning to direct Batman 2. He had already begun preparing for the sequel, expecting Anton to helm it.
Batman, now the hottest superhero in America, was a cultural phenomenon. With the first film diving into Batman's mysterious origins, audiences were eager for a sequel.
And yet, Anton had decided not to take the reins?
Jim was initially frustrated, tempted to slam his chair in exasperation. After some time, however, he calmed down, realizing Anton's intentions.
Anton wasn't planning to abandon Batman he just wouldn't direct the sequel himself.
Although Anton had directed the first Batman film, bringing in another director wouldn't significantly affect the franchise's commercial value. In fact, Anton's decision to create an entirely new original film might generate even more buzz.
Forsaking a proven success to pursue originality—such was the pride of a genius.
By now, Anton was widely recognized as a genius director in Hollywood. If his next venture succeeded, DC would essentially gain another gold mine.
Understanding this, Jim didn't push further.
The two discussed DC's next cinematic moves at length. Jim took on the task of securing investors and assembling the necessary production teams.
With three projects in the pipeline, Jim's workload was massive.
The projects included:
Batman: The Dark Knight. Cyborg. and Superman
Though skeptical of Anton's unorthodox approach, Jim accepted the challenge. His role was to ensure the logistics were flawless.
Soon, preparations for the three production teams were underway.
During this time, Browning promptly delivered the screenplays for Cyborg and Superman to Anton. The script for Batman: The Dark Knight had already been completed earlier.
Notably, The Dark Knight's serialized novel began publishing on the Daily Bugle's literary forum just yesterday. Stories featuring Superman, Cyborg, Flash, and other heroes would follow in the coming week.
The real challenge lay in securing investments.
Everyone knew superhero films required grand set pieces and extensive visual effects. Each movie demanded a budget of at least $100 million. Initial estimates indicated that Batman and Cyborg alone would cost over $300 million, with Superman pushing the total to at least $500 million.
That was $500 million in real dollars.
Anton, though wealthy, wasn't on Tony Stark's level, casually throwing around $500 million without a care. Moreover, the various companies under the Jameson family's umbrella were managed by professional executives, leaving Anton unable to freely divert funds.
Anton's available capital came from a mix of personal resources, the first round of profits from Batman Begins, and delayed payouts from distributors—a common issue in the film industry.
Even if Anton had the money, he wouldn't cover the entire cost alone.
The rest would be better spent on other initiatives.
Fortunately, Anton's reputation as a Hollywood wunderkind and the guaranteed profitability of the Batman IP attracted numerous potential investors.
The issue was that Cyborg and Superman involved riskier, higher-budget projects. Few investors were willing to take the plunge.
That was until an unexpected individual reached out to Jim, resolving the funding dilemma entirely.
When Anton met the investor, he was thoroughly surprised.
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Masret
Masret For 10 advance chapter : p@treon.com/DaggerTranslates
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