America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

Los Angeles' Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Hollywood Theater, where a black carpet lay on the sidewalk.

Black was the theme of the day, and most of the guests attending the premiere also wore black attire.

In addition to the film's main creative team, Warner Bros. had invited many stars to support the event, such as past Batman actors starting from Michael Keaton.

However, George Clooney refused to attend, as this A-list actor had more than once publicly expressed deep regret for taking the role of Batman.

That invincible Batman costume is still a tool for media ridicule and mockery of Clooney to this day.

Bale arrived directly in the Batmobile, an astonishing presence that made it feel as if one had arrived in Gotham, also triggering the climax on both sides of the black carpet.

In comparison, Martin, arriving in a Cadillac, looked rather plain. Dressed in a black suit, he walked alone onto the black carpet, entering the red zone where the Coca-Cola faithful gathered, signing autographs, taking photos, and drinking Coke together.

This was Martin's routine, which had also become a promotional window for Coca-Cola.

Martin didn't accept interviews. He took a photo with Director Nolan in front of the sponsor backdrop, then entered the theater alone.

The hype had already been built up enough, and it was sufficient to attract the attention of passersby. Martin just needed to maintain the persona of being overly immersed in his role and still struggling to break free, without the need to say more.

To prevent the accident that happened at the San Diego Comic-Con, the crew even canceled the media group photos of the entire team, and the main creators all took individual photos.

As Martin entered the front hall of the theater, Mene swiftly walked over and asked, "Boss, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Martin replied. "When did you come back?"

Mene explained, "There was nothing for me promotion-wise, so I stayed a few more days in Las Vegas, mainly because Celine Dion wouldn't let me come back."

"You've got a handle on it," Martin said, admiring Mene's approach.

Mene caught up and said, "I'll stay with you tonight as your bodyguard. If Bale dares to come over, I'll give him what for."

No sooner had he finished speaking, Emma Thomas approached swiftly from one side, fixing her gaze on Mene.

Martin patted Mene on the shoulder, "Stay."

Mene could only stop and follow Emma Thomas to the side to talk.

Emma Thomas asked, "Where have you been? Why couldn't I contact you? I kept getting a busy tone when I tried to call you."

Mene replied, "I have to work, to strive for new jobs, to make money to support my family. For an actor like me, wanting to stay in Los Angeles, wanting to develop in Hollywood, it's not easy."

As a producer, Emma Thomas understood that the actual income of supporting actors like Mene wasn't very high.

An actor with ambition to make money is a serious matter. She sighed lightly and said, "Chris will have a new project next year, and the male lead will most likely be Martin. I will compile your information and submit it to the casting team. With your talent, securing a significant supporting role should be no problem."

Mene nodded repeatedly, "Thank you, Emma. I don't know what to say. I'll be sure to thank you properly."

Emma Thomas added, "Mainly because you have the talent. If you couldn't act, I wouldn't help you."

The two made plans to go out for desserts together the next day.

Inside the theater, as Martin approached the front rows, a tall girl waved to him—it was Taylor Swift, who had come with his invitation.

She seemed to have changed slightly in appearance.

Martin wasn't sure if it was makeup or a minor tweak.

Minor tweaks are common in Hollywood, and America is one of the regions with the most intense plastic surgery in the world, with Beverly Hills being the capital of cosmetic procedures.

Taylor whispered, "I'll be staying in Los Angeles for a while this half of the year."

Martin asked, "Ready to write songs for me?"

"You have to give me inspiration," Taylor was more direct than when in New York: "Without enough inspiration, I can't write."

Martin feigned ignorance, "How can I inspire you?"

"This isn't the place to discuss it." Taylor reached behind her waist and, from nowhere, pulled out a card and handed it to Martin, "I'll tell you when you come."

Martin looked at it, noticing it was a room number at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. He pocketed it in his suit; then remarked, "I've always wanted to personally witness how musicians create songs when inspiration strikes."

Taylor's foxy smile was particularly captivating, "You'll see soon enough, I guarantee, it will be a very special memory."

Martin felt that the country singer had evolved quite a bit in the few months he hadn't seen her.

It made sense though; in the entertainment industry, only the fittest survive.

Since releasing her first album last year, Taylor had adapted incredibly well, and her unique approach to songwriting also ensured the vitality of both the artist and her work.

Seeing film critics like Kenneth Turan and Todd McCarthy from Los Angeles coming in at the entrance, Martin said a word to Taylor and went to meet them.

Like Daniel Day Lewis, these film critics loved actors who lived for their craft.

They highly praised Martin's commitment to diving deep into a character.

Crew members and guests gradually filed into the theater, and the place became lively. As the audience entered, the theater became as chaotic as a supermarket crowded with people.

Rachel arrived with a large group wearing red cultural shirts and holding Joker statues, transforming a large swath of black seats into red.

Phoebe even shouted from the front, "I love Joker!"

That shout set off nearly all members of the Cola Cult to chant in unison, "I love Joker!"

The gazes of everyone in the theater shifted.

In the front row, Nolan turned to Charles Roven and said, "See? That's Martin's charm and appeal."

Charles Roven replied, "Who would have thought that the Coca-Cola he nonchalantly swung at Burbank Middle School would have such a lasting impact."

Nolan now held great admiration for Martin, "And that is something Martin fought for with his life."

"Are you sure you want Martin as the lead actor in your next project?" Charles Roven would still be the producer for Nolan's new project.

Nolan said, "No one is better suited than Martin."

At that moment, Martin came over from the other side, greeted Nolan and Roven, and sat down next to Nolan.

Nolan and he exchanged glances and shared a knowing smile.

With The Dark Knight project progressing to this point, most of the pressure on Nolan's shoulders had eased; success at the box office was certain, the only uncertainty was to what degree.

As the lights on the ceiling went off one by one, the picture lit up on the IMAX screen, and the theater immediately fell silent.

The premiere of The Dark Knight began.

From the first minute of the Joker robbing the bank, everyone was immersed in the plot.

The hero-villain duel is not uncommon in Hollywood films, and there are no few classics.

But Batman's abnormal confrontation with the Joker was particularly charismatic.

The former remained the justice-filled Batman, and other than being weakened in combat ability, he was not much different from other versions of Batman.

The Joker, however, was no ordinary villain; with Martin's portrayal, he exuded extreme madness and evil from beginning to end.

Not for money, not for fame, not for gain, but for a more beautiful Gotham.

From the start of the film, the Joker dominated Batman in every aspect, both in character tension and plot design.

On one hand, the director gave the Joker an advantage. Continue reading stories on empire

On the other hand, Martin's performance filled the character with a chaotic, maniacal charm.

It was only in the ending of the film, when Batman took on everything and became the Dark Knight, that he really fought back.

"This is a movie that belongs to the Joker," someone said.

Watching the injured Batman limp into the shadows on the screen, Kenneth Turan whispered to Todd McCarthy, "Martin has given one of the greatest villain performances in film history."

Todd McCarthy nodded repeatedly and said, "No wonder Jack Nicholson said that Martin interprets this role with his soul and life; he didn't exaggerate at all. Martin's performance is unthinkable and terrifying to the extreme!"

Kenneth Turan said, "Martin's performance is absolutely Oscar-worthy, and even many Oscar Best Actor award-winning roles cannot compare to the Joker!"

On the IMAX big screen, the movie was coming to an end, Gordon smashing the Bat-signal, the axe falling, the bat symbol and lights perishing together.

The premiere of The Dark Knight thus concluded.

Thunderous applause erupted like a tidal wave throughout the Hollywood Theater, even reaching the Hollywood Walk of Fame outside, like a thunderclap on level ground.

This was undeniably a masterpiece.

The applause in the theater ebbed and flowed.

In the red T-shirt section, an emotionally overwhelmed Phoebe suddenly stood up, ignoring Rachel's attempt to stop her, ran to the middle of the aisle, and shouted at the top of her lungs, "I love the Joker! I love the Joker..."

The applause drowned out her shouts.

But those around her heard, and more and more red T-shirts joined the shouting.

"I love the Joker!"

The voice spread further, with more people joining in.

It was less than half a minute before the applause gradually subsided, and the nearly unanimous shouts of the general audience completely overtook the applause.

Most of the audience in the theater were shouting one phrase.

"I love the Joker!"

Emotions are contagious. It wasn't just the general audience, even some of the guests joined in the shouting.

In the front row, Nolan was anxious and asked Emma Thomas, "Where's the camera? Where's my camera? Quick, get this on film, what great promotional material!"

Emma Thomas quickly replied, "Don't worry, someone's filming it."

Nolan nodded, turned around, and hugged Martin, saying, "Buddy, did you see that? We have won the world!"

Martin laughed heartily, "We were bound to succeed!"

In contrast to the excitement here, Bale sat emotionless on the other side.

Listening to the shouts of "I love the Joker" filling the space, he felt somewhat bitter.

Despite being a Batman movie, it was the villain, the Joker, who was stealing the show.

The shouts grew louder until Nolan, with the main creative team of the film, took the stage for multiple curtain calls, and only then did they begin to quiet down.