Hollywood original director

Fresh off the monumental success of "Sigma," Ronald was now an undeniable force in Hollywood. He wasted no time leveraging his newfound influence. He met with Toby Emmerich from Warner Bros. to discuss the Superman project. With Barry Meyer recently appointed as the new Warner president, there was a renewed impetus to relaunch the iconic superhero franchise. After two weeks of intense discussions, Ronald and Warner Bros. reached an agreement: Ronald would direct Superman, but the script would first have to pass Warner's rigorous assessment. He left the intricate details of his director's deal to Paul, who, after tough negotiations, secured Ronald an impressive $10 million salary plus 20 percent of the North American box office revenue.

Ronald immediately immersed himself in the project, hiring four scriptwriters from Warner Bros. to develop his vision for Superman. He wanted his film to be less dark than recent superhero interpretations, focusing more on spectacular action and the profound relationship between father and son. He also envisioned a pivotal scene showing Krypton's core blast just before the Kryptonian exodus, hinting at the planet's self-destruction rather than a natural disaster. Ronald even pondered a Wonder Woman cameo, an audacious idea at the time, to subtly introduce a wider DC universe.

During one of the early script meetings, Ronald sat with his team of writers, Ben Affleck (freshly cast as Superman), and the producers. "Ben," Ronald began, "I see this Superman as a man grappling with extraordinary power, but anchored by his humanity, especially his relationship with his earthly father. It's that core that will resonate with audiences."

Ben Affleck, already diving deep into the character, nodded thoughtfully. "I agree, Ronald. The spectacle is crucial, but the emotional arc, the journey of Clark Kent becoming Superman, needs to be the heart of the film. I'm excited to explore that duality."

Later, during pre-production, Dolph Lundgren, cast as General Zod, had a meeting with Ronald to discuss his character's motivations. "Ronald," Lundgren said, his deep voice resonating, "Zod isn't just a villain; he's a leader fighting for his people. I want to bring a sense of tragic conviction to the role, not just brute force."

Ronald was impressed by Lundgren's insight. "Exactly, Dolph. I want Zod to be a credible threat, someone the audience can almost understand, even as he becomes the antagonist. Your physical presence is undeniable, but that underlying conviction is what will make him truly memorable."

Michael Douglas, who would play Jor-El, approached Ronald with a thoughtful question during a costume fitting. "Ronald, Jor-El has to convey so much in a limited amount of screen time. What's the key to his portrayal?"

"Michael," Ronald replied, "think of him as a father making the ultimate sacrifice for his son, burdened by the knowledge of his planet's impending doom. There's a deep well of love and regret there, even amidst the scientific brilliance."

Ed Harris, cast as Jonathan Kent, had a more grounded approach. "Ronald, Jonathan is the moral compass, the man who instills those core values in Clark. It's about simple, honest love and guidance, right?"

"Absolutely, Ed," Ronald affirmed. "He's the heart of Clark's humanity. That down-to-earth wisdom and unwavering support are what make Superman who he is."

Charlize Theron, who agreed to the Wonder Woman cameo, met with Ronald to discuss her brief but impactful appearance. "Ronald, even though it's a cameo, I want to establish Wonder Woman as a force to be reckoned with. What's the tone you're going for in her introduction?"

"Charlize," Ronald explained, "think of her as a warrior who operates on a different plane, a glimpse into a larger world. Her fight with Faora needs to be fierce, a demonstration of her power and skill, hinting at her own rich backstory."

After three months, the Superman script was ready. Ronald's handpicked scriptwriting team was unique: one held a PhD in biology, another in physics, a third in mechanics, and the last was a passionate comic book expert. This diverse team ensured both scientific grounding and deep respect for the source material.

Superman's pre-production began, projected to take eight to ten months. Knowing he couldn't personally oversee every aspect, Ronald called Jared to discuss the next aggressive phase of the ACU. "Jared," Ronald said, spreading out his plans, "Superman is a massive undertaking, but the ACU can't stall. We need to build momentum." They agreed to hire a dedicated 20-person expert team solely for the long-term creation and management of the Action Cinematic Universe. Ronald's grand plan was to shoot ten ACU movies, culminating in a massive crossover film where all the heroes would finally meet.

Paul fixed Ronald's salary for Superman at $10 million plus 15 percent of the North American box office revenue, a testament to his growing value.

Warner Bros. held extensive auditions for Superman and other key characters, but Ronald had specific actors in mind for many roles. For the formidable General Zod, Ronald extended an invitation to action veteran Dolph Lundgren. The iconic role of Superman himself went to Ben Affleck, a surprising but bold choice, who immediately began an intense physical transformation, working closely with trainers to get to a jacked 235 pounds. For Superman's biological father, Jor-El, Ronald cast the esteemed Michael Douglas, and for his adoptive father, Jonathan Kent, he brought in Ed Harris. Superman's mother was portrayed by Amy Madigan. The pivotal role of Lois Lane went to Elizabeth Banks, and for the groundbreaking cameo of Wonder Woman, Ronald secured Charlize Theron. Zod's ruthless female commander, Faora-Ul, was played by the striking Monica Bellucci.

With a budget of $200 million, Superman's production was massive. After nine months of demanding shooting, filled with on-set discussions and Ronald's meticulous direction, principal photography was completed. Post-production, laden with complex visual effects overseen by ILM, stretched for another ten months, targeting a Summer 2003 release. With Spider-Man (2002) having already grossed over $800 million, Warner's board held high expectations, hoping Superman could cross the billion-dollar mark.

Simultaneously, Jared spearheaded the development of three more ACU movies. All three completed pre-production. The third ACU movie was set to star Sylvester Stallone in a story about government betrayal, where politicians seek to eliminate their own experimental subjects. The fourth movie would feature Will Smith as a CEO obsessed with achieving immortality. And the fifth movie would star Tom Cruise as the son of a military general, on a relentless quest to find his mother's killer. These three films were planned as co-productions with Sony, Fox, and Paramount, with a combined budget of $400 million. Ronald largely left the directorial duties for these films to Jared and the studios' chosen directors, trusting his team to build the universe while he focused on Superman.

The highly anticipated Superman screening was held at the iconic Chinese Theatre. Warner Bros. invited a multitude of stars and top film critics. Barry Meyer and Toby Emmerich personally greeted Ronald, who also met with his formidable cast before the film began, exchanging excited whispers and nervous anticipation.

As the movie started, the audience watched in anticipation. A pivotal scene showed Superman heroically saving his father, Jonathan, from a devastating tornado. Ronald also included a dramatic sequence where Superman, arriving late, saved countless civilians, but the emotional weight of nearly losing his parents was palpable. It was here that Wonder Woman made her electrifying debut, engaging in a fierce battle with Faora-Ul to protect Martha Kent and Lois Lane.

Due to the brutal fight, Superman's parents were gravely injured. He swiftly took them to the Fortress of Solitude, where the holographic Jor-El explained that to save them, he would have to perform a dangerous experiment on their bodies using Kryptonian technology. Enraged by Zod's relentless assault and the near loss of his human parents, Superman stopped holding back. The hand-to-hand combat between Ben Affleck's Superman and Dolph Lundgren's Zod was truly over-the-top, a brutal display of power. Jor-El then suggested opening a wormhole to banish the Kryptonians to another dimension. In the climactic finale, Superman and Wonder Woman combined their might to defeat every Kryptonian and force them back into the wormhole. The film subtly hinted that Superman's 25 years spent absorbing the Earth's sun's energy were crucial to his ability to face Zod. The final scene showed Clark warmly hugging his parents, a sense of peace and belonging washing over him as the film ended.