1016-1020

*Chapter 1016: Wholeheartedly*

"…Mom."

Anson called out, but Nora didn’t respond.

Nora just held Anson tightly, saying nothing, as if pouring all her strength into the hug.

“Mom.”

Anson called again, still no response from Nora.

Feeling slightly helpless, Anson couldn’t help but admit he wasn’t used to hugs. In his previous life, he could barely remember when he had ever hugged someone. Family affection was rarely expressed so directly, which made him feel stiff. The longer the hug lasted, the more awkward it became.

"Mom, I can’t breathe. My back, my back."

Finally, after his persistent complaints, Nora released him, gently laying him back on the pillow, though her gaze never left him.

That look made Anson feel a bit uneasy.

Nora took a deep breath. "These past two years, you’ve become more resistant to hugs. Lucas is like that, but he’s been that way since he was a child. Now you’re the same. To be honest, it hurts me a little."

Anson's heart skipped a beat. How was he supposed to tell Nora that the soul inside this body had changed? That the person inside wasn’t the same one she once knew? He was now someone who struggled to express his true feelings, someone who had armored himself to survive life's hardships. The original soul was long gone.

“But I know, deep down, you’re still the same.”

She paused and quietly studied Anson.

"Do you truly love acting, my child?"

The sudden change of topic left Anson momentarily stunned. But in front of Nora, his guard was down, and he responded directly, “How did we end up here?”

Just three minutes ago, Nora had rushed in from New Orleans, racing all the way to the hospital. She charged into his room like a tropical storm, and Anson had braced himself for a barrage of scolding. Yet, she didn’t say a word. She just hugged him tightly, and now the conversation had shifted entirely.

This wasn’t the scene Anson had imagined.

Nora gave a bitter smile. "I just want you to be safe. I hope this doesn’t happen again. Seeing you lying here..." She trailed off.

Though Nora didn’t shed a tear, nor did her eyes redden, the deep breaths between her words revealed the turmoil beneath her calm exterior.

Feeling a bit guilty, Anson softly murmured, "Mom..."

Nora collected herself. "But we can't lock you up at home, right? No matter what job you do, even if you’re just working in an office, accidents can happen. That’s life. We can’t control our fears, but at least we can control how we face them."

"So, I want you to be healthy, but I want you to be happy even more."

"Do you love acting? Does it make you happy?"

Nora quietly watched him, offering no further explanation, but Anson’s eyes suddenly welled up—

He knew how much inner struggle and agony those words had cost her. He realized that someone in this world genuinely cared for his happiness, purely for his own sake.

Anson felt a bit overwhelmed.

All along, he had kept a distance. He lived by the principle of enjoying his second chance at life, focusing only on himself. Yet, deep down, he avoided forming connections with others, fearing he’d be pulled into the emotional highs and lows of life again.

But how should one define their life?

Some say it’s fame, others wealth, or accomplishments. Then, there are those who believe it’s the bonds between people—those memories of family, love, and friendship. These are not cold numbers or trophies but vivid, living moments.

Anson barely held himself together. "As ironic as it may sound, given my current situation, yes, I love acting. I’m very happy."

His small joke made Nora smile. "Good. Then your mom supports you."

This was what it felt like to have someone unconditionally support you. The happiness felt like cotton candy, filling his chest, warm and sweet.

Anson’s lips curved into a smile. "Maybe one day, you all can join me at a movie premiere and see me on the big screen."

Nora’s expression turned serious. "Lucas said he couldn’t understand it."

Anson’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Mom? Lucas said that? And you didn’t correct him?"

Nora shrugged lightly. "I’m a fair mother. I won’t argue with Lucas until I form my own opinion."

Anson looked up at the ceiling. "No way, I need to supervise Lucas myself next time."

Somewhere, Lucas sneezed.

After their small joke, Anson turned to Nora again. "Mom, there should be a Sean Graham outside. Could you let him in? Lucas has been so controlling, refusing to let anyone visit except for a brief moment with the director. I need to see Sean."

Nora frowned slightly. "Who is he? Is he important?"

Anson replied, "He’s the wire-work instructor. It’s just that—" Before he could finish, he saw Nora's expression change. He quickly explained, "That’s exactly why I need to see him. He’s more devastated than anyone. He didn’t want this to happen, and it might even leave a psychological scar on him, changing his career."

Nora wasn’t convinced. "Don’t play the martyr. Don’t pity the culprit. Anson, he should suffer. If he doesn’t, I’ll make sure he does."

Anson admitted, Nora and Lucas were right, but still, "Believe me, I’m not trying to forgive or save him. I’m not Saint Mary. I just want… to find out the truth. Who’s truly responsible for this?"

"What if someone used him to cover their tracks? If we blame the wrong person, the real culprit might get away. I can’t accept that."

Nora’s face turned serious. "So, it wasn’t just his mistake?"

Without waiting for Anson’s answer, her expression grew stern. "I’ll ask Lucas about this."

After all, Anson needed rest, and Nora didn’t want him to overthink things.

Glancing at Anson one more time, Nora said, "Three minutes."

Anson’s eyes widened. "Only three minutes?"

Nora replied, "If not, then forget it. You need to rest now."

Anson sighed. "Fine. Three minutes."

Nora nodded in satisfaction, opened the door, and stepped out. After scanning the room quickly, she immediately spotted Sean Graham among the unfamiliar faces.

His sunken eyes, pale face, and clenched hands—so tightly entwined his knuckles were white. His lips were cracked and dry, as though he hadn’t had water in days, and they were flecked with dead skin, revealing glimpses of raw flesh. His unfocused eyes were filled with confusion and torment, his guilt gnawing at his very soul.

He was convinced the accident was entirely his fault.

Yet Nora still couldn’t bring herself to pity him. After all, it was Anson lying in that hospital bed. If anything had gone wrong… Nora couldn’t bear to think of it. She closed her eyes.

Chapter 1017: Atoning for Sins

Shaun Graham stared at the ground, his gaze slowly losing focus, sinking into deep torment, as if his world was falling apart.

"I'm sorry."

Since the accident, Shaun had apologized countless times, but the more he said it, the less sincere it felt. Even he didn't believe it anymore. One apology couldn’t make up for his mistake—especially not when Anson’s suffering was entirely because of him. Saying "sorry" felt utterly insignificant.

But what could he do?

Even if he gave up his own life, it still wouldn’t be enough.

Staring quietly at the ground, his thoughts drifted away, sinking into an endless void, letting himself float in the darkness.

"…Shaun?"

A voice called out to him, like a thunderclap, pulling Shaun abruptly back to reality. His gut churned, but without time to think, his first instinct was to bow deeply.

"I'm sorry."

The words came out automatically.

Nora frowned in frustration. "Why are you apologizing? Anyone overhearing this would think I forced you to say that."

Shaun froze, quickly correcting himself, "I’m sorry. I shouldn’t apologize so carelessly."

Nora felt her anger rise, but then she noticed Shaun’s bandaged hands, with traces of blood seeping through. She realized—he was a craftsman, someone who relied on his hands for his livelihood.

But still, Nora didn’t let her emotions soften easily. "I’m Anson’s mother, Nora. Can you tell me what happened?"

She knew people like Shaun depended on their skills, and one accident or mistake could cost them their job. Anyone good enough to join the "Spider-Man 2" crew had to be highly skilled, so a mistake like this shouldn’t happen, especially not such a serious one.

She needed the truth.

Nora understood that Lucas was likely investigating, but that didn’t stop her from seeking answers herself.

Though anger burned inside her, it didn’t cloud her judgment; instead, it sharpened her focus.

After Nora finished asking all her questions, she informed Shaun that Anson wanted to see him, but because Anson needed rest, their meeting couldn’t be long.

Shaun stood at the hospital room door, his right hand on the handle, hesitating—

He didn’t know how to face Anson. It seemed like all he could offer was another empty apology, and that thought filled him with despair.

Taking a deep breath and gathering his courage, Shaun finally pushed open the door.

Creak.

Inside, it was silent—so silent that the door's creaking felt unnaturally loud. Shaun tiptoed in, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it would leap out of his throat.

On the bed, Anson lay peacefully with his eyes closed, as if he were lost in a dream.

Shaun grew more anxious. If Anson was asleep, should he leave? But Nora had said Anson wanted to talk to him—should he stay?

He was stuck, unsure of what to do.

"…I just confirmed, this isn't a morgue or an operating room."

A voice broke the silence, making Shaun jump in surprise, his heart nearly leaping out of his chest.

Looking toward the voice, he saw that Anson was awake, smiling at him.

"Sorry, I fell asleep waiting. I’m guessing my mom grilled you pretty hard, huh? How many rounds of interrogation have you been through today?"

Anson’s tone was light, playful, with a touch of humor.

But Shaun couldn’t smile. He tried to move his lips, but no sound came out. His mind was a mess, with no coherent thoughts.

So, Anson’s words hung in the air awkwardly.

Anson understood.

In his past life, as a working man, Anson had experienced moments like this:

Sometimes he’d messed up, causing bad outcomes. Other times, even if it wasn’t entirely his fault, his mishandling of a situation led to disaster. And sometimes, he was the scapegoat, taking the blame for others.

Everyone had responsibilities to bear. But once the mistake was made, the focus should shift to fixing the problem. Rather than endlessly harping on the mistake, it was better to face the crisis head-on—

If one could atone for their wrongs, that would be ideal. But if not, well, the reckoning of old and new debts together was always an option.

Besides, even if it wasn’t Shaun, it could’ve been someone else. Anson still had filming to complete, meaning his life would remain in the hands of wire-riggers like Shaun.

They had to face this situation together.

So, when Anson saw Shaun, he immediately understood.

Anson smiled slightly. "You’re not preparing to apologize again, are you?"

Startled, Shaun looked up at Anson.

Anson continued, "If apologies could fix everything, what would we need the police for?"

Shaun: "…"

Anson chuckled. "No reaction? 'Meteor Garden'? Did it not air in the States? Never mind. My point is, I don’t need your apology. What’s done is done. Apologies won’t change anything."

Shaun’s expression tightened.

"But I do need your help," Anson said, his tone shifting.

"First, I need you to cooperate with the investigation. We need to figure out the real cause and make sure this never happens again. We need to find the culprit."

"Second, I need you to gather a team—the wire-riggers and stunt coordinators—so we can pool our expertise. Let’s see if we can come up with a safer method for filming, something that adds extra safety measures, instead of putting all the weight on your shoulders."

"I know work for stunt coordinators is getting harder to find. CGI is replacing what you do, and wire-riggers might eventually disappear entirely. You can’t even find apprentices anymore."

"But I still believe that some directors will stick to traditional filming techniques. Your craft is still a unique art form in cinema, but we need to adapt it for modern times."

Shaun was dumbfounded—completely stunned.

Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?

He couldn’t keep up with Anson’s thoughts, his mouth slightly open, his shock unmistakable.

"Of course, it’s not that you guys don’t want to develop new techniques. It’s just that you don’t have the funds."

"Fine, before someone else gets hurt, I’m willing to sign a check. Let’s do something meaningful. What do you think?"

Shaun felt like he was going crazy—completely crazy.

Anson hadn’t blamed him. Not only that, but he was also offering to help.

How did this even happen?

Shaun, overwhelmed with confusion and fear, couldn’t even muster a smile. "Anson… I’m sorry."

The words felt so hollow. His mind was racing with thoughts, but they all boiled down to that one feeble word, with no real power.

"I just…" Shaun stammered, staring blankly at Anson.

Without warning, Anson’s expression darkened. "Do you think I’d lie here, lashing out in rage, wallowing in self-pity, and venting my anger at everyone around me, wishing I could sacrifice you to make it all better?"

"Or do you think that one mistake on your part, getting yelled at, sued, and losing everything would somehow make me feel any better?"

*Chapter 1018: Hidden Information*

Crackling, the storm raged furiously.

Without any warning, anger crashed down like a torrential storm. Anson’s fury made Sean tremble in the violent wind, a chill shooting up from his feet to his head.

Sean’s worst fears were coming true. His anxieties, his nightmares, were all becoming reality.

But the key point was, he couldn’t argue back. He couldn’t even defend himself.

It was all his fault, wasn’t it?

He brought it on himself.

However, Anson suddenly shifted his tone, his lips curling into a faint smile.

“Would an elephant feel any emotion after stepping on an ant?”

“No, it wouldn’t. No joy, no sadness—nothing at all. Although I’m not an elephant, and you’re not an ant, the principle is the same.”

“So, while you’re drowning in guilt and self-blame, how about helping me with a few things? Pay me back through some work. What do you think?”

Sean froze in place—

Literally. His whole body stiffened, mind and limbs completely immobilized, as he stood there, dumbfounded.

Anson didn’t get a response, but he didn’t mind. He continued speaking, almost to himself.

“There’s one more thing. I might need your help with my recovery. I’m sure you all have some experience dealing with injuries like this, so you can help me avoid some mistakes. I’m hoping to get back on set as soon as possible.”

“Three weeks... ah, that’s longer than I expected.”

Still, Sean didn’t respond. He struggled to keep himself together, eventually turning around hastily, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand, his shoulders trembling slightly. But after a brief moment, he regained his composure. Turning back to Anson, he tried to speak but found his lips glued shut, unable to move. All he could do was nod in agreement.

Yet this time, Sean didn’t receive a response.

He looked up suddenly and noticed Anson lying on the pillow, staring at the ceiling, clearly unable to see his nod. No wonder there had been no reply.

“Okay. I understand,” Sean finally spoke, realizing how hoarse his voice had become.

This time, Anson lifted his head slightly. “Sean, did you notice anything after the accident?”

Sean was about to repeat the series of events once more—he had done it countless times already, so one more time wouldn’t hurt.

But Anson interrupted him.

“Not the events themselves—what happened afterward?”

“I’m sure you’ve gone over the accident a million times already. Repeating it over and over doesn’t help. You might even start missing details because of how mechanical the retelling has become.”

“I’m asking about after the accident.”

“I know it must have been chaotic, everyone rushing toward me, the whole crew swarming around. You must have been terrified too.”

“But at that moment, did you notice anyone running in the opposite direction?”

“When everyone was rushing toward me, was anyone trying to leave the scene? Usually, even if someone’s calling 911 or looking for help, their first instinct is to come closer and check. Only one person would try to leave the scene.”

Sean slowly began to understand.

This was the real reason for Anson’s conversation—not just Lucas or Nora. Anson himself had been trying to recall details of the incident, to figure out who was truly responsible for it. He needed Sean to access his subconscious memories.

But the issue was, after the accident, Sean’s attention had also been focused on Anson. How could he have had time to notice anything else?

“You mentioned that the blinding flash of a camera caused you to close your eyes, which triggered a series of chain reactions. That means the flash was directly in your line of sight. If it were off to the side, the effect wouldn’t have been the same.”

“So, in that direction, did your peripheral vision catch any figure standing out from the crowd—someone different from the others?”

“I know your focus wasn’t on that, but the human brain is amazing. Those images are imprinted deep in your subconscious, even if you didn’t realize you saw them.”

“Our eyes and minds are better than any camera in the world, recording everything in vivid detail.”

“Now, close your eyes. Let’s recreate the scene bit by bit and piece together what happened after.”

Sean took a deep breath, calming himself. He knew this was his chance—his opportunity for redemption. He needed to concentrate fully.

With Anson’s guidance, it didn’t seem that difficult.

Those memories, like scattered pieces of a puzzle hidden deep in his mind, began to reassemble. Sean hadn’t even been aware of their existence, but now, slowly, they came back to life, vividly painting the whole picture—

“I’ve got it! I see it!”

Sean gasped, hardly able to believe it.

...

*Breaking News:*

Anson Wood was injured during filming for “Spider-Man 2” on set in New Jersey.

According to the production’s official spokesperson, Anson is currently resting per doctor’s orders, and the extent of his injuries is awaiting further medical evaluation. However, Anson is reportedly in good spirits and looking forward to returning to the set.

Boom. A bombshell exploded across North America.

The first exclusive report came from The New York Times, as usual.

At first glance, the situation didn’t seem too serious. But on closer inspection, the vagueness in the official statement, coupled with the tight security surrounding the set after the accident, left reporters feeling something wasn’t right.

Could the situation be worse than expected?

The Spider-Man 2 production and Sony-Columbia seemed to be in damage control mode.

That thought took root in journalists’ minds, and soon, they couldn’t contain themselves.

As time passed, the media fully exercised its abilities, infiltrating the hospital, and a flood of reports spread everywhere.

And the rumors became increasingly outlandish.

First, they said Anson was faking his injury, throwing a tantrum on set and using his injury to threaten the production.

Then, they claimed Anson was on the brink of death, with doctors saying the next 48 hours were critical, and his life was hanging by a thread.

Next, rumors spread that Anson was paralyzed, worse off than Christopher Reeve, and might never walk again.

And then, some said it was all a publicity stunt—a scheme by Anson and Sony-Columbia to boost hype for Spider-Man 2.

At first, netizens fiercely debated the rumors, with supporters, detractors, conspiracy theorists, and die-hard fans arguing non-stop. But soon enough, they realized the absurdity of it all. Each side had a different story, and the likelihood of everything being made up was incredibly high.

This kind of media frenzy was a rare spectacle, especially in 2003.

*Chapter 1019: Ghosts and Demons*

Ghosts and demons, a chaotic dance of spirits.

In 2003, all sorts of fabricated news stories were flying around, just like the on-again, off-again relationship between Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, where every move could easily capture the public's attention. It was as if the entire country was part of a celebratory frenzy.

This phenomenon was new, and in itself, became a topic of discussion.

However, unlike the all-out chaos of the social media era, this was still the age of online forums. The general public's level of engagement wasn't as strong, and the confusion and impact brought by real-time updates weren't as overwhelming. There was even a sense of disconnect between different age groups.

Still, whether they admitted it or not, people couldn't help but pay attention whenever a piece of gossip emerged, eager to see what the truth might be.

So, was this considered the biggest event of the year?

To conspiracy theorists, the biggest beneficiary of the whole affair was Sony Columbia. Regardless of the severity of Anson's injury, Spider-Man 2 had already garnered enough attention.

If Anson recovered and returned to the set, the movie would surely be met with applause, and by the time it released next year, it would already have a guaranteed wave of attention.

If Anson didn’t recover, the worse his injury, the more benefit it would bring, as people would go to theaters with sympathy and even memorial sentiments.

This was later proven with Fast & Furious 7. Despite the series' growing global popularity, it still couldn't shake off its B-movie roots, and its box office performance hadn't yet reached a transformative level.

However, Paul Walker's death unexpectedly became a turning point. Universal Pictures and lead actor Vin Diesel exploited the emotional aspect, pulling off a brilliant PR campaign. Even people who hadn't been interested in the series found themselves in theaters—immersed in nostalgia that never even existed.

In the end, Fast & Furious 7 grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide, marking the first time the series crossed the billion-dollar mark.

The true essence of "entertainment to the death" lies in the fact that even "death" can become a form of entertainment.

The same could be said for Anson now.

It might sound unbelievable, but some people, with a cold detachment, were joking, "If Anson really dies, Sony Columbia will be laughing all the way to the bank."

It wasn’t just jokes. They didn’t care about Anson’s condition, life, or death; instead, they began cursing his life, eagerly speculating about what might happen at his funeral, and how Spider-Man 2 would play out—turning a tragic accident into entertainment.

There were even people in Las Vegas placing underground bets on Anson’s condition: Is he alive or dead? How serious were his injuries?

Do they care about Anson?

No, they don’t. There are so many actors in Hollywood; adding one more or losing one doesn’t make a difference. Rather than worrying about actors, they care more about the entertainment value these circus acts bring and the money flowing into their own pockets.

In any case, no matter what happens, Sony Columbia wins.

And that’s why the conspiracy theory has such strong support.

But what was really happening inside Sony Columbia?

The atmosphere in the conference room was quiet—an almost suffocating silence. Five people sat around the table, but no one spoke or exchanged glances. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts, letting the silence spread.

Sam Raimi wanted to die. He really, really didn’t like this atmosphere. If he could, he’d leave right now and go home.

But he couldn’t.

So, Sam just sat there obediently, staring at the table and fidgeting with his fingers.

For a moment, he hesitated, wondering if he should break the silence and stand up for Anson. But a glance around the room reminded him that all the others were producers and executives. It wasn’t his place to speak. Better to wait for the right moment to make his point.

So, Sam fell silent again.

Ian Bryce noticed this and smiled.

As a producer, Ian had been one of the casting directors for the lead role, personally selecting Anson from many candidates.

So now, speaking up for Anson was well within his rights.

At that moment, they were discussing Anson’s future. Specifically, with Anson’s unexpected injury and the uncertain recovery time, should they wait or replace the lead actor?

Anson: ???

To the public, it seemed Sony Columbia was the big winner. Whatever happened, they appeared to be in a strong position. But the reality was different—Sony Columbia had a different perspective.

While the public leaned on conspiracy theories, Sony Columbia treated the situation as a serious crisis that wasn’t taken lightly.

Since Sam remained quiet as usual, Ian didn’t hesitate to speak up.

“I think we should wait for Anson…”

The sound broke the silence in the conference room, feeling slightly abrupt. But before Ian could finish, another voice rudely interrupted.

“Wait? Do you know the cost of waiting?”

The speaker was a refined middle-aged man with neatly trimmed short hair touched with a bit of gray. Despite the stubble on his face, he didn’t look unkempt. Instead, he exuded a mature charm, with a slim face that always carried a faint smile.

If you judged him by his appearance and assumed he was harmless because of that smile, you’d end up being metaphorically devoured—bones and all.

Otherwise, how could he have become the CEO of Sony Columbia?

Michael Lynton lightly shook his chin, as if Ian had just said something amusing.

“We’ve already delayed filming because of Anson. It was hard enough to move up the schedule and finally feel a bit at ease, but now we’re going to delay again because of him?”

“Making a movie isn’t child’s play. You can’t run it like a circus.”

“Everyone here knows that once production starts, every day of delay costs us. If we keep waiting, our production costs could increase by millions. Believe me, we can’t afford any more delays.”

To an outsider, this might sound like Anson was at fault. But Ian wasn’t fooled by a few words—he knew better.

The original plan was for Spider-Man 2 to start shooting in January. The set construction had already begun in October of the previous year.

However, because Catch Me If You Can became a hit, salary negotiations dragged on. Anson eventually took on Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, filling up his schedule. A series of events followed, and Spider-Man 2 was delayed by a full five months.

This was the real point of Michael Lynton’s argument.

*Chapter 1020: Iceberg Crisis*

The atmosphere was tense.

As soon as someone spoke, the air was charged with a combative energy, moving straight into a standoff without pause.

Ian said, “The delay at the start of the year—everyone here knows exactly what happened. Anson took on another project when negotiations weren't progressing. I don’t think we can blame him for that.”

Michael wasn’t buying it. “He’s also responsible for the delay in salary negotiations. Why shouldn’t he be blamed?”

Ian replied, “Negotiations are always a back-and-forth. If you didn’t like it, you could have chosen not to renew the contract. Renewing it meant both sides reached an agreement. Now, trying to bring up old issues due to unexpected circumstances lacks professionalism.”

Michael leaned forward slightly, ready to respond, but was interrupted by another voice. "I agree. I don't think Anson did anything wrong."

It was Amy Pascal, another CEO of Sony Columbia Pictures.

Her shoulder-length blonde hair curled slightly, giving her a warm and gentle look. But there was no smile on her thin face. Instead, she was on full alert, like a lioness protecting her cubs, with her brows deeply furrowed, showing her seriousness.

“Also, I believe Anson is the only choice for Peter Parker. I believe we completed an outstanding negotiation to keep him.”

Amy was standing up for Anson.

Michael glanced over, “The only choice? No. In Hollywood, no one is irreplaceable.”

“We can replace Peter Parker anytime because we own the rights. People come to the theaters for Spider-Man, not for Anson Wood. Even if we cast an unknown actor as Peter Parker, the movie would still succeed.”

“It’s not us who should be grateful to Anson Wood; it's Anson Wood who should be grateful to us for giving him this opportunity.”

Michael chuckled softly, clearly feeling confident.

Amy's expression remained stern. “Warner Bros. once thought the same. Look how Batman turned out.”

Before Marvel's comics were adapted into films, DC had a long history of successful adaptations, with Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman achieving considerable success on the big screen.

In 1989, Tim Burton directed "Batman," with Michael Keaton as the lead. The movie was a massive success. Burton and Keaton teamed up again for "Batman Returns." Though it didn’t match the box office numbers of the first film, it was still a hit.

At that time, Burton's dark, gothic style faced heavy criticism. Warner Bros. believed this approach wasn’t suitable for the family and kids’ market and wouldn’t help with toy sales. After creative differences arose, they ousted Burton.

Upon learning this, Keaton reviewed the new script and the studio’s direction. He sided with Burton and also left. Warner Bros. then reshuffled the entire project.

In 1995, Joel Schumacher directed "Batman Forever," with Val Kilmer taking over the role. While it didn’t outperform the original "Batman," it did better than "Batman Returns" and was considered by many to be the best of the series.

However, during the production of the next sequel, tensions rose between Schumacher and Kilmer. The director wasn’t happy with Kilmer’s attitude, while Kilmer, feeling irreplaceable after the film’s success, became difficult to work with. The conflict led Warner Bros. to choose the director over the actor, and they replaced Kilmer as Batman.

Enter George Clooney, who, after gaining fame for his role as a sexy doctor in the series "ER," took on his first major film role as Batman in "Batman & Robin."

The result? A total disaster. The film bombed at the box office and with critics, receiving widespread scorn. Not only did Warner Bros. suffer significant losses, but the Batman brand itself was damaged to the point where Warner Bros. shelved DC adaptations for years—leaving room for Marvel to step in with "X-Men," "Spider-Man," and "Hulk."

In the present, Michael Lynton’s thinking mirrored Warner Bros.' approach, and Amy was pointing out the consequences they had faced.

Michael disagreed. “No, Batman was still successful. Val Kilmer’s version was the best. It proves that no actor is irreplaceable.”

Amy responded, “Yes, success followed by failure, and we kept shuffling things around until the brand was destroyed. There was no reason to continue managing it.”

Michael replied, “That’s exactly my point. We shouldn’t bet everything on Spider-Man. We need to diversify.”

Amy countered, “But we have an opportunity right in front of us. Why would we ignore it and ruin everything that’s already set up?”

Michael retorted, “Because Anson is the one dragging us into this mess. He’s the iceberg sinking the ship.”

Amy said, “You know that incident wasn’t Anson’s fault. He’s the victim. Before the accident, the production was moving ahead of schedule, far exceeding expectations.”

Michael shrugged. “It’s unfortunate, but he’s unable to continue, right? We have to deal with the reality. Look, we’re stuck now.”

“On one hand, the longer we wait, the more costs pile up. We’ve already written a check for $180 million. Do we really want to push it further, like 'Titanic'?”

Amy was about to respond, but Michael cut her off.

“On the other hand, sure, we wait. We give Anson a chance. But at what cost? Six weeks?”

Ian corrected, “Three to six weeks.”

Michael shrugged again. “We have to plan for the worst. That means we might not even get a healthy Anson in six weeks. Maybe eight? That’s two months.”

“We’ve already delayed five months—I don’t care why or what happened before,” Michael said, cutting off Ian, who was about to speak. “The point is, the production was supposed to start in January, but it’s dragged into June. Now, with this delay, it might push to August.”

“So, where does that leave us? We’re all professionals here. Do I need to explain the details? We want this movie out by next summer, but this delay could cause us to miss the release window. The worst case is we’re pushed to summer 2005.”

“And hey, that means even more costs. By then, $200 million might not be enough.”

“I know the first film was a huge success, but the second one has to reach the same level to justify a $200 million budget. Otherwise, we could end up like the real Titanic, dragged down by the iceberg—Anson.”

“Anson was an accident. So was the iceberg.”

“I’m not blaming the accident, but here’s the point: we can see the iceberg now. Are we going to steer clear of it?”