Having accepted Warner Bros.' invitation, Murphy certainly wouldn't miss the North American premiere of "Batman v Superman," held in New York. Since the disagreement with Warner Bros. over remuneration, Murphy knew Zack Snyder was chosen to helm the DC series but hadn't followed up much. Hearing Warner Bros. chose "Batman v Superman," he sighed inwardly, recognizing they stubbornly returned to their old ways.
Murphy couldn't understand why DC, starting almost simultaneously with Marvel, felt the need to rush. Perhaps Warner Bros. and DC Comics wanted to prove they could achieve unparalleled success without Murphy Stanton.
This was mere speculation on Murphy's part and not definitive, but Warner Bros. and DC Comics abandoning his step-by-step plan was a fact.
Busy with the Oscars and then preparing a new project, Murphy didn't attend the "Batman v Superman" screening. However, initial reports suggested the screening had received positive feedback. Rotten Tomatoes had a 100% fresh rating, all seven participating media outlets gave positive reviews, and IMDb had a temporary score of 9.4.
Warner Bros. even touted the film as having zero negative reviews.
All this was eerily reminiscent of the situation before the release of the previous "Batman v Superman" film Murphy remembered. The pre-release hype was phenomenal, with fans giving zero negative reviews during screenings. But the outcome?
Before heading to the Lincoln Center, Murphy watched the trailer for "Batman v Superman." Influenced by his involvement, the film bore Zack Snyder's typical style. Despite lacking Wonder Woman, resulting in many changes, Snyder's deep-rooted personal style was unmistakable.
For hardcore comic fans, Snyder was always the best adaptation director, but for casual viewers, his adaptations were less friendly.
Upon arriving at the Lincoln Center, Murphy walked the red carpet. The premiere was grand, with an electric atmosphere. After all, it was a movie featuring Superman and Batman, naturally drawing attention.
Knowing he wasn't the main attraction tonight, Murphy quickly walked the carpet and saw Chris Evans and Ben Affleck, reprising their roles as Superman and Batman.
Before entering the theater, Murphy had to pass through the media zone set up in front, where reporters wouldn't miss a chance to question him.
A reporter shouted, "Director Stanton, why did you leave the DC superhero series?"
Murphy shrugged slightly, "I had other films to make."
Another reporter asked, "What do you think about Zack Snyder taking over the series?"
"Zack Snyder is a great director," Murphy replied diplomatically. "I'm sure he'll deliver an exciting superhero film."
Ignoring further questions, he headed toward the theater. Just before reaching the entrance, he heard the clicking of high heels behind him, someone seemingly hurrying to catch up.
"Hey, Murphy."
Recognizing the familiar voice, Murphy turned to see Margot Robbie in a yellow evening dress approaching.
As a friend and close confidante of Gal Gadot, Murphy nodded and smiled, "Didn't expect to see you here, Margot."
Linking her arm with Murphy's, Margot Robbie explained, "Didn't you hear? Warner Bros. and DC are planning to greenlight 'Suicide Squad.'"
"Interested in the project?" Murphy immediately understood her implication.
"Yes," Margot Robbie nodded. "My agent suggested I go for the role of Harley Quinn."
Murphy glanced at her, "You'd be perfect for it."
Entering the theater foyer, Margot Robbie suddenly remembered to ask, "Is Gal back yet?"
"She came back briefly in February but returned," Murphy said briefly. "She has family matters to deal with and will be in Israel for a while."
Margot Robbie, aware of Gal Gadot's situation, asked, "Not her parents trying to keep her in Tel Aviv?"
"No," Murphy shook his head, "Business matters."
As they conversed, Bruce Rosenblum, Warner Bros.' CEO, approached and greeted Murphy, "Hello, Murphy. Long time no see."
"Hello, Bruce," Murphy shook his hand. "Indeed, it's been a while."
Thinking of Margot Robbie's ambition to play Harley Quinn, Murphy introduced her, "This is my friend, Margot Robbie."
"Hello, Miss Robbie," Bruce Rosenblum shook her hand lightly. "Your performance as Sansa Stark was impressive."
Margot Robbie feigned surprise, "Thank you. It's an honor that you watched the show."
Rosenblum, courteous due to Murphy, turned back to him, "Your 'Man of Steel' set a great precedent for us. Zack Snyder's film nearly seamlessly follows it."
"Really?" Murphy replied nonchalantly. "I'll be sure to watch it closely."
"Feel free to watch it as many times as you like," Rosenblum said proudly. "Warner Bros. can give you free tickets."
Murphy shook his head, "That won't be necessary."
Rosenblum pointed to the theater entrance, "I have others to greet. Enjoy."
Seeing Murphy nod, he turned to leave, glancing back to see Murphy chatting with Margot Robbie, feeling somewhat disappointed.
Warner Bros. initially wanted Murphy Stanton as their partner, but his asking price was too high—25% of total film revenue. That was exorbitant, nearly half the profits. No one in Hollywood would pay such a high price for a director. So, they opted for a cheaper alternative, Zack Snyder, whose style closely resembled Murphy's.
So far, Snyder had done well. Warner Bros. had a test screening with nearly a thousand die-hard DC fans, receiving no negative feedback, raising high expectations for "Batman v Superman."
If successful, the film could pull the entire DC superhero series out of Murphy Stanton and "Man of Steel"'s shadow, proving their choice right.
As long as the film exploded at the box office and received praise, it wouldn't be an issue.
After greeting familiar faces, Murphy entered the theater, with Margot Robbie following. She even swapped seats to sit next to him.
"Murphy."
Before the film started, Margot Robbie asked, "What do you think of the film?"
"How would I know?" Murphy spread his hands. "I didn't attend Warner Bros.' screening. How could I know if it's good or bad without watching?"
Margot Robbie shrugged, "I thought you had seen it."
Soon, the movie began. Like in his memory, it opened from Batman's perspective, relegating Superman to a supporting role. This wasn't inherently a problem, but after watching for a while, Murphy could only shake his head.
"Batman v Superman" wasn't a bad film, far from a Hollywood disaster. However, like its predecessor, Snyder's version was a film for DC comic fans.
It wasn't a mainstream, diverse commercial film, nor an accessible one. Despite cuts, it was still overloaded with information. Even Murphy, somewhat familiar with the comics, found himself confused at times.
Films are inherently subjective. Snyder always had his distinct style, which die-hard fans might find perfect, capturing the dark tones just right.
But as an early installment laying the foundation for a series, shouldn't it aim to attract new fans rather than only please existing ones?
Moreover, the film's pace was too slow and its plot too lengthy. In today's fast-paced world, this nearly guarantees many viewers will find it hard to accept.
"Pff..."
As the final battle between Batman and Superman unfolded, Margot Robbie couldn't hold back her laughter. Soon, exaggerated laughter echoed throughout the theater.
In such a dark, serious film with no comedic elements, causing laughter meant something was seriously wrong.
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