Martin picked up the script on the table.
It was the script for the second installment of the "New Batman" series, The Dark Knight.
Although he had written the script himself, he still had to delve into the character.
The Joker!
This character, already immortalized by that old bastard Jack Nicholson, was no easy feat to surpass. To make it stand out even more, to truly surpass him, was no simple task.
Honestly, in the original timeline, while Heath Ledger's performance was brilliant, to say it surpassed Jack Nicholson's would be an overstatement.
If he hadn't died, Ledger's Joker wouldn't have been elevated to the legendary heights people claim it reached.
In Martin's eyes, however, there was one actor in Hollywood who was perfectly suited for the Joker: Jim Carrey.
He had played the Riddler in Batman Forever (1995).
Though the film flopped at the box office, Carrey's performance was the standout.
Later, when Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix portrayed the Joker, their intense immersion into the madness, the almost grotesque manipulation of facial expressions, was directly influenced by Carrey's interpretation of the Riddler.
This guy was able to manipulate his face and body with complete abandon, using nearly deranged expressions and movements, pushing the boundaries of what audiences expected from a performance.
And wasn't that the perfect style for a character as wildly chaotic as the Joker?
Moreover, the Joker was the embodiment of the idea that "comedy is tragedy in disguise."
Of course, Martin wasn't about to let Jim Carrey take this role.
Because he was confident. Confident that he could bring this character to life in a way that would surpass all expectations.
He was a succubus, after all.
Buzz... buzz...
His phone on the table vibrated.
Looking at the caller ID, Martin saw it was that old bastard Jack Nicholson.
He answered.
A smug laugh came through the receiver.
"Heh heh, I hear you're playing the Joker, huh? Need me to give you some acting tips?"
Even through the radio signal, Martin could sense the smugness in the old man's voice.
So this old man thought no one could surpass him, huh?
Martin calmly replied, "No need. After I finish this movie, people will forget all about your Joker."
"That confident, huh?" Nicholson sounded surprised.
"It's not confidence. I'm just describing something that's bound to happen. I'm very calm about it," Martin replied coolly.
Nicholson wasn't happy. The Joker was only the second most satisfying role he'd ever played (the first being Jack Nicholson's portrayal of McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest), but he truly believed no one could surpass him in the role.
Not because of media hype, but because the Joker was truly the pinnacle of his acting career.
Although he admitted Martin was a genius—writing, acting, music, and even fighting—Nicholson didn't believe that Martin could surpass him in acting.
Because, after all, he too was an acting genius!
"I don't believe it, heh heh, you're just talking big! How about a bet? If your Joker truly surpasses mine, I'll throw three parties to celebrate your victory. If you fail, you'll throw the party—best food, best drinks, best theme, best women. What do you say?"
A calm voice from the other end answered, "Sure, sounds good."
"Heh, it's settled then! You'd better get ready to pay up, kid!"
Nicholson confidently hung up the phone.
...
In truth, Christopher Nolan had some doubts about Martin playing the Joker.
Although Martin had played many roles since his debut, he had never portrayed such an evil, mad, and philosophically complex character.
Even though the script was written by Martin himself.
Even though Martin had shaped the Joker into such a layered character.
Nolan couldn't be certain that Martin could truly pull it off.
Of course, Nolan hadn't voiced his doubts to Warner Brothers.
He was a smart man and knew that if he questioned Martin, the one to get replaced wouldn't be Martin.
So now, he could only pray that Martin would find the right state of mind for the role, and also be ready to help Martin become the Joker during filming.
But, he clearly underestimated Martin.
When he saw Martin again, it was on set.
"Holy shit!"
Not just Nolan, but the entire crew stared in shock at the thin, melancholic, yet somehow manic man standing before them.
This… was Martin???
The tall, strong, handsome, and sunny Martin?
"Hello, everyone!"
Martin greeted them softly, a twisted, almost psychotic smile tugging at his lips.
Several people involuntarily shivered!
No—this was... the Joker!
"Goddamn, that's the Joker!" Even the composed Nolan couldn't help but curse.
It seemed Martin hadn't noticed the strange stares, walking over to a long bench where two crew members were sitting. He smiled and gently said, "Hey, that's my seat."
The two crew members were so terrified by his eerie smile that their scalps went numb, quickly vacating the spot.
Martin casually turned around, sitting in a bizarre, entirely uncharacteristic pose—arms spread across the backrest, legs crossed in a relaxed manner.
Then, suddenly, he grinned wide.
"Heh heh heh heh..."
The laugh was soft, yet it somehow felt incredibly unsettling, and the upward curve of his lips exuded cruelty and madness—like a freak.
The entire crew fell into a strange silence, staring at Martin in stunned disbelief.
Jonathan Nolan, who had been about to greet Martin, found his feet glued to the floor, too scared to move.
It was terrifying!!!
Was he... playing himself?
Many on set thought the same.
Martin unleashed the full allure of his succubus-like aura, pulling everyone into the atmosphere he had created.
It was magnificent!
Suddenly, an excited voice broke the silence.
"Hurry, hurry, get him in makeup, get the Joker makeup on him!"
It was Nolan. After seeing Martin, his mind was buzzing with inspiration. Now he finally understood why Martin had set up the script this way—because...
The Dark Knight wasn't some story of justice defeating evil—it was a two-hero movie!
The Joker wasn't just a sidekick to Batman—he was a co-lead, and arguably the more compelling one.
Goddamn, this sly son of a bitch!
But well done!
This movie was going to be a classic in film history.
Damn, I'm so lucky—lucky to meet Martin, lucky to work with his script, lucky to see his Joker... damn, damn, damn...