Ethan was currently reviewing materials for the selection of the next film director.
The next superhero-themed movie would be about David, a World War II soldier in the SuperCyc Universe.
The overall tone of this film was somewhat heavy, serious, and carried reflections on the Cold War era.
It was not an easy movie to make.
Within the company, Greta was more focused on female-centric themes. She excelled at integrating feminist consciousness into films and character development, making war films unsuitable for her.
James Wan was even less of a fit. His strength lay not in this kind of black comedy with a cold and self-deprecating tone, but in creating suspense and plot twists.
Simply put, Ethan needed to find a director with a unique artistic sensibility, someone who could take a simple story and tell it in a complex and profound way.
If he weren't already responsible for directing the more challenging Black superhero movie, he would have loved to take on this type of film himself.
Fortunately, he quickly thought of Watchmen, which had a similar tone.
Zack Snyder—this director and that film truly complemented each other perfectly.
Ethan contacted the director directly and met with him a few days later.
It had to be said that Zack Snyder was among the more handsome directors in Hollywood. Even if he were to become an actor, it wouldn't feel out of place at all.
Of course, compared to Ethan, he was still a bit behind.
When he saw Ethan, Zack looked somewhat surprised. "Ethan, I didn't expect you to want me to direct the new movie."
"That's right. So, what do you think? Interested?" The allure of Norton's Eye within the industry was considerable.
Everyone knew that the founder of this company was a renowned Hollywood director himself. Moreover, Norton's Eye was famous for granting directors complete creative freedom.
James Wan and Greta, who were originally obscure figures, had turned into billion-dollar directors within just a few years at this company—something truly astonishing.
Many speculated that the company had some kind of training system, or that Ethan had a unique method for nurturing directors, allowing those two to rise to such prominence.
However, since they had never worked at Norton's Eye, these rumors remained unverified.
In reality, Ethan had indeed never stopped supporting new directors over the years.
He understood that good directors were the key to keeping a film company aligned with the times. Because of this, he specifically established a foundation to help young directors shoot their first commercial film.
To ensure there were no mishaps, he had even assigned Carl to handle this matter personally.
Zack Snyder had heard of these rumors, so he already had a favorable impression of Norton's Eye. Now, upon meeting Ethan in person, he felt even more valued.
"Dark style, cold humor… that reminds me of Watchmen. But aren't you afraid I'll lose money shooting it like that?" When discussing the film's style, Zack suddenly voiced his concern.
Although Watchmen was regarded as a masterpiece and a milestone in the superhero genre, it had also lost a significant amount of money.
With a production budget of $130 million, its final global box office earnings were only $180 million. It had almost wiped out the bottom line of Warner Bros., Paramount, and Legendary Pictures.
While editing issues played a part, it was undeniable that audiences remained very reserved towards such dark-themed films, preferring to buy DVDs rather than watching them in theaters.
Hearing this, Ethan simply smiled. "Of course, I'm afraid. That's why I chose an era with plenty of appeal."
"This film will bridge two eras: World War II and the Cold War. If audiences crave explosive action, the large-scale battles of WWII will satisfy them. If they seek introspective, self-aware reflection, the Cold War era will provide that."
Ethan elaborated on his vision for Zack Snyder. "Of course, I won't interfere with your creative process. I have only one request: Don't hold back. Especially in the war scenes—don't make them small-scale skirmishes."
Zack Snyder nodded. "I'll consider it. When would production start?"
"As soon as you finish your current project."
Snyder was currently directing Man of Steel. The film's box office success had redeemed Superman's cinematic reputation and set the stage for him to direct Justice League.
"Alright, I'll think about it. Honestly, I've been quite busy lately."
Snyder wasn't an overly prolific director and was very cautious when choosing projects.
However, Ethan's proposed story intrigued him. He enjoyed exploring the philosophies and motivations behind superheroes, and the Cold War theme ignited his creative passion.
Before long, Ethan received Snyder's confirmation.
With the right director in place, Ethan's next step was simple—finalizing the budget.
After careful calculations by the production team, the film was allocated a $100 million budget.
To break even, it would need to gross at least $300 million worldwide.
As long as Snyder didn't suddenly develop some inexplicable illness that made him turn the film into a disaster, this break-even target wasn't too daunting.
The demand for superhero films was at an all-time high, and the industry had fully entered the superhero blockbuster era.
This trend wouldn't fade for another decade.
With this project settled, Ethan moved on to another—the first Black superhero movie, focusing on Victor.
As previously agreed, Will Smith would play the lead role.
To prepare, Smith had to undergo intense weight loss training. Ethan refused to rely on CGI to depict his character's post-captivity state.
Smith himself insisted on this approach. Though it was a superhero film, he didn't want the performance to be shallow.
This film's budget was even higher—$200 million, on par with the Lucy sequel.
The studio's board of directors had concerns. Black-led films were not mainstream in the current market—especially in the superhero genre.
The superhero lineup thus far had been overwhelmingly white. The few Black characters present were mostly sidelined.
This wasn't due to a lack of Black superheroes in comics but rather an unspoken industry bias.
Hollywood's predominantly white upper echelon had long dismissed Black actors, occasionally allowing them to win awards but rarely giving them leading roles in major franchises.
But Black communities had been pushing back.
Resistance was happening every day. Most people simply chose to ignore it.
Yet conflicts never fade with time. If left unresolved, they only escalate—until they inevitably erupt into full-blown confrontation.
The Black community's fight for representation was about to intensify.
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