Easy Money

March 2012

First Look at Batman Begins: Jensen Ackles' Batman and Liam Neeson's Ra's al Ghul Spotted in Iceland

Batman Begins has officially kicked off principal photography this month, with the first location being the breathtaking yet punishing landscape of Iceland's Vatnajökull Glacier. The production has reportedly been grueling due to the harsh weather conditions.

Leaked photos have surfaced, offering an exciting glimpse of Jensen Ackles as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Liam Neeson as Ra's al Ghul. While plot details for Batman Begins remain scarce, these images provide plenty of material for speculation about what Gotham's Dark Knight might face in this new adaptation.

Let's break down the images:

[Jensen Ackles and Liam Neeson Standing on a Frozen Lake with Swords in Hand]

The first image shows Ackles and Neeson standing on what appears to be a frozen lake, both gripping swords, poised as if ready to duel. Could this be a training sequence between Bruce Wayne and Ra's al Ghul? From what we know so far, Ra's is portrayed as Bruce's mentor before becoming his adversary.

[Jensen Walking Alone on a Mountain]

In the second leaked photo, Ackles is seen trekking alone across a snowy mountain, looking worn and cold.

[Bhutanese Building Sets]

The third photo gives us a glimpse of intricate Bhutanese-style buildings constructed amidst the icy landscape. It seems Iceland is doubling as Bhutan, suggesting that the early part of the movie might depict Bruce's time in Bhutan.

[Christopher Nolan Directing Jensen and Liam]

Acclaimed director Christopher Nolan is seen in action, giving instructions to both Jensen Ackles and Liam Neeson.

[Daniel Adler Looking Miserable in the Cold]

Somebody please get Adler out of there—he looks like he's about to freeze to death!If these early shots are any indication, this could be the Batman movie fans have been waiting for years.

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I put my phone down, still chuckling at the photo of me freezing in Iceland. Thank God I was only there for a week. The crew had one more week of shooting left in the icy wilderness before production shifted primarily to the UK, and eventually, back to the States.

"Daniel," Sam called, pulling my attention back to the present. "It's time."

I nodded and slid my phone into my pocket. We were in a conference room, gathered with key development executives to discuss the upcoming adaptation of Stephen King's 'It'. I had secured the rights, and the studio was eager to get moving on the project.

Sam leaned forward, flipping through some notes. "We've been tossing around a few names for directors," he said, his voice carrying across the room. "Any thoughts?"

One of the members at the table, a man in his late 40s, chimed in, "We've had some interest from Cary Fukunaga."

Another voice, from the far end of the table, added, "A majority of us are leaning toward someone like James Wan or Neil Marshall. They've got proven track records with films in this genre."

I nodded, appreciating the input but feeling like we hadn't quite hit the mark yet. "Any interest from Guillermo del Toro?" I asked, knowing his touch could bring something special to a movie like 'It'.

"Too busy with his new project," came the reply from another exec, a tinge of disappointment in his voice.

"Damn," I muttered under my breath. Del Toro would've been perfect.

"Alright, let's put a pin in that for now," Sam said, steering the conversation forward. "What about casting for Pennywise? Any ideas?"

"Well, for Pennywise, we're thinking someone like Willem Dafoe," a casting director offered, earning nods from a few people around the table.

I leaned forward, deciding to throw in my own suggestion. "I'd like to add a name to the mix," I said, my tone thoughtful but certain.

"Who, Mr. Adler?" Jessica from casting asked, her pen poised over her notepad.

"Bill Skarsgård," I said, watching as a few puzzled looks spread across the room. They clearly didn't recognize the name.

"Who's that?" someone asked, leaning forward.

"He's Stellan Skarsgård's son," I clarified. "I recently watched one of his films, and I think he could be great for Pennywise. He's got that unique look, and there's something offbeat about him. He'd bring something different to the role."

The room remained quiet for a moment. The name was unfamiliar, but Jessica dutifully wrote it down. There were murmurs of acknowledgment, but the sense was clear: they weren't convinced yet.

The discussion continued, covering more details about the adaptation. Eventually, Sam leaned back in his chair, glancing around the room. "Alright, I think we've made some solid decisions here. We'll keep pushing forward on this."

With that, the meeting was adjourned. I had planted the seed for Bill, and now it was just a matter of seeing where things would go.

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As everyone left the room, I asked Sam to stay behind for a private conversation. He paused by the door, glancing at me curiously before nodding and taking a seat again.

"I wanted to ask you about the book I sent you last month," I said.

Sam's eyes lit up in recognition. "Ah, 'The Revenant', right?"

I nodded. "That's the one."

Sam exhaled, looking thoughtful. "I've got to be honest, Daniel. We took a look at the numbers, and it doesn't look financially plausible. A survival drama in the wilderness? That's going to be a hard sell at the box office."

I didn't hesitate, leaning forward, speaking with quiet confidence. "Look, I know it's not your typical blockbuster, but this isn't about immediate commercial appeal. This is a prestige project. We need to treat it like '12 Angry Men'—something we can push for Oscars."

Sam didn't seem entirely convinced, his face still reflecting doubt.

"I had Leonardo DiCaprio in mind while writing it," I continued. "He's perfect for the lead role. It's the kind of role that could finally get him his first, oh-so-elusive Oscar."

Sam raised an eyebrow, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Leo, huh? That's a pretty bold pitch. He's expensive."

"I know," I said, undeterred. "But think about what this could do for us. The Academy's going to eat up a movie like this. We could be the studio that finally gets Leonardo DiCaprio his first Oscar. That kind of headline? Invaluable press."

Sam leaned back, the room quiet for a moment as he weighed the risks and rewards.

"Alright," Sam said finally. "Let's pursue it, but slowly. We've got other projects that need more oversight for now."

I allowed myself a small smile. "That's all I ask." Then, shifting slightly, I added, "There's another thing, as well."

Sam raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"I'll be working for Universal on a movie," I said, watching as Sam's curiosity piqued immediately.

"Universal? For what?" he asked, leaning forward slightly.

"You know 'The Fast and the Furious' franchise? They want me to write the fifth movie."

Sam sat back, absorbing the news. I could tell he was processing the implications.

"Is that going to ruffle any feathers here?" I asked.

Sam shook his head thoughtfully. "If it had been an original project, then maybe. But since it's an existing franchise, you won't get much flack. Just be mindful of scheduling conflicts."

"Right," I said, relieved. "I'll make sure it doesn't interfere with anything here."

Sam gave me a half-smile. "Let's just hope any movies you do outside don't end up competing with ours at the box office."

I nodded, standing up. "Well, I have to go meet with them now. See you next week, Sam."

"Good luck," Sam said, watching me as I walked out of the room.

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I stared out the window of the moving car, watching as the Los Angeles streets blurred past. My destination? Vin Diesel's house.

Justin Lin had asked me to write the script for 'Fast 5', an offer I'd immediately accepted. After all, it was the easiest money I'd ever make—just copy the movie as I remembered it. No changes necessary. If things went well, maybe they'd keep me on until the tenth movie.

I smiled to myself, thinking about milking this franchise for as long as I could.

The car slowed down, pulling up to Vin Diesel's driveway. It was a nice place—impressive, but not obnoxious. The driver stepped out first, circling around to open the door for me. As I stepped out, I adjusted my jacket, taking in the sight of the house.

A man, who introduced himself as Smith, was waiting for me by the entrance. "Right this way, Mr. Adler," he said, leading me inside.

The living room was modern, sleek. Large glass windows filled the space with natural light and offered an impressive view of the lush greenery outside. The furniture was minimalist but luxurious—dark leather couches, a stone coffee table, and some tasteful artwork lining the walls.

As I stepped further inside, I saw Justin Lin and Vin Diesel, both sitting comfortably on one of the couches, drinks in hand. But what caught me off guard was seeing Paul Walker sitting next to them, laughing about something. It was surreal seeing him there, knowing what the future held.

I pushed the thought aside, focusing on the present.

Justin spotted me first and waved me over. "Daniel! Come on in, we were just talking about you."

Vin looked incredibly happy to see me, his grin wide as he stood up from the couch. Justin Lin was smiling ear to ear, clearly pleased as well.

"Welcome, Daniel," Vin said, extending his hand with enthusiasm.

I smiled and shook hands with Vin first, his grip firm, followed by Justin, who gave me a strong handshake paired with a nod of approval. Paul Walker, who was more laid-back, offered a polite but warm handshake, his smile sincere.

"From your reaction, it seems like you liked my treatment for the movie," I said, trying to keep things casual.

Justin sat forward, shaking his head with an incredulous grin. "Daniel, that wasn't just a treatment—that was basically part of the script. It's damn near ready."

Vin clapped me on the shoulder, clearly impressed. "How the hell did you manage that in just a month?"

I stayed modest, shrugging slightly. "Well, it's not finished yet…"

"But it's almost finished," Paul chimed in, leaning back on the couch with a smile. "It's great, man. I can already tell we're gonna have some fun filming this."

"You're goddamn right we are!" Vin exclaimed, looking thrilled.

"We want you in for the long haul, Daniel. Hell, you can write 'Fast 6' now too if you're up for it," Justin said.

Vin suddenly pulled out his phone, already typing something. "But first, I gotta get a picture with you, man. This is a moment," he said, chuckling. "I'm gonna post it on Facebook."

I laughed. "Sure, let's do it." We all gathered together for the picture.

After the picture, Vin extended his hand again. I shook it firmly, meeting his gaze.

"Welcome to the family," Vin said, his deep voice carrying weight.

'He said the thing!' I thought. I barely managed to hold back the laughter threatening to break free, thinking about the memes.