Chapter 266: Only the Most Shameless Can Survive

Like the previous promotional plans, the Super Bowl commercial still highlighted Deadpool as the main character. Since the Super Bowl would definitely be broadcast on public television, the commercial had to be appropriate in terms of both profanity and action scenes, requiring Murphy to choose his shots carefully during editing.

After the New Year, it wasn't until mid-January that Murphy completed the editing of the commercial. Then, a technical team from Weta Workshop was specially assigned to add special effects. The Super Bowl was scheduled for early February, so there was a bit of a time crunch. Fortunately, most of the special effects involved keying out green screens and adding processed real backgrounds, which wasn't too complicated. They managed to submit the commercial in time for the Super Bowl.

Securing a Super Bowl ad slot for a film with the investment scale of "Deadpool" was no easy feat, and Cara-Face made tremendous efforts for this.

Ever since "Independence Day" featured in the Super Bowl halftime commercial slot and achieved blockbuster sales, the Super Bowl halftime has become a routine promotional slot for Hollywood. Each year, the biggest and hottest blockbuster films often spend a huge amount of money on Super Bowl advertising.

Now, the advertising fee for the Super Bowl halftime slot is as high as $50,000 per second, meaning a 30-second movie ad could cost more than 1.5 million dollars.

Correspondingly, the Super Bowl ads boast unparalleled influence, whether it's online blogs, TV stations, outdoor advertising, or even the NBA Finals and the FIFA World Cup Final. The advertising effect achieved in North America is unmatched by any other event, with Super Bowl viewer numbers easily surpassing the 100 million mark. Interestingly, viewership peaks during the halftime break rather than the game itself.

Over the years, the Super Bowl has remained the highest-rated TV program in the U.S., evolving into an unofficial national holiday, far beyond just a game.

The high cost of advertising meant that Murphy had to produce the commercial meticulously.

When Super Bowl day arrived in February, as an unofficial traditional holiday, many companies offered a day off for their employees, and the "Deadpool" crew was no exception.

After announcing the end of work for the day, everyone could go home and tune in to the TV.

Murphy also returned to Santa Monica early, where Gal-Gadot, who had just resumed her afternoon classes, prepared lunch for him.

"Mmm, smells good."

Upon arriving home, he found Gal-Gadot setting the table in the main house's dining room. Murphy approached and took a sniff, "Corn chowder, with carrots added."

After setting the table, Gal-Gadot pushed him gently, "Go wash your hands first."

"I already did." Murphy showed his hands innocently. Gal-Gadot nodded, then sat down across from him, "Try it, not sure if it's to your taste."

Murphy tasted the corn chowder, broke off a piece of baguette, dipped it into the sauce, and nodded, "Not bad, much better than my cooking."

"Your cooking?" Gal-Gadot suddenly remembered the mornings with burnt eggs, afternoons with mushy potatoes stuck to the pot, and evenings with carbonized vegetables. "Dear, do you think what you make is edible? Can it even be called cooking?"

"I swear, Gal." Murphy swallowed his soup, earnestly saying, "I'm just not used to cooking methods here. Someday, I'll make you a lavish meal."

He did know how to cook a few Chinese dishes.

Gal-Gadot was utterly unconvinced, shaking her head, "Let's not, I don't trust your cooking skills. You lack talent in this area, plus you like using animal fats..."

Changing the subject, she said, "Let's eat quickly, then I'll walk with you for a while, and you can take a nap. You've been too tired these days."

"You're joining me?" Murphy raised an eyebrow.

"You need rest!" Gal-Gadot sounded a bit annoyed, "I need rest too! Wasn't last night enough for you?"

Murphy suddenly reached across the table, taking Gal-Gadot's hand, "Dear, a year of continuous effort wouldn't be enough..."

Gal-Gadot rolled her eyes, raising an eyebrow, "Do you have the stamina for that, huh?"

Their compatibility in certain aspects was undeniable, often leaving both longing for the next time.

"Want to try?" Murphy certainly wasn't about to back down.

"Just eat," Gal-Gadot quickly changed the topic, "Who do you think will win the game this afternoon?"

Without hesitation, Murphy said, "The New England Patriots, of course."

Gal-Gadot, not very familiar with American football, asked curiously, "Why not the Carolina Panthers?"

"Because among the two teams..." Murphy shrugged, "I only know Tom Brady, the quarterback for the Patriots."

Aside from soccer, his knowledge of sports was limited. Knowing Tom Brady was more due to Gisele Bundchen.

After lunch, they strolled in the backyard before heading upstairs to the master bedroom for a well-deserved nap. Then, they went to the living room, turned on the TV, and waited for the Super Bowl to start.

In the quiet Valley area, it seemed everyone was waiting for this moment.

In a chic French-style villa, Martin Smith and his friend Anderson Williams had prepared beer and popcorn early on, enjoying the alcohol buzz while watching the game.

Though only eighteen, the two didn't care about drinking in private.

The game was intense, with the New England Patriots frequently scoring through quick, short passes under Tom Brady's leadership. The Carolina Panthers fought back with powerful ground attacks, leaving the Patriots struggling to defend. The score remained close even until halftime.

After the game, Martin Smith and Anderson Williams rushed to the restroom, then hurried back, more focused than ever to watch the Super Bowl halftime highlights.

First were the commercials, each exceptionally well-made, followed by Hollywood movie trailers, which Martin Smith and Anderson Williams were particularly interested in.

"Shrek 2" failed to catch their interest, but "Spider-Man 2" and "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" piqued their curiosity. However, the bizarre SM look and the black actress in "Catwoman" were off-putting.

"DC is going downhill," Martin Smith shook his head, "What are they even filming? Turning Selina Kyle into a black woman? Have the Warner Brothers lost their minds?"

"My beloved Catwoman..." Anderson Williams was equally dismayed, "turned into this? I'm definitely not watching this movie."

"What's the next ad?" Martin Smith asked.

"My suit's red so bad guys can't see me bleed. This guy's got the right idea, he wore the brown pants!"

On the TV screen, a pair of red arms emerged from behind an overturned car, speaking in a taunting manner that was irresistibly funny, "This guy's smart. He's wearing brown pants, so you can't see when he shits himself!"

The camera pointed to a burly man in brown pants holding a gun.

Hearing these mocking words, Martin Smith and Anderson Williams instantly forgot their displeasure with "Catwoman." The tension from their anger and frustration immediately dissipated.

The mockery had just ended when a red, avocado-like funny character jumped from behind the car to take out the enemies. With one shot, he blew up a person's head, his moves ruthlessly efficient...

As he blew off heads, the man hidden under the mask unleashed a barrage of insults.

Not only did he physically attack with weapons, but he also launched verbal assaults, mocking his enemies. Even when he got a big hole in his arm, he didn't just shrug off the attack; he had to throw back an insult, showing that while he might not be bulletproof, he simply didn't care, nor did he mind the pain, as he could heal just like Wolverine afterwards.

In just a few scenes, this character's personality was laid bare. Martin Smith could easily tell, he wasn't invulnerable; he just didn't care about injuries or pain, knowing he could heal like Wolverine later on.

"This is Deadpool!" Anderson Williams exclaimed, "This is Deadpool!"

Martin Smith, who hadn't paid much attention before, now couldn't help but ask, "Is this the new movie from 20th Century Fox expanding the X-Men universe?"

Anderson Williams nodded, "Exactly!"

The commercial continued, with Deadpool turning every location he visited into a slaughterhouse for the villains, proving that only the most shameless could survive.

"It seems..." Martin Smith scratched his head, "the commercial is way better than 'Catwoman.'"

He confirmed his opinion, "Indeed, much better."

"Just judging by the commercial," Anderson Williams was still nodding, "it's even better than 'X-Men 2.'"

Then, a young girl appeared in the commercial, dressed in a comic-style X-Men uniform, her cool short hair and punk look incredibly aloof. Her name, too, was mocked by Deadpool along with "Alien" and Ridley Scott...

Deadpool's subsequent remarks left them somewhat astonished.

"The producers are so stingy, they only invested this little in my biopic. And the director, a rookie who's never directed a superhero movie before. If it turns out not good enough," Deadpool made a throat-slitting gesture towards the camera, "I'll definitely take care of the director and the producers..."

Was he talking to the audience or the director? Such a protagonist felt so peculiar.

Many viewers who saw the commercial thought the same. Fans of the "Deadpool" comics might not be too surprised since breaking the fourth wall is one of his abilities in the comics. For others, it sparked curiosity.

And curiosity is one of the effects a movie promotion aims to achieve.

However, "Deadpool" wouldn't become the focal point of the Super Bowl halftime show, as the event that followed sparked heated discussions across America.

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