Chapter 516 - "Catwoman" Approved

As soon as DC Comics made their announcement, the fans were not happy. Who are the fans? They are the kind of people who can call their idols foolish and silly all day long, but if someone unrelated tries to bully them, they will fight tooth and nail for justice.

Laila's fans are predominantly young people who often lack self-control. So when DC, with their reckless words, came under fire, it escalated from "You have no taste, no culture, and no appreciation; you didn't even see the brilliance in our idol" to "Your company's lousy heroes are a waste of Laila's youth and life. Your company should apologize for causing psychological trauma to people worldwide."

Such words would infuriate anyone, regardless of the company. Despite being initiated by fans, in the eyes of DC, it was all part of Laila's plan to humiliate them.

So, in their anger, DC issued another statement, saying, "We will find the best producers and directors to make Catwoman. The facts will prove to everyone that we are the only ones capable of making a true superhero movie, not some so-called genius director!"

In Hollywood, almost anyone under 30 can be called a genius director, but since Laila's emergence, no one dared to lay claim to that title. They couldn't afford the shame.

So, it was obvious who this "so-called genius director" was. The fans were furious, viewing this as an insult to Laila. It was their luck that she chose to act in their movies, and making millions from a single film was no big deal. These people didn't appreciate their idol! How could that be?

A large number of people flooded Laila's social media, hoping that she would refuse to help DC make a movie, whether it's Catwoman or something else.

Laila never expected things to take this turn, with so many twists and turns. Who would tell her what had happened?

"Um, I think I've never said I'd be filming 'Catwoman'..."

The fans also came to their senses. Indeed, when did Laila say she was going to be in Catwoman? When did this Catwoman concept even start?

The fans were baffled, and Laila was too.

Meanwhile, the media outlets enjoyed the spectacle, counting their earnings and watching the two sides engage in a verbal battle.

They thought the matter had ended, but the next day, DC suddenly announced that the Catwoman movie was officially greenlit, with casting auditions starting soon, and the expected budget was at least $150 million, with the possibility of increased investment in the future.

This announcement created a commotion.

Marvel was struggling before Laila's acquisition, and DC was not faring much better. How could they suddenly have so much money to make Catwoman? Was it because they were defying Laila's fans?

DC explained that they found a very discerning investor and had a director with significant talent and integrity. They believed that with the cooperation of all three, Catwoman would become the most anticipated superhero of the new generation.

This explanation left more people perplexed. Finding an investor might not be a big deal, but what about the director's choice? Talent was one thing, but what was this integrity they were talking about? Since when did a director's integrity become a deciding factor? Isn't the ability to make a profitable film what should matter most?

The public's questions became the media's responsibility. Seeing the public's interest in the matter, reporters and paparazzi from various outlets rushed to get more details from DC.

The media's capabilities were formidable, and within a day, they dug up everything. The "very discerning investor" turned out to be the Saudi businessman Faaris, who had invested in two films that were massive flops. Knowing this, Laila's fans breathed a sigh of relief. If he was involved, they could understand why DC was making such questionable decisions. 

As for that director, there's no need to say much. He unexpectedly resigned from Laila's AMG company and made grandiose statements during a press conference, saying he wouldn't make trash movies to appease children.

What kind of style is this? Americans are saying they can't quite understand what's going on. People from other countries are expressing that Americans sure know how to play.

Some media outlets interviewed Faaris to ask why he chose "Catwoman" as the female superhero.

Faaris's response sounded reasonable and sincere: "Because she is one of the few well-developed female characters in DC, and I believe this is something that other comic book companies can't achieve. I think her story will captivate many."

His answer gained him favor with many DC fans. There are only two major comic book companies in the United States: DC and Marvel. Faaris, by bringing Catwoman to the screen and seemingly overshadowing Marvel, changed the impressions of some die-hard DC fans. Willing to invest so much money to bring her to life on the big screen, he is undoubtedly a great person!

When they interviewed the director, Joseph, his answer also excited the media.

"I believe this is a fantastic collaboration. We have the best story, the best cast and crew, and producers. We will use the box office to show everyone what a true commercial movie is, rather than deceiving children with a pile of garbage that's unfit for their eyes at the cinema!"

People were left flabbergasted. What kind of behavior was this? It seemed like a personal vendetta against Laila or her company. After all, they had allowed him to be a big-shot director, and he was behaving this way.

Some called him ungrateful, while others labeled him a backstabber. Were these the actions of someone with integrity?

Laila, upon seeing these widespread reports, didn't know whether to be angry or amused. She thought that after Faiza's imprisonment, he would disappear. Instead, he not only stayed in the U.S. but also continued to invest.

She had no idea that things would take such a turn, and it seemed like she was more involved in the matter than she realized.