Chapter 72

One month after the release of La La Land, the global box office exceeded $500 million, surpassing expectations, and quickly approached $600 million. This resurgence brought back the golden age of musical films in Hollywood.

Xu Can's titles as "the most handsome jazz musician" and "the most handsome dancer in film history" were well-earned, drawing fans worldwide to theaters. Meanwhile, popular bloggers and influencers on platforms like YouTube and Face began imitating the iconic tap dance scenes, flooding the internet with tribute videos, including one by Ryan Gosling himself. Gosling posted his own attempt at Xu Can's dance moves on YouTube, humorously admitting in the video description:

"This dance seems simple, but it's not easy to master. I've heard Xu Can had no prior dance experience, and I'm amazed at how he pulled it off. I love this movie and look forward to the chance to work with him."

These viral videos brought an unexpected boost to La La Land's box office performance, helping the film reverse its initial decline and ensuring it would surpass $600 million globally.

Compared to the original film's earnings, Xu Can's version brought in an additional $200 million—a remarkable achievement even after accounting for inflation. For Sony, this success was bittersweet: while they could leverage Xu Can's rising popularity for their upcoming Spider-Man 2, they also lamented that La La Land wasn't one of their productions. After all, Xu Can was initially discovered by Sony, and now he had grown into a major force in Hollywood. Sony even began to wonder if, given a few more years, Xu Can could become another industry giant.

Xu Can's growing influence was evident across Hollywood. Disney, Paramount, Fox, and other major studios scrambled to avoid releasing films at the same time as his. In fact, some movies, like The Mummy 3 and Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D, even delayed their releases to avoid competing with Spider-Man 2. Only Pixar's Wall-E, after years of meticulous development, dared to stand against Xu Can's blockbuster.

In an interview, Wall-E's director, Andrew Stanton, expressed confidence in the film's potential, despite acknowledging the risk:

"This animation took immense effort and cost us $180 million. I believe it can compete with Spider-Man 2."

Pixar's financial backer, Disney CEO Bob Iger, also threw his support behind Wall-E, taking a subtle jab at superhero films:

"Superhero movies might be flashy, but what depth do they really offer? Our animation is rich with meaning and designed to be both educational and entertaining. It can stand toe-to-toe with those guys in tights."

Iger, frustrated by Xu Can's repeated box office victories over Disney, was determined to beat him this time. However, his words sparked a backlash online. Fans defended superhero films and Xu Can, with comments like:

"Maybe we watch movies for fun, not just to think!"

"Spider-Man addresses social issues too—it's not just brainless action."

"I'm here for Xu Can. You think two sentences from you will stop me?"

The Hollywood media, always eager to stir up drama, capitalized on the controversy, painting Iger as openly hostile to superhero films and portraying Disney as declaring war on Xu Can's studio.

When asked for a response, Xu Can remained calm and unbothered by the feud:

"Wall-E is a great film. I don't see Spider-Man and Wall-E as rivals; both movies can coexist. Hollywood thrives on diversity, with different genres appealing to different tastes."

Xu Can's response only elevated his status in the industry. While Iger seemed focused on individual box office battles, Xu Can had his sights on Hollywood as a whole. His humility in victory contrasted sharply with Iger's outbursts, leading many to view Iger as the lesser figure in this clash.

Despite the controversy, Wall-E performed well, grossing $62.5 million in its opening weekend and earning widespread critical acclaim, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 99% and an IMDb rating of 9.1/10. While Disney was pleased with the film's reception, they still hoped Spider-Man 2 would fail to surpass Wall-E's reputation. However, when Iger's secretary reminded him that The Dark Knight had scored an impressive 9.4 on IMDb, Iger was left fuming.

Meanwhile, Xu Can was enjoying himself. As a fan of Pixar's films, including Wall-E, he had taken his girlfriend Taylor Swift to watch the film. Swift was deeply moved by the love story between Wall-E and Eve, and Xu Can, ever the gentleman, had tissues ready for her tears. Their banter afterward revealed their playful dynamic.

Xu Can also took Emma Stone to see Wall-E the next day. Unlike Swift, Stone was more analytical, discussing animation techniques and storytelling with Xu Can. Emma Roberts later invited him to watch Wall-E too, but Xu Can almost refused, fearing he would tire of the film after multiple viewings. However, Roberts' sad tone convinced him to go, and the two shared a lighthearted evening.

Despite the distractions, Xu Can remained focused on his work. Two weeks after Wall-E's release, it had grossed over $300 million, but the real challenge was yet to come: the release of Spider-Man 2. Fans were eagerly awaiting its premiere, and Xu Can, along with Emma Stone, was the star attraction at the event. The anticipation was palpable as excited fans dressed in Spider-Man costumes crowded the theater.

As the lights dimmed and the film began, the audience's excitement reached a fever pitch. Spider-Man 2 had finally arrived.

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