Chapter 438: Fight

In recent years, San Diego Comic-Con has emerged as a key promotional platform for Hollywood films, rivaling even the Super Bowl. Warner Bros. has strategically reserved an entire exhibition hall at Comic-Con to showcase its cinematic projects.

The exhibition hall's highlights were undeniably "The Dark Knight" and "Terminator 4," drawing considerable attention from reporters and fans alike.

The area dedicated to "The Dark Knight" was particularly bustling today, with journalists setting up their equipment in anticipation of the promotional event.

Cole, a reporter from "Empire," was engaged in conversation with his peers. "Warner's press release mentioned both Christian Bale and Martin Davis will be sharing the stage together for today's promotion," he said.

"Yeah, remember last year's news? Apparently, Martin and Bale had an on-set altercation due to getting too absorbed in their roles," a colleague added.

"I heard Bale even sought treatment for mental health issues. Martin's been seeing a psychiatrist weekly, even visiting the Psychiatric Center at Presbyterian Hospital during a shoot in New York!" another chimed in.

"Have you seen the latest trailer? The Joker is portrayed as a seriously malevolent lunatic. It's understandable that Batman couldn't stand him," Cole mused.

Suddenly, the buzz of conversation ceased as the director, Nolan, stepped onto the stage, capturing everyone's attention.

Meanwhile, backstage, Martin, accompanied by Bruce, was prepping for his entrance. Across from them, Bale, whom Martin hadn't seen in some time, made his way to the opposing waiting area.

Nolan's voice echoed through the hall, announcing Bale's entry. Christian Bale joined Nolan on stage, engaging in a Q&A session with the media and fans.

Bruce, listening in, remarked to Martin, "Christain Bale seems much more emotionally stable now."

Martin replied, "I didn't provoke him this time."

"Remember to keep it civil," Bruce advised. "Today's theme is about the clash between Batman and the Joker, not a one-sided brawl."

Their roles had taken a toll on both actors, leaving them grappling with psychological and mental challenges, a fact well-known but not fully comprehended by the media and public.

The surrounding voices suddenly disappeared, and the entire media area and the audience area fell silent in anticipation, as Nolan, the film director, stepped onto the stage.

In the waiting area on one side of the stage, Martin, accompanied by Bruce, was preparing to go on stage.

While in an other side, Christian Bale, whom Martin hadn't seen for a long time, slowly walked to the waiting area opposite to him .

As they were eyeing each other, Nolan's voice came over at that time: "Now welcome, the Batman himself Christian Bale!"

Christain Bale adjusted his collar and went left the backstage, accepting the applause as he cooperated with Nolan and answered some questions from media reporters and fans.

Bruce listened to the voice in front and said to Martin: "Christain Bale seems to be a lot more emotionally stable and I thought."

Martin said: "He didn't have me stimulating him continuously."

Bruce reminded: "Be gentle, don't hit him too hard this time."

Martin hearing that replied: "Today the theme is a fight between good and evil, Batman and the Joker fighting each other, it can never be a one-sided conflict."

After a long period of preparation, it has been widely known that he and Christian Bale suffered psychological and mental problems due to being too deeply involved in the role.

But the media and the public still don't know how serious these impacts are.

Soon, Nolan's voice came from the front of the stage: "Raise you hand for the other star of the movie Martin Davis!"

Soon, Nolan called for Martin's appearance. Martin adjusted his suit and swiftly walked onto the stage, waving to the crowd of reporters and fans wearing red T-shirts. The applause was thunderous, eclipsing the reception Bale had received.

Martin's eyes met Bale's across the stage. Their gaze held an intensity that seemed to warp the very air between them.

"Empire" reporter Cole whispered, "These two seem like natural adversaries."

On stage, Christian Bale's demeanor was stern and unyielding, embodying the essence of a born crusader for justice. In contrast, Martin's laughter started off bright, akin to the midday sun of Southern California, but soon morphed into something wild and sinister, sending shivers down the spine.

"Why so serious?" Martin teased Nolan and Bale, his voice laced with the Joker's characteristic insanity.

Although a script was in place, the tension between Bale and Martin was palpable, fueled by old grudges and fresh antagonism. Bale, unable to contain his fury, stormed towards Martin, accusing him of selling his soul to evil.

Martin's laughter only intensified, even as Christain Bale threw a punch that Martin deflected, causing more uproar.

The spectacle escalated into a physical tussle, stunning the audience and leaving Nolan and the crew momentarily paralyzed. The reporters and fans, quick to capture the moment, flooded social media with images and videos of the altercation.

Nolan, regaining his composure, intervened, shouting, "Enough! This is San Diego, not Gotham! You're not your characters!"

The staff rushed to separate the actors. Bale's face seethed with anger, while Martin's laugh remained unchecked, wild and menacing.

Nolan hastily concluded the event, apologizing for the unexpected turn of events and promising further updates from the crew.

Backstage, Martin casually discarded his torn jacket, joking about its disposability. Bruce, concerned, asked if he was hurt. Martin mentioned a soreness in his fingers from gripping Bale's wrists too tightly, his tone suggesting a lack of regret.

In another room, Bale nursed his bruised wrists, cursing Martin's excessive force.

Meanwhile, reporters scurried to publish the sensational story. TMZ was among the first, quickly uploading videos and reporting on the actors' ongoing struggles with their intense roles.

The incident at Comic-Con sparked a flurry of interest in "The Dark Knight," with the public eager to understand how the film's characters had so profoundly impacted Bale and Martin.

Amidst the media frenzy, Nolan deftly navigated the barrage of questions, artfully stoking curiosity about the film.

By evening, "The Dark Knight," along with its stars, had become a top trending topic, a testament to the enduring power of Hollywood storytelling and the allure of its complex characters.