San Diego Comic Con pt.2

I walked through the VIP lounge near Hall H, where Dave was waiting for me. The DC panel would be starting in just an hour, and after spending most of the day preparing, I felt confident. 

Dave spotted me from across the room.

"Danny!" Dave called out with a wave.

I navigated through the small crowd, making my way over to him.

"How'd your panel this morning go?" Dave asked, a grin on his face.

"It went great," I said.

Dave smiled. "Good to hear! Ours is the most anticipated one— even more than Marvel's."

"Well, that only adds to the pressure," I said.

I scanned the suite and spotted a few familiar faces among the crowd. Dave, standing next to me, noticed them as well.

"Ah, there they are," Dave said, nodding toward the entrance as he started walking over to greet them.

I followed Dave, weaving through the flurry of people. Jensen Ackles was the first to spot me. His face lit up with a smile as he walked over, extending a hand.

"Hey, Daniel," Jensen greeted me warmly, shaking my hand. "Big day, huh?"

"Yeah, it's huge," I replied with a grin. "How are you feeling? Big moment for you."

Jensen chuckled, though his eyes showed a hint of nerves. "I'm good. A little nervous, though. Just hoping the fans don't reject me."

I laughed lightly, shaking my head. "Trust me, you've got this. Fans have been fancasting you as Batman for years."

"Yeah, but you know how fickle some of them can be," Jensen said with a smile, still feeling the pressure.

I clapped him on the shoulder. "Once they see the teaser, they'll be hooked. You're going to knock it out of the park."

Dave called me over from across the room, and Jensen and I walked toward him. As we approached, I saw Liam Neeson and Bryan Cranston standing with Dave.

"Daniel," Dave said, motioning to them, "let me introduce you to Liam Neeson and Bryan Cranston."

Liam Neeson extended his hand, his presence commanding yet approachable. "Mr. Adler, it's good to finally meet you in person. I've heard a lot about you."

I shook his hand firmly, still somewhat starstruck. "The pleasure's all mine, Mr. Neeson. I'm a huge fan."

Next, Bryan Cranston turned toward me with a grin, extending his hand. "Bob's told me some good things about you," he said, referencing our mutual connection.

"Bob's a great guy," I said, shaking his hand. "I've been hoping to work with you, Mr. Cranston. Breaking Bad... that's something else."

Bryan chuckled. "Well, I'm excited to see what we can do together. Should be fun."

We stood there, exchanging a few more pleasantries. The time for the big DC panel was drawing closer.

Nolan joined us in a few moments, his usual calm demeanor intact despite the storm of activity around us. The suite was a whirlwind—personal assistants rushing to and fro, studio personnel reviewing last-minute details, and convention staff making sure everything was in order for the panel.

My own PA, Julie, was on the phone with Lucy, dealing with a minor crisis back at the office. A group of convention staff approached, handing over our finalized schedule for the panel. They quickly briefed us on the flow of events, though we'd gone over it several times already.

"Mr. Rickman, you're up first," one of them said. "You'll make some introductory remarks, tease the big announcement, and set the tone for the crowd."

Dave nodded, focused. "Got it."

"You'll then reveal the DC Studios logo. After that, you'll introduce Mr. Adler."

They turned to me. "Mr. Adler, you'll follow up with your own speech, outlining the four movies, which will lead into the teaser."

I nodded slightly, listening carefully as they continued. "Once the teaser plays, you'll announce Christopher Nolan as the director."

Nolan, standing beside me, nodded.

"Then it's your turn, Mr. Nolan," they said. "You'll come up, talk about the film, and introduce the cast one by one."

With the final details sorted, we ran through the plan once again. As the time approached, everything was given the green light. The tech crew confirmed the visuals were ready, the mics were set, and every staff member was in place.

I stood beside Dave, waiting as the moderator took the stage, a tall figure in a sharp suit.

"Alright, ladies and gentlemen!" the moderator called out, his voice booming through the massive hall. "You've been waiting for this. Please give a warm welcome to the head of DC Studios... David Rickman!"

The audience erupted into applause, a thunderous wave of excitement as Dave stepped onto the stage—people cheering, clapping, even whistling. Dave had them right where he wanted them.

Dave let the applause settle before beginning, his voice clear and steady.

Dave started with a brief history of DC and its iconic characters.

"For nearly a century, DC Comics has been a cornerstone of storytelling, and in many ways, the heart of the superhero genre. These stories have given us moments of awe, wonder, courage, and even tragedy. They've taught us what it means to fight for justice, to face our fears, and to stand tall in the face of overwhelming odds."

The room buzzed with excitement, and I could hear murmurs of agreement from the audience. Dave's tone shifted slightly, addressing the elephant in the room.

"But let's be honest," he said, his voice growing more serious, "over the past few years, the DC brand has stumbled. We haven't always delivered on the promises made to you—the fans. The stories we told didn't always live up to the legacy of these incredible characters. We lost sight of what made DC great."

A murmur of acknowledgment rippled through the audience. Dave wasn't sugarcoating it—he knew where DC had faltered, and so did the fans.

"But," he said, his voice rising again, "that was then. And now... it's time for a new beginning."

The room fell silent, anticipation thick in the air.

"Today, I'm proud to announce the future of DC. Ladies and gentlemen… DC Studios."

The lights dimmed, and suddenly, the large screen behind Dave lit up, revealing the new DC Studios logo—a bold, simple design in blue and white, with 'DC Studios' shining brightly.

The audience erupted into applause, some cheering wildly, others shouting comments like, "About time!" and "Let's go, DC!"

"To bring DC into the future, we needed fresh voices. Talents who understand the current tastes of our fans—who know what they truly want. And luckily, we have one such man. He's been the driving force behind this new studio from the very beginning, passionate about bringing these iconic characters back to the big screen."

The audience hung on his every word, murmurs of curiosity spreading through the hall.

"You may know him from his bestselling comic Invincible, or maybe from his book Percy Jackson, or from the movies he's produced."

A loud cheer erupted from the audience. Someone from the back yelled, "Adler!"

Dave smiled, acknowledging the outburst. "Ladies and gentlemen, the Chief Creative Officer of DC Studios... Daniel Adler!"

The room exploded into applause and cheers. Some fans jumped to their feet, clapping and shouting. My name echoed through the hall as the spotlights swung toward the entrance. I took a deep breath, nerves and excitement mixing together, and stepped onto the stage.

As I walked out, the sound of the crowd was deafening. People cheered, whistled, and waved. I raised my hand, waving to the audience, trying to take in the moment. Camera flashes lit up the room as people eagerly awaited what was coming next.

I stood before thousands of fans, the bright lights of the stage making it hard to see past the first few rows. I waited for the cheers to die down before leaning into the mic with a grin.

"Wow, what a reception," I said with a laugh, and the crowd responded with more applause and whistles. "Thank you, everyone."

I took a deep breath and got straight to the point. "Alright, I'm a huge comic book fan, just like all of you, so I'm not going to keep you waiting with a long speech or anything."

The audience quieted down, with some small cheers here and there.

"So, let's get right to it—yes, we are going to make some movies!"

The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers, whistles, and yells of excitement. People shouted words of encouragement like, "Let's go!" and "Finally!" Others called out, "DC's back, baby!" and "This is what we've been waiting for!"

I let the cheers wash over me for a moment, soaking it all in before continuing. "We're going to make four movies and release them in the next three years."

Another round of cheers erupted, even louder than before.

"Alright, alright," I said, gesturing toward the massive screen behind me. "If you look behind me, you'll see the timeline. This is what I call the DC Movie Timeline."

The screen lit up, showing four dark, blacked-out movie slots on a timeline, stretching over the next three years. "I hope that, over the next few years, this timeline fills up with a lot of great movies."

The audience cheered once again. "Let's go!" someone shouted. "Give us the titles!" another yelled.

I took a step back as the screen darkened, and a familiar, slow-building melody began playing through the speakers. The room fell quiet for a moment as the opening notes of John Williams' Superman theme began to play. The music was low at first, gradually building up as the audience realized what they were hearing. It grew louder, more powerful, the iconic brass fanfare filling the hall with a sense of epic nostalgia.

The cheers started to build again—small at first, then erupting into a full roar as the Superman logo burst onto the screen, shining brightly in red and gold. It hovered there before sliding into place on the timeline.

"YES!" someone screamed from the back. "SUPERMAN!" a voice shouted. The crowd was on fire, with people jumping out of their seats, some even wiping away tears of excitement.

I grinned, watching the sheer joy ripple through the audience.

I smiled. "Alright, so Superman will be the last of the four movies."

The crowd cheered again, though slightly subdued, clearly hungry for more details. I turned my gaze back to the timeline displayed on the screen behind me.

"But now," I said with a mischievous smile, "I'm going to skip the next blacked-out title—the third one—and instead, I'm going to show you the second movie on the timeline."

The lights dimmed once again, and a sense of anticipation rippled through the audience. The music slowly built in intensity—this time, it was a new theme. The iconic Wonder Woman logo burst onto the screen, its golden eagle emblem shimmering against a backdrop of stars and lightning.

"WONDER WOMAN! YES!" a fan yelled.

More voices joined in, shouting, "About time!" and "Finally!"

As the lights came back up, I looked out at the crowd, grinning. "Yes, yes… It's about damn time, right?"

The audience cheered even louder, completely on board.

I raised a hand, signaling for everyone to settle down. "Now... now for the big announcement," I said, lowering my voice, which immediately created a hush in the room.

The excitement in the room grew tense as people leaned forward in their seats. I could already hear scattered whispers among the crowd, and then the inevitable shouts started: "Batman!" "It's gotta be Batman!"

"Show us Batman!" someone yelled from the back.

The room darkened once again, and a hush fell over the audience as the screen came to life. The logos of DC Studios and Stardust Entertainment appeared, earning appreciative murmurs from the crowd.

Then, the teaser began.

The scene opened on a dimly lit Wayne Manor. The camera panned across the opulent but somber interior, revealing mourners in black gathered for a funeral. Whispers rippled through the room, with some fans recognizing the iconic setting immediately.

'They told me there was nothing out there…'

The voice of Jensen Ackles, deep and resonant, began to narrate over the visuals. The audience stirred, recognizing the voice but unsure at first who it was.

'Nothing to fear...'

A group of bats flew through a cave, their wings fluttering in perfect synchrony. The visuals were dark and atmospheric, instantly creating an aura of mystery. More murmurs of excitement buzzed through the room.

'That night my parents were murdered...'

The camera cut to a young Bruce Wayne, standing small and lost at the funeral.

'I got a glimpse of something. I've looked for it ever since.'

The music began to swell, growing in intensity. The scene shifted to Jensen Ackles as Bruce Wayne, standing on the docks of Gotham, staring out at the stormy sea. The crowd stirred more, recognizing him now.

"That's Jensen Ackles!" someone shouted, and the recognition spread quickly through the room. Cheers and applause followed as fans realized they were finally seeing their new Batman in action.

'I went around the world... searched all the shadows... and there's something out there... in the darkness...'

Shots of Bruce trekking through snow-covered mountains, his breath visible in the icy air. The audience was captivated. A collective silence fell over the crowd as the screen showed Bruce walking through an ice field, the wind howling around him.

The next scene showed a prison cell—Jensen, disheveled, his face bruised and dirty, staring at the camera as a figure opened the door to his cell.

'Something terrifying, something that won't stop... until it gets revenge...'

The camera zoomed in on Jensen's face, now clean and determined, standing tall as Bruce Wayne. Some in the audience started clapping, unable to contain their excitement.

And then, in a sudden flash, the screen cut to a close-up of Bruce's face, now masked as Batman.

'Me.'

The screen went black and the title BATMAN BEGINS was shown, and the audience exploded into cheers and applause.

As the teaser ended, the lights in the room slowly began to brighten. The thunderous applause roared through the convention hall, shaking the walls as fans jumped to their feet, cheering and clapping. People whistled, screamed names, and yelled in pure excitement, their cheers mixing together in a harmonious wave of enthusiasm.

I stood on stage, smiling as I took in the incredible reaction. "Thank you, thank you," I said into the mic, trying to calm the crowd just enough to speak. "Now, as you've just seen, Batman will be our first film." More cheers and applause rang out, but I pressed on. "And the third title in this lineup will be its sequel."

As I said this, the screen behind me lit up once more, revealing the four titles on the timeline: Batman Begins, Wonder Woman, Batman 2, and Superman.

The audience erupted once again, the energy rising to a fever pitch. Shouts of "Batman!" "Superman!" and "Let's go!" echoed through the hall. I stepped back, giving Dave the spotlight to take over.

Dave stepped forward, waiting for the crowd to settle down before he began. "For a movie as monumental as this," he said with a grin, "we needed a great director. Not just any director, but someone with a vision—someone who understands what it means to bring Batman to life on the big screen."

The crowd began to murmur in anticipation, already trying to guess who Dave was about to announce.

"And I'm happy to say," Dave continued, "that we found someone who's been wanting to make a Batman movie for years. You may have seen his recent film, Inception." Gasps of recognition echoed through the hall, quickly followed by cheers.

Dave smiled, holding the moment before finally announcing, "Ladies and gentlemen... Christopher Nolan."

The applause hit a new high as Nolan walked onto the stage, waving to the audience. He greeted me with a brief hug and then Dave, before turning to face the roaring crowd. His presence alone seemed to elevate the excitement in the room.

"Wow, thank you," Nolan said, laughing lightly as he grabbed the mic. The crowd was still going wild when one enthusiastic fan shouted, "Fuck Marvel!"

Nolan paused, chuckling a little at the comment. The audience erupted in laughter, and the mood lightened even more as Nolan gave a playful nod, acknowledging the comment without encouraging it.

"I've wanted to make a Batman movie for a long time," he said, his voice steady. "And I was fortunate enough to run into Mr. Adler at the Oscars, where we got talking... and, well, here we are."

The audience murmured with excitement, hanging on his every word.

"Batman," Nolan continued, "is one of those characters who deserves a truly great movie in this modern age of filmmaking. He's complex, dark, and offers so many layers that I couldn't resist the chance to bring him to life in a way we've never quite seen before."

The crowd erupted into cheers, clearly in agreement with Nolan's vision. He paused, letting the energy build, before continuing with the moment everyone was waiting for.

"First, I would like to introduce to you the person I feel will do justice to both Bruce Wayne and Batman." Nolan looked to the crowd with a grin. "Ladies and gentlemen, Jensen Ackles."

The reaction was immediate and thunderous. Applause and cheers filled the room as the crowd leaped to their feet. Some fans screamed,

 recognizing the Supernatural star. As Jensen walked out onto the stage, the cheers grew louder. He seemed genuinely taken aback, his face a mixture of surprise and happiness as he soaked in the overwhelming acceptance from the fans.

Jensen waved to the crowd, clearly moved by the reception. As he reached the center of the stage, he caught my eye, and I gave him a nod.

Once the cheers settled, Nolan took the mic again, his eyes twinkling with the thrill of the moment. "Next up... we have a villain. But not just any villain—one of Batman's greatest adversaries." The audience buzzed in anticipation. "Playing the role of Ra's al Ghul... Liam Neeson!"

The cheers erupted once more, with some fans shouting in excitement as soon as Ra's al Ghul's name was announced. Liam Neeson strode onto the stage with his usual commanding presence, and the audience clearly thrilled to see such a legendary actor take on one of Batman's most formidable foes.

"And finally," Nolan said, holding up a hand to silence the crowd, "The man who will be playing Commissioner Jim Gordon... Bryan Cranston."

The room exploded with applause as Bryan Cranston walked out to join the cast.

As I stood there on stage, watching the crowd of over 6,000 people, I couldn't help but smile. The reaction had been everything I hoped for—and more. The hype train was officially in motion, and I could already imagine the theories and speculation that would dominate the internet in the coming months.

But with that hype came pressure—pressure to deliver something extraordinary. And we fully intended to do just that.

.

.

You can read up to chapter 125

p.a.t.r.eon.com/Illusiveone (check the chapter summary i have it there as well)