Chapter 659: Who will take the blame?

Amidst the bustling summer vibes, the second weekend brought forth the much-anticipated release of "John Wick 2" across a whopping 3,875 theaters in North America. It was the cinematic explosion the season had been craving.

Warner Bros. unleashed their cinematic marvel, igniting the market with its blazing debut.

On that thrilling Friday, the North American box office raked in a staggering $29.24 million for "John Wick 2", knocking last week's "Gods and Kings" off its throne.

The latter, unfortunately, suffered from lackluster reviews and new competition, barely scraping $2.63 million on its release day.

With such dismal figures, it seemed improbable for "Gods and Kinds" to even breach the $50 million mark stateside.

In stark contrast, "John Wick 2", with a modest budget of $75 million, not only dominated the box office but also garnered widespread acclaim from audiences.

From IMDB to Twitter, praise for the film echoed across every corner of the internet.

"Martin's heart-pounding action kept me on the edge of my seat!"

"An electrifying masterpiece, redefining action cinema!"

"After this, no need for other action flicks this year. Stallone and Statham, take notes!"

With glowing endorsements like these, "John Wick 2" continued its triumphant march, earning $31.2 million on Saturday alone, maintaining its reign atop the box office.

Meanwhile, "Gods and Kings" struggled to surpass $2 million in daily earnings.

By the end of the weekend, "John Wick 2" emerged victorious with a staggering $78.55 million haul, while "Gods and Kings" languished at a mere $6.18 million.

For Warner Bros., whose past ventures like "Catwoman" had faltered, the disappointment of "Gods and Kings" marked a new low in the 21st century.

Overseas, "John Wick 2" conquered more than 40 countries simultaneously, raking in an impressive $81.32 million, leaving "Gods and Kings" in its wake with a meager $12.21 million.

Cut to the opulent Warner Building, where Daniel, the distribution producer of "John Wick", meticulously tracked the sequel's performance. With the weekend box office figures in hand, there were no surprises – "John Wick 2" was a runaway success, setting the stage for an even more lucrative third installment.

But as for "Gods and Kings," Daniel couldn't help but shake his head. Warner Bros. shouldn't abandon their collaboration with Martin. Perhaps, if Martin had been at the helm instead of Moses, the outcome would've been different.

Kevin Tsujihara and the new management he ushered in seemed increasingly unreliable in Daniel's eyes.

With a sigh, Daniel glanced at the clock, grabbed his briefcase, and made his way to the top floor of the building, ready to discuss the next moves in the small conference room.

Hamada and Jon Berg sauntered into the conference room, each bearing the weight of the recent box office debacle. Soon after, Kevin Tsujihara made his grand entrance, signaling the commencement of a pivotal four-person powwow on the state of their film business.

The failure of "Gods and Kinfs" hung heavy in the air, an elephant in the room waiting to be addressed.

Jon Berg, ever the strategist, deftly deflected blame, remarking, "The lessons from this misstep run deep. We must be meticulous in our director and casting choices. Ridley Scott's signature style felt too stagnant, and the allure of Christian Bale, though considerable, couldn't buoy the production."

Daniel, in sync with Berg, chimed in, "Agreed. We ought to scrutinize CAA's recommendations more thoroughly for future projects. Bale, unfortunately, bore the brunt of this misjudgment."

Kevin Tsujihara, sensing the pressure from higher-ups, sought a scapegoat. "I'll caution our subsidiaries against future collaborations with Bale," he announced, deflecting culpability.

Daniel seized the moment, proposing, "Perhaps for our grand-scale productions, we could entice Martin Davis. While distribution ties may be severed, his star power could still be leveraged."

But Kevin, lacking Daniel's foresight, shut down the idea swiftly, waving a dismissive hand. "Davis isn't the only draw in Hollywood," he retorted, swiftly redirecting the discussion to safer ground. "Hamada, what's the status on 'Green Lantern'?"

Hamada, eager to shift focus, reported, "Post-production is wrapping up, with peripheral sales projected to exceed $30 million by month's end."

Kevin's expression soured. "Too paltry," he rebuked. "We need returns, and we need them fast. 'The Dark Knight' moved $40 million in merch within its first ten days. We'll need to double down, aiming for $50 million in the next fortnight."

Hamada, humbled by the comparison, vowed to recalibrate their approach.

Confidence remained high at Warner and DC, with hopes pinned on "Green Lantern" to soar like "Iron Man" and catalyze a cinematic universe to rival Marvel's.

Meanwhile, at Century City's CAA offices, Bale, burdened by the flop of "Gods and Kings," trudged in alone, his spirits as heavy as his bag. The failed film cast a long shadow, leaving Bell stewing in regret over his recent string of misfires.

With Batman's resurgence offering a glimmer of hope, Bale braced himself for yet another wait in the agent's office, hoping for a shot at redemption amidst the industry's unforgiving terrain.

Seated on the plush sofa, Bale's gaze fell upon an abandoned newspaper resting on the adjacent low table—a familiar sight in the realm of showbiz: "The Hollywood Reporter."

With a sigh, Bale's fingers gingerly picked up the paper, idly flipping through its pages until he stumbled upon an article bearing his name.

The headline screamed, "Decoding Christian Bale's Star Power."

Despite knowing it might bruise his ego, Bale couldn't resist delving into the piece.

"In recent years, Hollywood's leading men, from stalwarts like Tom and Will Smith to rising stars like Christian Bale and Martin Davis, have graced our screens. Bale, propelled by the monumental success of the Batman franchise, especially 'The Dark Knight,' appeared poised for superstardom. Yet, as his post-Batman ventures demonstrate, his star may not shine as brightly as once hoped."

As Bale read on, his stomach sank.

"The promise of the Batman films proved fleeting. With lackluster performances at the box office for 'Terminator 2018' and 'Gods and Kings,' Bale's status as a leading man came into question. His inability to carry big-budget productions post-Batman casts doubt on his superstar potential."

The words stung, each line a blow to Bale's pride.

Closing the paper with a bitter grimace, Bale tossed it aside, a mix of frustration and disappointment clouding his features.

Accepting the role of Moses in "Gods and Kings" had been a bid to prove his blockbuster prowess, a futile attempt to rival Martin Davis.

But as the dust settled on the film's failure, Bale realized his aspirations lay in ruins.

The realization hit hard—his path to Hollywood stardom had all but evaporated.

With a heavy heart, Bale pondered his future prospects, grappling with the bitter truth that he paled in comparison to Davis.

Just as his thoughts veered towards despair, the door creaked open, and his agent stepped in, a concerned look etched on his face.

Concerned, the agent inquired, "Should I schedule a session with a therapist?"

Waving off the offer, Bale muttered, "No need. Just keep Martin Davis far away from me, and I'll be fine."

Understanding Bale's fragile state, the agent offered reassurance. "Let bygones be bygones," he suggested.

Eyeing the newspaper with a mix of resignation and defiance, Bale pondered his next move. "Is there still a chance for me to become a superstar?" he queried.

The agent's response was measured. "Perhaps, but it'll require careful planning. And in the short term, there might be some hurdles—especially with those top-paying projects."

Determined to regain his footing, Bale declared, "After 'The Dark Knight Rises,' I think I need to step away from Los Angeles, maybe even North America, for a while."

As if on cue, the agent produced a tantalizing proposition. "Funny you should mention that. I have a film project from the East. Care to take a look?"