Forever, Part 1
Not My Type was an incredibly refreshing film. Two lead actors with an age gap of over twenty years sharing a romantic chemistry on screen was a rare sight, to say the least. Although the film's script minimized the gap and clever styling and makeup bridged it further, it remained a highly unusual pairing. Moreover, it marked the grand return of Olga Asimov, who hadn't starred in a major film for several years, and her co-star was none other than the hottest young actor in Hollywood. That very actor, Sion Lee, was the real revelation. With this film, Sion proved that his acting prowess wasn't limited to playing "handsome" or "serious" roles. Audiences had been skeptical before entering the theater, but watching him fearlessly throw away his vanity and embrace the comedy revealed a whole new side of his charm. Through *Not My Type*, Sion Lee shed his pristine, perfect image and won the hearts of the general public.
"It was a highly successful image transformation," Olga Asimov remarked. "Sion Lee possesses a monstrous talent as a superstar. This shoot made me realize that beyond a shadow of a doubt."
The setting was a semi-private luncheon with industry insiders. A group of professionals dressed in smart-casual attire sat in a high-end hotel restaurant, enjoying their lunch. Ever since the massive success of *Not My Type*, Olga had been frequently invited to these gatherings by people eager to hear the behind-the-scenes stories. Naturally, she never declined, recognizing the value of maintaining her network. And whenever anyone asked about Sion Lee, she showered him with praise.
"It's not easy to maintain that level of approachability with a face like his. He plays the rogue, yet somehow remains completely lovable. He always knows exactly where to draw the line, and he has the uncanny ability to use that to achieve his goals."
"Sion's transformation in this movie was definitely striking," a producer at the table agreed, nodding. "Given his usual image and his young age, you'd think he'd hesitate to run around like a madman with his pants on fire... but watching him, I was impressed on so many levels. I kept wondering how he could throw himself into it like that. If I were in his shoes, I don't think I could have done it."
"But the timing was absolutely perfect. The tabloids were just starting to circle him as their next target."
"They were trying to bait him, and he completely turned the tables on them! It was incredibly satisfying!" Everyone burst into laughter. Watching their reactions with a gentle smile, Olga whispered softly.
"And *Batman Forever* is coming out this June. I hear his schedule after that isn't locked in yet. If any of you have a good script and the budget ready, you'd better snap him up quickly."
This was how networking worked in the shadows. Thanks to his consistent performances over the past few years and his clever image management through smart project choices, many industry players were keeping a close eye on Sion Lee's future potential. And it was precisely in these semi-private, semi-public settings that the most intriguing connections and business deals began to bloom.
On her way home after the lunch, Olga sat behind the wheel, reflecting on the day's conversation. It's about time for a new face to rise.
If one had to name the "young king" of Hollywood blockbusters at the moment, it was undoubtedly Tom Cruise. He was a handsome actor with both looks and acting chops who had churned out hit after hit. Audiences flocked to theaters simply because his name was on the marquee, and he strategically chose projects that maximized his mainstream appeal. While there were other giants—Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Harrison Ford—some rising, some at their peak, and some beginning to fade, the top tier remained firmly established. Yet, a wave of exceptionally talented actors was constantly emerging, threatening to shake up the hierarchy.
Like Leonardo DiCaprio, for instance. Although she hadn't networked with him yet, he had delivered an impressive performance in *What's Eating Gilbert Grape* and was now a young adult busy filming his next projects. There were others too: Matt Damon, who was still relatively unknown but highly spoken of within the industry; Christian Bale; and Will Smith, who was successfully transitioning from TV star to film actor. In this fierce competition to challenge Tom Cruise's throne, Sion Lee was undeniably one of the closest contenders.
He had the public appeal, the industry reputation, and most importantly, the raw talent. He was steadily building the perfect resume. It's about time he led a true triple-A blockbuster. Olga found herself seriously pondering his career, even though it was neither her own nor her daughter's.
For Sion, 1995 was shaping up to be an incredibly hectic year from start to finish. While *Not My Type* was taking the box office by storm, he cultivated a warm, family-friendly image by being seen with child actor Leo Walker and Elena Asimov in his daily life. When the superstar—who usually drove around in a Porsche and projected a somewhat arrogant, rebellious vibe—was spotted at a Lego store seriously playing with a child, even Hollywood's most notorious paparazzi shook their heads in awe.
"If this is calculated, his PR management is absolutely monstrous."
"Still, how can he look so genuinely invested in picking out Legos?"
"Get more shots of Leo and Sion together."
"They both look so handsome. It's a great picture."
...But of course, the reality was slightly different.
"Look at this. Lego. The King's Castle. This is absolutely insane."
"...My name is Leo," said Leo, feeling like a prop in a Lego set.
"Sion, I think the paparazzi are taking photos from right outside the window. How should I pose?"
"Lego Pirate Ship or Lego King's Castle? Just pick one for me. I can't decide."
"..."
With his back to the window, Leo stared at Sion with a bewildered expression. Although a babysitter was waiting nearby, Leo Walker had assumed this meeting was strictly "work." Seeing Sion so genuinely obsessed with choosing a Lego set was deeply disorienting. Still, being a kid, his ears perked up at the mention of the "Pirate Ship," and he shuffled closer.
"I-I think the Pirate Ship is better."
"Right? I knew you had good taste. But look at this. If we buy the King's Castle, they give you a free bonus set."
"Oh... that is quite intriguing."
Leo had dirty blonde hair that was slightly lighter than Sion's. Squatting down, he was almost eye-level with the actor. He was a cute, fair-skinned boy who looked like he would make cartoonish *pitter-patter* sounds when he ran. At this moment, the boy pushed up an imaginary pair of glasses with an incredibly serious face.
"..."
Watching them from behind, the babysitter couldn't help but think: It's not like either of them lacks the money to just buy both.
After hanging out with Leo, Sion went on a date with Elena. They had gone to a massive bookstore because Elena needed some research materials. Watching Sion joke about how the only things he ever read were scripts, Elena found his playful teasing incredibly irritating, especially since she knew he was actually quite well-read.
"So, is this all part of your marketing too?"
"Is what?"
"Coming to the bookstore with me. To build that wholesome, friendly image?"
"Hmm, what about you?"
"For me... this is strictly private."
"Even though you're buying English literature books?"
"Because I like literature."
"Well, I'm also spending time with someone I like."
"Sigh... Hearing about your outing with Leo earlier made me wonder where I fit in."
"Elly. You know I don't draw a line between those 'two' worlds when it comes to you."
"...Right."
Elena fell silent, fixing her gaze on the English literature shelves instead of looking at him. By now, she could follow the logic behind Sion's seemingly erratic behavior. Because of his youth, Sion had always been a star defined by his "image." For someone like him, every single move had to be carefully calculated. Acting without thinking invited relentless attacks. In fact, during his rebellious phase, Sion's thoughtless behavior had made him tabloid fodder for a very long time. She understood perfectly why he was strategically projecting a more down-to-earth persona after *Not My Type*. But understanding it intellectually was different from accepting it emotionally. Hearing Sion imply that their meeting was somewhere between public and private left a faint trace of disappointment in her eyes. Sensing her mood instantly, Sion chuckled softly, stepped closer, and whispered in her ear.
"If we made this strictly private, wouldn't things get a bit too dangerous?"
"...W-What?!"
Elena jumped back, her face instantly flushing crimson. Inside the massive bookstore, quite a few people who had already been secretly watching the star couple gasped and turned to look at them, bringing a sudden, awkward silence to the room. Flustered by the unexpected attention, Elena glared at Sion with a pink face, grabbed him by the collar, and quickly dragged him away. When Sion whispered something else, her face turned from pink to a deep beet red, and she jabbed him sharply in the ribs. What exactly they were whispering about would remain a mystery, left entirely to the imagination of the onlookers. In any case, Sion was doing his absolute best to balance both his media presence and his personal life.
By late April 1995, after wrapping up his promotional schedule for *Not My Type*, Sion immediately transitioned to *Batman Forever*. While Val Kilmer and Jim Carrey took the lead on major talk shows, Warner Bros. entrusted Sion, who served as the bridge between the two actors, with a specific task. They wanted him to subtly hint that *Batman Forever* shared a connection with his previous film, *Pain Walker*. To do this, Sion appeared on a radio show popular among hardcore genre fans, sharing just enough authorized "behind-the-scenes secrets" to send anticipation through the roof.
"What was the hardest part of filming?" the radio host asked.
"Probably finding my place between Val and Jim. Which is actually how it plays out in the movie too," Sion replied.
"I don't think anyone expected Lucid to show up in a *Batman* movie."
"Neither did I. Before I got the offer... well, I took a bullet to the gut, so I figured there was no way I was coming back. I was actually hoping to do a *Pain Walker* sequel... but boom! Suddenly, I'm in *Batman Forever*."
"So, is the Lucid in both movies indeed the exact same character?"
"Pardon?"
"Should we assume this takes place right after the events of *Pain Walker*?"
"Hmm, well. I'm not actually Lucid, so I couldn't tell you."
He cut it off right there, leaving just enough to pique their curiosity. For Sion, this level of media play didn't even require much effort anymore. As these carefully leaked rumors began to spread, the movie's release date drew to within a month. Having locked in June 16th—the start of the summer blockbuster season—as the release date for *Batman Forever*, Warner Bros. launched a massive, carpet-bombing marketing campaign.
The trailers clearly signaled a shift in tone from *Batman Returns*. Val Kilmer's Batman, Jim Carrey's Riddler, and Sion Lee's Lucid. The moment audiences saw the teaser featuring the three characters in a fast-paced, cross-cut edit, everyone was convinced: "This is going to be a massive hit."
"Oh my god, this looks insane!"
"A crossover? Has a superhero movie ever done this before?!"
"Well, they did hint at it in the post-credits scene."
In *Batman Returns*, Bruce Wayne had casually mentioned Metropolis, the city where Superman lived, leaving the door slightly ajar. In any case, audiences who had thoroughly enjoyed *Pain Walker* just the previous year were naturally ecstatic to see Lucid confirmed for *Batman Forever* only a year later.
"How is he even going to show up? Didn't Lucid die in *Pain Walker*?"
"His body disappeared at the end, remember? He was officially listed as missing. He probably used his dream-manipulating superpowers to survive and somehow made his way to Gotham."
"If he fights Batman... wait, no way! Was this planned from the very beginning?!"
People gasped as they recalled the white Porsche 911 giveaway Sion Lee had hosted months ago. Was it a coincidence, or had this crossover been planned all along? How did Lucid survive and reach Gotham? While the discussions around Batman and the Riddler focused more on the casting of Val Kilmer and Jim Carrey, the narrative mysteries surrounding Lucid captured everyone's intense curiosity.
Powered by the success of *Pain Walker* and the formidable reputation of the *Batman* franchise, *Batman Forever* soared like an eagle toward its release date. Although Sion had been thrown straight into promotional duties without a single day of rest after *Not My Type*, he was secretly thrilled.
I can't wait. That was his thought after watching the final cut. He was eager to see how this new version of *Batman Forever*—filmed without excessive studio interference, with the entire cast and crew working in perfect harmony—would be received. Especially since Sion remembered how the film had turned out in his past life.
Time flew, and soon it was June 16th. From the early hours of the morning, crowds gathered outside theaters, united in wearing the *Batman Forever* t-shirts that had gone on sale ahead of the premiere. The shirts were evenly split among the Batman, Riddler, and Lucid designs. Massive lines of eager moviegoers snaked around city blocks, and news crews captured the vibrant scene for the morning broadcasts, driving anticipation to a fever pitch.
Finally, at 8:00 AM.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggghhhhh—!!"
The moment the box office doors opened, a deafening cheer erupted from the crowd.
"We finally get to see it! *Batman Forever*!"
"Val Kilmer, Jim Carrey, and Sion Lee! There's no way I'm missing this!"
"Siooon! I can finally see you!"
The audience members expressed their excitement in various ways as they filed into the theaters. And as the lights dimmed and the movie began, the first thing that greeted them was...
Ohhh...
It's finally starting!
Batman appeared on the silver screen. Val Kilmer. Next to him was a lavish, high-budget Batmobile, and Alfred stood beside it, asking:
"Can I persuade you to take a sandwich, sir?"
In the opening sequence of his past life, Batman had delivered the brief quip, "I'll get drive-thru," signaling a sharp departure from Tim Burton's dark aesthetic. ...The problem was that this single line had completely shattered the brooding image of Batman that audiences had cherished.
However, because Sion Lee had proven the viability of a darker tone through *Pain Walker*, Warner Bros. had refrained from turning this Batman movie into a purely kid-friendly toy commercial. On screen, Batman stared quietly at his elderly butler before silently climbing into the vehicle. The turbo engine roared to life, and the Batmobile surged forward with a majestic rumble. Left behind, Alfred watched with a worried gaze as Batman disappeared into the crime-ridden streets. Though a brief sequence, it was the perfect opening to herald the return of the Dark Knight. The film began to draw the audience deep into Gotham—a city where Joel Schumacher's vibrant colors and Tim Burton's signature shadows coexisted in perfect harmony.