Forever (Part 2)

After about 120 minutes, the audience trickled out of the theater showing Batman Forever, wearing expressions that suggested they were utterly spellbound.

It felt as though they had just stepped off a roller coaster that had hurtled forward without a single pause for two hours. Joel Schumacher's version of Batman was undeniably different from Tim Burton's.

If the Batman of the previous two films had been a "lonely monster," the Batman of this installment possessed the narrative arc of a hero who overcomes even that isolation.

The man who had guarded the darkness of Gotham alone grew a little more by accepting a sidekick named Robin, ultimately embracing his destiny.

"I never expected Val Kilmer to suit Batman so well."

"Yeah, and he didn't lose Batman's signature vibe either."

Furthermore, one of the core elements of any Batman film was a compelling villain. In this movie, the Riddler, played by Jim Carrey, was a madman obsessed with riddles to flaunt his own intellect, while simultaneously harboring a deep-seated inferiority complex that craved validation.

Whenever that insecurity was triggered in the film, Jim Carrey's sudden shift into a dead-serious expression was enough to make the audience marvel at his performance.

"I'd love to see Jim Carrey act in a completely serious movie without any comedy later on."

"Agreed. Anyway, the balance between the characters was exquisite. I was worried about what would happen to the franchise after Tim Burton stepped down from directing, but..."

"It's not too dark, but it's not overly bright either."

"Each character has their own backstory and presence. I loved how they didn't drag it down by over-analyzing everything. It felt like watching a dance of mad clowns. Underneath the bright neon lights, these lunatics wage a violent war, but they all have their own reasons and convictions. With everyone moving toward their own goals, the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠story clicked together perfectly."

Batman fought to protect justice. The Riddler sought to kill Batman to prove himself. And finally, Lucid pulled the strings to seize the wealth and information held by both.

Compared to its predecessor, Batman Returns, or the recent Pain Walker, the film's overall tone was significantly brighter. However, it fully delivered on its promise as a superhero action blockbuster that the entire family could enjoy. That was the public's consensus on Batman Forever.

Riding the coattails of Batman Returns and Pain Walker, the new film naturally soared straight to the center of public attention.

The press was overwhelmingly positive. Because so many key players—including the director and lead actors—had been replaced, there had been plenty of skeptical op-eds leading up to the release questioning whether the film would succeed. However, the fresh blood injected into Batman Forever rose to the occasion, spectacularly meeting the audience's high expectations.

Naturally, Batman Forever claimed the number one spot on the weekly box office charts immediately upon release and continued to soar. And Sion, who had delivered a stellar performance in this massive hit, instantly became Warner Bros.' top priority for a contract renewal.

"I... told you when we signed the contract for this movie, didn't I?" Terry Semel said during a private lunch that was half-business, half-pleasure.

"That if we worked together on the next film, I'd pay you what you're truly worth."

"You certainly did. Back then, I was actually debating whether I should make the first move before you brought it up."

"Hahaha! I am definitely not a man who gets stingy with money! Especially now that our Mr. Lee has become a mega-star whose face is plastered across theaters all year round. If I don't want another studio stealing you away, I have to treat you right!"

Terry was devouring a massive steak for lunch, followed by a thick scoop of vanilla ice cream. His greed as a businessman was just as formidable as his hearty appetite and thick waistline. Yet, he was also a man who knew how to give special treatment to a "commodity" he deemed valuable. And naturally, he intended to exploit that commodity to the absolute fullest.

"You got five million for the last one, so how does seven and a half sound for this one?"

"Hmm, well. I suppose that depends on the project."

"The Batman sequel, of course! We want you to keep playing Lucid."

"What about Pain Walker 2?"

"That... you should probably go talk to Lawrence over at Castle Rock instead of me," Terry replied, drawing a clear line since that project belonged to a different production pipeline.

"Here's what I think. This movie was great, of course. Kids loved it, adults loved it—it's a fantastic piece of work. But there's... just a tiny, tiny something missing. What do you think that is?"

"I don't personally agree, but I imagine you think it's comedy."

"Oh, you saw right through me! ...But why don't you agree?"

"Because if you want something tailored even more to children's eye levels... you might as well just make a superhero movie starring actual kids."

"Hmm... that's not entirely wrong. But I still want something that can rake in cash from adult fans at the same time."

"You're very greedy."

"You can't survive in this business without greed. Aren't you the same?" Terry grinned and asked again. "Seven and a half million. We'll throw in solid options too. Though we can't give you the kind of deal we gave Jack Nicholson back when we didn't know any better."

"Aw, can't you pay me a percentage of the merchandise sales too?" Sion blinked his large eyes, looking genuinely disappointed. Terry let out a hearty laugh and shook his head firmly.

"No way, absolutely not. You have no idea how much we regretted that when we sent out the first month's royalty statements."

"Whew, I'm jealous of Jack. He hit the jackpot just by doing one movie right."

"Everyone has gotten too smart about 'the business' now. It's no longer an era where an actor can blindside a studio like that. Still, aren't you making enough money to make anyone jealous, Mr. Actor?"

"Well, there's a saying: the more money you make, the more you feel like you don't have enough."

"Haha, I know exactly what you mean. No matter how much you make, if the next month's check is even slightly lower, it feels like crap. That's when I realized: at a certain point, for people like us, money isn't about value anymore—it's about recognition. ...So, with that in mind," Terry said, trying to look suave as he raised a single finger. "How about this?"

Ten million dollars. An impactful offer delivered with a simple gesture. Sion didn't let it show on his face, but he felt a slight tremor of excitement inside.

The year was 1995. For a twenty-two-year-old actor to receive a ten-million-dollar guarantee was unprecedented. At the time, the highest-paid actor in Hollywood commanded around fifteen million dollars—and that was Tom Cruise. Of course, in reality, Tom Cruise made far more than that once backend points and various other clauses were factored in...

Still, it's an astronomical sum. A year later, Jim Carrey would make twenty million for a 1996 film, and Arnold Schwarzenegger would rake in twenty-five million for the next Batman movie, but those were highly exceptional cases. To have your name mentioned alongside actors commanding such exorbitant fees meant you had reached an irreplaceable status in Hollywood.

The master of physical comedy, Jim Carrey. The muscular action icon, Arnold Schwarzenegger. The handsome, clean-cut, daredevil protagonist, Tom Cruise. Was a mere twenty-two-year-old actor truly ready to receive a sum that, while not quite on their level, signaled he was rapidly closing the gap? Sion hesitated for a brief moment, but that hesitation only hardened his resolve. He gave an even firmer reply.

"What are the other terms?"

"You can hash out the details with our legal team. But rest assured, we'll make sure you get your ten million."

"Excellent. My agency will be thrilled to hear this."

"You're remarkably confident. Just what I'd expect from Hollywood's next big thing. Even though it might be a poisoned chalice."

"I'm well aware of that."

The moment Sion signed a ten-million-dollar contract, the news would leak through some crack and spread like wildfire across the industry. It would serve as definitive proof that he had officially entered the ranks of the A-list. A star among stars in Hollywood. Consequently, the weight of expectation placed upon his shoulders would balloon to unimaginable proportions. If his next project flopped, he would have to shoulder the blame entirely.

Well, if that happens, the public will tear me to shreds with sensational headlines like "Too Soon" or "He's Hit His Limit." That was precisely why Terry had called it a "poisoned chalice." To that warning, Sion simply smirked and replied with confidence.

"Ten million to play a supporting role, not even the lead, in the next Batman. That's a high price." Sion's eyes suddenly turned cold. "And I assume you plan to boost the film's star power by bringing in an even bigger heavyweight alongside me?"

"Hmm...?"

"Someone like Arnold Schwarzenegger, for instance. If that's the case, my presence might get a bit overshadowed."

Terry Semel fell into a stunned silence. How does he know? No... did he actually know, or was it just a guess?

Terry had indeed reached a tentative internal conclusion to cast a massive star like Arnold Schwarzenegger as the villain Mr. Freeze in the next Batman film. It wasn't fully finalized yet, but he had already shared the idea with a few tight-lipped confidants. Yet, how on earth did Sion Lee know about this and speak of it with such absolute certainty?

Was it just a lucky guess? Even if it was, his industry intuition was terrifying. And why did he pinpoint Arnold, who is literally our number-one choice? Not only was he a handsome, brilliant actor, but his insight was incredibly sharp. Come to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠think of it, considering how he conducted himself on the set of Batman Forever, his talents as a producer were also...

"..." Meanwhile, seeing Terry's face turn slightly pale, Sion decided it was time to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dial back the teasing.

"...Well, the character of Lucid isn't even a traditional Batman villain, and the novelty has worn off a bit by now. So I simply figured that if Lucid were to return, it would only make sense to bring in an even bigger star to anchor the film. Jim was in this one, and Tom doesn't really fit the villain image, so as far as I could guess, Arnold seemed like the most logical choice on your casting radar."

"Ha, hahaha... Well, that is remarkable. You're right. It's certainly not out of the realm of possibility. ...But seriously, Mr. Lee, how is your intuition this sharp? For a second, I thought you had slipped into someone's dream and read the script for the next Batman movie already."

Since Sion had actually seen a "future" far more concrete than any script, he kept his mouth shut. "But that's just a possibility. Nothing has been decided yet."

"Of course. Especially since this movie has only just greenlit its box office run."

Dominating Hollywood with both Not my type and Batman Forever, Sion had just received an offer to join the ten-million-dollar club—a milestone that could easily double as a trap. Yet, he remained entirely unfazed, speaking in his usual relaxed, smooth tone.

"I suppose I'll have to get used to the heavier weight of the crown. Fine. What project are we talking about, then?"

"...What?"

"Come on. You only mentioned the 'ten-million' figure. You haven't actually brought up the project yet."

"What do you mean? I just said Batman..."

"At the very beginning, you said we should work together on the next film. It doesn't necessarily have to be Batman."

Sion turned the tables and made a counter-proposal. "Since you've put ten million on the table, I'd like to offer something worthy of that figure. Of course, this is technically something you should discuss with my agency, but... you've seen it yourself, haven't you? What a great asset Sion Lee is. I even guessed you were eyeing Arnold Schwarzenegger for the next film. Wouldn't it be much smarter to lock down a clever, high-potential actor like me for a ten-million-dollar lead role while my stock is still at its absolute lowest?"

Terry felt like a snake hunter who had suddenly found himself coiled in the grip of his prey. The only reason he had brought up the next project so early, right as the movie was hitting theaters, was out of fear that other studios would snatch Sion away once Batman Forever became a certified blockbuster. He had set up this seemingly casual lunch to lure the rising dragon with a "reasonable" sum that accounted for his future value. But now that he was paying attention... he was the one being reeled in.

"And really, in this era of runaway salary inflation, do you honestly think my price tag will stop at ten million?"

"..." The phrase this arrogant little brat flashed instantly through Terry's mind, but unlike an amateur businessman, his seasoned professionalism kept it from slipping past his lips.

Jim Carrey, Tom Cruise, Arnold Schwarzenegger. By the mid-90s, these three were single-handedly driving Hollywood's salary ceiling into the stratosphere. And for good reason: the prevailing wisdom among Hollywood studios was that to make a massive, high-budget film profitable, you absolutely needed a star of that caliber to anchor it.

Currently, Sion was not on their level. He wasn't even close yet. He was still far too young, and he had only been delivering consistent hits for a few short years. Yet, what made him look like a "commodity worth investing in" in such a brief span was not just his looks or acting ability, but his extraordinary knack for generating buzz and his profound insight into the industry. It proved that Sion Lee was a star who ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠would never fade into obscurity, possessing the raw potential to carve out his own empire as both an actor and an industry player in the near future.

"So, what's your move?"

"...What is it you want?" Left with no other retort, Terry asked. Sion simply smiled gently and tapped his fingers on the table.

"I think the answer will present itself once you consider how much Warner is willing to bet on an actor like me. Oh, and if possible, I'd prefer a role where I don't end up falling into a sewer or getting impaled on a statue at the end of the movie. If you keep that in mind, I'm sure you'll come up with a brilliant idea. I think it's about time I took the lead in a triple-A blockbuster."

Signaling that the conversation was over, Sion wiped his mouth with his napkin and stood up. "I thoroughly enjoyed lunch today. I'll be waiting for a wonderful offer~."

With a playful wink, Sion turned and vanished. Sitting alone and watching his retreating figure, Terry suddenly realized something. That little bastard didn't even pretend to offer to pay. Granted, it was a semi-private lunch, and Terry had always intended to foot the bill, but still.

"No, no... dammit, that's not what's important right now." As a key executive at the heart of Warner Bros., the vast web of industry data in Terry's mind began to spin furiously. What the American public wanted right now, the current state of Warner Bros., and the image of Sion Lee. He spent a long moment searching for a formula that would yield the absolute maximum return, until he finally arrived at a conclusion.

Looking down at his thick vanilla ice cream, which had melted into a creamy liquid, he muttered a single phrase to himself. "...An action blockbuster."