Chris Hemsworth, in a completely bewildering turn of events, somehow—without fully understanding how—became the lead actor for Thor, a film with a $120 million investment.
The female lead was simpler. Gilbert's agent, Sheena Boon, managed to poach Megan Fox from Michael Ovitz, and Gilbert casually slotted her into the role.
The character of Jane Foster required someone who could be a visual attraction, and director Kenneth Branagh greatly admired Natalie Portman, wanting her to play the part.
At that time, Natalie Portman had not yet won her Oscar, and Thor was scheduled for production a few years earlier. Although Gilbert had a friendly relationship with Portman, he still vetoed her casting.
The reason was straightforward: Natalie Portman did not fit the "visual attraction" role, whereas Megan Fox was a perfect fit.
Of course, Gilbert did not reject all of Kenneth Branagh's casting suggestions. Tom Hiddleston playing Loki was Branagh's choice.
As the release date approached, the promotion for Thor intensified. Lacking star power, Gilbert had to personally make numerous appearances to support the film.
Kevin Feige was increasingly anxious. The previous failure of The Incredible Hulk was understandable, but if Thor also flopped, the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe could be at risk.
However, Gilbert reassured Kevin Feige: "Kevin, I'm the boss. If the box office underperforms, it's on me. You don't need to carry that burden."
Kevin Feige felt even more embarrassed: "But won't this affect our plans?"
"Not at all," Gilbert said confidently. "At worst, we still have Iron Man 2 and Captain America next year. The universe still has hope."
Hearing this from Gilbert, Kevin Feige finally relaxed.
Gilbert also addressed another issue: "Sony Columbia has refused to return Spider-Man to the Marvel films. For now, Spider-Man cannot rejoin the Marvel family."
Gilbert was unsurprised. Although Spider-Man 3 received mixed reviews last year, it generated impressive box office revenue.
Why would Sony abandon a cash cow to collaborate with Marvel?
"So," Gilbert said, "there's no rush. We'll achieve results gradually. I'm confident that once our Marvel Cinematic Universe succeeds, Sony Columbia will be eager to join us."
As for 20th Century Fox, that was a non-issue. They were counting on X-Men, and even Marvel couldn't reclaim the Fantastic Four rights.
It seemed that, at least until 20th Century Fox went under, there was no expectation of those superhero rights returning to Marvel.
Frankly, Gilbert thought this was advantageous. Fewer complications meant fewer worries.
In the previous universe, Marvel's Phase Four was heavily criticized. Beyond poor plots and subpar special effects, casting and the sheer number of superhero appearances were also major issues.
Comics have a large fanbase, but not everyone reads them or fully understands the storylines.
This led Phase Four to become heavily fan-focused. Without prior knowledge of the Marvel Universe, audiences couldn't follow the films or keep up with the pace.
A film's limited runtime makes it impossible to properly accommodate dozens of superheroes. This complex setup not only challenged the audience but also the writers and directors.
Gilbert felt fortunate. Phases One through Three were manageable, revolving around the original six Avengers.
Later additions like Scarlet Witch, Vision, Doctor Strange, and Captain Marvel were not overly complicated and could be handled effectively.
Besides supporting Thor, Gilbert did not forget The Dark Knight.
He edited a trailer and released it during the Super Bowl, generating tremendous attention. The Joker's appearance alone quieted the entire stadium.
Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker in the trailer quickly went viral online. His unique voice, combined with the look, exuded an unmatched charm.
The trailers continued to roll out, featuring a Joker special, a Batman special, and a Two-Face special. Posters across cities mostly displayed Batman centered, with the Joker and Two-Face facing each other.
This poster indicated that The Dark Knight would revolve around these three characters.
Meanwhile, in the action-special trailer, the Batpod made a stylish debut, gaining much audience admiration. Many motorcycle enthusiasts, after watching the trailer, decided they had to own a Batpod, even if it was a replica.
By March, The Dark Knight gradually released character posters. On the eve of the Oscars, a 2-minute-21-second ultimate trailer was released, satisfying eager fans.
Christian Bale, Nicolas Cage, Heath Ledger, and other lead actors began appearing on various programs to promote The Dark Knight.
Among them, the most closely watched was the recently discharged Heath Ledger. Internet rumors suggested that Heath Ledger had undergone psychological treatment due to his portrayal of the Joker.
During interviews, Heath Ledger addressed this: "The Joker is an exceptionally insane character. He respects chaos and disorder, as well as the purest form of evil.
He believes that evil is noble and must remain untarnished.
Honestly, this is the most terrifying and maddening villain I have ever encountered, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to play this role."
He did not explicitly state that portraying the Joker caused him mental stress, but his words left plenty of room for fans to imagine.
Christian Bale also spoke about his experience playing Batman: "I feel a lot of pressure. Heath and Nicolas delivered outstanding performances.
When performing, I had to give 120 percent, or I might be overshadowed."
Nicolas Cage added: "This is my first time in a superhero film. My character is very unique, and it feels like I've returned to the energy I had during Face/Off.
I promise, this is an incredibly surprising role."
Gilbert, in turn, praised the actors: "Heath, a month before joining the set, locked himself in his apartment to study the role.
He almost became consumed by it, and even his girlfriend and daughter had conflicts with him. I had to give him a week off to reset.
Christian has been extremely dedicated since the last film. He portrayed Bruce Wayne and Batman excellently, performing many of his own action scenes, which were spectacular.
As for Nicolas, he fully demonstrated his Oscar-winning-level talent in the film. I am confident his character will spark much discussion."
Finally, Gilbert summarized: "The reason I agreed to direct The Dark Knight was because I wanted this series to become a unique superhero franchise.
Even many years from now, when people think of Batman films, they will remember this series.
This summer, let's meet in the theaters."
..
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