Chapter 590: Marvel's Milestone

"What happened?"

Stan Lee had just been woken up, so his mind was still a bit foggy. The constant stream of chaotic noises from outside, however, prompted him to open his door and step out. Following the sound, he made his way into the lobby housing the company's front desk.

The moment he stepped into the lobby, he saw that the entire Marvel staff—including Kevin Feige and Avi Arad—was acting as if they had gone mad. Before he could make sense of the situation, someone set off a party popper right next to him, showering his head in streamers.

'Could it be...'

Stan Lee's mind instantly cleared.

He looked straight ahead and asked loudly, "Kevin, did we get the box office stats for yesterday's midnight screenings?"

"We got them! We got them!"

Before Kevin Feige could answer, a nearby young man shouted, "$10.26 million! Iron Man is holding strong! Stan, we really did it!"

"Yeah, we did it!"

Countless chaotic voices immediately echoed the sentiment. For the people who had poured years of hard work into Iron Man and Marvel Pictures, this excitement, madness, and celebration was a thoroughly deserved reward.

Stan Lee wasn't overly ecstatic; he merely let out a long breath. All the effort Marvel had invested had finally paid off.

Outsiders only saw Iron Man's excellent market reception and box office numbers. Few knew just how much effort Marvel Comics and Marvel Pictures had put in—and how much pressure they had shouldered over the past few years—after that genius director proposed the grand cinematic universe plan.

Now, the harvest season had finally arrived!

Although the crucial opening weekend had just begun, the midnight screenings saw almost no drop-off compared to the advance screenings. This was enough to prove that Iron Man would chart a steady course, a trend validated by director Duke Rosenberg's entire track record.

After all, from last night until now, positive reviews held an overwhelming advantage. The CinemaScore theatrical audience approval rating was as high as 94 percent, with an average audience grade of A+...

These weren't scores from professional critics wholly disconnected from the market. They were the most direct audience reactions, serving as a guarantee for Iron Man's robust box office performance.

After years of preparation, Marvel Pictures clearly saw that success had arrived. The entire company was swept up in the excitement.

Unlike the staff at Marvel Pictures, Scarlett was certainly happy when she saw the midnight box office figures, but she wasn't nearly as thrilled or ecstatic. In her eyes, this kind of success was simply a given. If a film by Duke couldn't succeed? Then practically every movie released in the Hollywood summer season would likely be met with a cold reception.

She had seen too much of this kind of success over the past ten-plus years. It no longer sparked any profound excitement, even when it was closely tied to her.

After breakfast, she drove her sports car to drop Duke off at Warner Studios first. Then, she hurried over to Rodeo Boulevard in Beverly Hills to meet up with Rachel McAdams, whom she had made plans with the day before. The two began wandering through several of the area's most famous fashion boutiques.

The simultaneous appearance of Black Widow and Pepper quickly drew reporters and paparazzi. Neither Scarlett nor Rachel McAdams was a newcomer to Hollywood; as long as those obnoxious guys didn't come over to bother them directly, they mostly ignored their existence.

Both women were skilled actors. From the paparazzi's perspective, they looked like the closest of sisters.

Rachel McAdams in particular wore an exceptionally radiant smile. It seemed as if her friendship with Scarlett Johansson truly couldn't be any better.

She had also received the relevant box office statistics and knew full well that Iron Man was destined to be a blockbuster sensation. Barring any accidents, the careers of all the main actors—herself included—would take a massive leap forward.

However, even with career advancements all around, there were still differences in magnitude.

From last night until this morning, Rachel McAdams had kept a close eye on the media reviews. Just as she expected, Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson had received the most praise. Meanwhile, as the female lead, she had fallen to the same level of recognition as the Black actor, Don Cheadle.

No one was willing to be relegated to someone else's supporting cast, especially not the film's female lead.

"Let's go sit in a cafe for a bit, Scar?"

As they passed by a coffee shop, Rachel McAdams suggested, "Let's rest for a while before we keep shopping."

"Sure," Scarlett said, having absolutely no intention of refusing.

No matter how you looked at it, being followed around by so many paparazzi snapping covert photos was never a comfortable experience.

Right before entering the cafe, Rachel McAdams went out of her way to buy a copy of the Los Angeles Times. Pushing open the glass door, they found a relatively secluded booth and sat across from each other.

"They still haven't given up."

After ordering their coffee, Rachel McAdams pointed through the glass window at the paparazzi still lingering outside and said, "Do they plan on following us all day?"

Scarlett replied dismissively, "Just ignore them."

"The film's reception has been so good." Rachel McAdams nodded. "They definitely won't let us off easily."

Deep down, she didn't consider this a bad thing at all. In the past, she'd had to proactively contact the media to stage street shots. But ever since she starred in Duke Rosenberg's movie, reporters and paparazzi chased after her instead.

Only with media attention came exposure. Rachel McAdams understood this principle very well. The treatment she was enjoying now was a clear testament to the benefits of working with a super-director.

Rachel McAdams naturally wanted to continue collaborating. After all, judging from the current situation, the benefits she had reaped from Iron Man hadn't quite met her expectations.

"I heard Duke has a whole series of production plans for the next few years?" she asked casually, as if just making idle chatter.

Scarlett seemed to treat it as small talk too. "I think so."

Her eyes flashing briefly, Rachel McAdams asked, "Will you continue to work with him?"

"I don't know his specific plans." Scarlett was actually telling the truth. "If he needs me, I wouldn't mind."

Rachel McAdams understood the importance of connections and decided to play the long game. She proactively changed the subject, chatting about matters related to Iron Man. After a few sentences, she opened the copy of the Los Angeles Times she had already read that morning.

"There's a review for Iron Man in here!" Her tone was full of pleasant surprise, as if she had only just noticed it. "It's the front-page headline of the entertainment section."

"Really?" Scarlett put on an interested expression. "I came out early today, so I haven't read the reviews yet."

After thinking for a moment, Rachel McAdams said, "I haven't read it either. Why don't I read it to you?"

The two acted as intimate as best friends.

"The sudden arrival of Iron Man, directed by Duke Rosenberg, has subverted our general understanding of comic book heroes. Before Tony Stark, no mainstream comic hero possessed such a high-profile, flamboyant personality. Everyone—including Superman's Clark Kent, Batman's Bruce Wayne, and Spider-Man's Peter Parker—has maintained dual identities as a 'hero' and an 'ordinary person,' trying every possible means to hide the truth."

"But Tony Stark is the exact opposite. As an ordinary person, he is a genius, a billionaire, and the darling of the spotlight. Furthermore, he makes no secret of his identity as 'Iron Man.' That line at the press conference at the end of the film—'I am Iron Man'—is a high-profile declaration of a superhero's public birth."

"Iron Man's setup perfectly aligns with certain traits and demands of our era. Cool, wealthy, and expressive. For a significant portion of the younger generation of filmgoers, such an image is undoubtedly more appealing than those cautious, sneaking superheroes."

"At the same time, we can also see another level of effort embodied in Iron Man. Compared to Superman's innate gifts, Spider-Man's special powers, and Batman's tech team, Iron Man's rise stems far more from Tony Stark's genius and diligence. From its inception to its step-by-step modifications and improvements, the 'Iron Battle Armor' was crafted entirely by Tony's own hands."

"With the release of Iron Man, Duke Rosenberg has brought not only an unconventional superhero, but also a brand-new situation for Robert Downey Jr. and Marvel Comics."

"In a sense, Tony Stark is also a reflection of Robert Downey Jr. Downey found fame very early on, but drug addiction, gun possession, and imprisonment—a slew of misdeeds—squandered much of his prime. Fortunately, he met Duke Rosenberg. Taking advantage of the opportunity presented by Iron Man, he has returned to the public eye with a completely new, positive image."

"Iron Man is both Downey's salvation and a milestone for the Marvel Company. Anyone who has seen the film will easily notice that Marvel has a series of grand plans. Through the commercial success of Iron Man, Duke Rosenberg has opened up a new frontier for Marvel. It is entirely foreseeable that from now on and long into the future, the big screen will welcome a golden era belonging to Marvel's superheroes."

Reading up to this point, Rachel McAdams couldn't help but furrow her brows slightly. She had just realized another thing she had overlooked.

Throughout the entire franchise, Pepper Potts was merely eye candy. Even if she continued to appear later on, it would be impossible to change her status. On the other hand, Scarlett's Natasha Romanoff was more than just eye candy. If her deductions were correct, she wouldn't just be a member of The Avengers, but also an incredibly crucial character.

Rachel McAdams felt that sense of psychological imbalance flare up again. However, she was able to manage her mindset.

After a brief adjustment, she stood up and suggested, "Shall we head to Chanel?"

Scarlett acted like a sweet girl without much of an opinion of her own.

Showing no intention of objecting, she simply grabbed her handbag, walked over to Rachel McAdams's side, and said, "Then let's hurry. There are still so many stores we haven't visited yet, right?"

The two of them walked down Rodeo Boulevard. As they passed near a movie theater, they specifically took a look. The massive Iron Man poster displayed out front was exceptionally eye-catching.