Chapter 864: The Price of a Life

Film was a form of entertainment, but it was also more than that. It was deeply shaped by the social climate, and in turn, it exerted its own influence on society.

Undoubtedly, the films Duke produced had reached exactly that level of influence—especially the Batman series.

When Batman Begins hit theaters in 2005, its "exposure of Batman's dark side" drove it to rival that year's massive blockbuster, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, in both box office numbers and public discourse. When Christian Bale's Batman appeared on screen, one excited fan experienced such an "adrenaline surge" in the theater that they assaulted a neighboring moviegoer for "constantly chewing gum."

Before The Dark Knight even premiered, Heath Ledger died in a Los Angeles hotel. Although the police ruled his death an accident, some fans remained convinced he had been murdered by a crazed Batman fanatic.

The Joker character portrayed by Heath Ledger in the film was the absolute pinnacle of madness and neuroticism. He defeated Batman, and his intense, chaotic ideology pushed his popularity higher than Batman's. That year, the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor was awarded to the late Heath Ledger.

Now, it was time for The Dark Knight Rises.

Duke's public email inbox had always been managed by Tina Fey and her assistant team. Just as May began, a death threat caught Tina Fey's attention.

The email contained only a single sentence—"If Batman is weak and pathetic again in The Dark Knight Rises, Duke Rosenberg, you and everyone else will pay with your lives!"

"We can't ignore this!"

Penny Kalis and Nancy Josephson had rushed over to the villa's living room.

"This might just be a malicious prank, but it could also be a genuine threat," Tina Fey said with a grim expression.

Sitting on the sofa, Duke didn't seem too concerned. This sort of thing wasn't uncommon in Hollywood.

"I'm against Duke attending the premiere!"

The most anxious person in the room was Scarlett Johansson. She stood with her arms crossed, seeming somewhat afraid.

"That kind of event is too chaotic," she said. "If someone really wanted to do something, I... I can't even imagine..."

She covered her mouth, cutting herself off.

Duke quickly patted Scarlett's back to comfort her. "It's just a joke, honey. There's no need to be so nervous."

"No need to be nervous?"

Lowering her hand, Scarlett glared at him, her voice unconsciously rising. "Don't forget, this kind of thing has happened before!"

"Hey..." Duke tried to interject, but Scarlett cut him off.

"Have you even considered my feelings? Do you know my heart is practically pounding out of my chest right now?"

Duke naturally knew just how much Scarlett Johansson cared about him. Since it wasn't a good time to argue, he simply shut his mouth.

Tina Fey turned to look at Penny Kalis and Nancy Josephson. "What do you suggest?"

Penny Kalis thought for a moment before speaking up. "We shouldn't overreact, but we can't ignore it either."

Nancy Josephson chimed in. "I suggest we call the police and increase Duke's security detail."

"Right! Call the police," Scarlett Johansson immediately agreed. "And we need more bodyguards. I'm going to hire the best security team in the country!"

Duke looked at Scarlett. He felt a bit helpless, but he couldn't exactly complain since she was only looking out for him.

Increasing his bodyguards was a given. Tina Fey also reported the threat to the Los Angeles County Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Los Angeles Field Office, though these kinds of cases rarely turned up valuable leads right away.

Although the incident left Duke's attendance at the premiere up in the air, the promotional campaign for him and The Dark Knight Rises did not slow down.

Online, in particular, an article titled "Reasons to Look Forward to The Dark Knight Rises" had recently become a hot topic.

"Reason One: Will the Duke Rosenberg Halo Continue to Shine?"

"From the two Batman films to the Avengers Series, and then the high-concept sci-fi blockbuster Inception, every one of Duke's recent projects has been extraordinary. Achieving both critical acclaim and box office success is merely his baseline; inciting wave after wave of fervent fan worship is his true specialty. The Dark Knight, in particular, is already revered by countless moviegoers as the pinnacle of superhero cinema, cementing Duke's name as synonymous with high-quality commercial blockbusters."

"It is exactly this dazzling 'A Duke production is a guaranteed masterpiece' halo that prompted Warner Brothers to invest a massive $250 million into The Dark Knight Rises, and convinced a slew of A-list stars to lower their usual asking prices to form an unprecedented star-studded cast. And Duke, carrying his golden reputation, refused to let down the eager anticipation of global fans. He lugged 200-pound IMAX Cameras all over the world, capturing the most thrilling scenes imaginable for the audience."

"The cryptic viral marketing campaigns, which slowly unveil their mysteries through fan interaction, highlight Duke's absolute confidence in his work. Barring any accidents, Duke's hard work and dedication will yield not just a magnificent conclusion to the trilogy, but a flawless, classic film series for the annals of cinematic history."

"Reason Two: Where Will Batman's Destiny Take Him?"

"At the end of The Dark Knight, Batman silently shouldered every misunderstanding and criticism, wrapping his loneliness in shadows as he continued to fight his tragic fate alone. In The Dark Knight Rises, his situation will grow even more dire. Following a brief peace, a new supervillain will spark another crime wave, pushing Batman to the very brink of destruction. When the city descends into chaos, public morality collapses, and all hope fades, what kind of trials will Gotham's Dark Knight endure? And how will he rise from adversity?"

"According to a reliable source, Bruce Wayne will become a victim of the main villain Bane's schemes. Locked away in the famous Arkham Asylum alongside countless lunatics and criminals he once captured himself, he will waste eight years of his youth there, transforming from a handsome, wealthy playboy into a destitute man with graying temples. If you think that is crazy enough, the traditionally nocturnal Batman will even duel his enemies in broad daylight this time, utterly subverting tradition."

"While rumors of Batman's death seem unbelievable, the image of Bane crushing the Batmask in the promotional posters remains incredibly nerve-wracking. Perhaps, until we sit down in the theater ourselves, all speculation is futile. Duke has said he will give Batman a beautiful, bright ending. We believe his answer will be beyond our imaginations, yet remarkably perfect."

"Reason Three: Will Batman Find Emotional Closure?"

"The suave Bruce Wayne had a rocky romantic path in the first two films. His sweetheart was first stolen away by the district attorney, and then died tragically in the Joker's plot, leaving a deep scar on the heart of this tall, rich, and handsome hero. Perhaps realizing that Batman's suffering in this installment was far too heavy, Duke specially arranged for two incredibly charming female leads to balance things out, promising their screen time would far exceed Rachel's."

"Based on impressions from the comics and Tim Burton's film, the femme fatale Catwoman exists as both friend and foe to Batman. She has caused Batman endless grief countless times—just as the trailer for this movie reveals her teaming up with Bane, though she also saves Batman's life in a moment of peril. The two are guaranteed to join forces against a common enemy in this film. However, considering Gal Gadot's Catwoman is much colder and more realistic, the dream of comrades turning into lovers seems rather unlikely."

"Since it's impossible for him to end up with Catwoman, what about Sienna Miller's Miranda Tate? Studio materials show her as a Wayne Group board member who helps Batman immensely in his career. Coupled with the intimate shots of the two in the trailer, there is good reason to believe she is Batman's new romantic interest."

"More importantly, even though both Warner Brothers and Sienna Miller firmly deny it, many fans remain convinced that Miranda's true identity is the daughter of Ninja Master, the main villain from Batman Begins. In the comics, she is deeply in love with Batman and even bears his son. Ultimately, though, it's all just speculation. It won't be that easy for the lone hero prowling the dark world to truly bid farewell to singlehood. Best of luck, Master Wayne."

"Reason Four: Will Gal Gadot Deliver the Most Classic Catwoman?"

"Among the many new characters introduced in The Dark Knight Rises, Selina Kyle is undoubtedly one of the most highly anticipated. Her level of exposure is practically on par with Batman and Destroyer Bane."

"Praised as the sexiest female character in American comic book history, she was previously played by Michelle Pfeiffer in Batman Returns. With her BDSM-style suit and mask, half-human, half-cat attributes, and sleek action choreography, she left an indelible mark on a generation of moviegoers. Therefore, when Gal Gadot's version of Catwoman debuted without a mask, without cat ears, and completely lacking the BDSM aesthetic, a significant number of fans found it difficult to understand and accept."

"But don't forget, the world captured through Duke Rosenberg's lens isn't a flamboyant comic book universe, but a gritty, realistic crime city in Gotham. Thus, Gal Gadot doesn't need to emulate her predecessor just to appease male audiences. All she needs to do is perfectly portray this antihero navigating the gray area between good and evil, and make her complex web of alliances and rivalries with Batman and Destroyer Bane feel authentic and believable."

"Judging by Duke Rosenberg's skill in directing actors, Gal Gadot has a strong chance of completely blowing past previous iterations to become the greatest Catwoman in cinematic history. Besides, looking at her recently revealed costumes, Gal Gadot clad in tight leather and knee-high boots—whether showing off her martial arts skills or weaving through traffic on the Batcycle—exudes a fierce, heroic aura beneath her sexy allure. Giving male fans nosebleeds will still be child's play for her."

"Reason Five: What Role Will Margot Robbie's Mysterious Harley Quinn Play in the Film..."

In the final days leading up to the premiere, the promotional blitz for The Dark Knight Rises reached its absolute peak. As for all the questions and suspense, the true answers would have to wait until the film hit theaters.