Chapter 865: The Joker Reappears

Before its official release, The Dark Knight Rises enjoyed massive hype among fans, which only climbed higher as premiere day approached. The media spared no praise, with Empire magazine hailing it as a "superhero movie of unprecedented scale."

When the premiere kicked off at the Hollywood Chinese Theater, the scene could only be described as a sea of people.

Despite Scarlett Johansson and Tina Fey's strenuous objections, Duke still attended the premiere. However, he wasn't the type to ignore advice; throughout the event, two agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation provided him with close-quarters protection.

Beyond that, Duke's private bodyguards were stationed slightly further out. Two professional security companies hired by Warner Brothers handled the perimeter, and personnel from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Los Angeles Field Office had secured the nearby vantage points.

Furthermore, every fan entering the theater for the screening had to pass through a security check.

Since the police had been called, the fact that Duke had received "death threats" was naturally no longer a secret. As he and Scarlett quickly walked down the red carpet, numerous fans held up signs and chanted slogans in his support.

Like all Hollywood premieres, the premiere for The Dark Knight Rises wasn't particularly out of the ordinary. These days, not only were Hollywood movies produced on an assembly line, but their premieres were too.

The only difference was that the premiere for The Dark Knight Rises was teeming with all manner of freaks and monsters.

Many crazed fans dressed as famous characters from the movie or the comics lined both sides of the red carpet. Costumes of Batman, The Penguin, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Robin were everywhere.

However, the Joker was by far the most popular. A massive number of fans wore purple suits, their pale faces painted with terrifyingly red mouths.

Walking down the red carpet, Duke looked at the Jokers on either side. He suddenly thought of something, but amidst the surrounding frantic screams of "Duke," he couldn't quite grasp it.

Scarlett immediately noticed that something was wrong with Duke.

"What's wrong, honey? Are you feeling unwell?" she asked quickly.

The two Federal Bureau of Investigation agents also hurried over.

Duke quickly shook his head at them. "It's nothing," he said.

Looking at the Jokers lining the red carpet, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had overlooked something.

Reaching the end of the red carpet, Duke and Scarlett entered the interview area. Many actors were already giving interviews; people like Christian Bale, Dwayne Johnson, and Gal Gadot were being chased down by reporters.

The moment Duke stepped into the interview area, he drew a crowd of journalists.

And their questions were almost entirely focused on the "death threats" he had received.

"Director Rosenberg, what do you make of that threat email?"

"Duke, will this change the content of the movie?"

Listening to the chaotic clamor around him, Duke had to answer quickly.

"I believe this is just a prank, and not that someone actually wants to harm me," he said.

After saying that, Duke prepared to leave the interview area with the help of his bodyguards and the two Los Angeles agents.

Right at that moment, another reporter shouted a question.

"Don't you think someone is just imitating the Joker and mailing death threats because The Dark Knight overly glorified his violence?"

Duke glanced back at the reporter. The man's words were like a key, unlocking the stalled thoughts in his mind.

Although his feet kept moving toward the photo area alongside Scarlett, his mind had already drifted elsewhere.

It was just as the reporter had said. The Joker had mailed "death threats" several times, and it wasn't impossible for some crazy bastard to imitate the plot.

Duke knew this well. Years ago, The Matrix had actually triggered a murder. The killer had believed he was like Neo, living in a virtual world, and wanted to completely awaken.

How massive was the Joker's influence? He was practically a mythologized villain!

Duke knew very well that many fans crazily worshipped the Joker. It wasn't impossible for some of them to imitate his actions...

At this thought, a memory that had gradually faded with time suddenly resurfaced in his mind. In that past shooting incident, the perpetrator had seemingly dressed up as or imitated the Joker.

Finishing the photo op like a mechanical puppet, Duke walked into the theater and immediately called Tina Fey over.

Inside the lounge, Duke sent the two federal agents away, leaving only Scarlett Johansson and Tina Fey.

"Tina, contact the people at Warner Brothers immediately..." His speech was a bit fast, but still steady. "Have them notify the major theater chains to ban fans from wearing character costumes to the screenings."

Hearing this, Tina Fey looked at him in surprise. "You know that's going to be difficult, Duke."

Duke certainly knew it would be difficult. In a mature film market like North America, fans dressing up as various characters to watch a movie was practically a tradition, as well as a great way to build up the film's atmosphere.

"I'm afraid the theater chains will be hard-pressed to agree," Tina Fey added.

"Forget it..." Duke sighed. "Let's just head back into the theater."

It wasn't that the theater chains would be hard-pressed to agree; they absolutely would not agree. Doing so would offend their most fanatic fans—the ones with the strongest purchasing power. How could profit-driven theater chains possibly agree to that?

Let alone the theater chains, even Warner Brothers wouldn't agree to it.

If they actually did what Duke suggested, setting aside everything else, how much less merchandise would the film sell? Plus, it would alienate their core audience.

"What are you worried about?" Scarlett asked.

"Mailing death threats..." Duke knew he needed to explain a bit. "Who did that in The Dark Knight?"

"The Joker!" Tina Fey and Scarlett Johansson said in unison.

"Are you worried that the person who sent the death threats..." Tina Fey immediately understood what Duke meant. "...will dress up as the Joker and sneak into a theater?"

Duke nodded.

Scarlett couldn't help but offer a comforting smile. "Don't worry, honey. The premiere has strict security measures. Even if he dresses up as the Joker, he won't be able to bring weapons in here."

"I'm not worried about here." Duke shook his head. "Did you two forget that the death threats also targeted everyone else? What if he doesn't come here, but goes to a different theater instead..."

Tina Fey and Scarlett Johansson both dropped their smiles. Other theaters didn't have security checks.

The two women then shook their heads again. Even though they cared deeply about Duke, they didn't necessarily believe the death threats were real. Furthermore, aside from Duke, they didn't really care about anyone else.

Force theaters to add security checks and ban fans from dressing up in character costumes? What a joke. It wasn't like they owned the North American theater chains.

The three of them exchanged glances before leaving the lounge. They reconvened with the bodyguards and the Federal Bureau of Investigation agents and walked straight into the theater.

Upon entering the theater, Tina Fey actually exchanged opinions with the two Federal Bureau of Investigation agents regarding the death threats toward everyone and the Joker connection. However, the agents weren't interested in such baffling deductions; they merely offered some perfunctory responses.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation was protecting Duke simply because his status and position warranted protection, but they treated Tina Fey's theories about the Joker and the death threats as mere paranoia.

Duke's seats were isolated from the rest of the cast and crew. He and Scarlett Johansson sat in the middle, surrounded by several agents and bodyguards.

With the screening of The Dark Knight Rises imminent, many Jokers, Batmen, Catwomen, and Robins had also filtered into the premiere theater. Aside from the VIPs in the front rows wearing formal attire, the Hollywood Chinese Theater had practically become a gathering place for all manner of freaks and monsters.

Glancing back at the packed theater, Duke turned his head forward again. Feeling Scarlett gently squeeze his hand, he gave her a smile as his eyes gradually shifted to the large screen in front of them.

Not far behind him, Sarah from the Los Angeles Times was also looking toward the back. She knew Duke had received "death threats" and that the security level for today's premiere had been bolstered by more than just a couple of notches. If the person who issued the threats sneaked into the theater, they were bound to be among that crowd of freaks and monsters in the back.

However, with Duke surrounded by a large detail of bodyguards and federal agents, even if someone wanted to try something, it would be virtually impossible.

Having dealt with Duke for years, Sarah was still somewhat worried about the director's safety.

In the media seating area where she sat, many journalists were also enthusiastically glancing back at the freaks and monsters, then looking forward at Duke Rosenberg in the front row. They seemed to be eagerly waiting for something to happen at this premiere—ideally, a massive news story that would grab the whole world's attention.

A Duke Rosenberg movie releasing, a Duke Rosenberg movie becoming a massive hit—these were no longer news. Audiences were probably already numb to such updates.

But what if Duke Rosenberg was attacked?

Just imagining such a scene left these reporters pumped full of adrenaline. Was there any news more eye-catching than that?

They desperately hoped someone would step up!

Where was this person who might step up? And in what manner would they appear?

This wasn't a question the reporters were considering, but rather what Duke was thinking as he stared at the gradually brightening silver screen. What happened in the past wouldn't necessarily happen here; after all, since he had arrived in this world, too many people and events in Hollywood had already changed.

The movie was about to begin. The Hollywood Chinese Theater gradually transitioned from noisy to quiet, with only a few people dressed as the Joker still looking for their seats.

Outside the Hollywood Chinese Theater, a black Ford sedan slowly approached the venue. James Holmes, dressed in a standard Joker costume, calmly observed the situation at the Hollywood Chinese Theater through his window.

On a normal day, this outfit would absolutely draw a lot of stares, but right now it was completely commonplace. With Joker lookalikes roaming all around, James Holmes didn't stand out at all.

Lightly stepping on the brakes, he parked the black Ford on the side of the road. James Holmes didn't get out of the car. Instead, he patiently observed the situation. His hand unconsciously reached under his purple costume, easily finding his gun.

These were the tools he needed to achieve his pursuit of chaos!