In the ensuing time, despite the bad reviews of "Attack of the Clones" from the audience and the media, it still relied on the influence of Star Wars and the relationship of the first week of release to firmly suppress the release of "The Two Towers", and the two films except for Monday's Memorial Day table, the box office fell below $10 million in the following three working days.

Especially "The Two Towers", because the hot movie-going craze is gradually cooling down, the single-day box office of the film on weekdays has fallen to less than $5 million.

Entering the first weekend of June, although there was a huge gap between the weekend box office between the two films, and "Attack of the Clones" won the second weekend box office chart with an absolute advantage, the decline of the two showed a completely different trend.

The former has a mediocre audience reputation, with a positive rating of only 71 percent for theatrical audiences, and an A- audience score on CinemaScore, which directly led to a 51 percent jump in the box office the next weekend, earning only $39.2 million.

Although the box office of "The Two Towers" in the same weekend was less than half of it, compared to $22.6 million in the fourth weekend, this weekend's $13.56 million is only a drop of 40%!

Let's not forget, "Attack of the Clones" has only been in theaters for two weekends, and "The Two Towers" has reached its fifth weekend.

Previously, there were still many people who hoped that the Star Wars series could end Duke's dominance in the summer in recent years, but the box office trend of the two films clearly proves that the final North American box office and global box office of the two sides will not stay at the same level at all.

Even people outside the film industry can see that "Attack of the Clones" simply can't challenge "The Two Towers" from the box office market.

Duke and Ivanka's Australian holiday trip has also come to an end, and the two meet up with Tina, who has traveled from New Zealand? Philip returned to Los Angeles together. However, when they left Los Angeles International Airport, they were chased and intercepted by reporters and paparazzi because they did not take a private jet.

These crazy guys even shouted at Duke and Ivanka to pose as affectionate in order to show affection in front of their cameras.

It's a pity that neither Duke nor Ivanka. There is no interest at all, they are very different from Hollywood-style couples, although this relationship is destined to be low-key, but there is no interest in showing, those couples who show affection in the media and in public, in fact, most people know that their so-called affection can only be used for show.

Duke doesn't need to increase his exposure in this way, and even though the director now needs to be in front of the camera most of the time, he is not interested in actively exposing his private life; Ivanka, on the other hand, is a little averse to being a star. Her mind is more focused on business.

Although Duke would not deliberately avoid the media when he was around ** in the past, he also did not have an obligation to cooperate with them.

Back in Los Angeles, Ivanka began preparing for the company's relocation to Los Angeles, where she eventually chose the city of Burbank as the company's address, and with Duke's coordination, leased a small office building from Warner as the company's permanent address.

Most of these things, Duke can't help. And he still has his own work to be busy, and the special effects production of "The Return of the King" is almost complete. He needed to cut the first cut of the dailies into the version he needed.

At the same time, the already mediocre box office trend of "Attack of the Clones," which lasted only two weeks, was ended by the newly released "Spider-Man," a Marvel superhero film produced by Sony Columbia Pictures and released by countless critics. But it really shows the power of superhero movies.

Three days after the opening weekend in North America, "Spider-Man" broke the North American film history record that Duke had just set with $114.84 million, becoming the second film ever to exceed $100 million at the North American weekend box office.

However, this time, although the response was huge. But public opinion is not as strong as it was in "The Twin Towers", and the reason is actually very simple, the second Cheng dù who has attracted more attention than the first person who eats crabs.

However, "The Two Towers" was not particularly affected, after all, after more than a month of screening, the film has dropped both in terms of scheduling rate and number of theaters, and it is also a super blockbuster.

"Spider-Man" exploded, benefiting not only Sony Columbia Pictures, but also Marvel Comics, Peter? Parker and Wolverines instantly made Marvel's superheroes dazzling, and countless film companies focused on the Marvel headquarters in New York, but after Marvel received Duke's investment, there was no shortage of funds in the short term, especially the final universe plan thrown by Duke, which made Marvel's executives ambitious and ready to create superhero movies that belong to the Marvel brand.

Although this is still in the planning stage on paper, Marvel does not want to sell its children anymore, and Spider-Man and the X-Men have already made them regret it.

With the help of "Spider-Man", in mid-June, Marvel Studios officially announced its establishment, in order to be close to Hollywood, Marvel specially placed the address of this film subsidiary in Burbank City, and with the support of Duke, Kevin ? Feige became the first CEO of Marvel Studios.

"Marvel set up the studio company for only one purpose."

At the press conference for the launch of the film company, Kevin? Feige said to countless reporters, "Our initial plan is to launch the first superhero movie in 3 to 4 years. ”

"Can you ask about Marvel's specific plans?" a reporter immediately asked, "What was the first superhero movie?" ”

"Of course there is a plan."

Kevin? As soon as Feige's words were finished, another reporter asked, "The film industry is not the comic book industry, is it too risky for Marvel to rashly enter the film industry?" ”

"Of course, we know the risks and have a good plan for that."

Speaking of which, Kevin? Feige duly turned the conversation to Duke, who was sitting next to him, "The whole project comes from director Rosenberg, and director Rosenberg will be one of the supervisors and implementers of the entire film plan." With director Rosenberg here, Marvel is full of confidence in Marvel superhero movies. ”

The reporter immediately turned his attention to Duke, but Duke chose the question of an old acquaintance.

Sarah from the Los Angeles Times asked a question that had been communicated between the two sides for a long time, "Can you reveal what the first superhero movie of Marvel Studios was?" ”

For Marvel Studios, which is a complete novice, the success or failure of the first superhero movie is extremely important, so there are no surprises that come out of Duke's mouth, "Tony? Stark, Iron Man! ”

"When will this movie come out as soon as possible?"

"We need three to four years to prepare!"

Marvel Studios is a new company, and this is a series of plans, and it will be launched in a hurry without sufficient preparation? That's a choice that only the layman makes.

"Mr. Feige just said that Marvel has a series of plans, what is it?"

"You saw it when Iron Man came out......"

After the press conference, there was a regular reception, which was held at the Annabelle Hotel, which was not very far away.

Not only is the hotel close to Marvel Studios' headquarters, it's not too far from the Warner Building, just over a mile, but Warner Bros. CEO Doug? Walter was also present at the reception.

Although Marvel and Warner's DC are in a cooperative and competitive relationship, they have been competing for more time, and the two sides have been bitter rivals for decades.

"Duke, I don't know what to say."

Facing Marvel's largest shareholder and Warner Bros.'s largest individual shareholder, Doug? Walter was a little helpless, "DC's Superman and Batman movies are waiting for redemption, but you, the shareholder, have come together with Marvel." ”

Although the words were not serious, Duke still heard the dissatisfaction from them.

This is normal, and there will be some opinions on who is about to become CEO.

"Doug, there are some things I wanted to wait for you to become CEO, and then we would talk about it in detail......"

As soon as he said this, someone came over to say hello, and Duke had to interrupt the conversation with Doug? Walter's words, exchanged a few words with the other party, and when he sent the man away, when he turned around, he only saw Doug? Walter asked his female companion to stop the person who came to greet him, apparently unable to wait.

Originally, about DC, Duke wanted to wait for Doug next month? After Walter officially took over as CEO, he talked about it in depth, but now that the other party has confirmed that he will take over, he said it again, so it's better to have an exchange.

This is not the place to talk, though.

Right next to it, Tina? Faye had already called the hotel to ask for a meeting room, Duke and Doug? Walter didn't linger any longer, leaving the ballroom and walking straight into the reception room.

"Duke, do you have an idea for DC's superheroes?"

Just sat down, Doug? Walter couldn't wait to say, "Our superhero movies have been sinking for too long, and for a long time, people have forgotten the glory they once created." ”

Before the new millennium, only Superman and Batman had great success, but both series fell on the fourth part, and Warner Bros. had to be temporarily mothballed for the sake of the entire series.

"Ever since Batman & Robin failed, I've been thinking about superhero movies."

Hearing Duke's words, Doug? Walter's eyes immediately lit up, "So you're interested in directing superhero movies?" ”

In his opinion, if anyone can save DC's comic book movies, it must be Duke.

"Doug, the current special effects technology is developing extremely fast, and the abilities of superheroes are getting easier and easier to show on the big screen, and they are ......"

Duke said a few words, and then said, "I think there will be a period in the future when superhero movies will become the mainstream of the market, and Warner Bros. and DC should have a long-term systematic plan for this!" (To be continued......)

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