Chapter 82

【May 4, earth-shattering release!】

【Sweeping across North American theaters, 2D/IMAX】

……

The teaser trailer was only 30 seconds long, but beyond the rapid-fire gunfights and action sequences that left a deep impression,

the most important thing was that name!

John·Wick!

What story had befallen him? Why did these people fear him so much?

So is this a story of revenge?

Fans were baffled—the teaser revealed too little information.

Yet the protagonist's perpetually brooding, profound gaze and ruthless combat skills made him utterly compelling, radiating a unique allure!

Thus, after watching the teaser, the first wave of fans rushed to share the video with friends,

and with the convenience of social networks, the teaser achieved viral spread immediately upon release!

Even more people excitedly left comments in the comment sections.

"New movie so soon? Can't wait!"

"Why aren't you playing Spider-Man anymore? When's the sequel?"

"I love this realistic action style—definitely supporting!"

"I can't believe this is Xu Can—where did my neighborhood boy go?"

"So cool! This look is amazing!"

"Xu Can wrote it too—definitely worth watching!"

"Low budget, right? Suspected flop."

"Waiting to see."

Aside from a few netizens, the vast majority of fans responded positively to Xu Can's new film.

This was reflected in the data as well.

……

"Current views have surpassed 100,000, likes and comments exceed 10,000, shares exceed 5,000… Online views are projected to break one million within a day; if it lands on the trending feed, traffic will rise even higher."

"Good, online promotion has met its target. Now we wait for TV, network, and theater trailer ads—roll them out step by step as planned."

"Boss Xu, should we pay off critics and media? For a new genre, it's best to build some momentum…"

"No need." Xu Can waved off the suggestion decisively.

"I want genuine market reaction—there's no point spending money on paid praise for early hype."

"If the film is solid, what the media says will be truth anyway."

"Audiences have a rebellious streak; overhyping raises expectations too high, and the result will be worse. I trust the film's word-of-mouth growth more than early box office."

Xu Can rejected the proposal to buy media press releases.

Paying media to flood the scene with praise before release could indeed boost some box office.

But Xu Can had enough confidence in his film—he believed fans would become organic promoters after watching, winning with authentic word-of-mouth.

Besides, his film was rated R, not meant for the general public,

so opening weekend box office certainly wouldn't explode like Spider-Man's—but he believed the later box office would remain steady for a while.

Of course, the parallel world's John Wick differs slightly from the original.

Xu Can himself couldn't be certain whether this film would "fail to take root"—everything would only be revealed on release day!

……

After the John Wick teaser was released, it gradually evolved into a new topic of discussion.

Media outlets everywhere followed up with reports; Xu Can's popularity remained high, quickly drawing the entire Hollywood's attention.

"Xu Can's new film will premiere at the end of the spring season, a gritty R-rated action-crime film, stylistically distinct from his Spider-Man…"

"The John Wick teaser has surpassed ten million views across all online platforms; Xu Can's new look has sparked controversy. Some critics say Xu Can's style is ill-suited for such a weathered, profound role…"

"Xu Can wrote, starred in, and partially directed it—was it too risky to invest all Spider-Man earnings into this new film?"

"As a newcomer in the industry, he should use sequels to solidify his acting skills, not launch new challenges."

"This is the ambition a young actor should have! If he only stays within Spider-Man, Xu Can will be permanently locked into superhero films. Now he dares to challenge—he may hold infinite possibilities!"

"The R-rated crime-action market is already saturated; the peak 90s saw an oversupply of similar films, and audiences inevitably grew fatigued… Xu Can's chosen path may be fraught with peril…"

Despite Spider-Man's unprecedented success, most media viewed it as riding the momentum of Marvel's character popularity, delivering exactly what comic fans wanted, and reaping a massive fanbase of comic enthusiasts.

The success of this film doesn't prove Xu Can can succeed in a new genre—he's merely a newcomer who's acted in one movie!

Media questioned whether he was moving too fast, suggesting he should play similar roles to stabilize his status in the industry.

Some media, however, highly praised Xu Can's exploratory spirit—he refused to be confined to superhero roles; attempting to broaden his range was normal and demonstrated an actor's ambition.

In short, before release, John Wick had garnered sufficient attention!

Everyone was eager to see his performance in the new film.

Then came a media leak that shattered everyone's assumptions.

"Warner Bros. officially announced that after the failure of Superman Returns, they will reboot the Batman live-action film to capture the emerging superhero movie market!"

"Christopher Nolan, director of The Prestige and Memento, has officially joined as director!"

"Christian Bale has been confirmed to play Batman!"

"Batman's archenemy, the Joker, has been cast… and it's none other than Xu Can, who played Spider-Man!"

Media and fans were utterly stunned!

Huh? Spider-Man is going to play the Joker?