Chapter 325

“Wu, what prompted you to revive ‘Batman’? Many Hollywood directors dare not touch it.”

Facing the reporter’s question, Wu Yuchen walked while smiling:

“Batman differs from other superheroes because he possesses no superpowers—he trains himself through willpower and determination to become a justice-bringing crime fighter.”

“So Batman is a hero ordinary people aspire to become—and possibly can become. No ordinary person can turn into the Hulk or Superman, but with sufficient training and maximum effort, anyone can become Batman.”

“Then why are you making a Batman trilogy all at once? Will it be like ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ or ‘Spider-Man’ trilogies?”

“Because a single film simply isn’t enough to show Batman. I want to present the audience with a complete Batman—how an ordinary man transforms into a superhero, and explore the responsibilities he bears and what Batman and heroism truly represent.”

“‘Pirates of the Caribbean,’ ‘Spider-Man,’ and ‘Batman’ are all different—each protagonist has unique charm. I won’t walk the same path again.”

Now, whenever Wu Yuchen goes out, reporters immediately ask him about ‘Batman.’ His fame as a legendary director combined with Batman’s worldwide superhero status draws immense audience attention; once the news broke, fan discussions never stopped.

Especially in 1997, when ‘Batman & Robin’ flopped spectacularly and its reputation hit rock bottom, people still curse it today.

But because Wu Yuchen has a glorious track record, and both ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and ‘Spider-Man’’s first two installments have satisfied the vast majority of audiences, people still greatly anticipate his Batman trilogy.

“Christian, if I publicly announce I’ve chosen you as Batman and release your current photo, I’m sure fans will flood me with criticism~”

Wu Yuchen looked at Christian Bale before him—not emaciated, but very thin, giving off a sickly, unhealthy impression, utterly unconnected to Batman.

Christian Bale had just starred in ‘The Machinist’ this year—not the Jackie Chan series, but a thriller—in which he dropped his weight to 99 jin.

Think about it: a man over 1.8 meters tall, weighing only 99 jin. He ultimately earned his reward—his brilliant performance won him the British Film Critics Association’s ‘Actor of the Year’ award.

Bale quickly said: “Director Wu, if you’re willing to trust me, I’ll get my body into any shape you want within your deadline!”

If someone else said this, there might still be some exaggeration. But when Bale says it, Wu Yuchen believes him one hundred percent.

This guy had a nickname in his past life: Hollywood’s Rubber Man. Not because Bale had the same power as Luffy from ‘One Piece,’ but because he truly seemed able to manipulate his weight at will, adapting his body to any role’s demands.

Two years ago, Bale still had a perfect physique: 184 cm tall, 81 kg of lean muscle, with elegant contours.

But this year, while filming ‘The Machinist,’ he lost 63 pounds in just two weeks—equivalent to one-third of his body weight—dropping from 173 lbs to 110 lbs. He even wanted to go below 100 lbs, until doctors warned him that further weight loss could lead to premature death; only then did he stop his terrifying body transformation.

In his past life, after landing ‘Batman Begins,’ Bale quickly regained 86 kg, rebuilt his muscular armor, and became the majestic superhero audiences saw.

Did you think that was all?

While everyone assumed he’d calmly play Batman, in 2006 he portrayed an escapee in ‘The Prestige,’ dropping back to 60 kg, then immediately returned to 86 kg to film ‘The Dark Knight.’ After ‘The Dark Knight’’s huge success, he dropped again to 62 kg for ‘The Fighter’ in 2010, then returned to 86 kg as Batman in ‘The Dark Knight Rises.’

The next year, in 2013’s ‘American Hustle,’ he rapidly gained to 98 kg—no muscle at all, just a fat man…

Honestly, Wu Yuchen deeply admired Bale’s dedication. Did anyone really think he had superpowers? Didn’t he rely solely on superhuman willpower? Across all of Hollywood, among stars ranked three or higher, how many could do what he did?

Wu Yuchen nodded with a smile, then said to Bale: “Christian, didn’t you audition for ‘Batman Forever’ back in 1994?”

“Yes, I auditioned for Robin. Unfortunately, I didn’t get it.”

Wu Yuchen smiled: “Do you know what I admire most about you? Your willpower. Batman becomes a superhero through human strength alone—he must possess extraordinary resilience. I see more of that in you than in anyone else.”

Bale’s face lit up with joy—he realized his suffering hadn’t been in vain; he’d won Wu Yuchen’s favor!

“Christian, I’ll give you over half a year, so don’t rush. Follow a scientific plan and gain weight slowly—your health comes first! During this time, I want you to become the Bruce Wayne I envision.”

Wu Yuchen wasn’t as rushed as in his past life, where he’d rushed ‘Batman Begins’ for next year’s release—he could now give Bale ample time to recover.

Honestly, based on Wu Yuchen’s understanding of some traditional Chinese medicine principles, although Bale had nutritionists for both his weight loss and gain, he still believed such rapid transformations harmed the body. But everyone has their own choices—he respected Bale’s dedication.

“Director Wu, thank you! I never expected such praise. Batman is a cultural symbol to me—I’m terrified I might not do him justice. But your approval gives me confidence!”

After finalizing the male lead, Wu Yuchen met another person—not an actor, but the costume designer Lindy Hemming, who had designed costumes for ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.’

“Lindy, you’re vital to us. Whether we create a Batman suit that satisfies audiences depends entirely on you—I don’t want the film criticized before it even releases~” Wu Yuchen smiled.

“Director Wu, I won’t make the ridiculous Batman suit from 1997 that audiences mocked. I don’t want to become a laughingstock in the industry!”

The two were referring to the Batman suit from 1997’s ‘Batman & Robin.’ When the poster first appeared during promotion, fans erupted in outrage—the suit had two raised bumps on the chest, resembling… well, something inappropriate.

The design was hideous. All fans cursed the costume designer’s brain had been flooded. With such a look, avoiding immersion was impossible—and the film carried a shadow even before release.

This time, the Batman suit must be done right—even if ordinary, it must avoid criticism. It will feature waterproofing, insulation, and other functions; someday, it may become a collectible.

As for the Batmobile, in the story, it’s actually a military prototype called ‘The Tumbler,’ developed by Wayne Enterprises to carry personnel and equipment across trenches and traverse open terrain. Though too expensive for mass production, Batman discovered it and turned it into a tool for justice.

Wu Yuchen outlined his vision and requirements; the designer proposed a Lamborghini-Hummer hybrid concept, blending sports car agility with military vehicle bulk. They created five vehicle concept models, and Wu Yuchen chose the final one.

While Wu Yuchen was busy, Kate Beckinsale—the British rose who once shared a night with him—came to visit.

Her intent was obvious. After entering Wu Yuchen’s estate, she immediately leaned into his arms. Wu Yuchen didn’t refuse, but he didn’t take the wild rose inside the mansion—he took her straight to the garden, making Kate pout playfully: always playing games.

That night, after they washed up and lay in bed, Wu Yuchen said: “Kate, I won’t deceive you—the female lead’s screen time isn’t that much.”

Kate smiled: “Is it more than the female lead in ‘Spider-Man’?”

“About the same,” Wu Yuchen nodded.

“That’s enough!”

For Kate, ‘Batman’ was a man’s film, but Wu Yuchen knew it was a massive IP that would explode globally. If she played the female lead, she’d gain enough exposure and traffic.

Wu Yuchen smiled. He agreed to cast her not just because of their friendship, but because she was genuinely perfect for the role.

Rachel, the female lead and Batman’s lover, is a crucial presence—she witnesses Batman’s growth and transformation. As an assistant district attorney, she’s both tough against criminals and naturally intelligent, and of course, beautiful.

Kate met all these requirements perfectly. Her selection as the female lead in ‘Pearl Harbor’ proved her looks were striking; her prior lead role in ‘Love Actually’ was also a major romantic success.

With the male and female leads set, the film was nearly complete. For Gordon, the butler, and the villainous Sensei, Wu Yuchen would contact them one by one to lock their schedules.

With most time-consuming pre-production tasks now running smoothly without him, he could finally leave America and return home in peace.

Wu Yuchen’s hand glided over Kate’s slender waist, lingering high as he gently stroked and plucked, when suddenly he realized: whether Spider-Man’s girlfriend or Batman’s lover, they’d all become his conquests.

Oh right—if you count Jessica Alba, the future Wonder Woman, that’s one more!

Wu Yuchen thought of Black Widow—should he find a chance to add ScarJo to his collection? Complete the set?

Oh, and there’s Pepper Potts from ‘Iron Man’!

Thinking of Pepper, he considered Jennifer Connelly—her age and demeanor suited her perfectly.

And Peggy Carter from ‘Captain America’… and the scientist Jane Foster from ‘Thor’…

Sigh—it seems his collection journey still has a long way to go!

On August 6, Wu Yuchen attended the premiere of ‘Step Up.’ Normally, such a low-budget film wouldn’t warrant a grand premiere or attract big names—but Wu Yuchen’s arrival instantly energized the event, drawing a flood of reporter questions.

“Wu, how do you view ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 2’ breaking 900 million in four weeks?”

“Wu, what do you think ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 2’’s final box office will be?”

“Wu, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 2’ is about to hit 1 billion—what do you have to say?”

Indeed, after four weeks, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 2’ had earned $416 million in North America. Overseas, as regions rolled out their releases, it surpassed North America, reaching $567 million—global total: $983 million, nearing the $1 billion mark!

Wu Yuchen smiled at the reporters but didn’t answer. Instead, he said: “Today is the premiere of ‘Step Up.’ I hope everyone focuses on this film.”

“This film was inspired by street dancers I saw. Jessica delivered a brilliant performance—I was truly impressed!”

Standing beside Wu Yuchen, Jessica Alba flashed a radiant smile at the reporters. In her heart, she felt something wonderful: having a powerful backer truly felt good!

In his past life, the studio and distributor hadn’t taken the low-budget ‘Step Up’ seriously—but it still earned over $100 million globally.

This time, with Wu Yuchen as screenwriter and credited producer, theaters took notice. Under his guidance, the distributor implemented a far better promotional strategy, especially targeting teens and minority groups.

Thus, ‘Step Up’ opened with a stellar $33.43 million in its first weekend. Jessica Alba was thrilled—this was her best result yet. If it held steady, it could easily break $100 million in North America.

Just as her Wu Dady said, this film would make her famous—her signature work.