Hollywood Road

Convincing Warner Bros. and DC Comics to include Wonder Woman in the new Superman film was not difficult. This was not a standalone Superman movie, but the start of an entire series. Introducing the big three of the Justice League in a suitable manner would undoubtedly be very helpful for future film plans.

It wasn't just Wonder Woman; Warner Bros. also suggested that Murphy should try to incorporate Batman into this film.

Murphy would consider it carefully, but the priority was to determine Wonder Woman's role and ensure her appearance matched the style of the entire film.

This was relatively easy for Murphy, having worked many times with Gal Gadot in her warrior costume; he had plenty of experience.

Thus, the future Wonder Woman would need to shed her vibrant red and blue costume. Considering the global market, the American flag would also disappear from her outfit, replaced by an ancient Greek gladiator look specifically designed by Murphy for Gal Gadot, which would also feature metallic elements and a necessary desexualization.

These were all fundamental elements of a film. If the foundation wasn't solid during the planning phase, how could one proceed with filming and production? Not to mention facing complex situations, even Warner Bros. and DC Comics could not be passed if the basics were not addressed.

They indeed relied heavily on Murphy but would not allow unrestricted actions without limits. The invested money did not just fall from the sky.

With a serious and responsible attitude, Murphy not only completed the script but also devised a detailed plan, which was quickly approved by the investors. Warner Bros. approved the project with almost the fastest procedure internally.

What is indispensable for a project to proceed? Of course, funding!

Warner Bros. planned to invest $200 million into this new Superman movie as the production budget, marking the first time Murphy had directed a project with a budget over one hundred million dollars since entering Hollywood.

Such a budget also meant that the film would need to gross at least six hundred million dollars globally for Murphy to receive a twenty percent cut of the global box office.

With Warner Bros.' review completed, this new Superman film also got an official title. Due to the failure of "Superman Returns" and the theme and significance of starting the entire DC series, Murphy decided to completely abandon using Superman's name in the title, naming the film "Man of Steel."

However, this film was only similar in name to the previous one. Murphy was not a DC comics fan like Zack Snyder. The script was merely based on the comics, with little relation to the comic content.

At the same time, under Murphy's push and to align with the new film's image, DC Comics would reintegrate a Justice League parallel universe. Temporarily named the "New 52," in this comic universe, Wonder Woman would shed her star-spangled outfit and transform into an ancient Greek warrior, and Superman would once and for all remove his externally worn red underpants.

The once popular jest among comic fans, "The only difference between me and Superman is that I wear my underpants inside," would also become history.

"Man of Steel" was thus officially greenlit, and Murphy reconvened his team, with all key members participating in this collaboration with Warner Bros., except for Paul Wilson, who was already preparing the second season of "Game of Thrones," and Seth Rogen, who was revising a comedy script.

Since both had advanced to leading a project as directors, CAA was also selecting suitable assistant directors for Murphy.

Warner Bros. would also send their own producer to the crew, but in terms of film shooting and production, Murphy would lead, with the producer mainly assisting his work and handling miscellaneous tasks within the crew.

After a simple project initiation meeting, Murphy and his team dove into the preparatory work.

The script was basically confirmed. To facilitate the upcoming shooting, he first brought in two assistant directors to help him draft the storyboard.

This task involved drawing the storyboard from the script, making the complex process of filming more visual, precise, and straightforward.

Murphy's lead in drawing the storyboard was like creating a comic strip, transforming written language into visual language. It involved not only clearly depicting the structure of the frames, expressions, and camera positions but also using arrows to indicate the dynamics of elements within the scenes.

Thus, the scope of the drawings was not confined to the frames. Often, the entire scene had to be drawn on paper to display how certain elements entered the frame and their perspective relationships.

Although Murphy was not skilled in drawing, he was adept at using detailed cards to refine his visual ideas and control the filming process, ensuring his original intentions were fully translated into the film.

Next came casting. Superman could not be played by a pretty boy; he needed to be a muscular man. Unsure of the whereabouts of the previous actor, rather than wasting time and resources searching, it made more sense to hold auditions for Clark Kent.

Then there was the casting for Wonder Woman, Diana Prince.

Thinking of Wonder Woman, an image immediately came to Murphy

's mind: retro-style tight armor with an ancient Greek combat style, a shoulder-baring breastplate narrowing down to the waist in a V-shape, exuding a powerful, inverted triangle beauty, a thigh-revealing skirt rich in detailed engraving and layering…

Bronzed skin, flowing black hair, fiery eyes, and a sensual ****—a more mature Gal Gadot seemed to leap off the screen.

This was Princess Diana Prince, the unique Amazonian princess!

"Beautiful!"

In the bedroom, Murphy watched Gal Gadot emerge from the dressing room, his arms crossed, nodding continuously, "Perfect!"

Gal Gadot wore a tight-fitting battle armor with typical ancient Greek style, a sword of the god of fire on her back, and an ancient shield hanging on her left arm, her sensual **** highlighted by the war skirt, appearing exceptionally charming…

Standing at the door of the dressing room, Gal Gadot didn't move, her beautiful eyes staring intently at Murphy, her eyebrows raised, "You better be honest, did you have this idea all along?"

She knew Murphy was planning a DC superhero movie that seemed to involve the big three of the Justice League, so when he mentioned tonight that she should play Diana Prince, she wasn't particularly surprised.

"No!" Murphy argued, "It was only when I added Diana Prince to this film that I unconsciously thought of you."

He spread his hands, looking innocent, "Dear, who else is more suitable for Wonder Woman than you? You've played her countless times."

Hearing this, Gal Gadot's lips twitched. She had indeed played Wonder Woman many times, but those were in private moments with Murphy, adding some fun to their relationship.

Seeing his girlfriend silent, Murphy stepped forward, facing her, "Does this mean you agree?"

Gal Gadot looked at him, neither nodding nor shaking her head.

This was different from agreeing to Seth Rogen's request to appear in his directed comedy, where the bride's role was minimal, more like a cameo. But Wonder Woman was a crucial member of the Justice League. Agreeing to Murphy meant she would embark on the path of an actress.

"Didn't you say last time that if you were to make a film, you'd only collaborate with me?" Murphy deliberately brought up a previous event on the Sunseeker, "Are you going back on that now? Dear, we were just making cameos in Seth's film, that doesn't really count as true collaboration."

Frankly speaking, Wonder Woman didn't have to be Gal Gadot, but Murphy insisted not so much for the film or the character itself but because doing so would make it less likely for Gal Gadot to return to Israel in the future.

Although by his judgment, even if she finished her studies, Gal Gadot was unlikely to settle in Israel, Murphy wouldn't underestimate the influence of the massive Israeli state machinery and its indoctrination from a young age. He didn't want to take any risks.

Indeed, in movies and numerous literary works, time and distance are insignificant in the face of true love. Perhaps there are such examples in real society, but they are exceedingly rare. At least Murphy, having spent so long across the Pacific, had never seen such a case.

He had always been a very practical person, aware of the damage time and distance could do to a relationship. The distance between Israel and Los Angeles was not just great—it was immense.

By incorporating Gal Gadot into his team, Murphy would undoubtedly increase her career impact as well, and when a person's emotional and professional lives were both in Los Angeles, the likelihood of her leaving North America to return to Israel would become virtually nil.

In some ways, Murphy's thoughts were more complex than Gal Gadot's, but in their years of interaction, she had never said she planned to stay in Los Angeles, although she occasionally mentioned doing something for the Jewish people or Israel.

As her studies progressed and she aged, Murphy even felt an indescribable sense of crisis.

He was infatuated with Gal Gadot, something Murphy never denied, and had never considered that one day they might live separately, their feelings fade, and eventually go their separate ways.

"This is different from a cameo; it will consume a lot of time and energy," Gal Gadot was still hesitant, "I am studying law…"

"Didn't you take an elective in market economics? Are you still studying entertainment law?" Murphy pulled out the prop sword from behind her, "You even joined the film club. Why not consider this direction?"

He said seriously, "I've always lacked a head producer. Kara used to take on this role, but now she's the head of production at Fox and can't continue."

Gal Gadot understood Murphy's meaning, pointing to her nose, asking, "You want me to take on this role in the future?"

"Yes." Murphy spread his hands, "Many big Hollywood directors have their partners as producers. You could eventually treat acting as a hobby, and then…"

___________________

(Support with power stones, comments or reviews)

If you guys enjoy this story, In support me on Patreon and get access to +200 advance Chapters

Read Ahead

Patreon.com/INNIT