Hollywood Road

The press room was bustling with activity, with every individual sporting badges identifying their affiliation with various newspapers, television stations, or entertainment websites. Their focus was on the four people seated at the front, as this was, after all, a Superman movie, a natural magnet for media and public attention.

The media's approach varied with each individual.

Questions for Chris Evans revolved around his experience playing Superman. For Megan Fox, inquiries were about her experiences working with two major directors sequentially. Questions directed at Gal Gadot were mostly skeptical!

Indeed, even today, the media still questioned why a slender Jewish girl with a bust size no larger than a C-cup, without any substantial credentials, had landed the significant role of Wonder Woman.

All the journalists had the same unspoken answer: because Gal Gadot's boyfriend was Murphy Stanton, the director of the film!

Despite the skepticism and scrutiny, Gal Gadot was clever and had matured over the years, handling the situation with appropriate grace.

"Director Stanton..."

Eventually, the reporters focused their attention on Murphy, the director. "According to various leaks, 'Man of Steel' is shaping up to be a very serious film. Why is that?"

Murphy adjusted the microphone before replying, "In the real world, people don't constantly joke around like in some of the films we've seen in recent years, which have adopted a more artistic form of expression. I think there's nothing wrong with being serious."

"Is 'Man of Steel' the foundation for the entire Justice League series?" another journalist asked.

Though it might have been a deliberate leak, Warner Bros. intended to develop the entire Justice League series, making Murphy's 'Man of Steel' a major launchpad for Warner and DC.

This news thrilled DC comic fans.

Compared to Warner Bros.'s high-profile marketing, Murphy was more cautious and subtle, "If 'Man of Steel' is well-received and Superman is well-portrayed, then there's hope to expand into more Justice League films. Our main hope is for the audience to embrace 'Man of Steel'. That's all we are focused on for now."

'Man of Steel' was set to premiere at the start of the summer blockbuster season in May. Following this press conference, the film officially entered the pre-release promotional phase, with Warner Bros. and the production team continuously releasing promotional materials and information.

"The Los Angeles Times reports: Warner Bros. has recently unveiled the official plot of 'Man of Steel', which will focus on Superman's self-identity and his quest for answers."

"Superman has always been the most recognizable and beloved superhero. Clark Kent appears to be a normal man in his twenties, but hidden within him are powers unknown to mankind, derived from his home planet of Krypton. This alien heritage creates an invisible barrier between him and others. These devastating powers originate from his birthplace, the high-tech planet of Krypton."

"Clark is the orphan of this advanced alien world. The lack of his biological parents makes his identity a persistent enigma. The Kent couple, who adopted him, have a profound impact on his upbringing. The moral dilemma of how to use his powers also stems from this kind-hearted couple. When the world hangs by a thread, can he truly step up?"

This type of plot summary, while revealing nothing too specific, effectively piqued the interest of moviegoers.

Simultaneously, "The Hollywood Reporter" listed the summer's most anticipated blockbusters, with 'Man of Steel' featured alongside 'Spider-Man 3', 'Pirates of the Caribbean 3', and 'Transformers'.

Since 'Man of Steel' was scheduled to premiere the weekend following 'Spider-Man 3', many viewed these two films as a major showdown between Marvel's and DC's superhero movies.

'Man of Steel' still had some post-production work unfinished. Murphy then returned to Warner Bros. studios to continue his work.

He first reviewed the scenes finely edited by Jody Griffiths, a seasoned editor well-versed in achieving the desired effects for the film. Except for a few minor adjustments, Murphy was quite satisfied with Griffiths' work, who would continue handling the editing.

Next were the visual effects, with the majority already completed. However, to meet Murphy's standards, Industrial Light & Magic's team still needed to refine and render further enhancements.

Then came the score. Hans Zimmer had completed the first version of the main score. Like in 'Titanic', the score for mainstream Hollywood films typically revolves around a central theme that evolves to match different scenes and moods.

Zimmer's competence was unquestionable. Besides the main theme, he also presented Murphy with two different pieces for Wonder Woman's background music. Murphy selected a piece with an exotic feel and a distinct rhythmic beat from electronic drums, asking Zimmer to heighten the music's impact, aiming for it to ignite the audience's excitement at the first glimpse of Wonder Woman on screen.

With these tasks completed, the bulk of post-production was

 done, but Murphy had no time to relax, as dubbing, color grading, and sound editing still lay ahead.

Additionally, Chris Evans' portrayal required slight adjustments to align more closely with the comic book version of Superman, such as hair and skin tone, which were easily modified with current movie technology.

Following the Oscars, Warner Bros. continued its marketing efforts. The production team formalized partnerships with Burger King, Coca-Cola, and Gatorade to launch new products featuring Superman, with Burger King even introducing a Krypton-themed meal named after Kal-El.

Meanwhile, Murphy had the team release the first official poster, naturally featuring Superman. This poster quickly spread across the internet and appeared on numerous TV channels and print media.

The poster depicted Superman with his profile illuminated in the shadows, a large 'S' emblem shining on his chest. Fans could note the changes in the 'Man of Steel' Superman design: the iconic curl on Superman's forehead was gone, the 'S' on his chest was larger, his blue suit had a scaly texture, and the biggest change was the chest emblem and cape's bright red shifting to a chestnut hue.

"Every character in the film will bring a believable sense of reality," Murphy updated his personal blog alongside the poster release. "Superman is the jewel in DC's crown. Once we get the Superman films right, there's nothing we can't achieve."

He also hinted at 'Man of Steel' leading directly into the Justice League series.

Also revealed was Superman's new logo. The new 'S' continued the dark tone of previous promotional materials, with more complex patterns within the 'S', hinting that this version of Superman would face numerous challenges and adversities.

As April 2007 rolled in, on the first day of the month, Warner Bros. released the first trailer for 'Man of Steel' across multiple TV channels and online platforms.

The trailer came in two versions, identical in visuals and score but uniquely differentiated by their narration. Murphy used the voiceovers to quickly introduce some of Superman's traits in the brief trailer.

In the version released on the official blog, Superman's adoptive Earth father, Jonathan Kent, narrated, "You're not an ordinary man. One day, you'll have to make a choice. You'll decide what kind of man you want to be. Whatever kind that is, good or evil, you will change the world."

The version premiered on NBC featured Superman's biological father, Jor-El, whispering, "You must give people an ideal to strive towards. They will stumble; they will fall. But ultimately, they will follow you into the light, and you will create wonders."

While both versions had their differences, the messages from both of Superman's fathers were equally stirring.

Accompanying the trailers was a brief video from Murphy, where he stated, "Superman is the father of all superheroes, the Rosetta Stone for decoding the unique genre of superheroes. I have the utmost respect for Superman and will reflect this in the film. I am proud to direct 'Man of Steel' and am confident that its unique style and quality will captivate the audience."

As the first visuals of 'Man of Steel' were finally released, eager fans began to converge on Superman and Murphy's official websites and blogs, sharing their excitement for the film.

"This trailer is epic, easily a 9 out of 10 just from the preview. This film won't disappoint because Murphy Stanton is the director..."

"I'm completely blown away. The majestic score heralds the poised Son of Krypton. The unique narrations hint at a more twisted and heartfelt story. It seems the ideal Superman is about to return... I can't wait!"

Of course, among Murphy's ardent fans, everything he did was deemed the best.

"After watching the trailer, why do I feel the director is even more handsome than the protagonist?"

"Murphy's script and direction, the visuals, the plot, the tone, the music—everything is perfect! It's a must-watch!"

With Superman's renowned name and Murphy's long-established reputation and appeal, a vast number of fans held high expectations for 'Man of Steel'.

However, skeptics were also numerous, focusing their criticism quite specifically.

"A flat-chested Wonder Woman? What a joke. Just for that, I won't watch the film!"

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