Redoing My Life (Modern Family)

I let out an exasperated sigh as Laura, one of the screenwriters helping with the Superman script and a vocal leader of a small faction within the studio, passionately argued for changes to the Superman script.

"Look," Laura began again, her tone insistent, "I just think Superman, as he's written right now, is too nice. Too… vanilla. People want a hero they can relate to, someone who's flawed, someone who makes mistakes."

"Laura," I interrupted sharply, leaning forward in my chair, "Superman does have flaws, and what you're referring to is not Superman. Maybe someday in the future, we can create an alternate-universe Superman, but right now? That's not who he is."

"But why are we so resistant to change?" Laura shot back. "You wrote Omni-Man for Invincible—a Superman archetype that's morally ambiguous, complicated, and people love him! You've already proven that audiences want this kind of hero."

"Omni-Man," I replied, keeping my voice calm but firm, "is not Superman. He was designed to deconstruct and critique characters like Superman. And yes, people love Omni-Man, but that doesn't mean they want to see Superman turned into a version of him."

Another writer, Greg, jumped in. "But don't you think the Superman formula is… stale? The audience has seen him save cats from trees and stop bank robbers a million times. They're not excited by that anymore. Look at what happened to Superman IV. That movie nearly killed the superhero genre. Maybe people find Superman boring."

I raised an eyebrow, my patience wearing thin. "Superman IV didn't fail because of the character. It failed because of bad writing, a slashed budget, and a complete misunderstanding of the audience. Superman isn't boring."

Laura leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Fine. But he's still a god-like being. How do you expect people to relate to someone who's invincible, who doesn't really struggle?"

I sat up straighter, my voice steady. "He is not a god. Superman is just a guy from Kansas who wants to do good. He's not perfect; he struggles every day to make the right choices. But he's aspirational—he shows us what we can strive to be. That's why he's important."

Laura looked unconvinced. Another voice chimed in from across the room: "But flawed heroes are in. Look at Tony Stark. People love seeing their heroes struggle with their darker sides."

"Superman does struggle," I countered. "He struggles with balancing his powers and his humanity. He's constantly questioning whether he's doing enough or too much. But his defining trait is that he never gives up on people. He believes in humanity, even when it's hard. That's what makes him Superman."

"But it's just… old-fashioned," Laura said, throwing up her hands. "Why can't we modernize him?"

"Because if we make Superman an antihero or morally ambiguous," I said, my tone growing firmer, "we're not making a DC superhero movie anymore. We're making a parody. Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman are the foundations of the DC Universe. They are who they are for a reason. If we don't respect that, then what's the point of even making this movie?"

The room fell silent. I could see the gears turning in their heads as they processed what I'd said.

"Superman is more than a character," I continued, softening my tone. "He's a symbol. And if we stay true to who he is, we're not just making a good movie. We're reminding people that hope and goodness matter, even in the darkest times."

The debate continued until Laura, clearly frustrated, turned to Victor, who had been observing quietly from his seat in the corner. "What do you think, Mr. Steele?" she asked, seeking an ally.

Victor, to everyone's surprise, leaned forward and said, "Daniel is right."

I couldn't help but smile. Despite our frequent clashes in the company, Victor's passion for DC characters was undeniable. When it came to the core values of these characters, he was as protective as I was.

"Superman," Victor continued, "is the right direction. He's not an antihero. And, like Daniel said, if we make him something else, we're not making a DC superhero movie—we're making a parody."

Laura's faction fell silent. I could see the conflict in their faces; they weren't convinced but also couldn't easily dismiss the points made.

Victor turned to me. "You're the CCO, Daniel. If this is the direction you've chosen, then it's your choice."

I nodded, turning to address the room. "I know I could just order you all to stop debating this and do what I want. But when we started, I promised you all that your input would matter. You've challenged me, and I've listened. I want you to take the rest of the day to think this through, and we'll meet again tomorrow. Let's make sure we're all on the same page before moving forward."

Laura sighed but ultimately nodded, as did the others in her group. "Even if I don't change my mind, I'll respect your decision," she said.

"Thank you," I replied sincerely. "That means a lot."

With that, I dismissed the meeting. Laura and her team filed out, some of them still murmuring to each other, leaving just Victor and me in the room.

Victor crossed his arms and leaned against the table. "You know, sometimes you can just avoid all this back-and-forth and make an executive decision."

"Hearing different opinions is valuable," I said. "Even if I don't agree with them, it's good to know what's on everyone's mind. They might bring up something I missed."

Victor smirked. "It wastes time."

"We've got plenty of it," I shot back. "Besides, compromise and discussion build trust."

Victor rolled his eyes but didn't argue further. "So, are you ready to see your golden boy? This actor for Superman you've been raving about?"

"Yes," I said confidently. "Just give him a chance with an open mind. That's all I ask."

Victor shrugged noncommittally but gave a slight nod. "Fine. Let's see if he's as good as you say he is."

With that, he pushed off the table and headed for the door, leaving me alone for a moment to gather my thoughts. After some time, I too left to find Dave. I needed him on board with my choice of Henry as Superman.

====

I found Dave and, surprisingly, Sam in Dave's office when I walked in.

"Hey," I said, stepping inside.

Sam glanced up at me while Dave remained glued to the laptop in front of him. "How's your arm?" Sam asked, motioning toward my arm.

I tapped on it lightly. "It's fine. A few more months and I can take it off."

Dave didn't even look up as he quipped, "What a stupid way to hurt yourself."

"Yes, yes, everyone's made fun of me already. It's old news," I replied, rolling my eyes as I took a seat.

Sam smirked. "The memes are back, kid."

"Fuck my life," I muttered under my breath, leaning back in my chair.

"So," I said, steering the conversation back on track, "we're locked in on Henry, right?"

Dave finally looked up from the laptop. "I'm watching his audition tape now."

"Oh, then you see what I see, right?" I asked.

Dave gave a noncommittal shrug. "I still want someone similar to Reeve."

I didn't respond, instead turning my gaze to the laptop screen.

Henry, along with two other actors, was among the finalists for the role of Superman. I was firmly on Team Henry, but some higher-ups, like Dave, weren't convinced.

On the screen was Henry's last casting call. The scene showed Clark Kent meeting with Lex Luthor for an interview. Henry delivered his lines with a calm intensity:

"You want me to believe you're simply an innovator, a philanthropist? Tell me, Lex, how does philanthropy justify the destruction of affordable housing units? Or is it just good business?"

Henry's Clark was different from Reeve's. He wasn't the bumbling, clumsy type but a more focused, sharp journalist who still exuded warmth. He wasn't too serious, though; he was Clark Kent, after all.

"Play the Superman one," I said. "I'm sure you'll be a fan."

Dave clicked the file, and Henry appeared on the screen again, this time in full Superman mode. His voice carried a commanding presence as he recited a line from the comics:

"Dreams save us. Dreams lift us up and transform us into something better. And on my soul, I swear that until my dream of a world where dignity, honor, and justice are the reality we all share, I'll never stop fighting."

Henry delivered the line with the sincerity and gravitas Superman needed. The man was clearly committed to getting this part.

Dave nodded slowly, his expression softening. "Okay, I'm seeing it."

Sam chimed in. "Just cast him already. He's good, and Daniel has never been wrong about casting choices."

Dave sighed, still hesitant. "Maybe. I'll be completely convinced after today, seeing him in costume."

"Yes, this," I said. "I know you weren't impressed by the other two after their costume fittings."

Dave leaned back in his chair. "I'm not saying anything yet. Let's see."

.

.

.

Sam accompanied me as I made my way to meet Henry, who had arrived about an hour ago. I wanted to meet him for the first time.

"We need to talk about The Revenant," Sam said, his tone serious.

I sighed, already sensing where this was going. "I think I know what this conversation is about."

"We'll have to delay," Sam confirmed.

"Not an option," I replied firmly. "I've invested too much into this. If Stardust can't manage a 50-50 production deal with Midas, then Midas will have to take on more. I'm not shelving this project."

Sam nodded, seeing the resolve in my expression. "That might be the only viable option at this point."

"Fine. I'll talk to my lawyers," I said, steering the conversation forward. "How's IT going, by the way?"

Sam smirked. "Bill Skarsgård was an excellent choice for the role. You and your casting instincts—the guy's incredible."

"Well, I am the casting god," I quipped, earning a chuckle from Sam.

I'd had less involvement with IT after finishing up the script. I was too busy juggling Midas and DC.

"Too bad you can't be involved more," Sam said.

"If I tried to micromanage every project, I'd go insane."

"We made a few tweaks to the script, but nothing major. You should stop by sometime before pre-production wraps."

"I'll try," I replied. "But it sounds like you've got it under control."

Sam and I parted ways as we reached the costume fitting area. After this, I needed to find a good Lois Lane. I had narrowed it down to five candidates, but I still needed to make sure Henry would have good chemistry with the actress.

I entered the room and saw seamstresses, designers, and assistants moving around. In the center of it all stood Henry, looking both exhilarated and slightly nervous as measurements were taken. His excitement was evident—he would need some time in the gym to look a bit bigger, but he was perfect for the role.

Henry spotted me and seemed to recognize me as I approached.

"Mr. Adler," he said, his hand stretched out, only to be pulled back into place by the seamstress who was diligently taking his measurements. She gave him an annoyed look, and he apologized sheepishly.

"Mr. Cavill," I replied with a chuckle as I shook his hand, careful not to disrupt the seamstress's work.

"Thank you so much for this opportunity," he said earnestly, his tone filled with gratitude. "It means the world to me."

"Call me Daniel," I said, waving off the formality. "And you, Henry, I feel are perfect for Superman."

Henry's face lit up, a mixture of pride and gratitude. "That means a lot coming from you. I've been following your work with Invincible. Huge fan."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," I replied.

"Are you kidding? I'm even upset that the next volume got delayed," he said, teasing.

I laughed, tapping my arm. "As you can see, this slowed things down a bit."

Henry's eyes widened in realization. "Ah, I saw the video of your… incident."

"So did everyone in the world," I replied with a groan. We both laughed, the tension easing between us.

"Honestly, though," I continued, "you being a fan of all things comics is another reason I wanted you as Superman. You just need to impress some people above me."

Henry nodded earnestly. "I'll do my best. This is a dream come true for me."

We talked for some time, the conversation flowing easily, until something caught my eye. Henry was wearing a Warhammer 40K shirt.

"Is that a 40K shirt?" I asked, intrigued.

Henry's eyes lit up. "It is! Do you play?" he asked, his excitement unmistakable.

"No, no," I said, shaking my head. "I've always been more interested in the books and lore."

Henry's enthusiasm didn't waver. "You should absolutely start. I can help you get into it. Honestly, it's the perfect hobby if you like lore and strategy. We could build armies together."

'My God, this man is a nerd,' I thought, amused. 'Even more than me.' Then I reconsidered. "No, no, no. Wait. I think I still have him on that front."

"Maybe I'll take you up on that," I said, smiling at his contagious enthusiasm.

But Henry wasn't done. He launched into a passionate explanation: "You've got to check out the Ultramarines or the Horus Heresy books. For something darker, the Night Lords are fascinating…"

He kept going, diving into the depths of Warhammer lore as the seamstress continued her work. By the time she finished, I was pretty sure I'd been given a crash course in everything Warhammer. Even the seamstress seemed impressed.

"You're really into this, huh?" I said, laughing.

Henry grinned. "It's a passion."

"Well, I'll have to pick your brain if I ever decide to start building armies," I replied.

I was then shooed away by the costume people as I was distracting them. I found myself in the adjoining room, waiting for the others to arrive. After some time, they did—Dave, Sam, and Victor.

We stood together, all eyes on the entrance where Henry would emerge. Dave folded his arms, his skepticism still faintly present.

"Let's see how he looks," Dave said, his tone neutral but curious.

Victor, less stoic than usual, smirked. "I'm already sold. But let's humor Dave."

Sam nodded along.

We didn't have to wait long. From the other room, Henry stepped into view wearing the repurposed Christopher Reeve-era suit. The iconic blue and red material gleamed under the studio lights. The cape draped perfectly down his back, and the muted yet vibrant colors captured the feel of Superman. Despite the fact that the suit was an old design, Henry's physicality brought it to life.

Henry walked toward us, embodying Clark Kent's humility and Superman's assuredness all in one stride.

Dave, who had been the most hesitant, visibly shifted. His arms unfolded, and a smile crept onto his face. "Yeah," he said simply, nodding. "This is the guy."

.

.

Suggestions for Lois Lane