After John Wick shattered the 100-million-dollar mark during its opening weekend in North America, the film officially began rolling out across overseas markets.
And the response was explosive.
Thanks to Xu Can's terrifying popularity after Spider-Man, theaters throughout Europe instantly turned into battlefields.
In England, France, Germany, Amsterdam, and several other regions, tickets for John Wick sold out at an unbelievable speed.
According to a report from the BBC, the moment theaters in London opened advance bookings, traffic across multiple districts nearly collapsed.
Moviegoers lined up from the cinema entrances all the way onto surrounding streets. Narrow roads became packed shoulder to shoulder with people.
Mounted police had to be dispatched to maintain order.
Paris was no better.
Berlin was the same.
Milan looked almost identical.
Some fans even wore Spider-Man masks while buying tickets for John Wick, creating an absurdly surreal scene.
At the end of the broadcast, the BBC host summarized the phenomenon with a sour expression:
"The consecutive success of Spider-Man and John Wick has allowed a rising Chinese actor to successfully enter Hollywood and dominate the British film market."
"British filmmakers must unite, rediscover local creativity, and stop relying entirely on franchises like Harry Potter."
"Too many actors and directors are leaving for Hollywood…"
Christopher Nolan somehow became collateral damage in the report.
But honestly, the criticism wasn't wrong.
British cinema had always been excellent at satire and black humor, yet its market remained too limited. Any ambitious filmmaker eventually drifted toward Hollywood.
After all, who wanted to stay trapped on a tiny island forever?
Meanwhile, the French market was equally overwhelmed by Xu Can's new movie.
Spider-Man had dominated French theaters all the way into February before finally being dethroned…
By John Wick itself.
On premiere night, legendary French director Luc Besson personally attended a screening and openly stated during an interview:
"Xu Can is a fascinating young filmmaker."
"The global film industry needs new blood like him."
"To be honest… I'd love to collaborate with him someday."
The interview instantly caused a stir.
After all, Léon: The Professional, The Fifth Element, and Taxi had already cemented Luc Besson as one of Europe's most iconic action directors.
French audiences immediately began imagining what a collaboration between Luc Besson and Xu Can would look like.
In China, however, things were more complicated.
Because John Wick carried an R-rating, domestic release was practically impossible under current censorship regulations.
Fortunately, Hong Kong and Haojiang were still screening it normally.
On opening day alone, the Hong Kong box office surpassed 4 million HKD.
There was even hope of challenging the local annual record set by Night at the Museum.
But the competition that year was terrifying.
The Ring, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Transformers, and Pirates of the Caribbean 3 were all preparing to arrive one after another.
Even so, John Wick still exploded in popularity.
A large percentage of the opening-day audience came directly from mainland tourists.
Ever since Spider-Man detonated across China during the Lunar New Year season, superhero fever had spread nationwide like wildfire.
Films from famous domestic directors such as Feng Tongtong and Zhang Guoshi were completely overshadowed.
Before the fifteenth day of the New Year had even passed, cheap Spider-Man masks and pirated Spider-Man figures were already flooding school entrances, street markets, and small-town toy stalls across the country.
Spider-Man Post Bar surpassed three million members within a month.
Xu Can's personal page exceeded one million followers.
Unfortunately, without social media dominance or mobile internet influence, Xu Can still lacked real control over public attention.
The era's discourse remained firmly in the hands of traditional media.
Entertainment headlines were still dominated by celebrity scandals.
Breakups.
Cheating rumors.
Tabloid gossip.
Xu Can's exposure gradually weakened.
Until John Wick reignited everything.
Many hardcore movie fans flew directly to Hong Kong just to watch the film.
For viewers in Shanghai City, it was even easier.
Take the subway to Luohu Station.
Cross the border.
Watch the movie.
Simple.
Of course, most ordinary fans could only wait helplessly for pirated online versions.
Meanwhile, major subtitle groups were already sharpening their knives.
At the same time—
Far away in Los Angeles.
Xu Can was currently sitting inside Marvel headquarters, having a private discussion with Kevin Feige.
Kevin Feige stared at him in disbelief.
"Are you seriously refusing the role?"
Xu Can calmly drank his coffee.
"Kevin."
"Be honest."
"Do I look like Tony Stark to you?"
Kevin nearly choked.
"But we need your box office appeal."
"You're also one of the investors now."
"Why are you refusing free money?"
Ever since their first meeting, the two had discussed the future structure of Marvel films countless times.
The more they talked, the more Kevin Feige felt Xu Can was terrifying.
Sometimes Xu Can would casually say something, and Kevin would spend the next three days unable to sleep because the idea sounded too insane.
Eventually, under Xu Can's recommendation, Marvel officially invited him to become the company's chief consultant and COO-level strategic planner.
He would directly participate in the future direction of Marvel movies.
In other words—
Marvel had practically handed him the steering wheel.
And surprisingly…
Nobody objected.
After all, this man had just created a billion-dollar Spider-Man phenomenon.
His results spoke louder than anyone else's opinions.
After several internal meetings, Marvel finally confirmed the next project:
Iron Man.
One of the few Marvel heroes still suitable for adaptation at the time.
Xu Can's proposal passed unanimously.
But what shocked Kevin Feige most wasn't the project itself.
It was Xu Can's investment decision.
He planned to pour most of the profits from John Wick into Iron Man.
Up to seventy million dollars.
Kevin Feige genuinely thought this lunatic had lost his mind.
"One gamble after another…"
"You really don't know fear, do you?"
Xu Can only smiled.
At first, Kevin had desperately wanted Xu Can himself to play Tony Stark.
With his current influence, the box office could rise at least another twenty percent.
But Xu Can rejected the idea immediately.
"Think longer-term."
He leaned back calmly.
"If Spider-Man is permanently tied to me…"
"Then Iron Man needs his own soul."
"Otherwise, what happens later?"
"When the Avengers are assembled, do you want audiences watching one man play half the universe?"
Kevin Feige fell silent.
Xu Can continued:
"Our future isn't individual franchises."
"It's an interconnected cinematic universe."
"Everything must be planned years in advance."
Kevin Feige was indeed brilliant.
But in 2007, even he couldn't fully imagine what the future MCU would eventually become.
Xu Can could.
And because he had seen that future once before…
He also knew exactly how badly it could collapse.
After Avengers 4, Marvel's later phases became increasingly chaotic.
Inconsistent tone.
Weak planning.
Directionless storytelling.
Too many projects.
Too little soul.
Xu Can had no intention of letting that happen again.
If he were rebuilding the MCU from the beginning—
Then he would build something even larger.
X-Men.
Galactus.
The Beyonder.
The Living Tribunal.
Avengers versus mutants.
Cosmic sagas.
Multiverse wars.
Endless stories were waiting to explode onto cinema screens.
But before all of that…
There was one thing that mattered most.
Iron Man could not fail.
Marvel's entire future depended on it.
Xu Can finally looked toward Kevin Feige.
"I have someone in mind."
Kevin straightened instantly.
"Who?"
Xu Can smiled faintly.
"Robert Downey Jr."
Silence.
Kevin Feige's brain nearly crashed on the spot.
"That drug addict?"
"You're serious?"
—
Meanwhile.
Beverly Hills.
Thirty-seven-year-old Robert Downey Jr. lay beside his swimming pool beneath the California sunlight.
His phone had barely rung all week.
His career had already fallen into ruins years ago.
Back then, he had once been considered Hollywood's future golden actor.
Now?
Big productions avoided him.
Major directors avoided him.
Insurance companies feared him.
The only roles left were supporting characters or low-budget films from unknown directors.
He had grown numb to it.
His phone suddenly rang.
It was his agent.
"Robert."
"There's a lead role offer."
Downey didn't even open his eyes.
"Reject it."
"You're experienced enough to reject garbage scripts yourself."
"…Don't you want to hear it first?"
"The result's the same."
Then his agent slowly said:
"It's Marvel."
"They want you to play Tony Stark."
"And apparently…"
"Xu Can personally chose you."
Downey's eyes snapped open instantly.
"…What?"
He sat upright immediately.
"You serious?"
"The salary is five hundred thousand dollars."
"Are they insane?"
The agent laughed bitterly.
"No."
"I think they're desperate."
—
Outside Marvel Studios.
Robert Downey Jr. still felt like he was dreaming.
Xu Can shook his hand personally.
"We'll send the script tonight."
"Filming starts soon."
Downey nodded immediately.
"No problem."
There was a strange fire burning in his eyes now.
This role…
Might truly be his final chance.
Beside them, Kevin Feige still looked conflicted.
Originally, he wanted stars like Tom Cruise or Nicolas Cage.
Even Sam Rockwell felt safer.
But Xu Can insisted on Downey.
At least one thing was true.
He was cheap.
As they prepared to leave, Downey suddenly coughed awkwardly.
"Uh…"
"Can someone give me a ride?"
"My car's in repair after… an accident."
Xu Can stared at him silently.
'This man really is Tony Stark before becoming Iron Man.'
"I'm heading back anyway."
"Get in."
The red Ferrari F430 Spider roared across Los Santos streets.
Halfway through the drive, Downey suddenly pointed toward a burger restaurant near the beach.
"I'm starving."
"Mind stopping?"
Xu Can parked nearby.
The ocean breeze drifted slowly across the coast.
The two sat casually beside the shore with burgers in hand.
But after taking only one bite, Downey's face suddenly changed.
His stomach twisted violently.
The burger nearly slipped from his fingers.
A few seconds later, he looked down silently at the food in his hand.
Then—
He suddenly threw it into the ocean.
Xu Can blinked.
"…What are you doing?"
Downey lowered his head quietly.
Then he slowly reached into his pocket.
And tossed a tiny packet of pills into the sea as well.
Xu Can's eyes widened instantly.
'What the hell?'
'You were carrying drugs while sitting in my car?!'
If police officers had found that package earlier, both of them would have been dragged into a station together.
Downey stared quietly at the ocean waves.
The wind blew across his face.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"Xu."
"I won't touch this stuff again."
"Thank you… for giving me this opportunity."
"I'll prove you were right."
For some reason, the scene reminded Xu Can of Iron Man 3.
Tony Stark throws away the old reactor core.
Saying goodbye to his past.
Xu Can smiled faintly.
"I believe you."
—
With Iron Man preparations steadily advancing…
John Wick is charging toward two hundred million worldwide…
And The Dark Knight is progressing smoothly…
Xu Can finally had enough breathing room to start planning his next stage.
This time, although he wouldn't act in Iron Man, he still intended to participate as one of the film's directors.
The experience accumulated from Spider-Man and John Wick had already given him enough confidence.
If everything succeeded—
More projects could begin moving forward.
For example…
The musical film he promised Emma Stone.
La La Land.
As Xu Can drove back toward Galaxy Entertainment, his thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Then suddenly—
A blonde figure appeared ahead.
He immediately stepped on the brakes.
Taylor Swift jumped aside with quick reflexes.
Fortunately, nothing happened.
Instead of getting angry, she immediately smiled brightly after recognizing him.
"Xu."
"I finished recording my album."
Her golden hair shimmered beneath the California sunlight.
She looked like a cheerful high school girl escaping summer classes.
Clearly, the recording sessions had tortured her badly.
Xu Can laughed and offered,
"To celebrate…"
"How about dinner tonight?"
Taylor's eyes instantly brightened.
"Really?"
"I've barely eaten properly lately."
"Recording is exhausting."
Then she suddenly narrowed her eyes mischievously.
"Wait."
"Does this count as a date?"
Xu Can leaned against the car door and smiled.
"Of course."
"Even if God himself came tonight, I'd still take you out first."
Taylor Swift tried to suppress her smile but failed.
"Okay then."
"I'll go get ready."
"Pick me up tonight."
This wasn't just dinner between friends anymore.
The moment she agreed—
It already carried a different meaning.
Xu Can watched her briskly walk toward the luxury apartment building beside Galaxy Entertainment.
Her steps were light and fast like a deer.
But after entering the lobby, Taylor suddenly stopped in front of the elevator.
She stared at the button without pressing it.
Then covered her chest softly.
"…What's wrong with me?"
"Why am I suddenly nervous?"
Outside work…
Outside music…
She finally realized something dangerous.
She might actually be falling in love.
—
Meanwhile.
Xu Can had just parked inside the underground garage when his phone suddenly rang.
The caller ID displayed:
Emma Stone.
He answered immediately.
"Emma?"
Her soft voice flowed gently through the speaker.
"Baby…"
"Are you free tonight?"
"The Twilight crew is holding a pre-premiere party."
"I want to go with you."
Xu Can froze completely.
Inside his head, alarms exploded instantly.
'…What kind of dating sim death route is this?'
'Can I save the game first, before I die and reload?'
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