Movies are a form of entertainment, yet not merely entertainment. They are deeply influenced by the social environment and, in turn, exert a certain influence upon society.
Without a doubt, the films produced by Duke have reached such a level—especially the Batman series.
In 2005, Batman Begins was released. The film, with its "exposure of Batman's dark side," rivaled the year's box-office hit Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith both in public opinion and ticket sales. When Christian Bale, who played Batman, appeared on screen, one overexcited fan in the theater reportedly experienced a surge of adrenaline and began assaulting a nearby viewer "who kept chewing gum."
Before The Dark Knight was released, Heath Ledger died in a Los Angeles hotel. Though the police determined it to be an accident, some fans persistently believed that Heath Ledger had been murdered by fanatical Batman followers.
Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker was intensely manic and neurotic. He defeated Batman, and his strong, deranged charisma made him even more popular than the hero himself. That year, the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor was posthumously awarded to Heath Ledger.
And this time, it was The Dark Knight Rises' turn.
Duke's public email had always been managed by Tina Fey and her assistant team. As soon as May began, a death threat sent to that inbox immediately caught Tina Fey's attention.
The email contained only a single sentence
"If Batman once again appears weak and pathetic in The Dark Knight Rises, Duke Rosenberg! You and everyone else will pay for it with your lives!"
"This kind of thing cannot be ignored!"
In the villa's living room, Panny Kallis and Nancy Josephson had also rushed over. Tina Fey said solemnly, "It might be a malicious prank, but it could also be a genuine threat."
Duke sat on the sofa, not particularly concerned. Such things were not uncommon in Hollywood.
"I object to Duke attending the premiere!"
The most nervous person in the room was Scarlett Johansson. Her arms were crossed, her face uneasy. "That kind of event is too chaotic. If someone really wanted to do something, I… I can't even…"
At that point, she covered her mouth.
Duke quickly reached out to comfort her, gently patting her back. "It's just a prank, sweetheart. There's no need to be so nervous."
"No need to be nervous?"
Lowering her hand, Scarlett stared at Duke, her voice rising uncontrollably. "Don't forget—things like this have happened before!"
"Hey…" Duke tried to respond, but Scarlett cut him off sharply. "Have you even thought about me? Do you know my heart is about to jump out of my chest?"
Of course Duke knew how much Scarlett cared about him. Seeing her like this, he couldn't say anything more and simply fell silent.
Tina Fey then turned to Panny Kallis and Nancy Josephson. "What do you two think?"
Panny Kallis thought for a moment before saying, "There's no need to overreact, but it definitely shouldn't be ignored."
Nancy Josephson added, "I suggest we contact the police and increase Duke's personal security."
"Yes! The police," Scarlett Johansson immediately echoed. "And we need more bodyguards. I want to hire the best security team in America!"
Duke looked at Scarlett, somewhat helpless. But since she was only worried for his safety, he couldn't object.
Increasing protection was indeed necessary. Tina Fey also reported the incident to the Los Angeles County Police Department and the FBI's Los Angeles field office. However, for the time being, there was little of real value to investigate.
Although this incident left Duke's attendance at the premiere uncertain, the promotion of both him and The Dark Knight Rises did not slow down in the slightest.
Especially online—an article titled "Reasons to Look Forward to The Dark Knight Rises" had recently gone viral.
"Reason One: Will the Duke Rosenberg Aura Continue to Shine?"
"From the two Batman films to the Avengers series, and then to the high-concept sci-fi blockbuster Inception, every one of Duke's projects in recent years has been extraordinary. Winning both critical acclaim and box-office success has become his norm, while stirring waves of fan enthusiasm again and again is his signature move. Especially The Dark Knight, which countless fans have hailed as the pinnacle of superhero cinema, making Duke synonymous with high-quality commercial blockbusters."
"It is precisely this dazzling aura—'A Duke Production, Quality Guaranteed'—that convinced Warner Bros. to invest a massive $250 million into The Dark Knight Rises, and even led many top stars to cut their salaries to form an unprecedentedly luxurious cast. Bearing this golden reputation, Duke has spared no effort to live up to the expectations of fans around the world—lugging a nearly 200-pound IMAX camera across the globe to capture the most breathtaking scenes imaginable."
"With countless hidden clues woven into its viral marketing campaign, this gradual revelation of mysteries through fan interaction fully demonstrates Duke's immense confidence in his work. Without a doubt, his hard work and dedication will yield not only a spectacular finale to the trilogy but also a flawless and timeless masterpiece in cinematic history."
"Reason Two: Where Will Batman's Fate Lead?"
"At the end of The Dark Knight, Batman silently bore all misunderstandings and accusations, wrapping his loneliness in darkness as he continued to fight evil alone. In The Dark Knight Rises, his struggles will only intensify. After a brief period of peace, a new supervillain will once again unleash a wave of crime, forcing Batman into a desperate situation on the brink of destruction. When the city falls into chaos and hope seems completely lost, what trials will Gotham's Dark Knight endure—and how will he rise again from the abyss?"
"A reliable source claims that Bruce Wayne will become the victim of supervillain Bane's conspiracy, spending eight years imprisoned in the infamous Arkham Asylum alongside countless maniacs and criminals he once captured—his wealthy playboy charm shattered, his youth consumed, and his hair turned gray. If you think that's crazy enough, imagine Batman—who usually hides in the shadows—fighting his enemies under broad daylight. That alone overturns all tradition."
"Though the rumor of Batman's death is hard to believe, the poster showing Bane crushing the Bat-mask still leaves viewers anxious. Perhaps before actually sitting in the theater, all speculation is meaningless. Duke once said he would give Batman a beautiful, luminous ending, and we believe the answer he presents will be beyond imagination yet perfectly fitting."
"Reason Three: Batman finds love?"
"The charming Bruce Wayne suffered greatly in love in the previous two films—his beloved was first taken by the district attorney, then killed in the Joker's scheme, leaving a deep scar in his heart. Perhaps realizing the hardships awaiting Batman in this film are too heavy, Duke deliberately arranged two alluring female leads as emotional relief, promising that their screen time will far exceed Rachel's."
"Based on the comics and Tim Burton's version, the femme fatale Catwoman is both ally and adversary to Batman. She has often made him suffer—and as revealed in the trailer, she initially joins forces with Bane but will later save Batman in a moment of crisis. The two are certain to fight side by side at some point. However, given that Gal Gadot's version of Catwoman is colder and more realistic, the dream of turning comrades into lovers seems unlikely."
"If Catwoman and Batman cannot end up together, then what about Sienna Miller's Miranda Tate? Official information describes her as a board member of Wayne Enterprises who greatly supports Batman's cause. Combined with the intimate scenes shown in the trailer, there is reason to believe she will be Batman's new romantic interest."
"More importantly, though Warner Bros. and Sienna Miller herself have firmly denied it, many fans insist Miranda's true identity is actually the daughter of Ra's al Ghul—the main villain from Batman Begins. In the comics, she is deeply in love with Batman and even bears him a son. But everything remains speculation. For a lone hero who walks in the shadows, saying farewell to bachelorhood won't be that easy. Good luck, Mr. Wayne."
"Reason Four: Gal Gadot delivers the most iconic Catwoman?"
"Among the many new characters joining The Dark Knight Rises, Selina Kyle undoubtedly draws the most attention, her exposure rivaling that of Batman and the Destroyer Bane."
"This character—hailed as the sexiest female figure in all of American comic history—was once portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer in Batman Returns, whose S&M-style costume and mask, along with her half-human, half-cat movements, became an indelible mark in the hearts of fans. Therefore, when Gal Gadot's version appeared without the mask, without cat ears, and without the S&M aesthetic, many fans found it difficult to understand or accept."
"But don't forget, under Duke Rosenberg's lens, Gotham is not a flamboyant comic world but a realistic crime city. Thus, Gal Gadot need not imitate her predecessors merely to please male audiences. What she must do is portray a morally ambiguous antihero who walks the fine line between good and evil—making her tangled relationships with Batman and Bane feel authentic and believable."
"Judging from Duke Rosenberg's ability to direct actors, Gal Gadot shows great promise of surpassing all previous versions to become the best Catwoman in film history. Moreover, from the latest stills, she is seen wearing a tight leather suit and knee-high boots—sometimes showing off her fighting skills, sometimes riding the Batpod through the city. Her blend of seductive allure and heroic elegance will easily make male viewers' noses bleed."
"Reason Five: What role will Margot Robbie's mysterious character, Harley Quinn, play in the film…"
As the release date approached, The Dark Knight Rises launched a full-scale promotional offensive. Yet all the questions and mysteries would only be answered once the film finally hit theaters.
.....
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