With the heated promotion of Suicide Squad, Martin's popularity was at a fever pitch. Coupled with his own influence and status, a single remark from him instantly helped Trump steady the situation.
Trump, of course, didn't just sit and wait for defeat. He began lobbying the party's senior figures, and word was that his efforts were showing decent results.
Time passed, and August 4 arrived.
The premiere of Suicide Squad was held at the TCL Grand Theatre in Los Angeles.
Martin walked the red carpet in high spirits, holding Margot Robbie's hand with his left and Liu Yifei's with his right, heading toward the press area.
By now, Margot Robbie had stopped trying to flirt with Martin. She realized he was right: once the film was released, she was bound to blow up in popularity. She no longer needed to rely on her body to secure opportunities.
Even though the movie hadn't been shown yet, Harley Quinn already drew massive attention from her wild, seductive shots in the trailer, winning Margot Robbie plenty of fans.
Also benefiting was Liu Fei "Fairy Sister." Her image as the Japanese female swordswoman was bold and fearless, tinged with raw intensity—especially the way she dispatched enemies with sharp precision, leaving a deep impression on audiences.
Back in Ching Chong, countless fans were already impatiently waiting to see Fairy Sister break out of her usual image and deliver a groundbreaking performance.
...
"Martin, how do you view the U.S. elites abandoning Trump?"
The first question from the press had nothing to do with movies.
Martin smiled and countered, "Am I not considered an elite?"
He continued, "Why don't the elites support Trump? Some say it's because Trump shows little respect for the disadvantaged. But then, if he disrespects them, why do ordinary people still support him? Perhaps the global 'anti-elite' wave sweeping across the U.S. and beyond this year can give us a clue."
"When the Democratic Party, supposedly representing the lower classes, starts leaning toward the elites and Wall Street, while the Republican candidate, abandoned by the elites, ends up going the other way—it almost feels like the two parties have switched roles."
"For the so-called 'Millennial generation' in the U.S., many have lost faith in the government because of income inequality. The younger generation cannot enjoy the standard of living their parents once had. Add to that the 2008 financial crisis, which crippled the market, the government, and fairness in the system, and society has grown rigidly stratified. The lowest classes can no longer climb into the elites through hard work. This separation between elites and the masses has turned into an ideological divide, further deepening social rifts."
"Once the lower classes lose most of their pathways upward, naturally they begin to resent the elites. We could already see this in Sanders' so-called 'democratic socialist revolution' rhetoric, which ignited massive support and passion among Millennials. Many of them entered college just as the financial crisis hit, leaving them saddled with debt and disillusioned by the negative effects of globalization."
"In fact, Hillary has had to adjust her strategy to win over Sanders' supporters—she's been forced to shift leftward and retract some of her 1990s-era stances. But the results haven't been great. People see her as a career politician with no real convictions, only chasing votes. And nobody trusts such politicians to bring real change to social issues."
"There's also the question of who controls the narrative. With the rise of the internet, ordinary people have their own ways to speak out and access information. It's no longer easy for mainstream media to control the conversation. In fact, the internet is now the true mainstream media."
"Trump may have flaws and may not be welcomed by the elites, but that actually makes him seem like an ordinary guy in the eyes of the people. As for those Republican elites who oppose him—they may eventually realize they aren't as important as they imagine."
Martin then added with a chuckle, "Recently, there was an interesting poll within the Republican Party: between Trump and the more traditional Paul Ryan—the youngest Speaker of the House in 150 years—which one better represents the GOP? Sixty percent chose Trump. Isn't that telling? Perhaps it'll make a few people reconsider their positions."
Martin's remarks were quickly picked up and spread online.
When Trump saw them, he slapped the table and exclaimed, "Well said!!!"
Finally, the second question came, this time about film.
"Martin, what are your thoughts on Suicide Squad's box office prospects? Right now, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice has barely passed $750 million. Do you think Suicide Squad can surpass it?"
Martin laughed and replied, "I don't know if Suicide Squad's box office can surpass Batman v Superman. But I do know this—Suicide Squad's profits will definitely surpass Batman v Superman."
Inside the reception hall, Zack Snyder stood gloomily, making small talk with a few people.
Since Martin had attended his premiere, Snyder had come to this one as a courtesy.
He had already watched the Suicide Squad trailer and heard mixed responses from theater representatives—some positive, some negative, all uncertain.
Of course, that didn't stop theater chains from giving Suicide Squad plenty of showings. Martin's name was simply too big to ignore.
Before Martin failed, even skeptical theater owners were willing to take the gamble.
Meanwhile, Batman v Superman's box office had completely run out of steam. With only a month left before it was pulled, it was destined to fall short of $1 billion. Even breaking $850 million was unlikely. Warner Bros. was looking at a loss of nearly $180 million.
The only silver lining was the strong merchandise sales, especially Wonder Woman figures—some of which, at life-size scale, sold for millions. [TL/N: That's basically an adult toy ain't it?]
Gal Gadot had become a breakout star, and word was Warner had already greenlit a Wonder Woman solo film.
Still, Snyder thought darkly, Let's hope Martin's Suicide Squad suffers a Waterloo too.
"Hey, Zack."
Martin's greeting startled him.
"Uh, Martin, hello," Zack Snyder replied nervously, his eyes flickering.
Martin looked at him strangely, assuming Snyder's mood was sour because of his box office flop. Comforting him, Martin said, "Don't worry, my friend. I have confidence in your directing skills. Warner won't abandon you just for one failure. At the very least, you'll always have my vote of support on the board."
Snyder was stunned, then suddenly remembered—Martin wasn't just a director!
A heavy wave of shame washed over him.