….
Within two weeks of the trip, Regal finished his trip in Japan, and is now on his way back home.
Rock sat in the adjacent first-class seat, headphones on, absorbed in what appeared to be a complex action thriller on his tablet screen.
His occasional smirks and the way his fingers unconsciously mimicked fight choreography suggested he was completely lost in whatever martial arts novel had captured his attention.
Regal envied his friend's ability to compartmentalize, to switch off the constant strategic planning that seemed to occupy every quiet moment of his own existence.
But as the JAL flight cruised steadily across the Pacific toward Los Angeles, Regal's mind refused to settle into passive consumption mode.
Instead, it raced through the expanding list of projects, commitments, and opportunities that would demand his attention upon landing.
The sketchbook lay open on his tray table, filled with manga panels he had practiced during their week in Tokyo.
The drawing exercises had served their purpose - building trust with Kishimoto while genuinely expanding his understanding of visual storytelling - but now practical realities demanded priority over creative exploration.
One major item could finally be checked off his mental to-do list.
The fourth Harry Potter manuscript - [Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire] - had been completed just days before departing for Japan.
All 734 pages of carefully recrafted magical adventure following changes he made from the first book - character development, and increasingly complex plot threads that would push the series into darker, more mature territory.
Delivering the manuscript to Gwendolyn had felt like handing over a piece of his soul, though he would never admit such dramatic sentiments aloud.
If the third book represented a crucial turning point in the series, where childhood wonder would begin giving way to genuine danger, where the stakes would become life-and-death rather -
Then the fourth book cements that.
Gwendolyn's initial reaction had been everything he had hoped for - excitement, relief, and the kind of professional satisfaction that came from receiving exceptional work precisely on schedule.
But more importantly, her editorial instincts had immediately grasped the book's significance within the larger series arc.
"This changes everything…." She had said after reading the first three chapters. "The readers who have been following Harry's journey from the beginning - they are going to realize they are not children anymore by the time they finish this book."
That transformation had been exactly what Regal intended.
The series needed to mature alongside its audience, creating space for more sophisticated themes and complex moral questions while maintaining the magical wonder that had made the earlier books so compelling.
The fourth book would serve as a bridge between childhood adventure and adult consequences.
Harry Potter's second film adaptation remained in full production under - Chris Columbus's direction - with approximately four to five months remaining before theatrical release.
The daily reports that crossed Regal's desk - dozens of young actors growing more confident in their roles, elaborate magical sequences taking shape through practical effects and early digital compositing, and a director managing the complex logistics of bringing Hogwarts to life on screen.
Regal's involvement in the production had been deliberately limited to avoid the kind of creative interference that could undermine a director's authority.
Columbus possessed both the technical expertise and child-friendly sensibilities necessary to translate the first book's wonder onto screen.
But periodic set visits remained essential, both for maintaining collaborative relationships and for understanding how adaptation choices might influence future installments.
More importantly, he needed to check on the young cast members who were navigating the unique pressures of childhood fame while learning to embody characters that had become culturally significant before the first day of filming.
Daniel Radcliffe, Lily Kate, and Rupert Grint were carrying enormous expectations on very young shoulders, and their well-being mattered more than any box office projections.
The memory of Lily's indignant expression during his last brief set visit brought an involuntary smile to his face.
The young actress had cornered him near the craft services table, hands on her hips in perfect Hermione Granger fashion.
"You haven't been to see us in weeks!" she had declared with the kind of righteous anger that only thirteen-year-olds could muster. "Do you know how many amazing things we have filmed that you haven't seen? And Rupert learned to do this brilliant thing with his wand work, and Daniel's gotten so much better at the flying scenes, but you keep missing everything because you are always somewhere else doing grown-up business!"
The accusation had been delivered with such perfect dramatic timing that even Columbus had started laughing.
But underneath the childish indignation lay a genuine desire for approval and recognition that reminded Regal why he had fought so hard to cast age-appropriate actors rather than older performers who could handle the technical demands more easily.
"Yeah, I should definitely go and take a look at them."
He muttered to himself, making a mental note to schedule extended set visits once he had caught up on the backlog of decisions that had accumulated during his Tokyo absence.
"Hope Chris is hanging in there alright with all the kids." he added, knowing that directing child actors required patience and energy that could exhaust even experienced filmmakers.
But even as he organized thoughts around ongoing projects, Regal's mind kept returning to the most significant decision awaiting his attention: his next directorial effort.
The success of Spider-Man had generated offers, opportunities, and expectations that created both incredible possibilities and paralyzing choices.
After considerable contemplation during quiet moments in Tokyo coffee shops, the answer had crystallized with surprising clarity.
[Iron Man] film will be the logical next step in his superhero filmmaking journey - a character whose technological innovation and complex moral philosophy could complement [Spider-Man]'s more traditional heroic themes while appealing to different demographic segments.
Tony Stark's story offered elements that pure superhero adventures often lacked -
Sophisticated adult relationships, corporate intrigue, questions about responsibility and redemption that resonated with mature audiences.
More importantly, the character's reliance on technology rather than supernatural abilities would allow for practical effects work and action sequences that felt grounded in recognizable reality.
The decision felt inevitable once he would examine it from multiple angles.
Iron Man could build upon the technical innovations and audience enthusiasm that Spider-Man had generated while pushing into new creative territory that would demonstrate his range as a filmmaker.
….
Also, among Regal's expanding roster of potential projects, one particular gap demanded attention with increasing urgency.
His filmography, while successful, remained heavily male-focused in ways that didn't reflect either his artistic ambitions or the audience diversity that his films were actually attracting.
The success of Spider-Man had generated substantial female audience enthusiasm, particularly among demographics that traditional superhero marketing typically ignored.
Exit polls and social media analysis revealed that women comprised nearly forty percent of the film's repeat viewers, drawn not just to romantic subplots but to the complex character development and emotional authenticity that elevated the material beyond simple action spectacle.
This audience engagement created both opportunity and responsibility.
Female viewers had demonstrated willingness to support superhero content that offered genuine character development and emotional depth.
But capturing that enthusiasm required developing projects that featured compelling female protagonists rather than simply including well-written supporting characters in male-centered narratives.
The challenge lay in identifying properties that could showcase complex female heroism while maintaining the technical spectacle and emotional authenticity that had made his previous superhero work successful.
Comic book history offered numerous possibilities, but many of the most interesting female characters existed within larger ensemble contexts that would complicate adaptation approaches.
"I really need to find capable people…."
He said aloud, though Rock remained absorbed in his tablet screen and showed no signs of having heard the comment.
….
Japan had provided perspective and creative inspiration, but Los Angeles would demand concrete decisions and practical execution of the visions he had been nurturing.
Iron Man awaited development.
Harry Potter required promotional attention.
The female-led superhero project needed identification and early planning.
The interconnected universe concept demanded strategic coordination that had never been attempted in cinema history.
And somewhere in the background, Kishimoto was refining his story with enhanced confidence and financial support, representing the kind of long-term cultural investment that could influence global entertainment for decades to come.
The airplane touched down on an American airport, carrying Regal back to the entertainment empire he'd built, enhanced now by possibilities that were only beginning to unfold.
….
The soft buzz of conversation and the faint hum of lights filled the air as Regal pushed open the heavy stage door, Gwendolyn slipping in behind him.
The familiar smell of old wood and newly painted set pieces hit him like an echo of home. He hadn't told anyone he was coming - part of him wanted to see how things ran without him hovering nearby like an anxious stormcloud.
The courtyard set stretched out under the overhead rigs, cobblestone-painted floor glinting faintly.
A handful of crew milled about adjusting stands, whispering into walkies.
And there, huddled on the stone steps like a secret council, were the three kids.
Daniel sat cross-legged, glasses slipping down his nose, furiously reading from a sheaf of papers.
Lily was beside him, a sprawling binder cracked open across her lap, pages bristling with sticky notes and little diagrams in her tidy handwriting.
Rupert lounged a step above them, arms slung across his knees, whistling to himself as though this was all optional.
Regal slowed, his lips curving despite himself.
Gwendolyn noticed and leaned closer, her voice low and amused. "They look like they are plotting world domination."
"Wouldn't put it past Lily…" Regal murmured.
As if on cue, Lily's head snapped up, eyes catching the movement.
She gasped, then beamed so brightly it could have powered the rig lights.
In a heartbeat, she was on her feet and charging over.
"Regal!" She squealed.
He laughed, barely bracing in time as she collided into him. He lifted her up off the ground in a hug, her sneakers dangling midair.
Gwendolyn smiled at the sight, folding her arms and leaning against a nearby pillar.
"Thought I would drop in." Regal said as he set Lily down, ruffling her hair. "Making sure you are not terrorising anyone."
"Never." she said innocently - then added. "Well, maybe a little."
Daniel and Rupert had looked up by now, Daniel smiling wide and Rupert giving a lazy salute with two fingers.
"Afternoon, boss." Rupert said.
Regal approached their little cluster, eyes skimming the mess of papers. "What is all this? Looks like a war room."
"Oh, Chris asked us to do homework." Daniel explained, holding up his pages as if they were classified documents. "About our characters. Like… who they are this year, what they are thinking."
"Homework." Regal repeated, turning his head toward the man approaching from behind the camera rigs.
Chris Columbus strode over, a pencil tucked behind his ear, sleeves rolled to the elbows, eyes bright. There was something reassuring about him - like he carried sunlight around in his pocket.
"Regal…" Chris greeted, shaking his hand warmly. "Welcome back. They have been brilliant, by the way."
"I can see that." Regal said, nodding at the small mountain of papers in Daniel's lap.
"Four pages." Chris said proudly. "All about Harry's emotional arc."
Daniel blushed scarlet. "It's… not that much…"
"And Lily." Chris went on. "She brought what appears to be… an entire research library."
Lily puffed up a little. "It's just references, and wardrobe notes… And maybe a few timeline charts."
Regal raised his brows. "Wardrobe notes? That's… aggressively Hermione of you."
Gwendolyn stifled a laugh behind him.
"And Rupert." Chris said, turning toward the boy.
Rupert sat straighter, grin already tugging at his mouth. "I didn't do it."
There was a tiny pause.
"Why…?" Chris prompted, arching an eyebrow.
Rupert grinned wider. "Because Ron Weasley wouldn't do his homework."
Almost instinctively, Regal's voice joined his at the exact same time, perfectly matched:
""Ron Weasley wouldn't do his homework.""
The words echoed for a beat - and then everyone dissolved into laughter.
Daniel snorted, Lily clutched her sides, Gwen was laughing so hard she had to hold Regal's arm, and even Chris bent over, laughing in helpless defeat.
"Alright, alright…." Chris said, straightening with a smile. "That logic is… infuriatingly sound."
"Told you." Rupert said smugly.
Chris admitted, chuckling. "Method acting, I suppose."
"Very method." Regal said, winking at Rupert.
As the laughter faded, Lily flopped down beside Regal, still giggling, and said. "You know, Chris might actually be better at handling us than you are."
Regal gasped dramatically. "Betrayal, right to my face."
Chris chuckled, shaking his head. "They are just… wonderful. All three."
Regal's smile softened as he looked at them - Daniel still red-cheeked but proud, Lily glowing with energy, Rupert grinning like he had just gotten away with something.
And Chris, standing there like the steady sun they were quietly orbiting around.
He wasn't trying to outshine anyone.
He was just helping them shine.
And honestly, Regal thought that was even better.
.
….
[To be continued…]
★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★
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