"Both of these films' presale numbers are pretty good," said Joseph Clemence from *The Los Angeles Times* to his acquaintance Brad Hansbain from *The New York Times* at the media zone in front of Lincoln Center.
"Yeah, *Thor*'s first-week presales are under $12 million, and *Chaos City*'s are under $10 million," replied Brad. "These numbers aren't high or low—definitely not indicators of a blockbuster."
A sudden commotion erupted on the red carpet, and both Joseph and Brad turned to see James Franco walking with Lily Collins.
"Looks like the Stanton crew is almost all here," Brad noted.
Joseph shook his head. "Not everyone. Robert Downey Jr. isn't here."
"Tony Stark didn't show up?" Brad was unsurprised. "He's probably at the *Thor* premiere in L.A."
Lincoln Center in Manhattan was the venue for *Chaos City's* premiere. At the same time, *Thor*'s premiere was being held at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
As the night sky darkened over New York, the lights illuminated every inch of the red carpet. One star after another walked down the carpet, each more dazzling than the last. The Stanton crew appeared one by one, with Robert Downey Jr.'s absence the only noticeable gap. Many assumed he would be in Los Angeles for *Thor*'s premiere.
A Rolls-Royce Phantom pulled up, and Robert Downey Jr. stepped out, waving flamboyantly at the fans and reporters before helping his wife Susan Downey out of the car.
"He actually showed up here!" Brad exclaimed.
Joseph was more composed. "The bonds among the Stanton crew are deeper than most people realize."
Suddenly, a bright light shot up into the dark sky, converging to form the name "Chris Dane" in the heavens, right as Henry Cavill, the lead actor of *Chaos City*, walked onto the red carpet.
"Who do you think has better muscles, Henry Cavill or Chris Hemsworth?" Joseph asked, referring to the actor playing Thor.
"Who knows?" Brad replied. "But Hemsworth has a sunnier image. Cavill always looks a bit brooding."
Joseph laughed. "Perfect for Murphy Stanton's style."
As Henry Cavill drew closer, Brad and Joseph snapped enough photos and resumed their conversation.
"Which film do you think will be the loser?" Brad asked.
"Both films' test screenings received good feedback," Joseph recalled. "There was some criticism of *Chaos City's* dark theme, but *Thor* received almost universal praise."
As a seasoned movie journalist, Brad knew the truth behind these early reviews. "Can test screenings really predict accurately? We'll know more after the official release tomorrow."
A film receiving zero negative reviews in test screenings was often too good to be true. Brad wasn't very optimistic about *Thor*. While Marvel films typically earned decent box office results, achieving stellar reviews seemed unlikely, especially with *Man of Steel* setting a high bar for superhero movies.
Unfortunately, Murphy Stanton's films often pushed boundaries, preventing them from becoming mainstream youth films. This was likely why *Chaos City's* presales lagged behind *Thor*. Without a well-known source material or stars like Natalie Portman, *Chaos City* seemed weaker, relying mainly on Stanton's reputation.
Additionally, Brad had heard that *Chaos City* had to cut some scenes to secure a PG-13 rating, avoiding the higher R rating, which would have made it less competitive against a family-friendly film like *Thor*.
A thunderous cheer erupted as Murphy Stanton, accompanied by his girlfriend Gal Gadot, stepped onto the red carpet. Murphy, tall and rugged in a perfectly tailored dark suit, looked like a living Michelangelo's David. Gal Gadot, with her tall, slender frame and elegant updo, wore a purple gown that accentuated her long legs.
"These two..." Joseph marveled. "They could make a living on their looks but choose to rely on their talent."
Knowing Murphy's habit of walking quickly down the red carpet, Joseph hurried to the interview area. He reached a prime spot just as Murphy and Gal entered the zone.
"Director Stanton, is there any scene in the film you're especially eager to show the audience?" Joseph asked.
Murphy paused briefly before responding. "There are many scenes I love and can't wait to show. Especially the action scenes shot in IMAX—they're truly stunning."
20th Century Fox had secured substantial resources from IMAX, with *Chaos City* set to play on 105 IMAX screens in North America, with 30 theaters dedicating all shows to it. This number was expected to increase globally, potentially setting new records for IMAX.
"Some media have criticized your film for being too dark, especially *Chaos City*. What's your take on that?" another journalist asked loudly.
Murphy remained composed. "My team and I have worked hard to ensure the film's narrative is always from the perspective that evil cannot triumph over justice. But from the start, I've included elements to make people think, giving the film a tougher, more intense tone."
Answering only a couple of questions, Murphy moved on from the interview area, rejoining Gal Gadot. They stood in front of the sponsors' backdrop for photos. The rest of the Stanton crew joined them shortly, leading to a series of formal photos with the cast, crew, and sponsors.
As the sun fully set, Murphy led the crew into the IMAX theater amidst enthusiastic cheers from fans. Inside, he briefly chatted with Robert Downey Jr. about *Thor*'s premiere in Hollywood.
Without any contractual obligation to attend the *Thor* premiere, Robert had chosen to support *Chaos City* instead.
With time running short, Murphy didn't head to the VIP lounge but went straight into the screening room. As he entered, the audience and guests gave a standing ovation, reflecting Murphy's industry stature and reputation.
Before the screening, there was a small ceremony organized by 20th Century Fox as part of the promotional strategy. Murphy and the crew fully supported the plan.
Meanwhile, on Hollywood Boulevard, the TCL Chinese Theatre was packed with Marvel fans for the *Thor* premiere. Small Pepper Gwyneth Paltrow, Black Widow Scarlett Johansson, Hawkeye Jeremy Renner, and Nick Fury Samuel L. Jackson all walked the red carpet, thrilling the assembled comic book enthusiasts.
Finally, the *Thor* cast, including lead actress Natalie Portman with her Oscar-winning confidence, made their entrance.
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