The 2015 Oscars were rather uneventful, except for another round of criticism due to the lack of nominations for Black actors. Other than that, there wasn't much drama.
This year, Ethan was mainly overseeing various productions as an executive producer and, for once, he hadn't arranged too much work for himself.
Even the Lucy series had temporarily halted filming, with only the pre-production work continuing.
For the first time in a while, moviegoers didn't get to see a film directed by Ethan. Instead, all they got were various movies produced under his name.
Still, fans weren't disappointed. Movies with Ethan's stamp of approval maintained a solid level of quality, so people didn't feel like their ticket money had been wasted.
Taking advantage of this gap, Marvel and other studios launched their major releases, competing fiercely at the box office.
Fast & Furious 7, directed by James Wan, was a significant challenge for him. Yet, against expectations, the film was both a critical and commercial success, immediately cementing itself as a classic in the series.
Avengers: Age of Ultron also delivered terrifying numbers at the box office. It grossed $200 million globally on its opening day and made $170 million in its first weekend in North America. Ultimately, it reached a total of $1.2 billion.
Of course, perhaps due to the absence of Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow, its box office earnings were about $200 million lower than anticipated.
Despite its high earnings, Age of Ultron still fell short of Lucy:Final Curtain War.
On its opening day, Lucy:Final Curtain's War grossed $290 million worldwide, taking in $140 million in North America during its first weekend. Its final total was an astonishing $1.8 billion.
This made Lucy:Final Curtain's war -highest-grossing film of all time, trailing only Avatar and Titanic.
However, unlike James Cameron, Ethan was still young. The entire world recognized him as the leading director of Hollywood's new generation—an even brighter star than Christopher Nolan.
With this status, Ethan had gradually reached a position of transcendence within Hollywood.
Even top executives and studio moguls had begun to show humility in his presence. Tim Cook from Apple even invited Ethan to visit the company and experience their latest products, hoping to secure future collaborations.
Meanwhile, the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein were unexpectedly exposed.
It all started with a young agent in a CIA intelligence unit who wanted to show off his access to classified information. He shared what he had seen with some online friends.
Although he told them not to spread the documents further, controlling internet users was harder than stopping a plague. The leaked intelligence quickly went viral, making many people aware of classified U.S. government files.
The leaks covered a range of topics, including U.S. aid to Ukraine and Israel, intelligence from the Five Eyes alliance, and sanctions against Russia.
The U.S. government swiftly took action, launching an internal investigation into the CIA unit. It didn't take long to identify the young intelligence officer responsible, and he was arrested by the FBI.
However, the leaks had already sparked widespread public discussion. Major newspapers reported on the scandal, and countless people eagerly saved and shared the classified documents.
In response, the CIA launched an extensive operation to contain the leaks, but some pieces of information still slipped through.
One of those leaks involved Epstein.
Or perhaps it wasn't a slip-up at all—maybe the CIA had intentionally sacrificed him to protect bigger figures.
Regardless of the circumstances, Epstein's incriminating evidence was now fully exposed, including many of the documents that hackers had previously uncovered.
Even a portion of his infamous guest list was leaked.
The public outrage was immediate. Amid the wave of condemnation, the FBI swiftly arrested Epstein and seized his private island.
Their speed in handling this case was far quicker than their later investigation into the assassination attempt on a certain high-profile figure—almost as if they were lightning-fast.
Once investigators examined the island and gathered testimony from underage victims who had been forced into sex work, Epstein was quickly placed behind bars.
However, just like in real history, Epstein didn't last long in prison.
After a supposedly thorough investigation, law enforcement agencies declared that he had committed suicide.
When Ethan read the newspaper, he couldn't help but joke, "What a ridiculous 'suicide'—just as absurd as getting shot from behind and calling it 'self-inflicted.'"
But in any case, the scumbag was dead, and his crimes had finally ended.
As for those whose names were exposed, their next moves would depend on their background and influence.
Naturally, the individuals listed in the leaks all chose to keep a low profile. Even when questioned by reporters, they denied everything.
During an industry event, Ethan himself was confronted by a journalist.
"Hello, Ethan. There are rumors that you attended gatherings with Jeffrey Epstein alongside Kevin Spacey. Is that true?" The reporter pushed the microphone close to Ethan's face, his tone firm and accusatory.
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "When exactly?"
"You don't remember?" The reporter pressed on.
"You're the one making the claim—shouldn't you provide evidence? At the very least, you should specify a date and location, right?" Ethan remained perfectly composed, unfazed by the aggressive questioning.
"Uh… It was at an estate near New York, around 3 p.m.," the reporter said after a brief pause, offering a time and place.
"Oh, I remember now." Ethan's expression turned serious. "At that time, I had received an invitation from Bob Weinstein to attend a cocktail party. During that event, I briefly saw Epstein. But I never went to his island. In fact, I barely spoke to him that day—we weren't close."
"How can you prove you didn't go? According to the version I heard, you were laughing and chatting with Epstein, accepted his invitation, and took his private yacht to the island, where you stayed until the next day," the reporter continued, eagerly trying to smear Ethan's reputation.
Hearing this, other journalists quickly gathered around, cameras flashing wildly, as if waiting for Ethan to slip up.
But Ethan remained impeccable. "That is completely false. I remember that day very clearly. My daughter was sick, and my wife and I took her to see a doctor. In fact, we were even photographed by a tabloid. Both the doctor and that newspaper can confirm my alibi."
"Uh… Maybe I got the date wrong…" The reporter attempted to shift the narrative.
But Ethan didn't give him the chance. "Sir, you are deliberately misrepresenting the truth and manipulating public opinion. What's your name?"
"Beck," the reporter replied, somewhat confused.
"Alright. Expect a legal notice from my lawyers within the next two days. See you in court," Ethan said politely but firmly.
"What?" The reporter was stunned. How had two simple questions led to a lawsuit? He hadn't even succeeded in smearing Ethan yet!
But he had no time to react, as Ethan turned to the crowd and addressed everyone seriously.
"As a father, I find it absolutely unacceptable for girls my daughter's age to be forced into such horrific situations. At the same time, I will not tolerate anyone distorting facts. I have no problem going to court—truth becomes clearer through debate. That's why I will defend myself with legal action and fully support law enforcement in identifying the real monsters who preyed on those young girls."
"I will provide all the necessary evidence to prove my innocence. So, Mr. Beck, I suggest you be prepared."