For nearly a week, Lucy 2 had captured the attention of all moviegoers.
On one hand, it was due to the awe-inspiring and intimidating presence of Adam Hammer. On the other hand, numerous bloggers had given the film extremely high praise.
"This is a must-watch superhero movie of the year, if not of the decade."
"The action scenes are breathtaking, the special effects are stunning, and the plot will leave your jaw on the floor."
"Lucy 2 breaks the stereotype that sequels are bad. Under Ethan's direction, this film is even more exciting than the first one."
"Ethan revealed at the event that many more superhero movies are on the way."
With the backing of paid advertisements, these messages flooded the screens of movie fans across North America and beyond, building immense anticipation.
In addition, Norton Eye collaborated with theaters to introduce a presale system. One week before the official release, following the test screenings, they partnered with Fandango, North America's largest ticketing website, to launch first-day presale tickets for Lucy 2 in five major cities, including New York and Los Angeles.
Originally, theaters and ticketing platforms expected that selling 50% of the presale tickets—reaching $20 million—would already be a huge success. However, to everyone's surprise, the website crashed just five minutes after presales started.
Once the website was back up, all Lucy 2 first-day tickets sold out again in just another five minutes, raking in $43 million, making it the undisputed champion of first-hour presales this year.
This was despite the fact that theaters had deliberately held back 30% of the tickets for on-site purchases. They had never expected such an overwhelming response from audiences.
Due to Lucy 2's phenomenal performance, no other film dared to compete with it on the same release date—every other film quietly moved out of its way.
Industry insiders were also watching closely, eager to see if Ethan could create yet another box-office miracle.
Premiere Day
As Milon and Judy drove to the theater around 11 p.m., they were shocked to find traffic completely jammed near the cinema.
"Oh my god, are they all going to see Lucy 2?" Milon gripped the steering wheel anxiously.
"Looks like it." Judy held up her phone, showing Milon her chat with friends. "Muse and the others are also stuck in traffic."
"This is crazy! It's just a movie!" Milon shrugged but honked at a car in front that was flashing its high beams annoyingly.
"Uh, Milon, we're also part of that crazy crowd," Judy reminded him.
"Fine, but I'm a die-hard Ethan fan. I watch all his movies on opening day—this one is no exception." For Milon, Ethan's films had been a part of his life for years, and watching them on the first day had become a habit.
"Exactly. And thank goodness we bought presale tickets," Judy said, feeling relieved. Otherwise, they'd be in the same predicament as her other friend.
"Tatiana and her boyfriend got to the theater at 8 a.m. today, but all the tickets were gone. Now they have to buy from scalpers—$300 per ticket! Insane."
"No kidding." Mirren shuddered. "Some people who bought presale tickets are reselling them at ridiculous prices. Premium seats are going for $1,000. Damn it, how did they even buy them so fast?"
"Maybe they have some tricks up their sleeves." Judy also thought the prices were outrageous, but with Lucy 2's level of hype, it wasn't surprising.
Unlike other major blockbusters, which still relied on old-school filming techniques, Lucy 2 was said to be a collaboration between Digital Domain and Industrial Light & Magic, offering a visual experience even beyond the first film.
Curiosity alone had North American moviegoers flocking to see it.
As Milon and Judy continued chatting, traffic finally began to clear. By 11:50, they arrived at the theater.
"Hurry! Theater 3!" Milon grabbed Judy's hand and sprinted inside, fearing they'd miss the opening scene.
To save time, they even skipped buying popcorn and soda.
After slipping on their 3D glasses and finding their seats, they barely had time to catch their breath before the commercials ended and the movie began.
Three Hours Later
The time flew by. When Milon and Judy checked the clock after the movie ended, they could hardly believe it.
"Three hours? That went by so fast!" Milon was stunned. "It felt like only an hour and a half."
"Yeah… the pacing was so intense." Judy slumped back in her seat. "There was so much information packed into every second—it was a bit exhausting."
"But so damn satisfying." Milon, feeling the same way, didn't rush to leave. They both needed a moment to process what they had just seen.
"Good thing we didn't get sodas—otherwise, we'd have needed a bathroom break in the middle." Since the movie was quite long, many people had left for restroom breaks, only to come back feeling like they had missed something crucial.
"Yeah, I think we should watch it again. What do you think?"
"I was just about to say that."
As they exited the theater, they overheard countless other moviegoers buzzing about the film's plot, especially the mind-blowing revelation about the false galaxy. The idea that Earth was separated from the real universe left many in shock, as if it had answered long-standing questions.
Some even speculated that reality itself might be similar—after all, many people believed the universe must be teeming with extraterrestrial life, yet humans had never found conclusive proof.
Aliens had always been one of the biggest fascinations for North Americans.
Even a past U.S. president had once promised to declassify FBI secret files about aliens if elected—though he later went back on his word.
Still, the immense public interest in extraterrestrial life was undeniable.
The concept of a "bottle universe" or "boxed-in cosmos" had been explored in countless sci-fi stories, but Lucy 2 took this classic theory and gave it a fresh spin.
This perfectly aligned with the tastes of American audiences, and soon, the movie's ratings on review sites began to soar.
Critical Acclaim
Rotten Tomatoes Freshness Score: 95%
A score given by audiences who had seen the movie.
Hollywood Reporter:
"Despite its three-hour runtime, the film never feels dragged out. On the contrary, it leaves you wanting more. This is because Ethan packed in an enormous amount of content while keeping the story tightly focused on the main plot. Structurally, it moves away from the usual small-scale superhero conflicts and replaces them with a more abstract and existential threat. I have to applaud that approach."
Film Critics' Review:
"After a panel review, we unanimously rated this movie an 8 out of 10. From a cinematographic perspective, Ethan's visual storytelling is both beautiful and sharp. However, in terms of narrative depth, it falls slightly short—the protagonists don't actually resolve the core conflict, instead leaving behind a massive cliffhanger."
Independent Film Critic Jack:
"I love everything about this movie—the lighting, visuals, music, grand scenes, and Scarlett's figure. But I hate the cliffhanger it leaves us with because it means that in a few years, when the third installment comes out, we'll have to buy another movie ticket. But that's just the nature of a film series. To maintain the audience's engagement, a reasonable conflict must be built up in advance with plenty of foreshadowing and setup. I understand Ethan's compromise, but I must admit, the numerous characters appear rather hastily. While they have distinct personalities, they lack their own dedicated screen time and character arcs."
Selected Fan Review:
"The movie was incredibly exciting. Even though there were many characters, everything was explained clearly. However, I'd love to learn more about them, so Ethan, please hurry up and release more solo hero films!"
After receiving widespread praise, the film's box office numbers were also released.
The opening day box office, combined with presales, brought Lucy 2 to a total of $81 million, making it the highest-grossing opening of the year.
It also successfully surpassed the first installment's performance.
Shortly after, the global box office figures were announced—$220 million worldwide on the first day.
This achievement undoubtedly made headlines across all Hollywood media, with many describing the sequel as "Ethan's victory once again."
Suddenly, invitations poured into Norton Eye's office, overwhelming it. The fashion industry, photography circles, charities, auction houses, and even the financial sector all sought to invite Ethan. Even Harvard extended an invitation for him to deliver a lecture at the university.
Of course, Ethan couldn't accept every invitation—he simply didn't have the time, nor did he enjoy socializing with so many people.
However, he didn't reject all of them either. After all, expanding his network was a necessary part of his role as the leader of Norton Eye.
He accepted an invitation to a charity auction, where he would attend a cultural relics auction.
Meanwhile, as Lucy 2 continued its theatrical run, the film officially surpassed $1 billion in box office revenue after two weeks.
Ethan had added another major milestone to his record of box office achievements.
At the same time, Marvel officially launched its Avengers series, but this time, Scarlett was no longer chosen for the role of Black Widow.
After all, a single star couldn't appear in both competing comic book franchises—it would weaken the audience's sense of immersion.
Moreover, Scarlett's salary had now reached the level of Hollywood's top actresses. If Marvel chose her, they would have to give her a larger role, which could disrupt the balance of the storyline.
Thus, Marvel ultimately passed on Scarlett.
It was a trade-off, but for Ethan, and especially for Scarlett, this was an incredibly worthwhile exchange. After all, Black Widow wasn't a lead character in the Marvel Universe, whereas in Lucy, she was undoubtedly the main protagonist.
So she had no regrets. Instead, she became even more invested in playing Lucy, purchasing every comic and reading them daily.
While Lucy 2 was still making waves at the box office and bringing Ethan more recognition, he attended a private auction with Jessica Alba.
"Hey! Ethan! Long time no see."
As soon as they stepped through the villa doors, Ethan saw Will Smith.
"Long time no see." Ethan hugged him. The man before him was as charismatic as ever, showing no signs of aging, and his confident smile remained unchanged.
Since I Am Legend, Will had been in the process of transitioning—from an actor to a producer.
In 2010, he produced The Karate Kid, which turned out to be a successful venture, grossing $160 million on a $25 million budget.
Currently, he was producing This Means War, though his overall film output had decreased compared to previous years.
"Jessica, nice to see you," Will Smith greeted Jessica Alba before his wife joined in to chat with her.
Meanwhile, he wrapped an arm around Ethan's shoulder and pulled him aside.
"Listen, man, I've always wanted to work with you—you know that," Will Smith said directly, without any pretense. "So, do you have any roles for me? I'm even willing to take a pay cut if needed."
"Smith, you're really eager," Ethan chuckled. "It's not that I don't have anything, but the project is still in the comic book stage."
"That's great! I can't wait. When do we start filming?" Will Smith had always admired Ethan's work. Seeing him rise to become a top-tier international director, Will could no longer wait for an opportunity—he took the initiative himself.
"Alright, this character is a hero from the Lucy comics," Ethan revealed a bit of information in response to Will's enthusiasm. "He plays a pivotal role in the story, and yes, the character was specifically written as Black."
At this point, Hollywood's push for political correctness wasn't yet in full swing, but signs of it had already started emerging.
Racial tensions, particularly between Black and White actors, were heating up. Many Black stars were openly criticizing major film festivals for lacking opportunities for Black actors, arguing that Hollywood had become a space dominated by White elites.
Ethan knew these conflicts would inevitably escalate. Eventually, they would ignite a movement, leading to more Black representation in films.
So instead of waiting, he decided to prepare in advance.
To avoid future accusations of Norton Eye ignoring Black actors, Ethan had already started increasing the representation of Black characters in his movies—of course, without compromising the integrity of the storyline. He personally ensured that the screenwriters didn't make unnecessary changes.
"That's fantastic! So, what do I need to prepare for—his personality, hobbies?" Will Smith asked eagerly.
"Hmm, this hero is a lost soul—someone in deep despair. He exists in an era where cybernetics hasn't fully evolved yet, so you might want to start preparing for that mindset."
"A lost soul… Alright, got it." Will Smith patted Ethan's shoulder and extended his hand. "Looking forward to working with you."
"Looking forward to it," Ethan smiled as they shook hands.
After that, the four of them entered the charity auction together and took their seats at a round table.
Because this auction was a private event, most attendees were wealthy patrons rather than their representatives. This was a stark contrast to typical public auctions.
As a result, Ethan recognized many familiar faces in the crowd.
....
Hi For access to additional chapters of
Director in Hollywood (20 chpaters)
MV Director (30 chapters)....
Douluo Dalu:Breaking Clan(30 chapters)
Made In Hollywood (50 Chapters)
Pokemon:Bounty Hunter(30 Chapters)
Douluo Dalu: Reincarnated as Yan(30 Chapters)
Join pateron.com/Translaterappu