"Hello, Mr. Meyers."
"Hello, Mr. Lee."
"Hello, Mr. Meyers."
"Hello, Mr. Adela."
"Is there a problem?"
Martin could tell right away that the two men weren't just here for small talk—they clearly had something on their minds.
"Would it be convenient to talk over there?" Avi Arad pointed to a sofa in the corner.
"Sure."
Martin followed them to the rest area and asked Anne Hathaway to wait nearby to make sure no one interrupted.
She nodded obediently.
Though she could be vain, Anne never objected to Martin's requests at formal events. She was always well-behaved on such occasions.
"Mr. Adela, Mr. Lee, can we talk now? What's this about?" Martin asked with a friendly smile as he sat down.
Avi Arad smiled back. "Just call me Avi. We'll call you Martin too—sound good?"
"Of course." Martin shrugged.
"Martin, you can call me Stan," added Stan Lee with a grin.
Avi continued, "Martin, the main reason we wanted to speak with you is this—besides Spider-Man, do you know much about our other Marvel characters? For example, Iron Man."
Martin paused, then quickly understood.
They couldn't possibly be offering him the role of Iron Man—he'd already played Spider-Man, and fans would find it jarring if he took on another major Marvel hero. So… were they asking him to write the screenplay? Or—more likely—direct?
It had to be about directing.
They wouldn't go to all this trouble just for a script. He'd already proven his chops as a screenwriter.
Director of Iron Man?
Maybe the decision hadn't been finalized, but he was clearly a contender.
Martin's interest was piqued.
Iron Man? He could definitely handle that.
In the original timeline, Iron Man had been a huge success. It launched Robert Downey Jr.'s comeback and essentially saved Marvel.
"Absolutely. I love the character Iron Man. In fact, aside from Spider-Man, Iron Man is my favorite among all Marvel heroes."
Martin's words took Avi Arad and Stan Lee by surprise. After all, Iron Man was traditionally seen as a second-tier Marvel character, not as iconic as Captain America, Spider-Man, or Hulk.
But their curiosity grew.
They exchanged a look, and then Stan asked, "Oh? Could you tell us why?"
Martin smiled. "Of course. I think Iron Man is a rich, complex character with a lot of depth and potential."
"First off, Iron Man is unique among Marvel heroes. He doesn't have any innate superpowers or mystical origins—he relies entirely on his intellect and hard work to build his steel suit. He's a true 'technology hero.' His journey shows that with enough intelligence, innovation, and courage, even an ordinary person can become a superhero. That theme resonates strongly—it gives the audience a real sense of hope and identification."
"Second, his intellect is a huge draw. Human beings are hardwired to admire intelligence—it's as compelling as physical strength. Iron Man's genius is practically godlike, and that's one of his biggest appeals."
"Third, he's flawed. Sure, he's confident, witty, bold, adventurous, and endlessly creative—but he's also deeply human. He has real vulnerabilities and inner struggles. That makes him relatable and emotionally engaging."
"And finally, there's his flamboyance. While most superheroes hide their identities, Iron Man proudly declares his. In a world where people often feel frustrated or repressed, watching someone so unapologetically bold is cathartic. There's an old saying from the East: 'If you don't bring your wealth home, it's like wearing brocade in the dark.' People want to see success celebrated, not hidden away."
Martin's insights caught Avi and Stan off guard—in a good way.
They'd been hoping to use Iron Man to reverse Marvel's recent slump, but hadn't been confident in the project. Now, hearing Martin speak, they suddenly felt like they might actually pull it off.
Stan looked at Avi, then asked eagerly, "So Martin, if we were to make an Iron Man movie, what tone do you think it should have? Would a darker style work?"
"Definitely not," Martin replied with a grin. "That's exactly what I've been thinking."
"If you're adapting Iron Man, it should be a fast-paced action comedy—with slick suits, big explosions, dynamic fights. A classic popcorn flick. Use a heavy metal soundtrack, wild chase scenes, massive set pieces. I truly believe that thrill would rival the spectacle of Spider-Man swinging through skyscrapers."
Fifteen minutes later—
After walking them through his vision for Iron Man, Martin leaned back on the sofa and said with a smile, "So… have I impressed you enough to hand me the director's chair for the Iron Man movie?"
Avi and Stan exchanged a smile.
Avi chuckled. "So you figured us out?"
Martin laughed. "Of course. You guys weren't exactly subtle."
Stan, the ever-enthusiastic creative, clapped his hands together. "Honestly, I think you're perfect. So many of the things you mentioned are exactly what we were thinking too!"
Avi shot Stan a look—This guy's way too eager—but couldn't help smiling.
"Martin," he said, "you're our top choice."
Martin nodded. "I'll put together a rough treatment first, and we can go from there."
"That's fantastic," Avi beamed.
After wrapping up with Avi and Stan, Martin left the lounge with Anne Hathaway. Leonardo DiCaprio strolled over, with Bar Refaeli on his arm.
"Hey man, what were you talking about with those two old Marvel guys?"
"Oh, nothing much. Just a casual chat."
Martin wasn't ready to say anything yet—it wasn't official.
Leo didn't press. He was more focused on the upcoming Oscars.
"Man, I'm getting nervous about next year's awards…"
"Don't worry," Martin reassured him. "Meyers Pictures has your back on the PR front. I already won this year—no way the Academy lets me run the table again."
Leo laughed. "That's a relief."
Just then, a familiar voice chimed in.
"Hey Martin, hey Leo—I heard you guys talking Oscars. Martin, when can I borrow your statuette? Man, I'm so jealous. If the Academy ever gives me Best Actor, I swear I'll cry onstage."
Will Smith had joined them, grinning playfully.
This once-rapper-turned-actor had become a consistent box office powerhouse. None of his films had lost money in years.
He was also the first Black actor to join the $20 million club, surpassing even Denzel Washington in mainstream popularity.
He and Leo had met at a few parties, and they got along well.
Clearly, he was here to get to know Martin.
Martin didn't mind. At least Will's praise was entertaining.