It wasn't just one or two media outlets—many were discussing it. Not necessarily because they were all out to smear Laila, but because they knew exactly what kinds of headlines drew attention.
Laila's fans naturally cared about her every move, while those who loved to hate her also loved this kind of gossip. A topic that catered to both sides? How could the media possibly let that go? As for the truth—did it matter?
Plenty of people flooded Laila's Facebook page to ask if the reports were real, hoping the tabloids were just spouting nonsense again. After all, ever since she got together with Roy, rumors about her being pregnant, married, or cheating had cropped up countless times. And reality? The two of them were already raising a child and living a life more perfect than any fairytale.
Naturally, once Laila learned about the fan inquiries, she made a point to respond. This was her way of giving back to the people who supported her. Whenever she had time, she would personally answer a few questions on her account. That's why so many people instinctively came looking for the truth from her directly.
"Yes, the principal photography for The Avengers has wrapped. Now it's time for a long stretch of post-production. Trust me—you're going to love it!"
Her reply was instantly mobbed by fans. Seeing her say that, her most loyal followers finally breathed a sigh of relief. They trusted her. If she said they'd love the film, then that's exactly what would happen—they'd love it.
But the hardcore fans were only a small portion of the crowd. A larger group of fans still harbored some concern. They were worried about the kind of production schedule the papers were describing. Many of them advised her not to rush, urging her to take a page from directors like James Cameron and spend years meticulously crafting her masterpiece.
Their concern came from a good place, and Laila didn't take it as doubt or disrespect.
"Thank you all for caring. You'll understand when the movie comes out."
She didn't elaborate further—not because she didn't want to promote the film, but because there wasn't much else she could say without repeating the same vague talking points. Once the movie hit theaters, the doubts would vanish on their own—no explanation needed.
At the same time, she made another announcement on Facebook about what she'd be doing next:
"As some of you may remember, before The Avengers, I had planned to shoot a brilliant script written by a brilliant screenwriter. Well, it's time to finally make that film. The new movie will be shot on a remote island under full lockdown. I probably won't be able to interact much during that period, so just a heads-up!"
The moment that post went up, the fans—and the lurking reporters—exploded in the comments section.
"You're jumping into a new project already? Laila, don't push yourself too hard!"
That was the fans' concern for her health.
"Isn't post-production for The Avengers still ongoing? How can she shift focus to a new film already? Won't splitting her attention ruin both movies?"
That was the casual moviegoer worrying about quality.
"Told you she's just using films to rake in cash. Didn't even finish one before jumping into another! Sincere? Serious? Come on, don't make me laugh. What serious director shoots movies at this kind of speed?"
That was the haters, sneering as usual.
"This is big news! Glad I stayed up to wait for this."
That was the undercover tabloid journalists cheering in triumph.
Starting a new movie before the previous one had even completed post? From the outside, it looked like a reckless move. Even authors find it exhausting to write two novels at once—how could a director handle two productions simultaneously?
And let's not forget—post-production had to be handled by Hollywood VFX studios, while she would be off filming on some island!
An island!
Whether close or far, it meant one thing: she wouldn't be commuting. Which meant she couldn't directly oversee VFX production. Would she be able to manage everything?
Rather than easing concerns, Laila's announcement only gave rise to more of them.
The Avengers hardly looked like the kind of project that could challenge for the top of the global box office. A lightning-fast scriptwriting phase, ultra-condensed pre-production, an insanely short shooting period, and now the complications of remote post-production—and on top of it all, a director running two movies at once.
Under those circumstances…
Could it break the all-time box office record?
Laila could only shrug at the doubts.
If she hadn't been so detail-obsessed, she could've finished the entire shoot in two months. Plus, she had been involved in post-production all along. Communication with the effects team had been smooth from the start, and even if she wasn't around in person, they could continue just fine. The only risk was occasional miscommunication if something unexpected came up—but that was nothing they couldn't handle.
The problem was… no one outside knew any of that.
And not just outsiders—even her family was worried.
They didn't care about whether she hit #1 at the box office.
They cared about whether her body could take it.
"Mom, it's just a movie. It's not as exhausting as you think."
Laila was genuinely grateful for her family's concern. But when it came to Janet's motherly nagging, that was… well, a different story.
"Don't try to fool me. You think I haven't noticed how much weight you've lost lately?"
Janet's voice came sharp and scolding over the phone.
She even noticed that?
Laila shot a glare at Roy, who was sitting nearby pretending to entertain their child, while eavesdropping. Seeing his guilty expression, Laila instantly knew where Janet had gotten her intel.
"Mom, I'm just trying to lose some weight. You know how much I put on after having the baby."
All women care about beauty—especially someone like Janet, a fashion designer who deals with models all day. Surely she'd understand the importance of shedding post-pregnancy weight?
Except that Laila had underestimated her mother.
"Don't give me that nonsense. Dieting doesn't mean starving yourself, okay? A proper diet involves balanced meals and reasonable exercise. What you're doing is just self-abuse!"
"You're overreacting, Mom..." Laila said with a wry smile.
"Overreacting? You've shot two movies this year—at the same time! What director works like that? If Reynolds, back in the day, had—"
Janet suddenly paused, then continued as if nothing had happened:
"Anyway, you can't keep doing this. Get back to New York immediately. I need to give you a good round of nourishment. I won't let you abuse my little Eli like this!"