"You want me to go to China?" I asked Dave as we waited for the others to arrive in the large conference room at DC headquarters.
We were about to have the big meeting on the Justice League movie. The script was finalized, the director had been chosen, the main cast locked in. Now it was time to start pre-production.
Dave leaned back in his chair and nodded.
"Yes, Danny. I want you to go to China."
He slid a folder across the table toward me. I picked it up and glanced inside a sheet full of projections and early market reports. My eyes went wide.
"You've gotta be kidding me…" I muttered. On the paper, in bold print, it showed Aquaman tracking higher in China than Age of Ultron.
I looked back at Dave, stunned.
"What? How?"
Dave grinned. "Remember when I told you there was more interest in China because of James Wan?"
I nodded slowly. "Yeah, but that was just some chatter online, a few posts here and there. It was just some Chinese Wan fans."
Dave smirked. "Well, I decided to take it seriously. We've partnered with Tencent for marketing and promotion. We're putting big money into this."
I kept flipping through the sheets bar graphs, projections, social metrics. Everything pointed to massive potential.
"Dave, if these numbers are right, we're talking… what, nine hundred million?"
He nodded again, almost casually. "I know."
Wow, I thought. We had been expecting somewhere around the $700 million range for Aquaman, which was already solid given how close its release was to Age of Ultron. But this? This was different.
Aquaman was locked into releasing a week before Age of Ultron, first because Batman Part 3 had been added so late, and also because everyone else but me didn't want to change it. Victor, Chris, and Dave were all firm about not moving the date they considered it a "Don't blink. Don't show weakness." moment. They didn't want to do what Marvel did when Avengers went up against The Batman in 2013.
It looked like Stardust and Disney top brass were beefing. Feige had even told me how Bob Iger had personally taken a strong hand in steering Marvel. "The boss is very involved now," he said.
"You're quite famous there, Daniel. Alan and Deborah and the others will be with you on the press tour if we get this right, it'll be a big deal," Dave said.
I nodded. "Okay, okay. I'll go."
As we went over the finer details, the others began to arrive. Brad Bird walked in first. He'd been the frontrunner to direct Justice League ever since Superman crossed the two-billion mark. Even if I hadn't wanted him, the studio would have insisted. Not that I minded Brad was one of my picks anyway.
Then came more writers, marketing heads, merchandise heads, production staff. By the time we were all seated, the room was packed.
The first thing on the agenda was, predictably, marketing. A directive from the merchandise team more like a command, really. They wanted something cute, something marketable, something to sell to kids. Something like Groot, since Marvel was making a killing with it.
I glanced at Brad and said, "We could introduce Krypto in the Superman sequel."
Brad nodded, thoughtful. "Yeah. That could work."
Ideas started flying fast after that stuffed toys, collectible figures, even an animated Krypto spin-off down the line for kids. It was all numbers and brand-synergy talk, but I stayed engaged, even though it didn't really interest me.
After that, we moved on to the real topic: the Justice League film itself. Pre-production was scheduled to begin in April and run through October, with principal photography starting right after. Shooting would wrap by March 2017, and the rest of the year would be dedicated to post-production.
Every actor's availability was discussed, finalized, and cross-checked against other commitments. The casting was officially locked. Then came the topic of what was next Brad was adamant about doing the Superman sequel right after Justice League, and I agreed completely. I just hoped that Brad didn't get burnt out after doing the League movie.
By the time the meeting wrapped, it was already a bit after noon. I checked my watch barely enough time to make it to my planned lunch with Scarlett.
Next week, I was leaving for China.
And honestly, I was kind of looking forward to it.
=======
Arriving at the restaurant where Scarlett and I usually had lunch, I was led by the staff to what I thought was our regular table.
Except… they kept walking. Past the familiar spot near the window, past the mid-section of the floor, and all the way to one of those tucked-away tables in the back the place reserved for people who didn't want to be seen.
I frowned in mild confusion until I saw her.
Scarlett was already sitting there, wearing a dark cap, big sunglasses, and a loose hoodie basically the uniform of please don't recognize me.
I sat down, amusement tugging at the corners of my mouth.
"What are you doing?" I asked. "Afraid to be seen with me?"
Scarlett smirked behind the glasses. "There's a good reason for this."
"Oh," I said, pretending to think. "You're doing method acting for the Black Widow movie. I didn't expect that. I mean really, for Black Widow?"
She just smiled faintly, then leaned in. "You're partly right."
I blinked. "Okay, what's up? Really."
She hesitated, then pulled a neatly folded script out of her bag and slid it across the table. "I want you to look at this. It's the script for Black Widow make any changes you think it needs. Or… write something new in if you want."
I stared at the script, then at her. "Whoa, no. No way, Scar. I'm not doing that."
"Come on, please," she said softly, lowering her voice. "I really want this movie to work. To be one of the best."
I raised an eyebrow. "You're asking the co-head of DC Studios to basically improve a Marvel movie?"
She smiled. "No. I'm asking my friend Daniel Adler to help his friend, Scarlett Johansson, make her biggest movie next year the best it can be."
I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "I don't have time, Scar…"
"I'm not asking you to write anything," Scarlett said, pulling the script from her bag.
Before I could react, she ducked slightly under the table and tried to slide it onto my lap.
"What are you doing stop," I whispered as I tried to push it back. From anyone else's perspective, it probably looked like Scarlett was attempting something very different.
I could feel eyes on us. A couple at the next table had actually stopped eating.
"Fine!" I hissed, grabbing the script before this turned into a TMZ headline. "I'll look at it. That's it. If I see anything that needs improvement, I'll tell you—"
"And I'll tell them it was my idea," she finished, with a victorious smile.
I groaned. "Can we order now?"
Scarlett grinned, leaning back. "Yeah, let's. I'm starving."
As I flipped through the menu, I said casually, "You know, I was actually thinking of casting you in my John Wick spinoff."
She perked up immediately. "I'm ready. Let's do it."
I smirked. "Well, no. You're doing Black Widow, so…"
"What? I can do both."
I shook my head. "No, it won't work out."
"It will."
"It won't."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
.
.
.
Review: John Wick: Chapter 2 — Keanu Reeves Kicks Ass (Again) and a New Franchise Is Born
When John Wick hit theaters in 2014, it didn't exactly scream "sequel." Its minimalist story of one man avenging a dead dog felt self-contained and, honestly, perfect that way. But apparently Daniel Adler, Chad Stahelski, and Midas Productions saw things differently and thank God they did. Their gamble on a follow-up has paid off spectacularly. John Wick: Chapter 2 isn't just a worthy continuation; it's sharper, meaner, and even more stylish than the first. What could have been a cash grab turns out to be one of the most satisfying action sequels in recent memory.
Written by three-time Oscar winner Daniel Adler, the film picks up right where the first left off. Wick retrieves his stolen Mustang in an adrenaline-fueled opener that wobbles a bit an overedited, chaotic prologue that feels like a holdover from another movie but once the engine settles, Chapter 2 kicks into gear. Re-retired and still mourning, John is dragged back into the underworld by Santino D'Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio), an Italian crime lord cashing in a blood oath. When John refuses, Santino blows up his house, forcing him back into the life he tried to leave behind.
From there, Adler's screenplay and Stahelski's direction expand the Wick-verse's mythology in irresistible ways: the shadowy assassin guild, the Rome branch of the Continental, and a Wes Anderson–by–way–of–steampunk "accounts department" that keeps track of contracts with pneumatic tubes and typewriters. It's silly, it's intricate, and it works. There's a joy in watching Wick stock up for his new job visiting a tailor, sommelier, and gun merchant as if preparing for a fashion week from hell.
Stahelski, directing solo this time, doubles down on what made the first film's violence so hypnotic. Gone are the car chases; in their place are long, exhausting shootouts that unfold like choreography. The fight sequences especially Wick's knife-and-pistol duels with Common's stoic rival, Cassian have a clarity and rhythm rare in today's action cinema. Reeves remains an elemental screen presence, turning each reload and headshot into poetry in motion.
Technically, the film punches above its weight. The budget is modest, but the production design gleams, Tyler Bates and Joel J. Richard's score pulses with metallic menace, and Dan Laustsen's cinematography soaks everything in bruised neons and cathedral shadows.
If the first John Wick was a surprise, this one's a statement. It proves the first wasn't a fluke it was the foundation of a franchise. By the time the credits roll (and the door swings wide open for Chapter 3), it's clear that Adler and Stahelski have turned a one-off revenge story into modern pulp mythology. Keanu Reeves hasn't been this iconic since The Matrix.
While the prologue misfires and some of the dialogue has issues, John Wick: Chapter 2 ultimately surpasses its predecessor. It's leaner, meaner, and full of confidence in its own ridiculous coolness. With Daniel Adler's tight script, Chad Stahelski's sleek direction, and Keanu's unshakeable commitment, the Wick saga officially earns its place as Hollywood's newest and perhaps most deserved franchise.
Midas Productions continues its golden streak with Birdman from Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Lady Bird from Greta Gerwig, and The Witch, directed by Adler himself, on the way. If this momentum keeps up, Midas is going all the way to the top.
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John Wick 2 Ends Its Run With $470 Million Worldwide
The Baba Yaga has struck gold again. John Wick: Chapter 2 has officially wrapped up its global box office run with an impressive $470 million worldwide on a $50 million budget, cementing its place as one of the most profitable and acclaimed action sequels of the decade.
What began as a small, stylish revenge thriller in 2014 has now exploded into a full-blown franchise. With Chapter 2, Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski have elevated the series into a world-spanning saga.
Written by Daniel Adler, the three-time Oscar–winning screenwriter and producer, the film deepens the lore of the mysterious world of assassins while promising spin-offs and more sequels. Midas Productions has confirmed that a third installment is already in active development, with Reeves, Stahelski, and Adler all set to return.
For Midas Productions, John Wick 2 is another jewel in a glittering crown. In just a few short years, the studio has released a near-unbroken run of critical and commercial hits. With John Wick 2 outperforming expectations and more Midas-backed films on the horizon, it's clear that the studio's name isn't just branding—it's prophecy.