"Cut!" I called, my voice echoing across the soundstage. The cast instantly dropped out of character, relaxing around the dinner-table set. We'd just finished the scene where the family shares a tense, quiet meal, our last one in the studio. In two weeks, we'd be hauling everything to Ontario for the outdoor shoot.
Ralph and Anya strolled over to the monitor as I reviewed the playback. It was better than the take we'd done three days ago. Ralph leaned in, squinting at the screen with a grin. "You sure there's no Starbucks cup in the frame this time?"
Anya giggled, covering her mouth.
I smiled. "I hope not."
That damn Starbucks cup. The original take had been perfect until I spotted a rogue coffee cup in the background, barely noticeable unless you were looking for it. I wasn't about to let The Witch become this world's Game of Thrones Season 8 coffee-cup meme.
"Okay, we're good!" I said, standing up. The set erupted in applause, the cast and crew grinning and clapping for a job well done.
I raised a hand, addressing everyone. "I'll see you all up north in two weeks!"
More cheers and applause filled the room.
I spent a few minutes chatting with the cast and crew, mostly about which equipment was being transported first thing tomorrow. Then I called it a day and headed out; I was already late for the early screening of Aquaman.
After a half-hour drive, I pulled up outside the theater where the screening was taking place. Usually, I arrive early and am inside before everyone else. Tonight, though, I was running late and that was fine, since DC's marketing team had already told me they wanted a short speech before the movie started.
A few DC reps met me at the entrance.
"Am I late?" I asked.
"A bit," one of them said. "Mr. Gates has been entertaining everyone inside with a mini Q&A about Invincible."
I laughed. Matt and John were already inside, and poor Matt was probably being grilled for spoilers.
Microphone in hand, I stepped into the hall. The moment the crowd spotted me, a roar of cheers erupted.
"DANIEL!"
"Adler! Adler!"
Hundreds of fans stood, cheering.
"Alright, alright," I said into the microphone, my voice cutting through the noise as the crowd settled. "I promise I'll keep this short before you all riot to see the movie."
A wave of laughter rippled through the audience, a few playful whoops breaking out.
"So movie number six of the DCU!"
The crowd erupted again, chants of "DC! DC!" mixing with applause.
I nodded. "This was a tough one, folks. Outside of us hardcore comic fans, not everyone knows how badass Aquaman is."
"YEAH!" someone yelled from the back, and the audience burst into applause again.
"Exactly!" I said, laughing. "James Wan and I wanted to make this movie to finally end that old meme about Aquaman being lame. After tonight…" I paused for effect. "…Aquaman is gonna be great again!"
The room exploded with noise—cheering, clapping; someone even shouted, "KING OF ATLANTIS!"
I walked up the aisle, weaving between rows of seats, microphone in hand.
"And I see we've got some big YouTubers here tonight," I said. "Influencers or whatever they're calling themselves now."
Laughter rolled through the crowd, a few people whistling.
"My man JakeTalksComics is in the house!" I pointed toward him, and a section of fans erupted. Jake stood up, grinning, and waved to the crowd.
"But the guy I really want to talk to before we roll this thing," I said, scanning the seats theatrically, "is Derek Lun."
The crowd burst into laughter, already knowing where this was going.
"Yeah, yeah," I said with a smirk. "For those of you who listen to his podcast, you might remember he said, and I quote: 'If Daniel Adler makes Aquaman cool again, I'll officially say the DCU is better than the MCU.'"
I stopped by the row where Derek sat, flanked by his podcast partner, JakeTalksComics, and a few other creators, all laughing.
I held out the microphone. "Well, Derek?"
Derek leaned forward. "I haven't seen the movie yet, Adler!"
I shrugged. "Fair enough. But I expect you to admit it after."
The audience answered with a chorus of playful "ooooohs." The confidence in my voice only fired them up more.
"Alright," I said, raising my hand again. "That's enough from me. Let's watch this movie!"
The lights dimmed, the crowd cheering one last time as I made my way up to where Matt and John were sitting. The opening logos flickered on the screen as I slid into my seat.
Matt turned to me, mock-glaring. "You fucker. I've been grilled by these people for half an hour about Rex's death."
John laughed beside him, barely containing himself.
I grinned. "Better you than me, Matty."
Matt slugged me lightly on the shoulder as the movie began in earnest.
The movie, while following the same story as the Aquaman I remembered from my old world, made plenty of changes for the better.
It began with Thomas Curry rescuing Atlanna and the two of them falling in love. Arthur is born, and they live together happily. Then came the first action sequence: the Atlanteans finally tracked down Atlanna, and a fight began.
From the moment it started, I could feel the theater shift. Wan had worked his magic, the choreography was stunning, the camera movement fluid. Atlanna dismantled the soldiers with speed and grace. When it ended, the audience broke into cheers. I knew right then this movie was going to be a hit.
Atlanna's departure followed, and the story transitioned to Arthur's childhood. As an adult, he's shown as the "Ghost of Atlantis," saving ships and fishermen, a protector no one can quite prove exists.
Arthur's true introduction came with the submarine scene. The vessel was hijacked by a father-and-son duo of pirates, the son played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen. The fight that followed was brutal. When Arthur left them to die in the wreck, saying it was payback for the innocent lives they'd taken, a few fans in the crowd let out shocked "Oohs!" at his ruthlessness. It was clear: Aquaman was not above killing when necessary. He was going to be the King of Atlantis when the Justice League movie came around. He is not your ordinary hero.
Down in Atlantis, Orm, Arthur's half-brother, rallied the kings of the other kingdoms, pushing for war against the surface world. A submarine attack—staged by Orm—sealed their alliance. Mera, worried by what she'd seen at the meeting, went to find Arthur, warning him about what was happening and urging him to challenge Orm before it was too late. Alan and Deborah had great chemistry, so the scene worked well.
Atlantis itself was another major change. Gone was the neon sci-fi city. In its place stood something majestic: gleaming marble towers and coral spires, all in Greek-inspired architecture.
Arthur is presented before the Atlantean council. He tries to reason with them, arguing that war with the surface would destroy both worlds. Orm counters him, turning the council against his half-brother. Their duel follows Arthur fights valiantly but loses and is forced to flee with Mera.
The quest for Atlan's trident forms the backbone of the second act. The tone here is the same as the first, just a bit lighter. Arthur and Mera's relationship deepens naturally, the romantic tension simmering between them as they cross deserts and oceans together.
Arthur's showdown with Black Manta gets more time as well a full ten-minute sequence that leaves the audience cheering, with Mera able to show off her powers and be a badass in her own right.
And then comes the Trench sequence terrifying, breathtaking, and easily the second-biggest reaction of the night.
In the third act, Atlanna is revealed to be alive. And then comes the best reaction of the night.
In all the trailers, I'd made sure never to show the classic golden armor, only Arthur's battered combat suit from his duel with Orm. So when he emerges from the depths, trident in hand, the entire theater goes insane.
First there's a huge reaction when he communicates with the Kraken, and then an even bigger one as he walks out wearing the comic-accurate suit.
Then came the final battle.
Arthur intervenes in Orm's war against one of the kingdoms, rising from the depths astride the Kraken. He halts the invasion by challenging Orm once more this time with Atlan's trident forcing Orm to accept.
The two brothers clash again in my favorite scene of the movie Wan's best work brawling atop a submarine as rain lashes around them. Arthur wins, and Atlanna reveals herself to be alive as Orm surrenders.
The movie ends with Arthur finally crowned King of Atlantis, Mera at his side as the soon-to-be queen. As the final shot fades, the audience explodes with applause and shouts.
The changes to the plot worked well. Black Manta is set up for his return in the Legion of Doom movie, now in early development. Arthur and Mera's chemistry sells the romance subplot. And for the first time in a long time, Aquaman stands proudly among the greats, no longer a punchline, but a badass hero-king.
The credits roll to thunderous cheers, but everyone hushes as the mid-credits scene nears.
"Been waiting for this," I hear Matt whisper.
On screen:
Arthur strides through the opulent halls of his palace, flanked by armored guards. Mera and Nuidis walk at his side.
"How could this outsider have infiltrated Atlantis?" Mera asks. "Even the palace how?"
"We don't know, my queen."
Arthur frowns. "What is it?"
Vulko hesitates. "You'll have to see for yourself."
The audience shifts in their seats, murmurs of anticipation building—
"Oh, shit,"
"What's coming?"
—as Arthur and Mera follow Nuidis to a dimly lit chamber. Guards stand tense around a containment field. Inside, an unconscious Atlantean lies strapped to a table.
"Looks like a normal Atlantean," Arthur says, Mera nodding, confused.
Vulko presses a control on the console. The restraints spark, and the figure's skin begins to shift. The limbs elongate, the flesh turns pale white its form monstrous.
Gasps fill the theater.
A White Martian.
The entire audience erupts.
"NO WAY!"
"HOLY SHIT!"
The camera closes in on Arthur, his eyes wide. "What the fuck is that?"
Cut to black.
AQUAMAN WILL RETURN.
The cheers double in noise.
I stand, grinning, eyes finding the row where Derek is sitting. He catches my look immediately.
It's time for him to keep his word.
.
.
.
"Daniel! Daniel! Over here!" a reporter yelled, cameras flashing as I walked the red carpet with Margot. Her dress shimmered under the lights. I adjusted my tie, grinning at the sea of press.
Kevin had invited me to the Age of Ultron premiere, a gesture I'd reciprocated by inviting him to the Aquaman premiere.
We made our way inside quickly, not stopping to talk to the press.
Inside, the first person we ran into was Scarlett.
"And here I thought you weren't coming," she said, grinning as she stepped forward for a hug.
"Hey, I've been looking forward to this movie for a long time," I said, hugging her back. Margot followed, exchanging a warm embrace with Scarlett before the two wandered off, deep in conversation.
I found myself talking with Kevin. "I'm excited to finally see the mutants," I said, referring to Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver's debut. With Disney acquiring Fox early in this world, I'd assumed they'd be the first proper mutants introduced in the MCU.
Kevin chuckled, shaking his head. "Sorry to disappoint you, Danny, but they aren't really mutants."
"Really? I thought you had the rights back."
"Yeah," he said, sipping his drink, "but we're not focusing on that now. They'll be a huge part of Phase 4, though."
"But you did greenlight Deadpool?"
He laughed, a little rueful. "Ryan was very persuasive. Until Phase 4, everything that happens in that movie is kinda semi-canon."
Before I could press him further, I heard a familiar voice from behind me.
"Daniel Adler!" I turned to see Robert Downey Jr. strolling up, Chris Hemsworth by his side.
"Robert, Chris!" I greeted, shaking their hands.
RDJ pointed at Hemsworth. "You're doing two movies with this guy?" he said, emphasizing "two" like it was a personal offense.
I laughed. "Yeah, yeah."
"Unbelievable," RDJ said, shaking his head dramatically. "Here I am, thinking, 'Oh, Daniel will call any day now we'll do a movie together.'"
Chris grinned, clapping RDJ on the shoulder. "Don't mind him, Daniel. He's just jealous of my enormous upcoming success."
RDJ held up two fingers. "Two, can you believe that, Kev? Two."
I chuckled, holding up my hands. "Robert, I promise you: you and I are gonna do a movie together. When the time's right."
We kept talking as Mark Ruffalo and Chris Evans joined in as well. Eventually, the call went out it was time to head inside.
I spotted Scarlett and Margot chatting by the entryway. I slipped between them, draping an arm around each of their waists with a grin. "Ladies," I said smoothly, "shall we?"
They both laughed, Scarlett rolling her eyes, Margot giving me a playful nudge in the ribs and the three of us walked into the hall together.
Once inside, we were led to our assigned seats. Soon, the lights dimmed and the Marvel logo filled the screen.
It was showtime.
The movie opened much the same way as the Age of Ultron I remembered but this time, the tone was different. The first act had less of the Whedon humor. The Russos had changed the vibe: the jokes were still there, but in appropriate places.
Ultron was darker and more menacing. Sure, he still had that sardonic wit, those quips that made him sound like a twisted reflection of Tony Stark but the menace lingered under every word. His exchanges with Tony hit harder this time, like a father and son at war.
The story reached the second confrontation between the Avengers and Ultron, who now had Wanda and Pietro with him. When Wanda attacked the Avengers' minds, the movie set up the Black Widow film through Natasha's nightmare. Having read that script, I knew exactly where it was going.
The first big deviation came during the Hulkbuster sequence. It didn't end with Tony knocking Bruce out solo. This time, the other Avengers joined in Thor pinning Hulk with lightning, Cap trying to talk him down, Hawkeye using shock arrows to slow him, and Natasha attempting the calming technique to bring him back. It was a more disastrous battle with heavy collateral damage as Hulk grew even more violent.
The movie continued with them heading to Barton's farm.
Gone, thankfully, was the awkward Hulk–Natasha romance subplot. Instead, the film spent time building interactions that made the Avengers feel like a proper team.
Then came the biggest change and the one that actually made me very excited. The Avengers failed to recover the cradle where Ultron was building a new body for himself.
He gets away with it.
That was new, and it made everything after that more unpredictable.
The Maximoffs joined the Avengers, and they tracked Ultron to Sokovia. This time, Ultron faced them with his perfect body. The design was familiar Vision's body but encased in sleek, menacing armor, like a twisted version of his comic self.
He looked terrifying.
The battle that followed was phenomenal. The Avengers fought to hold Ultron back while Tony and Banner tried to upload JARVIS into the body.
That entire sequence watching them all work together was some of the best filmmaking in the MCU. Wanda countered Ultron's now more powerful Mind Stone attacks with her chaos magic; Thor went all out; and, finally, it was Quicksilver who managed to get the MacGuffin close enough to Ultron to make the transfer possible.
JARVIS takes over in an emotional moment for Tony, as JARVIS "dies" and is reborn as Vision.
From there, the film followed the familiar plot: Sokovia lifting into the sky, the desperate final battle, Ultron's downfall. But another surprise came when Quicksilver didn't die. He survived the battle injured, but alive.
That shocked me.
Did Marvel want their own speedster now that DC had Flash? Or was it because they had Fox now? Either way, it surprised me and made me excited to see how it would affect the MCU.
The ending stayed mostly the same. Vision, alongside Thor and Tony, destroyed the falling Sokovia before it could crash back to Earth.
In the mid-credits scene, it's teased that Ultron could still be alive.
And the end-credits scene with Thanos stepping from the shadows, slipping on the gauntlet, saying, "Fine. I'll do it myself."
There was huge applause after, and I joined in.
I wasn't sure which version I preferred, the one I remembered or this one but it didn't matter.
I'd just watched a completely different Age of Ultron.
And the thought that the rest of the MCU might be changing too?
That was exciting.
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I will be taking a short break. Be back by the end of next week
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You can read up to chapter 266
p.a.t.r.eon.com/Illusiveone (check the chapter summary i have it there as well)