[Chapter 58. A Monstrous First Swing From MONARCH.]
[TRL: đ A Special Thank You đ
This chapter wouldn't have been possible without the incredible support of my amazing patrons. Your belief in my work gives me the courage to keep creating, writing, and dreaming bigger every day.
Whether you're here as a loyal Crew Member or helping shape entire stories as a Studio Head, your presence means the world to me. Thank you for being part of this journey!
đŹ Crew Members [At Chapter 88]âMackenzie Whitemen, Guleid Abdi, ELJ29,Jose Newcomb,Đ ŃŃНан ĐŃнОв, Jacob Hixson, Carlos Bihain, Chaosinacup and NighT-Mar3.
đĽ Department Heads [At Chapter 96]âMitchell Howard, Anderson Lucas and martin Stevnhoved Larsen.
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đď¸ Studio Headsâ Haze2343 and Rycork.
From the bottom of my heartâthank you, all of you for supporting my dream and passion.
Now, let's get on with the chapter,
From yours truly â TheRamenLord.
Last Time on Chapter 057 of [From Shadows To The Spotlight] â
Johnny nodded, rubbing his chin. "Sounds like there's franchise potential there."
Keanu smiled knowingly. "Alex thinks so too. He already has a full trilogy mapped out. If audiences love itâand mark my words they willâthen who knows how far it'll go?"
River let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "You're really hyped for this one, huh?"
Keanu met his gaze, eyes burning with conviction. "I'm because I can't wait to see how it changes the game."
Now Continuing â
~Studio MONARCH, HQâScreening Hall No. 8~
Â
~Alex Masters' POV~
Alex Masters stood just outside the entrance to Screening Hall No. 8, the largest and most technologically advanced screening room in Studio Monarch's headquarters.
It was a cavernous hall, designed to easily be able to accommodate over 600 guests, equipped with state-of-the-art projection systems, Dolby Atmos sound, and luxurious, custom-built seating area that provided an unparalleled cinematic experience.
The walls were adorned with sleek black and gold paneling, the MONARCH insignia subtly embedded into the very architecture of the room, a reminder of the empire Alex had built from the ground up.
Tonight, this hall wasn't just hosting a film. It was hosting a turning point in Hollywood history.
Alex exhaled slowly, running a hand through his neatly styled hair. His fingers were steady, his expression composedâbut inside, a storm raged.
This was it.
The beginning. Their first swing.
His life's dream, years of planning, countless battles won and lostâit all led here.Â
[Spider-Man: First Swing]Â wasn't just a movie. It was a mission statement. It had to be more than just good. It had to be spectacular.Â
Despite the graveness of the day, he was still dressed quite simply, in a simple blue and dark blue checkered shirt and denim jeans, that he thrown a brown jacket over. It was his way of showing his calm despite feeling the weight of expectation settle over him.
It was ironic. He had stood before thousands of people during press tours, industry events, and award shows. He had produced and created the biggest blockbusters of the decade.
Yet, tonight, in front of his peers, his rivals, his friends, and his enemies, his nerves clawed at him.
He turned toward the hallway as the first wave of guests arrived orderly in a neat line being led by group of MONARCH'S staff that funnily enough to him had vehemently volunteered for the job.
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~The Arrival of Hollywood's Titans~
Steven Spielberg walked in first, accompanied by George Lucas. The two legends of filmmaking shared a knowing smile with Alex as they approached.
"Well, well," Spielberg said, clapping Alex on the shoulder. "This is one hell of a turnout you've pulled together."
Alex smirked. "Would you have expected anything less?"
"Not at all," Lucas said, adjusting his glasses. "You've been playing the long game, haven't you? Getting all the biggest names in the industry in one place, making them watch something they have no idea of how it's going to change the landscape of Hollywood?"
Alex didn't deny it. "I want them to see what's coming. I want them to understand what we're building."
Spielberg chuckled. "And here I thought I was the ambitious one."
As more guests arrived, Alex greeted them personally, making mental notes of their reactions.
James Cameron eyed the grand screening hall with admiration, while Quentin Tarantino arrived with a grin, already talking about how excited he was to see how he would had adapted Spider-Man to the big screen as he was already bored of watching subpar Batman movies that got old pretty soon.
M. Night Shyamalan, Chris Columbus, Spike Leeâdirectors who would one day shape the industryâeach walked in, shaking Alex's hand, curious about what he had in store.
Then came the A-list actorsâHollywood's stars.
Tom Cruise, dressed sharp as ever, approached with a confident stride. Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock, Johnny Depp, Keanu Reeves, Jim Carrey, and Leonardo DiCaprio all followed, each carrying their own aura of prestige.
Brandon Lee and River Phoenix, two actors who owed their big break and resurgence to Alex, greeted him warmly, knowing the significance of the night and just how important it was to their friend.
Kate Winslet leaned in and whispered, "Are you sure you don't want to be up there with the stars, Alex?"
He smiled back, and calmly answered. "I'd rather create them."
As more guests arrivedâGeorge Clooney, Jennifer Aniston, Angelina JolieâAlex saw the flickers of realization in their expressions. They understood.
This wasn't just another film premiere.
This was a power move.
They weren't here to just watch a movie.
They were here to watch the birth of an cinematic empire.Â
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~Inside the Screening Hall~
Once everyone was seated, the murmurs and chatter slowly quieted. The lights dimmed slightly, the massive 120-foot screen dominating the front of the hall like a silent guardian.
Alex strode towards the stage, accompanied by the cast of Spider-ManâAndrew Garfield, Malin Akerman, Reese Witherspoon, Heath Ledger, Willem Dafoe, J.K. Simmons, Alfred Molina, and others. The heart of the movie. The faces of the future.
Stepping up to the microphone, Alex surveyed the room. He saw legends, rivals, skeptics, believersâall waiting for his words to address themâto tell them, what it was that they had been gathered here for.
He exhaled. Then, he spoke.
"First of all, I want to thank every single one of you for taking time out of your busy schedules to be here tonight. I know how valuable your time is, and it means the world to me.. to us that you're here to witness something that has been a dream of mine since I started my journey in this industry."
He gestured toward the cast beside him. "This film isn't just the first movie in exploring this new genre. It's our first swing at something much larger."
"Something that has never seen before.. at least not on this scale. A whole new way of storytelling that will redefine what blockbuster filmmaking can be."
The room was silent, hanging on to his every word.
"I won't say much more," he continued, his voice steady. "Because at the end of the day, the work speaks for itself."
"You're here to see what we've built. You're here to see if we were crazy or if we were right."
A small pause and then, with a small smirk, he added, "I hope you all enjoy the film just as much as I enjoyed making it."
The room erupted into applause.
Alex gave a nod, then led the cast off the stage and into their private screening booth, where they would be able to watch not just the film but also the audience's reactions to it in real time.
After a few seconds, the lights dimmed further and for the first time ever the Marvel Studios logo appeared on the big screen, Alex took a deep breath as he thought to himself.
'This is it.'
That was moment everything changed.
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~Stan Lee's POV â Watching Spider-Man Come to Life~
Stan Lee sat in the dimly lit private booth, his hands resting on the armrests as he took in the grand moment before him. Beside him, Alex sat still, his posture relaxed, but Stan knew better. The young director was waitingâwaiting for his reaction, his approval.
Stan glanced around at the cast members seated with them. Andrew Garfield, Malin Ă kerman, Reese Witherspoon, J.K. Simmons, Willem Dafoe, Heath Ledger and quite a few more whom he couldn't recall the names ofâeach actor had given their all to this film. But more than anything, this was Spider-Man. This was the culmination of a dream.
The opening credits rolled, and the theater quieted.
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The lights dimmed. The massive 120-foot screen flickered to life, bathing the audience in a faint glow. The Marvel Studios logo appeared, its brass fanfare resonating through the cavernous hall, sending a ripple of anticipation through the 600 industry titans, actors, directors, and film crews seated in the state-of-the-art screening room.
This wasn't just a film premiere.
This was history in the making.
Stan noticed quite quickly that Alex wasn't watching the movie. He was watching themâthe audiences seated below, their eyes, their subtle shifts in posture, the flicker of raw emotion when the story would unfold before them.
The screen faded to black, and thenâ
The sound of a fist slamming into a locker.
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The movie opened in a high school hallway, the unmistakable setting of teenage torment. Peter Parker, scrawny but determined, clutched his books to his chest as Flash Thompson loomed over him.
The first punch knocked Peter's books to the floor. The second sent him sprawling, his glasses skidding across the hallway tiles. Mary Jane Watson stood among the crowd, hesitating, wanting to step inâbut she didn't.
Stan exhaled slowly. He had seen Peter Parker's pain written in comics for decades, but seeing it like this, raw and unfiltered, hurt in a new way.
The film transitioned smoothly to a field trip to the Oscorp Industries, a place where Peter's fate would change forever. The moment the genetically altered spider bit into his skin, the scene lingered on his reaction. No exaggerated screams. Just a quiet pain, a wince, a slow realization that something irreversible had just happened.
Peter's discovery of his father's briefcase, the hidden research, and the revelation that Dr. Connors was once Richard Parker's colleague brought depth to the story. Stan admired how Alex had woven an emotional weight into the discoveryâPeter wasn't just uncovering secrets. He was touching the last remnants of his father's life.
As Peter handed the stabilization formula to Dr. Connors, a deep ache settled in Stan's chest.
The boy has no idea what he's just done.
The film continued, showing Peter testing his newfound abilities, struggling, stumbling, but eventually embracing the role he was destined for. Gwen Stacy was there, as was Liz Allan, forming the foundations of friendships that would shape Peter's future.
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Then came the moment Stan knew was comingâthe moment he had always dreaded seeing brought to life.
Uncle Ben's Death.
Tommy Lee Jones had given warmth and wisdom to the character in a way that felt all too real. The film had spent time showing his kindnessâhelping his neighbors, fixing a young boy's broken bicycle chain, giving Peter life advice.
And then came the robbery.
Stan's breath hitched as Uncle Ben approached the man with the gun, his hands raised. "Son, you don't want to do this," he said softly. "Take the car. Take the money. Just walk away."
Flint Marko begged his accomplice to not shoot the kind old man. "Don't do it! You don't need to do this!"
The man hesitatedâjust for a moment. But upon hearing the police sirens, and knowing the man had seen his face, he decisively pulled the trigger.
The sound of the gunshot was deafening.
Peter, who had just come out of the store, heard it as well and his tingled his spider senses. He felt this unease settle in his gut, as if something really precious had stolen from him, something that he will never find again.
His bag of groceries slipped from his hands. The camera followed him as he frantically ran towards the gathered crowd, shoving past onlookers until he found his uncle lying on the pavement, his blood soaking the ground beneath him.
Uncle Ben reached for him, his fingers trembling.
A police officer tried to stop Peter but he effortlessly shoved him aside as he cried out, "That's my uncle."
"Uncle Ben?" "Uncle Ben?!" Peter worriedly called out, he was in shock unable to process what was happening before him.
"Peter." Ben called out, his pained expression, immediately smoothening out as he saw a familiar face, the face of the one person he wanted to see most.
"I am right here, Uncle Ben." Peter said reassuringly, wanting to just turn back time. But despite all his fantastical powers, time manipulation was definitely not in his repertoire.
"Good.. Remember, Peter.. with great powerâŚ" His voice was weak, but the meaning was unshaken. "âŚcomes great responsibility."
His hand fell limp.
Stan gripped the armrest, his throat tightening. He wasn't alone. Sniffles could be heard around the room. Some of the women wiped at their eyes, while the men stared straight ahead, their faces tense.
Stan felt something wet trail down his cheek. He turned, his blurred vision settling on Alex, who sat still, watching him.
Stan didn't even try to wipe his eyes. He reached for Alex's hand, gripping it with a surprising strength for a man his age.
"Thank you," he whispered. His voice trembled. "Thank you for making my dream come true."
Alex, clearly moved, pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to him. But instead of accepting, Stan chuckled hoarsely and shook his head.
Alex smiled, his voice low but full of meaning. "It wasn't just your dream, Mr. Lee. It was all of ours. And we should be the ones thanking you⌠for creating Spider-Man, for Marvel.
The screen continued to play, but for a moment, Stan didn't watch.
He simply held onto the moment, his heart full, his tears falling freely.
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The next scene showed Dr. Curt Connors who had just been humiliated and threatened by his boss, Norman Osborn himself, and it made the man desperate. The foreshadowing of their relationship till now had been laid out with precisionâhis insecurities, his fear of losing his funding, his belief in the project, his desperation to feel whole again, to regain his arm.
It had all culminated to this scene, the moment he injected himself with the Lizard DNA serum, and the resulting transformation that was inevitable, though it was a real slow burn as they didn't show the transformation directly and instead focused on the consequences of his actions and choices.
The first time Peter squared up the Lizard in Midtown High, it wasn't even a battleâit felt like it was a scene taken straight from a horror movie. The beast wasn't just a villain; it was Connors himself, just lost in his obsession.
And yet, Stan wasn't focused on the action. He was watching Peterâwatching the boy he had created try, and fail, to save a man from himself.
â To be continued...
{2,419 words}
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