….
The inaugural film of the MarvelD Universe demanded perfection, and Regal knew exactly where to begin, with the web-slinger himself.
Spider-Man.
It was the obvious one…
The choice was inevitable, almost predestined.
Among Marvel's pantheon of heroes, few commanded the universal recognition and unwavering fanbase that Spider-Man inspired.
And personally, if Regal were being honest, there was something almost magical about him…
What made this character truly extraordinary wasn't just his popularity - it was his resilience. Three different actors, three distinct interpretations, three generations of fans, and somehow, impossibly, none had failed.
Of course, the debates were endless:
Who was the best?
Tobey Maguire's earnest, tortured romantic.
Andrew Garfield's sharp-edged, electric loner.
Tom Holland's bright-eyed, modern teenager.
Each iteration sparked passionate debates among fans about superiority, but the mere existence of these debates proved something profound: all three had captured something essential about the character.
In an industry where beloved characters were routinely stripped of their souls and reduced to hollow intellectual property, Spider-Man had somehow retained his humanity through every adaptation.
That consistency, that enduring appeal, made him the obvious foundation for a new cinematic universe.
Iron Man had crossed Regal's mind - he was, after all, the modern face of Marvel.
…and even SuperMan or Batman.
But it's just that Spider-Man represented something deeper, more personal, more universally human.
Regal wasn't interested in simply making another superhero film.
He wanted to craft the definitive Spider-Man movie, one that would eclipse everything that came before.
===
Title: Spider-Man: Web of Destiny
===
Regal, as a writer and fan, he had a vision - one that fused the weight of Tobey Maguire's emotional arcs, the raw athleticism and edge of Andrew Garfield's movement, and the youthful innocence of Tom Holland's portrayal.
A Spider-Man who wasn't just another friendly neighborhood crime fighter, but someone deeply human - flawed, funny, hurting, growing - and yet larger than life.
And for the lead, he had just the right person.
Andrew Garfield.
At twenty-two, Andrew had been training relentlessly for the past eight months under Ross Oakley - physically, mentally, and emotionally.
From stunt rehearsals and gym sessions to acting drills.
Regal had to give him credit: he hadn't just shown up - he was committed.
Still, for all of Andrew's dedication, Regal knew that this time, he would be the one who would need to work harder.
A lot harder.
The script alone would take at least two to three months - maybe longer.
A massive leap for Regal.
After all, he wrote:
[Following] in a week.
[Death Note] in just two.
[The Hangover] in under seven days.
Even Harry Potter, his most ambitious project to date, required only three weeks from conception to final draft.
But [Spider-Man: Web of Destiny] existed in a different category entirely.
A foundation stone for an entire cinematic universe.
And Regal didn't care how long it took to get it right.
If it meant taking a few extra months at the desk, rewriting scenes over and over, mapping arcs, and ensuring emotional continuity that spanned multiple potential sequels - so be it.
Because this one film had to carry the weight of a legacy and the promise of a universe.
And as far as Regal was concerned, everything else could wait.
This moment, this story, this character demanded nothing less than perfection.
The web was about to be spun, and Regal would ensure that every strand was exactly.
"But before that, I want to check just how rich I am according to the system currency after the rewards I reaped from it a week ago."
Regal immediately opened his status bar.
•-----------------•
ⓘ [EP Available : 35 Million]
•-----------------•
"Alright… I am rich." He grinned, stretching both arms to the ceiling like he had just conquered the stock market.
A sharp pinch yanked at his left cheek.
"Ow—hey!"
Gwendolyn gave him an arched look. "No, you are not."
"What are you talking about? I have a billion-dollar film under my belt." He muttered indignantly, rubbing the sting from his cheek.
Though… there is a small correction here, [Harry Potter] first movie still didn't hit the one billion mark it was on its way, just a little more wait.
"Yeah, but you still dress like you bought your hoodie from a college gift shop." She said, inspecting him up and down with playful scorn.
Regal chuckled. "That's because the hoodie is from a college gift shop."
Despite the teasing, he wasn't talking about real-world money.
His eyes drifted to a sleek tailor shop just ahead, they were here for one reason: a suit. A proper one.
Not for a wedding - Keanu and Seren weren't there yet.
Stephen Jr.? Still fumbling the nerves.
And certainly not for his own, that chapter was... far off.
It was to attend the Golden Globes, which was just two days away.
Meanwhile, Regal checked his watch again, even with Gwen right beside him. Seeing that it was just five more minutes until 6:30 PM, he got a mischievous smile. Like something was about to happen.
Gwendolyn caught it. "What are you plotting now?"
"Nothing." He said smoothly. "Just soaking in the evening."
She didn't believe a word of it.
But for now, he just shook his head and shifted his focus to enjoying his date with his girlfriend.
.…
Right as the clock hit 6:30 PM, the internet began to ripple.
A headline appeared, subtle at first, but it spread fast:
[Stephen Jr. expecting a child with actress January Jones – Ross lets it slip on-air]
Clips began surfacing from a recent radio interview.
Ross, ever the grizzled veteran with a voice like gravel, had casually dropped the bomb mid-conversation:
"Stephen? Great kid. Bit of a mess with timing though - January's about to pop any day now, right?"
Just like that, the rumors were confirmed, a 'slip', made to sound unintentional.
It wasn't.
Ross was perfect for the job, respected and untouchable.
And because he was working with Stephen Jr. on [Whiplash], the quote made sense in context.
It felt personal, not PR.
It had been Regal's idea - though 'scheme' might be the better word.
With weeks of planning and all parties consenting, including January, now nine months pregnant and out of the spotlight since her fourth - this wasn't a leak.
Anyway, why was it better for the news to come out now?
First and foremost, this was going to be revealed no matter how much they tried to hide it. And now, when everyone's focus was on the Golden Globes and Oscars, it was time to strike.
In fact, there were two people who were not happy with this news spreading.
.....
Meanwhile, not everyone was thrilled.
Henry tossed his phone onto the couch. "So it's true, the news came out earlier than we wanted, but it's still gonna hit Stephen's image, so why release it now?"
Across the room, Liam - his uncle, sipped his whiskey and sighed.
"It's not about the truth, Henry, it's about timing and there is a difference."
Henry frowned. "Didn't we agree to reveal it during the [Whiplash] release? That would have maximized the buzz."
Liam shook his head. "We didn't reveal anything, Ross did."
Henry squinted. "You are saying it's... better this way?"
"I deliberately let the rumors float but never confirmed them. Once something becomes fact, it loses all mystery, no one gossips about truths - they forget them, but rumors stick longer, they evolve and more than anything they haunt."
Henry leaned back, thinking.
"And now?"
"Now, with the Globes and Oscars in full swing, the noise will bury the scandal, by the time [Whiplash] hits theaters, no one will care."
A beat of silence passed before Liam added, half-smirking. "That grumpy old bastard Ross may have saved his rival's grandchild ass."
….
Regal stepped out of the dressing room in a sharp, charcoal-black suit, the lapels gleaming subtly under the store's lighting.
Gwendolyn gave an approving nod.
"Okay... you are forgiven, you actually look rich now."
He smiled, glancing at the mirror, then casually checked his phone, he saw the article - exactly as planned.
He simply slid the phone back into his coat pocket, buttoned the jacket, and looked at himself in the mirror once more.
…And this time, Stephen Jr. wouldn't take the fall.
Because Regal had already built the cushion.
.
….
[To be continued…]
★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★
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