As the applause gradually faded, Stan Lee leaned forward, clearly fascinated by what he had just heard.
His eyes gleamed behind his glasses as though he wasn't merely listening to Jihoon's words—he was storing them away, testing them, shaping them to see how they might align with his own ambitions for Marvel.
Then he raised his voice again, his tone half-admiring, half-probing.
"Lee, I gotta say, your HCU is an interesting venture," Stan began, choosing his words with deliberate care.
"But aside from the risks you mentioned earlier, are there any disadvantages to building a cinematic universe compared to the traditional way of making films?"
"Take Marvel for instance…"
The moment those words left his mouth, the audience buzzed with excitement.
Because hidden inside that casual question was something bigger—something that hinted at Marvel's future.
To them, Marvel wasn't just a name; it was their childhood.
The comics they grew up with, the superheroes that had defined entire generations.
Hearing Stan Lee speak in that tone, in that context, was enough to make the crowd lean forward in their seats.
A question began to wander through their minds: Did this mean Marvel was planning to build a cinematic universe of its own?
The truth was that 'Iron Man' had already been schedule for release in the coming months.
But outside of industry insiders, very few people understood what Marvel was really attempting—an ambitious plan to connect their heroes into one shared universe.
The general public had no idea.
That's why this moment, right here in the theater, felt electric.
If Stan Lee was hinting at it, then the speculation would spread like wildfire.
Jihoon, however, immediately saw through his move.
Stan wasn't simply asking a question—he was planting seeds.
Using this premiere, Jihoon's platform, to generate anticipation for Marvel's own upcoming gamble.
A clever strategy, but also a little underhanded.
Cause if the narrative wasn't control, tomorrow's headlines could very well read: "Stan Lee Teases Marvel's Cinematic Universe"—and suddenly, the spotlight would shift from the 'SAW' premiere to Marvel's grand plan.
Under normal circumstances, such an interruption might have been considered disrespectful.
Hijacking another filmmaker's stage wasn't exactly polite.
But Jihoon understood why Stan was doing it.
Marvel's position at that time wasn't strong.
Public opinion of 'Iron Man' was lukewarm at best.
Especially to the investors and the people from the industry, they were skeptical for several reasons:
First, Robert Downey Jr. was seen as a risky choice for the lead role.
His past struggles with addiction and run-ins with the law had left his reputation tarnished. Many doubted he could carry a major blockbuster.
Second, 'Iron Man' himself wasn't exactly a top-tier character in the comics world.
He lacked the popularity of Spider-Man or the X-Men. To the average fan, 'Iron Man' was more of a supporting hero than a cultural icon.
And third, the sting of failure still lingered from 'The Hulk' movie, which had left audiences unconvinced that Marvel heroes could truly succeed on the big screen.
From the perspective of 2008, the odds were stacked against Marvel.
But Jihoon knew better.
He knew that 'Iron Man' would be the spark that ignited the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and he knew just how big it would become.
In fact, in his past life, he had even spent time to heavily studies the success of Marvel Studios once he realized their vision was viable.
That knowledge gave him a calm confidence as he prepared to respond.
He raised the microphone again, offering Stan a thoughtful smile.
"Of course," Jihoon said evenly, "there are plenty of disadvantages. Let's say, hypothetically, if Marvel were to attempt something similar…"
The audience chuckled lightly at his choice of words, though Jihoon's tone remained serious.
"One of the biggest challenges is the cost. A cinematic universe requires enormous investment. High production budgets mean higher risks, and the return on investment can become dangerously unbalanced."
"If even one film underperforms, the entire structure can be shaken."
He let that thought linger before moving on.
"Another major issue is continuity. Can the same actors commit to their roles for years, maybe even decades, across a whole interconnected universe? That's a huge unknown."
"What if a key actor decides to leave? Or if contract disputes, scheduling conflicts, or personal issues force a change? Recasting a beloved character can shatter immersion and unravel the very narrative you've worked so hard to create."
He paused, giving a light shrug.
"Of course, these challenges apply mostly to big-budget productions like Marvel."
"With the HCU, our films are made differently."
"Smaller budgets, tighter control, and carefully planned narratives mean we don't face the same level of risk. Our universe is designed to be flexible and efficient, without relying on a single actor or an oversized budget to hold it all together."
The audience nodded in agreement, many of them seasoned industry professionals who understood just how true those words were. Jihoon had hit the nail on the head.
But inside, Jihoon was holding back a sly smile.
What he didn't say out loud—but knew perfectly well—was that Marvel itself would soon stumble into exactly this problem.
In just a short time, the role of James Rhodes—Tony Stark's closest friend—would be recast after Iron Man due to a salary dispute.
It was the kind of disruption Jihoon had just described, and he was effectively warning Stan Lee of what was coming.
At the same time, Jihoon's words carried another layer of intent.
This was also his way of quietly deflecting Stan's attempt to hijack the Saw premiere with talk of Marvel's plans.
By emphasizing the risks, the costs, and the instability of such an endeavor, Jihoon was gently lowering public expectations.
He framed the idea of Stan Lee as possible, but also distant, uncertain, and far more difficult than people might imagine.
Because Jihoon knew—if he didn't, tomorrow's headlines would scream about Marvel's grand ambitions, not about 'SAW'.
The spotlight, meant for this premiere and for the birth of his own Horror Cinematic Universe (HCU), would be stolen.
Outwardly, he looked calm, but inside, he was already cursing the old fag for nearly turning tonight into Marvel's announcement platform.
So Jihoon played along.
He didn't outright dismiss the possibility of a Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he raised the bar high—much higher than the grounded, low-budget yet high-quality model that the HCU promised.
It was a subtle way of saying, Yes, Marvel might do it someday, but we're already doing it now.
Once Stan seemed satisfied and no longer pressing his own agenda, Jihoon quickly shifted the narrative back to where it belonged.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his voice steady but carrying a theatrical weight, "the great Jean-Luc Godard, founder of the French New Wave, once said that cinema is the art of dream-making—leading audiences into experiences they cannot reach in everyday life."
He paused, then lowered his tone deliberately, almost like a storyteller leaning closer to whisper a secret.
"But dreams alone aren't enough. There must also be nightmares."
The audience stilled.
With that line, Jihoon set the stage to introduce something larger than just 'SAW'.
Having dealt with Stan's detour, he was ready to unveil the blueprint of his own universe—the HCU.
He explained how the SCP Foundation would be the backbone of this cinematic world, a shared mythology where every film, every "containment object," was part of a bigger puzzle.
One by one, he laid out the concept, painting it vividly for the audience, especially the HCU fans who had shown up tonight.
Then he spoke of his vision: a universe steeped in darkness, thrills, and psychological tension—a world designed for Western audiences who had already proven their appetite for such stories.
After all, the box office numbers of 'GET OUT' told the truth: nearly 60 percent of its revenue came from America, with Europe following closely behind.
Horror wasn't just niche anymore—it was a mainstream language.
And Jihoon wasn't about to waste the moment.
With the press and media gathered, he openly announced that JH Pictures would be expanding, recruiting fresh talent, and bringing in writers who shared his vision.
The message was clear: this wasn't just promotion—it was an invitation.
If you believe in this dark universe, come build it with me.
Because Jihoon knew this was only the beginning.
Both 'GET OUT' and 'SAW' were the opening notes, but countless films were still to come.
JH Pictures couldn't rely on him alone—it needed a new generation of directors and storytellers to shape the HCU.
Tonight, though, he had a simpler goal: to plant his flag, to establish himself as the originator of a cinematic universe before anyone else.
He understood better than anyone how superhero films would dominate the global market in the coming decade, reshaping Hollywood's entire business model and proving the value of long-term IP operations.
Whoever controlled IP—its autonomy, its copyright, its growth—would control the future in the industry.
And in that future, one truth was unavoidable: talented writers and directors would soon be the most sought-after people in the industry.
Jihoon intended to be the one who found them first.