"What!? Did I hear that right? The Russian Air Force is about to destroy this place!?" Two crew members turned pale as they scrambled to pack up props. With only fifteen minutes to escape, every second wasted felt like it could mean the end.
"What's going on here? No way! We're just here to shoot a movie, not as terrorists. The Russian Air Force… this… this is…" The assistant director, who had just been taking photos with a fighter jet, was completely stunned. In all his years in the industry, he had never encountered anything like this.
Still, following the principle of "better safe than sorry," he didn't bother taking another picture and immediately sprinted toward the exit.
Within moments, nearly everyone scattered in a panicked rush! They pushed their speed to the limit, desperately racing toward the safe zone. Among them, the most unfortunate had to be Robert Downey Jr.
Dressed in a heavy suit of armor, even walking was a struggle—running was out of the question. The 500-meter distance to safety felt like 5,000 meters to him. If it weren't for Chris Hemsworth's timely help, supporting him as they escaped, Iron Man might have ended up as "Bomb Man" when the MiG-33 fighter jets arrived.
"Sir, we should evacuate as well," a bodyguard said, glancing at his watch. In reality, there was still over an hour before the military strike, but to be safe, the crew and actors were evacuated early. This also left time for a final check to ensure no one was left behind.
"Alright. Is the explosion-proof film crew ready?" What Mavi was about to shoot next would be the true spectacle—the most breathtaking moment in The Avengers trailer.
That moment? A real air-to-ground missile strike obliterating a "military base helipad"!
In movies, special effects often make it seem like main characters can easily dodge explosions, escaping unscathed with nothing more than some soot on their faces.
But anyone familiar with military weaponry knows that's impossible. Never mind the shockwave from a close-range missile detonation, which alone could rupture internal organs—the shrapnel and flying debris alone would be enough to tear people apart.
That's why Mavi wanted to make this as real and as shocking as possible. He needed to surpass traditional movie trailer effects, creating a scene so intense that audiences would be left in awe—perhaps even obsessed.
"Everything is ready, sir," the bodyguard confirmed.
The so-called "helipad" they were using wasn't an actual military base but rather a repurposed concrete lot. As for the MiG fighter jets parked on the platform, they were real aircraft—just retired models bought cheaply and given a fresh coat of paint.
"Good. Now it all comes down to this," Mavi clenched his fist.
For this trailer shoot, he had pulled some serious strings to get permission from Russia's 1564th Air Force Base. They had agreed to dispatch fighter jets to assist in the filming.
At first, the military was baffled by the request. Since the base's establishment, they had never seen anyone attempt to film a movie like this!
Once the area was cleared, Mavi's security team conducted a second inspection before completely sealing off the site. Meanwhile, the actors and crew, who had initially planned to take a break, suddenly had no intention of leaving. They all gathered inside a safe house, eagerly waiting to witness the impending military strike.
"So, you're telling me that this investor, Mavi, is actually using a real airstrike for this shoot?" The assistant director gaped at the director.
The main director, just as shocked, shook his head. "I had no idea either. This is news to me."
"Our Russian boss sure knows how to go big! Bringing in actual military aircraft for a bombing run? That footage is going to be insane!" a male crew member excitedly remarked.
After years of working in film production, they had grown tired of fake explosions. But real explosions? That was something they had rarely—if ever—witnessed.
Then, after a brief wait, the unmistakable sound of rotor blades slicing through the air suddenly echoed from the distance—"thud-thud-thud-thud!"
Everyone turned their heads and saw two Mil Mi-24 Hind attack helicopters cutting through the sky, their camouflaged bodies gliding over the helipad in an imposing display.
At that moment, Mavi arrived at the safe house with his bodyguards, joining the film crew. From the vantage point of a three-story building, he prepared to witness the unfolding spectacle.
The top floor of the safe house was Mavi's VIP lounge, where he had invited only Dwayne Johnson, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Hemsworth.
When Mavi and his security detail stepped onto the third floor, Johnson, Downey, and Hemsworth immediately stood up, their attitudes unmistakably respectful—treating him like some kind of big shot.
"Mr. Mavi, good to see you!"
"Hello, Mr. Mavi."
Looking at Black Widow, Iron Man, and Thor acting so deferential toward him, Mavi momentarily felt as though he had stepped into the Marvel universe.
"Ahem! No need to be so formal—have a seat."
Just as he finished speaking, the satellite phone on his bodyguard's belt rang.
After a brief exchange, the bodyguard turned to Mavi and reported, "Sir, the call is from the 1564th Air Force Base. They're asking if they should proceed with the operation."
Mavi glanced at the Mil Mi-24 Hind helicopters circling in the distance, then nodded. "Begin."
"Understood, sir!" The bodyguard immediately relayed the order to the commander on the other end of the line.
Thirty seconds later, the two heavily armed attack helicopters hovering above suddenly activated their 2A42 autocannons—and opened fire on the empty helipad!
"Ratatatatata!"
"Ratatatatata!"
With a terrifying fire rate of 650 rounds per minute, the 2A42 autocannons unleashed a relentless hail of bullets onto the ground below!
The sheer ferocity of the assault was staggering. The muzzle flashes and the deafening gunfire alone were enough to make onlookers tense up. Combined with the sight of the concrete surface and MiG fighter jets being torn to shreds, the scene was nothing short of harrowing.
For Dwayne Johnson, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, and the actors watching from below, this was their first time witnessing a real military-grade aerial assault up close. The sight left them all frozen in awe, unable to even blink.
When the gunfire finally ceased, the ground was riddled with thousands of cratered bullet holes. The once-solid concrete looked like it had been plowed through. The MiG fighter jets were completely shredded, resembling metal sieves.
The raw, brutal aftermath of the attack utterly eclipsed anything seen in Hollywood films. The lingering acrid scent of gunpowder in the air only made the experience more unforgettable.
"What… what did I just witness!?"
"That… that was real!?"
(End of Chapter)