After wrapping up the affairs in New York, Anton was finally ready to focus on his main task.
Jim acted swiftly, prioritizing all of Antons requirements. The preparations for the Constantine film crew were nearly complete.
Anton set off for Los Angeles to participate in the casting process.
As a world-renowned director, Antons new film project naturally attracted the attention of numerous Hollywood stars.
Many entertainment tabloids eagerly followed the story, covering it in great detail.
Even fans of DC, including those loyal to the Justice League, began to take notice of the developments.
Everyone understood that whenever Anton directed a movie, there was a possibility of introducing a "new member" to the Justice League.
Of course, the term "new member" deserved quotation marks.
Based on online speculation, as well as Antons clear intent when establishing DC Studios—complete with an array of superhero themes and detailed story outlines—fans suspected these werent truly new members but rather Batmans old allies.
The characters in Antons films were essentially biographical adaptations of these old comrades of Batman.
However, speculation remained speculation—no one could provide a definitive answer.
Regardless, the advancement of Antons new film project led many to believe another of Batmans old allies was about to appear.
The internet buzzed with heated discussions.
Before long…
Certain resourceful media outlets managed to uncover some details about Antons new film, including its title.
Hellblazer!
The title immediately caught the attention of a niche audience, sparking a fresh wave of discussion.
Hell?
There was no need to elaborate on this term.
Clearly, Antons new film leaned towards the mysterious and might even carry a touch of suspense.
This title didnt exactly align with the typical superhero genre.
Curiosity consumed everyone—they were eager to learn what kind of story Hellblazer would tell.
The media frenzy only intensified.
Meanwhile…
Washington, at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
Recently promoted to Director, Coulson sat in his office chair, flipping through a report that had just been submitted. As he scanned the pages, his brow furrowed instinctively.
"Hellblazer?"
At S.H.I.E.L.D., Coulson resources and authority far surpassed those of entertainment media. Not only had he uncovered the title of Anton new film, but he also discovered which character under DC banner the film was based on.
"Constantine…"
Coulson muttered the name while deep in thought.
John Constantine.
A British man, born in Liverpool, who learned magic at a young age. Although a skilled magician, he seldom relied on spells, believing magic often exacted a terrible price.
Instead, when possible, he solved problems through cunning, deduction, investigation, deals, and deception.
Coulson was well aware of what kind of story Constantine represented.
After all, back when he wasn't yet Director, his former superior, Nick Fury, had instructed him to familiarize himself with all of DC works.
Since then, Coulson had occasionally followed DC novels, animations, comics, and other storylines, along with their associated elements.
"So, this is yet another story about mystical elements…"
Coulson felt a headache coming on.
Anton last film, Wonder Woman, also revolved around mystical elements, delving into Greek mythology, featuring figures like Zeus, the King of Gods, and Ares, the God of War.
The most concerning part? During the films release, New Mexico witnessed the sudden appearance of Thor, bringing Norse mythology into the mix.
That event confirmed the existence of gods.
However, after making contact, Coulson learned that, strictly speaking, what humans perceived as gods were merely extraterrestrial civilizations more advanced than humanity.
As for Wonder Woman, she seemed to share some familial ties with Thor…
Coulson hadn't even unraveled the connections between these mythological elements when Anton announced his intent to film Hellblazer, which meant Constantine.
And what did Constantine represent?
Hell. Satan.
Heaven. God.
Even Christianity was being pulled into the narrative!
Based on Coulson understanding of Constantine, the story even involved a host of angels, such as the Archangel Gabriel and demons like Nergal—figures rooted in ancient mythologies.
Gabriel required little explanation. In the Bible, Gabriel was one of the four Archangels, the highest-ranking of angels, trusted implicitly by God, and hailed as a symbol of wisdom.
As for the demon Nergal, Coulson recognized him as the Sumerian god of the underworld.
Originally, Nergal was known as the god of war, plagues, and pestilence. Also called Erra, he was the brother of Ningirsu and Nisaba, and closely associated with the constellations of Mars and Sagittarius.
In mythological lore, Nergal led 14 demons to attack the underworld, which was ruled by the goddess Ereshkigal.
To resolve the conflict, Ereshkigal was forced to marry him, making Nergal the king of the underworld.
This chaotic blend of mythology thoroughly scrambled Coulson mind.
Knock, knock, knock!
A knock sounded at the door.
The former Director and current Deputy Director, Nick Fury, stepped in.
Seeing Coulson troubled expression, Fury chuckled and said, "What wrong? Judging by your face, something got you in a bind again?"
"Anton making a new movie," Coulson replied.
"If the usual pattern holds, something strange is bound to happen—something beyond our understanding."
"Is that so?" Fury raised an eyebrow.
Nick Fury casually sat across from Coulson, shrugging as he said, "Ever since I became Deputy Director,
I've realized there nothing in this world I can't understand. After all, it the Director job to deal with all the troublesome stuff, right?"
"Nick, I'd gladly give this position back to you," Coulson sighed.
"Thinking about gods and demons just gives me a headache. I used to think Greek and Norse mythology were complicated enough.
Now Christianity is in the mix, and I'm seriously questioning what other secrets this world is hiding."
"So, Anton next movie is related to Christianity?" Fury raised an eyebrow.
"Exactly."
Coulson nodded, eager to move past the topic. He asked, "So, what brings you here?"
Noticing Coulson genuine frustration and fully aware of the mysterious nature surrounding Anton and Batman, Nick Fury didn't dwell on the issue.
He appeared far more relaxed than Coulson, smiling as he said, "Harry agreed to join the Avengers."
"Oh? The military didn't put up any resistance?"
Coulson was surprised. "Harry doesn't strike me as the type to go against the military. After all, a lot of Oscorp weapons contracts depend on military orders."
"I looked into it. Before agreeing to join the Avengers, Harry had a conversation with Anton," Fury explained.
"It seems like Anton and the military want to plant a set of eyes within the Avengers. Harry is a good choice.
You know we need Oscorp resources right now, so we can't reject Harry inclusion. Besides, I was the one who invited him in the first place."
"Yes, you've been planning this for a while," Coulson replied, glancing at Fury.
Though his expression remained neutral, he felt a sense of helplessness deep down.
Although he was now the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., his methods still felt amateurish compared to Fury.
Especially after what Fury had done just days earlier—using a high-stakes strategy that involved faking his death and sacrificing many agents to flush out Hydra spies within S.H.I.E.L.D. This gambit had even escalated into a clash between the Justice League and the Avengers.
If it were Coulson, he would never have made such a drastic choice.
"Coulson, I know you don't agree with my decisions," Fury said, seemingly reading Coulson thoughts.
"But you're the Director now. Whatever happens, you need to stick to your decisions."
Fury stood up, his gaze shifting to the window where the evening sun bathed the city in a golden glow. His tone softened as he continued,
"This world will always have things beyond your comprehension. To achieve your goals, you must be unafraid of sacrifice and willing to make compromises."
"…"
Coulson remained silent.
The weight of Fury words lingered as Coulson considered the responsibilities of his position and the challenges that lay ahead.
Los Angeles.
Anton did not delve deeply into the casting process.
After briefly reviewing the actor list and detailed profiles provided by Jim, he headed straight to the future Mysterio, Quentin Beck special effects studio.
His goal was to incorporate Quentin holographic projection technology to refine the special effects and integrate them into the filming process ahead of time.
For Hellblazer, the special effects scenes were relatively few and simple.
As an experienced director, Anton estimated, based on Jim schedule and budget, that the film could be completed in just over two months.
By using Quentin holographic projections during production, there would be no need for post-production special effects—saving time and effort.
When Quentin heard Anton intentions, he enthusiastically cooperated, showcasing his current drone-based holographic equipment to Anton.
Anton was pleased.
Although the projections displayed by the drones still appeared somewhat stiff, he knew that with time and adjustments, the expressions could become more lifelike.
"Beck, let proceed with this," Anton said, nodding in approval.
"I'll provide you with the script. Use its contents and the writers' requirements to quickly create the character models I need."
He added, "This time, we're not just incorporating holographic projections into filmmaking—we're showing Hollywood that holographic technology represents the future. This is the future you've been dreaming of."
"No problem. I'll give it everything I've got!" Quentin Beck was visibly thrilled.
A few days later.
Under Anton urging, the casting process was completed, and Hellblazer officially began filming.
To give Quentin Beck more time to develop realistic and vivid holographic models, Anton prioritized shooting scenes that didn't require special effects, pushing all effects-heavy sequences to the second month of production.
Meanwhile, news of Hellblazer starting production spread to the public.
Constantine?
When people learned about the character central to Hellblazer, many flocked to explore DC original novels and other related works.
Seeing references to Christianity, God, angels, and demons, audiences were first excited, then deeply intrigued.
If Wonder Woman represented the gods, did Anton Hellblazer imply that magic, God, and demons might truly exist in this world?
These questions ignited fierce debates among fans and online communities.
Over a month later.
Anton noticed that online debates were still raging, with neither side willing to back down.
Calling Jim to his office, Anton instructed him to begin the film promotional campaign.
Jim was stunned, his mouth agape. Only then did he realize how astonishingly fast Anton production progress was.
Especially with Quentin Beck holographic technology, which entirely eliminated the need for post-production special effects, saving time, effort, and countless headaches.
"About half a month left, and well wrap up!"
Anton sat with the crew, feeling quite sentimental. This was, by far, the simplest filmmaking experience he had ever had.
Once filming concluded, only minimal post-production would be required, and the movie could go straight to release.
While reflecting, Anton glanced at the system panel, where John Constantine fan count had already soared to 15 million.
He couldn't help but marvel at how much easier this was than he had anticipated.
Anton was genuinely puzzled by how Constantine could attract fans so quickly.
"Could it really be just because of his shamelessness?" he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.
As filming neared completion, Jim introduced Anton to someone who had come to the set for a cameo role.
Anton froze on the spot.
"Anton, this is Johnny Blaze, currently the most famous motorcycle stunt rider in America.
He broken world records, like jumping over dozens of cars... I invited him for a quick cameo—just a few seconds of screen time," Jim explained.
Noticing Anton peculiar expression, Jim grew uneasy. "What wrong? Do you think he not suitable?"
"No, no, not at all," Anton replied, giving Johnny Blaze a once-over before suddenly breaking into a grin.
Then, with a straight face, he asked, "Mr. Blaze, would you be interested in playing Satan? I feel like you've got a devilish aura in you."