Redoing My Life (Modern Family)

"So, there's a slight hiccup," Paul said over the phone as I walked toward my office at DC Studios.

"What is it?" I asked, slowing my pace.

Paul sighed. "We need to extend the shoot for another week. We might have to redo parts of the film's ending."

I frowned. "What happened? I thought everything was wrapped up."

"Looks like there are some issues with what we currently have. Chad and Keanu think they can do better."

I reached the door to my office and paused. "What do you think?"

Paul didn't hesitate. "I think we should extend. They make a good case."

I exhaled through my nose. "Fine. One more week. Just give me a detailed report on the extra costs later today."

"You got it, boss. Talk to you later," Paul said before ending the call.

Two months had passed quickly, and suddenly, it was already April of 2013. Wonder Woman had started filming last month, and in just two weeks, Batman was going to be released. It had been a busy couple of months for me. The marketing campaign for Batman was in full swing, and we were happy that even casual moviegoers seemed excited about it. Everywhere I looked, people were talking about the film. The hype was real.

As I walked into my office, I spotted Scott Snyder waiting for me. He seemed to be reading the Wonder Woman script I'd left on my desk.

"Scott," I greeted.

"Daniel," he replied, standing up.

Scott and I had finally finalized our script for Superman, and pre-production was on track to end in July, with principal photography beginning in August. It had been a long, meticulous process, but we were confident in our vision for the film. We had even found the perfect Lois Lane.

Scott adjusted his seat. "How was your wrestling thing?"

I chuckled. "A welcome break from the chaos of the last two months."

I had just returned from a great weekend with Matt and John. Every year, we made it a point to attend WrestleMania, and this year was especially fun. Not only was it an incredible show, but I had also managed to change the main event from what it was in my previous life—The Rock vs. Cena again—to The Rock vs. Cena vs. CM Punk, with Cena winning. In my opinion, it was a much better outcome than the original.

However, it caused a big headache for Universal. The Rock got injured—the very thing I had been trying to avoid. Fast 5 would now have to be shot around his recovery schedule, forcing a delay in key scenes requiring his presence. I'd heard that Universal was now changing the terms of The Rock's contract to ensure he wouldn't wrestle while filming. I was almost certain this would start stirring up tensions with Vin Diesel. Their egos were bound to clash sooner than expected, and this situation was likely pouring gasoline on the fire.

Scott, who had been flipping through the script, glanced up at me. "So, I hear you're going to be in the Wonder Woman movie?"

"Yeah, nothing big—just a small cameo," I replied casually. "I'm in Batman as well."

Scott raised an eyebrow. "Really? Wait a minute—are you trying to do the Stan Lee thing?"

"Something like that," I said with a smirk.

The Wonder Woman cast had shaped up nicely: Alexandra Daddario as Diana, Charlize Theron as the big bad Paula von Gunther, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Steve Trevor. He was perfect, giving Steve a seasoned, experienced soldier vibe—the direction I wanted for the character. Another big win was casting Javier Bardem as Ares; he looked incredible in the photos I'd seen, and his small scenes had already been filmed. They were currently shooting in Italy for the Themyscira scenes, and the footage I'd seen looked absolutely stunning.

Next, they would shoot in the UK, then return to the U.S., filming on the West Coast and in the studio. I had more work ahead of me—especially figuring out the end-credit scene. Should it tease Superman, or maybe something else? I wasn't sure yet.

There was a lot to do. I had finally decided who would appear in the Justice League movie, so I knew which heroes needed to be introduced beforehand: Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, The Flash, Aquaman, Green Lantern, and Martian Manhunter—the Big Seven.

I wanted this lineup for the first Justice League film. My mind raced as I thought about casting and how to structure their movies. Would Grant Gustin work as the Flash on the big screen? At least Green Lantern wasn't ruined by Ryan Reynolds in this reality. I also needed to make Aquaman cool for the audience—not the way Jason Momoa did it. (Momoa was definitely Lobo in my eyes.) Then there was Martian Manhunter; maybe I could do a combined movie with him and Green Lantern, featuring a Martian invasion storyline. Ideas kept bouncing around in my head.

"I'm not sure about having Steve work for Amanda Waller in the movie, though. It feels like a big deviation," Scott said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"What?" I asked.

"I said I'm not sure about having Steve Trevor work for Amanda Waller in the movie," Scott repeated.

"We need to start building this world, Scott," I explained. "Waller's involvement sets up so much."

Scott sighed. "You know me. I'm a purist. I don't like deviating too far from the source material."

"Some adjustments have to be made," I countered. "Waller ties into the bigger picture, and we need to establish her early."

One of the key elements I wanted to introduce in Wonder Woman was the foundation of the DCU as a whole. Having Steve Trevor work for Amanda Waller provides her with the motivation to form Task Force X—the Suicide Squad—after the events of this movie. I wanted to plant seeds for future films while keeping the main story focused. Talia al Ghul could be mentioned by Leviathan due to the connection to the League of Shadows, though she wouldn't appear just yet. Superman would also get a brief reference, adding more cohesion to the overall universe. There was also a small scene involving Barbara Minerva, who would become Cheetah (portrayed by Sofia Boutella). Cheetah would be the major villain in the second film.

I looked at Scott and remembered why he was here. "So, what did you want to talk about again?" I asked.

Scott sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "We need to do something about the comics, Daniel. It's getting worse and worse."

I nodded, already knowing what he was referring to. Somehow, DC had managed to screw things up even more in this timeline. The New 52 was floundering, alienating fans instead of bringing them in. Sales were down, and the backlash online was relentless.

"You know how hard it is to watch everything I worked on just get completely destroyed?" Scott continued, his frustration clear. "Everything I did to bring back interest in Batman four years ago, now completely wasted."

I couldn't blame him for being upset. "Court of Owls was great," I said, genuinely meaning it. "Honestly, that was the last time the comics were truly great."

Scott nodded, but his shoulders sagged a little. "Exactly. It's like they're actively trying to kill the line. I just don't understand it."

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the desk. "Scott, you know I can't really do anything about it. I'm the creative head of DC Studios, not DC Comics. They don't exactly listen to me when it comes to the publishing side."

Scott didn't back down. "I have an idea for an Elseworlds story. Something that could reignite interest. I think it might help turn things around, even if just a little. Because right now, it feels hopeless."

I frowned, trying to gauge how serious he was. "Okay, what exactly do you want me to do?"

"Help me convince them to greenlight it," Scott said simply. "You have influence, Daniel. They'll listen to you if you're backing it."

I exhaled, thinking it over. I didn't have much interest in getting involved with DC's current comic run. It was a mess I didn't want to step into, especially when I was already juggling so much with the movies. But Scott looked so determined, and I knew how much he cared about this.

"Alright," I said finally. "I'll try. No promises, but I'll see what I can do."

Scott's face lit up with relief. "Thank you, Daniel. Seriously, thank you."

I waved him off. "Speaking of Court of Owls," I said, a smirk forming on my face. "I've been thinking—it might be a good storyline to explore in a movie."

Scott laughed, leaning back in his chair. "Just how many Batman movies are you planning to make?"

I grinned. "In a perfect world? If I had my way? A lot, Scott. A whole lot."