"I went to see the movie just for Roy, and I stared at the screen the entire time—but still couldn't find him!"
"No way, right? Maybe he just did a cameo as some blink-and-you-miss-it background character?"
"Well, I've seen the movie three times now, and let me tell you—Roy is not some walk-on extra."
"So then who the heck did he play?"
It started like a fan-driven sequel to Where's My Dad?—only this one was titled Where's Roy? And just like its namesake, it became a hot topic of conversation.
Roy's fans grew increasingly anxious. They were certain his acting was phenomenal—he was known for morphing into any role with ease—but come on, he still had that face! Even when he played a battered, unlucky victim in Laila's horror film, his looks still lit up the screen.
But in The Dark Knight, all the good-looking characters? Not a single one looked remotely like Roy.
If no one had recognized him, fans might've believed the rumors that his scenes were cut. But what made things more infuriating was that a select few claimed to have seen him—and that his performance was "amazing."
And yet, when pressed about who he played, those smug fans just zipped their lips, offering nothing but sly smiles and cryptic remarks. They basked in the satisfaction of knowing something others didn't.
Naturally, this only made things worse. More and more people returned to the theaters, determined to find Roy's role. Even those who had already seen the film two or three times went back, combing every frame for clues.
And when some finally cracked the mystery, they followed the same pattern—smug declarations, followed by an infuriating refusal to spill the beans.
In the end, it was the media that exposed the truth—days later.
"Roy Jixing: The Most Unbelievable 'Joker' Yet"
The entertainment headlines exploded with Roy's name, accompanied by a photo of him in full Joker makeup. The image was downright sinister. If his name hadn't been printed in bold underneath, no one would have believed that the world's sexiest man was the same person as that nightmare-inducing villain.
The moment the news hit, chaos erupted.
"That Joker was Roy? No way!"
"That can't be him! They must have the wrong guy!"
"Holy crap—if that was him, then his acting is way too powerful!"
The reason the truth came out so late was because the producers had convinced most outlets to hold the story, hoping to stir up more buzz and drive repeat viewings. And for the most part, the media agreed. But when one outlet broke the embargo and spilled everything?
The rest collectively smacked their foreheads.
They'd been played.
If they had run the scoop first—revealing Roy as the Joker—the spike in newspaper sales would've been insane. Far more valuable than the tiny perks the producers had offered them to stay quiet. But hindsight was 20/20.
Now that the secret was out, every media outlet followed suit, plastering Roy's name and Joker photos across their entertainment pages.
Back in South Africa, Laila and Roy hadn't yet returned to the U.S., and due to spotty internet, they didn't realize what a sensation the film had become. They only learned later that the "hidden Joker" marketing strategy had been wildly effective, though they didn't grasp just how effective.
But in Hollywood, everyone knew.
Take Nolan, for instance. He'd done everything he could to support the film's release. When Laila first proposed the strategy—to completely hide Roy's Joker identity from the public—he hadn't quite understood. Sure, it might stir up a little curiosity, but would it make a difference?
Then he saw the results: the media frenzy, the internet searches, the box office spike.
He could only shake his head in admiration. Once again, Laila had seen farther than he could. Where he planned days or weeks, she planned months. Even years.
As someone deeply immersed in filmmaking, Nolan had already noticed something most people hadn't—Laila was playing a much bigger game. Her "superhero universe," her Marvel-style cinematic plan, was no pipe dream.
After joining Laila's company, he'd gotten glimpses of her grand vision, and it had left him stunned. If she pulled it off, her company would reign unchallenged in Hollywood—an undisputed king among studios.
Would she fail?
Not likely. Just look at how profitable her superhero films already were. Merchandise, DVDs, international sales—it was an empire in the making. The world could no longer stop her rise.
To follow a boss like that was something to be proud of. Nolan didn't know how she managed to see so far ahead, but he believed that if he stayed by her side, one day, he might learn.
As the awards season ramped up, The Dark Knight was met with overwhelming praise. Few media outlets dared to underestimate the film, even though it was technically a "superhero" movie.
If nothing else, Roy's portrayal of the Joker had already earned him nominations for nearly every acting award—despite being billed as a supporting role.
The film's technical achievements also made it a strong contender. Laila had implemented numerous advanced filming techniques to ensure a visually stunning experience.
And perhaps most importantly, the film's themes sparked intense discussion.
The Joker's elaborate schemes left a deep impression on audiences. Many began asking themselves: If I were in that situation, what would I do?
But when they tried to answer, they went silent. Thoughtful.
Sure, it was easy to claim you'd make the "right choice"—but under pressure? Who could say?
This was more than a superhero movie.
It was a great movie—one that shook people to their core. It didn't matter what genre you liked; there was something for everyone in The Dark Knight. That was why it dominated the box office.
As for all the praise he was receiving?
Roy hardly noticed.
Because right now, the woman he loved was carrying their child—his and Laila's precious little angel.
That was his real award.