Microsoft will have an important role in the upcoming release of the Jackass 2.5 movie, available for free on the Internet, via its Silverlight technology. Jackass 2.5 is essentially a collection of stunts, now in the trademark style of Jackass, which failed to make the cut for Jackass Number Two. Starting on December 19th, 2007, Jackass lovers will be able to feast their eyes on never-before-seen footage free of charge via this link. At the bottom of this article, I have embedded two video fragments featuring Johnny Knoxville announcing Jackass 2.5.

An intimate part of the new Jackass 2.5 movie will be Microsoft's Silverlight technology. The Redmond company's alternative to Adobe Flash will be used to serve users with Jackass 2.5. Silverlight is designed as a cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in, enabling rich interactive applications for the Web, as well as the development of .NET based media Internet experiences. At this point in time, Silverlight supports Windows and Mac OS X with Linux compatibility on the way.

"With their latest movie, Jackass 2.5, the studio is trying a transformational new approach to movie distribution. Instead of relying on box-office revenue, [they will] make it available for free directly over the Internet, funded through advertising. This is an Internet first - an online premiere of a full-length feature film, distributed exclusively using Silverlight and a rich media content distribution network. Silverlight is taking off - we're seeing downloads of the 1.0 plug-in rise exponentially over the last few weeks as many big sites go live", revealed Tim Sneath, Microsoft group manager for client platforms.

The sole caveat at this time is the fact that the offer is addressed exclusively at users in the U.S.; as the project is a collaboration between Paramount Pictures Digital Entertainment, MTV New Media and Blockbuster, Jackass 2.5 the movie will be streamed for free only in the U.S. "When we set out to make 'jackass number two,' we made more than a movie - we made almost two movies. All the guys were so red hot, we just couldn't stop filming", said Jeff Tremaine, Producer and Co-Creater of JACKASS. "Now with JACKASS 2.5, we finally have a great way to release the rest of this movie-worthy footage."