14 DAY TRIAL // Last week, one of the biggest leaks in the movie industry took place, as a work print of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” got out online and was immediately picked up by several torrent trackers. As 20th Century Fox is still trying its best to plug all the holes and find the ones behind the leak, main star Hugh Jackman has already started the promo tour for the film that will drop in theaters on May 1, according to USA Today.
The Australian actor was in Sydney the other day with the purpose of previewing for 600 fans 20 complete minutes of the film and, as expected, the subject of the leak did not fail to be brought up. Far from trying to play the blame game or to lament the situation in itself, Jackman only said that, while heartbroken over the leak, he still believed fans would come to see the movie in theaters, the aforementioned source reveals.
“It’s a serious crime and there’s no doubt it’s very disappointing – I was heartbroken by it. Obviously people are seeing an unfinished film. It’s like a Ferrari without a paint job.” Hugh Jackman told about the leak. As we initially reported, the version of “Wolverine” that got out on the Internet featured only temporary music score and had many scenes that were not yet finished as regarded special effects, as Fox also explained in a later statement. However, plenty of fans were convinced to download the illegal copy, despite several pleas and entreaties from the movie studio and the fan community.
Among those who did not only download and watch the film, but also made a review of it and then posted it online was also Fox News longtime collaborator and entertainment blogger Roger Friedman. As we informed you yesterday, Friedman was subsequently fired for writing the review and posting it online, since Fox News saw his action as the clearest sign that he was condoning and encouraging piracy, especially with Friedman saying at one point that he was amazed at how easy seeing the film was without the commercial breaks and having to go out of the house.
As a side note, Fox News and 20th Century Fox are owned by the same parent company, News Corp. “Fox News representatives and Roger Friedman met today and mutually agreed to part ways immediately. Fox News appreciates Mr. Friedman’s ten years of contributions to building foxnews.com and wishes him success in his future endeavors. Mr. Friedman is grateful to his colleagues for their friendship and support over the past decade.” Fox News said in a statement released to RopeOfSilicone.