It’s not a good week for 20th Century Fox or “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” which isn’t supposed to hit theaters until May 1. A full-length, DVD-quality workprint of the film has reportedly leaked onto the Internet.
Will Fox respond by bumping up the release date much like record labels have done with album releases or is the film perhaps not quite ready yet and still has a few tweaks to contend with? There were reshoots early this year and that could have bumped the schedule right to the limits of the official release date.
It remains to be seen how much a print like this, that allegedly features time-code and is a purportedly an unfurnished version of the film, will effect ticket sales.
Is this the work of a disgruntled Warner Bros. intern or a “Watchmen,” fan as payback at Fox over the “Watchmen” lawsuit imbroglio of earlier this year? We’re not pointing fingers, but Hollywood’s an ugly place and we’re saying it’s not outside the realm of possibility. Neither Fox or Hugh Jackman have responded yet, but the leak happened late last night so expect statements later in the day imploring you to wait to see the real thing. [EW]