When last we updated you on the fate of Fanboys, the release date had been pushed back yet again to accommodate reshoots designed to alter the storyline. The original version, about a group of friends bringing their terminally ill friend to Skywalker Ranch for an advance screening of Star Wars: Episode I, underwent surgery to remove its cancer – literally. The Weinstein Company’s plan to release a lighter, broader version of the film was met with resistance – dare we say, a rebellion? – from the core audience.
Star Wars fans who had caught screenings of the original version at conventions teamed up to launch Stop Darth Weinstein, “a grassroots movement founded by a consortium of Star Wars fans who don't want to see Fanboys, the first and only feature film about Star Wars fans, ruined by a greedy movie studio who has no respect for its target audience!” But how to get the mighty Weinstein to take notice of their mission? Launch a letter writing campaign? Inundate his office with stuffed ewoks? Or hit him in his wallet?
Of course, the latter course of action proved to be the only sensible one, as the fanboys threatened to boycott the opening weekend of Weinstein’s Superhero Movie, due this Friday in theaters. Now, this might seem like an empty threat if you’re a right-thinking American who never had any intention of paying to see another crappy spoof movie, but remember – we’re talking about hardcore geeks here. These guys eat superhero movies for breakfast and shit action figures in the afternoon. If they don’t pay to see Superhero Movie, who will?
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Weinstein has bent but not yet broken. “Weinstein said it will release the two versions on DVD, and a studio source later said that is exploring two theatrical versions.” This hasn’t satisfied the fans, though. “This is clearly a vain attempt by the Weinstein Company to avert Star Wars fans' impending boycott of all of their films. Well, guess what? It's not going to work, Darth Weinstein! There was never any doubt that you would release both versions of the movie on DVD -- probably months apart, so as to leech as much money from Star Wars fans as possible!”
That sounds about right. So far no release date has been set, so presumably the battle goes on. We’re all in favor of the fanboys and their cause, but maybe they should rethink the Darth Weinstein thing. He looks more like Jabba the Hutt to us.