The plight of Fanboys is starting to become as bizarre and woeful as the story within the movie, and it may not be long before the movie winds up a case of art imitating life, with fans trying to steal a copy of the film just to finally get to see it in its original, untainted form.
For those who haven’t been keeping up with Fanboys, here’s a recap of the developments so far. The movie tells the story of a group of friends in 1998 who decide to go steal a copy of Star Wars: Episode I from Skywalker Ranch so their dying friend can see the movie before he shuffles off the mortal coil. The film was picked up by the Weinstein Company, which at one point was a good sign. After all, the Weinsteins are the ones who brought us Kevin Smith and usually leave things that please fandom alone.
Not in this case. Instead the Weinsteins have reportedly reworked the film, removing the dying friend (and the motivation behind the story). Fans and those anxiously waiting to see the movie, which was originally slated for a n August 2007 release, have not been pleased, leading to a called protest this weekend by protesting and banning Superhero Movie… as if extra incentive to stay away from that movie was needed.
The Weinsteins say the movie’s changes came because the film is hard to market, especially with the cast, which I don’t get. The cast includes Jay Baruchel, Seth Rogen, Kristen Bell, and Dan Fogler, all actors who have grown a following in the past few years since Fanboys was made. Considering the status of these actors now, it seems to me the movie would be a hell of a lot easier to market. The truth is, the problem isn’t the cast. It’s the movie. The Weinsteins want a teenage sex-romp road trip movie, whereas Fanboys is more like Stand By Me for the Star Wars crowd.
So the latest development, made more to avoid picket lines and box office fiasco this weekend than to stay true to the movie, is a promise from the Weinsteins to deliver both versions of the movie on DVD, allowing fans to watch the version of the movie they want to see. The Weinsteins don’t get that there isn’t a choice here. Nobody wants the stupid road trip version they’re trying to piece together, so offering two versions on DVD really isn’t much of an offering.
Add on top of that, that the Weinsteins have yet to decide when Fanboys will hit theaters, or which version will be shown. The Hollywood Reporter says the company is exploring the idea of putting out two theatrical versions much like the offered two DVD versions. I’m not quite sure how that would work though. Would they put out the movie they want to show, then a few months later offer the version of the film they first bought? Would they put them both out simultaneously, leading to a fiasco of theaters having to keep different versions of the movie straight (and frankly, tying up too many screens in the process)?
It seems to me the Weinsteins are sending a mixed message with their DVD offering. They are recognizing that fandom is a force to be reckoned with, and a force they don’t want to piss off to the point of having stormtroopers picketing one of their movies. On the other hand, they aren’t recognizing fandom as an entity worthy of catering to, because the altered film is still on the table.
Forget the cancer-free version of Fanboys Weinsteins. Nobody wants to see it. Just release the movie people want to see, the movie that will make you money, and move on to the next project. Far too much time has been wasted for Fanboys and sooner or later you’re going to wind up losing any money as a bootleg print of the film makes its way across the internet and fandom decides to settle for that instead of giving any money to your company.
