Pirated Wolverine Already Viewed by 1M

Columnist clarifies he did not download film

(NEWSER) - Gossip columnist Roger Friedman has been officially ousted from Fox News after reviewing a pirated copy of sister-company 20th Century Fox’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine. After yesterday afternoon’s meeting between Friedman and Fox News execs, the two parties “mutually agreed to part ways immediately,” according to a statement. Friedman later contacted Gawker to clarify he did not download the film, just streamed it after stumbling upon it online accidentally. More»

FoxNews.com's Friedman to argue for job today

(NEWSER) - The fate of longtime Fox News columnist Roger Friedman is unclear, but one thing is certain: It probably wasn’t a great idea to review a pirated copy of a sister company’s movie. Fox News-parent News Corp. said Friedman was canned after posting Thursday’s positive review of the leaked X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but the Hollywood Reporter notes that Friedman said yesterday, “Reports of my death have been extremely exaggerated.” More»

Pint-sized coach recites Kurt Russell's speech from Miracle

(NEWSER) - What’s more inspiring than watching Kurt Russell speak the words of legendary hockey coach Herb Brooks to the 1980 men’s Olympic team before they played—and beat—the Russians in the film Miracle? Try the same words coming from a 5-year-old. Well, maybe it’s just cuter, but for whatever reason the vid has become a YouTube sensation, Urlesque reports. More»

(NEWSER) - Wolverine tore the box office apart this weekend, clawing in $87 million, USA Today reports. Though that’s less than the debuts of last summer’s opener (Iron Man, $98.6 million) and the top-grossing X-Men film (The Last Stand, $102 million), it still bodes well for a blockbuster season. Romcom Ghost of Girlfriends Past opened with a weak $15.3 million, while Obsessed ($12.2 million), 17 Again ($6.4 million), and Monsters vs. Aliens ($5.8 million) rounded out the top five. More»

High-quality copy has been downloaded 75,000 times

(NEWSER) - An almost-done, high-quality rip of X-Men Origins: Wolverine has been leaked online and downloaded 75,000 times a month before its scheduled release, the BBC reports. 20th Century Fox hasn’t said how its summer blockbuster, starring Hugh Jackman, got out, but there’s at least some solace: “The CGI is missing and the movie looks horrible without it,” comments a disappointed viewer. More»