Trayvon Martin Case Has Hollywood Scrubbing Material for New Stiller Comedy ‘Neighborhood Watch’
- Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:50am by
Mike Opelka
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Ever since the Trayvon Martin story became national news, movie executives at 20th Century Fox have been concerned with the potential reaction to a new comedy from Ben Stiller that is slated to open this summer. It’s called “Neighborhood Watch,” and now those behind the movie are scrambling to scrub any images that could conjure up memories of the Martin case.
A movie poster for the upcoming film "Neighborhood Watch."
That raises the obvious question: How close is the movie to actual events in the Trayvon Marting shooting? Besides the title, “Neighborhood Watch,”* the storyline in the script couldn’t be any farther from the controversial case. As posted on IMDB.com:
Suburban dads form a neighborhood watch group to get time away from their families, only to discover a plot to destroy Earth.
According the film’s publicity, the comedy is essentially about four white guys in black leather jackets patrolling their suburban neighborhood. And it involves aliens.
“Our film is a broad alien invasion comedy and bears absolutely no relation to the tragic events in Florida,” the movie‘s execs said in a statement after pulling the film’s trailer, according to the New York Times.
Despite the outlandish plot starring actors known for their comedic talents, which has nothing to do with the tragic death of Trayvon Martin, it still might end up being pulled, delayed or significantly changed. The marketing for the movie is the first to be altered. For example, the poster (seen above) with its bullet-riddled “Neighborhood Watch” sign is being taken out of movie theaters, and the Times says “Fox is now featuring photographs of the four stars in a frontal shot that seems deliberately calculated to invoke the harmless lead characters in “Ghostbusters.”
Here is the trailer that you won’t be seeing in theaters anytime soon:
This kind of sensitivity from a movie studio is not new. The Times, which is reporting on the movie’s “bad timing,” reminds audiences that this isn’t the first time something like this has happened when storylines were delayed for being a little too close to current events: 2001′s “Collateral Damage” and 2002′s “Phone Booth” have a similar history.
What do you think? Is 20th Century Fox overreacting or are they just being sensitive? Feel free to weigh in below.
*George Zimmerman, who shot Martin, was a member of the local neighborhood watch.
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KyleD
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 6:02pmThat’s too bad…I’m not much of a Ben Stiller fan but sometimes he has some pretty funny stuff and this seemed like it could have been one of them.
Report Post »suz
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 5:43pmya know, in a way hollywood deserves to not re-coop the money it spent making that film.
eventually, when all this blows over, it probably will make that money back, but you see how people’s stupidity and arrogance can effect just about everything.
all it takes is for more stupid, lazy people to let it happen.
Report Post »hogtrashhd
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 4:11pmwho cares.. only blacks.. and they don’t spend money.. so like i say.. they have nothing to fear from these black bums.. i hope they release it to show they have ballz against their stupid thuggery.. we’ve all had enough of their crap.. release the film and to hell with the racists..WHO DON’T SPEND MONEY.. it’s all either FREE or they STEAL it.. that’s the frigging truth.. oh.. they’re going to boycott?? they wouldn’t make a dent.. THEY NEVER DO.. business need to grow ballz.. it’s sickening.
Report Post »martinez012577
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 12:11pmHope all the aliens are wearing hoodies.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 11:35amTrayvon Martin was a thug in training…. He just didn’t make it to the big time, we all need guns and bullets, cuz the cops cannot protect us….. Only armed citizens can prevent crime !
Report Post »SREGN
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 11:27amDoes this mean they are abandoning the tag line “For George”?
Report Post »Gumbercules
Posted on April 11, 2012 at 1:18amNice . . . nice :)
Report Post »Angel
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 11:27amThey are over reacting, they wouldn’t change the story or plot had this been a white teen in the same situation
Report Post »Tom K
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 11:10amLooks like Hollywood is somehow going to “ cash in ” on the “ All American Neighborhood Watch Program ”. Let’s, see; just make the bad guys ALIENS ( from outer space, I guess ) and everything sould be okay. When anyone from my N.W.P. sees an alien [ outsider, uninvited, suspicious character, urban terrorist, foreign terrorist; Red-Yellow-Black-White-Green or Gray; we keep a constant visual, call our fine Sheriff's Department and call our neighbors, too ] Being “neighborly ” is a GOOD thing ! Hollywood – Grow Up !
Report Post »jcannon98188
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:36pmTom you sir are a fine shining example of what we here call an IDIOT. This movie has been in the works a hell of a lot longer than Trayvon was in the media. Good lord are you a inbred idiot or what?
Report Post »Ralleo
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:40amHeh, too bad. The movie looks kind of funny. Usually when Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller get together, it’s pretty funny.
Loved Dodgeball.. classic movie
Report Post »slvrserfr
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:40amHollywood can thank the black racist liberals for driving this ridiculous controversy.
Report Post »wdittgasn
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 2:01pmI think it is time to stand up and tell the black racist thugs to go to ****. Do not change the movie one bit. And if they act like fools . bust em up. But they are above the law and we are not
Report Post »glockrussman
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:47amI think you should take a gander at Trayvon’s Legacy over at http://www.killingusbydegrees.com it really sheds the light
Report Post »RRFlyer
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:34amNeighborhood Watch is the new N word. It’s now politically incorrect to even utter the words, so it has to go by the unoffensive title of “the NW words”
Report Post »paleoman
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:33amWhat did they shoot the sign with, a BB gun. Around here the signs have about 2 in. holes in them.
Report Post »ontheclock247
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:30amJust wish they would proofread before publishing these stories!
Report Post »MBA
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:30amwell hollywood is the ultimate brothal. There you go–the b l a c k community should really be offended that hollywood is trying to make money off of the death of this young man. Now that is offensive,
Report Post »momrules
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:15amI genuinely do not care if they lose every dime they put into this movie. With rare exception Hollywood is a cesspool of liberals and socialists. Too many in Hollywood are anti American, anti military, anti God and anti me because I am one of those who loves America, the military and God.
The last thing I am going to do today is worry or care if all of the Hollywood movie makers lose money.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 11:27amAmen MOMRULES
Here is a good movie that is not OF HOLLYWEIRD and I can highly recommend .. if you haven’t seen it and it does not come to a theater near you .. you can pre-order the DVD and save $5.00 from the release price. Release Date JULY 1st
http://store.monumentalmovie.com/products/pre-order-monumental-dvd
Report Post »momrules
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 6:15pmCatB……….I plan on seeing it. I am about reduced to watching Little House reruns and old John Wayne movies now.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:08am.
Report Post »Hollywood will save Trayvon Martin for a movie of the week. Just in time for November……
IndyGuy
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:13amStarring Obama’s kid dressed to look like him…
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:02am20th Century Fox is overreacting and scrubbing material won‘t help because it’s probably a bad movie like most of the moronic movies coming out of Hollywood.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:22amI think we should disband and neighborhood watch programs. They are evil and unfairly target Skittle eaters.
Report Post »paleoman
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:36amGonzo, are you sure you ain’t my daddy? Last time I saw him, he was in Georgia.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:37amGonzo: maybe they should just abolish neighborhoods. Everyone just go to the nearest Occupy where the “99%- ers” live.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:48amI’m right back to abolishing the letter “N’ all together. It does nothing but cause problems.
Report Post »dont_tax_me_bro
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:02amSo sick of constantly hearing about this non story.
Report Post »IndyGuy
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:59amWas probably a very funny movie before the Race Baiters got hold of the Trayvon story…….Now Hollywood shows themselves to be wusses by butchering a lot of folks hard work…
Report Post »IndyGuy
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:12amP.S….Great premise for some truly funny stuff….I hope they get it right anyway…
Report Post »barber2
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:33ammaybe they can invite Al, Jesse, and the NBPP to the premier . Everybody in hoodies. And Obama buttons.
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