'Star Wars' fans protest over 'Fanboys'

Star Wars fans held weekend protests in the US over the Weinstein Company's treatment of the film Fanboys, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

A group known as the 501st asked for fellow Star Wars fans to protest at screenings of Superhero Movie at AMC Theatres in New York and Los Angeles.

Kyle Newman's Fanboys revolves around a group of teenagers who attempt to break into George Lucas's Skywalker Ranch to see The Phantom Menace early. Newman's version of the film has been re-edited by the Weinstein Company and director Steven Brill. Fans are demanding to see the original version.

The 501st claims 14 members showed up at New York's AMC cinema but chose to go and see 21 when they were confronted by guards. However, one protester claimed he was the only person to show up.

"They seemed to take the term 'phantom menace' to a whole different level," said a source. "I guess they weren't that organised. Apparently getting Star Wars fans to give up their Friday night isn't as easy as it looks."

"Our primary goal was to make sure that Superhero Movie tanked on its opening weekend," said a member of the 501st.

Fanboys producer Matthew Perniciaro said: "If someone is going to take time out of their personal life and support our film, whatever that support might be, at the very least what we can do is say thank you."

Fanboys, which stars Seth Rogen, Kristin Bell and Sam Huntingdon, was originally advertised with the tagline "Coming To Our Galaxy in 2007", despite never being released that year.