Wolverine leak gets Fox’s Friedman fired

Roger Friedman, a Fox News journalist, has been sacked after reviewing an illegal unfinished version of the new X-Men film X-Men Origins: Wolverine which he downloaded onto his computer.

Although he raved about the film (official trailer below) - "It exceeds expectations at every turn," he said - Friedman was fired because the much-vaunted film, starring Hugh Jackman (pictured in the film), was made by his employers' sister organisation, 20th Century Fox.

In announcing that they were firing Friedman, Fox News described his action as "reprehensible".

Reviewing the film, Friedman revealed that he regularly downloads illegal copies of films before they reach the cinema because "it's so much easier than going out in the rain!" He wrote: "Yes, I've seen X Men Origins: Wolverine. It wasn't at a screening, either. I found a work in progress print of it, 95 per cent completed, on the internet last night."

Friedman clearly realised that he shouldn't be writing about the film, for he continued: "Right now, my 'cousins' at 20th Century Fox are probably having apoplexy. I doubt anyone else has seen this film."

Unfortunately for 20th Century Fox - and for Friedman - it is estimated that since the film was leaked last week, most likely by a member of the production staff, more than one million people have downloaded it.

The studio is reported to have called in the FBI to find the culprit while it worries about the damage the leak will do to box office receipts. Jackman says he is "heartbroken" and claims the unfinished film is like "a Ferrari without a paint-job".

If there is any consolation for Fox, it is that Friedman's review was at least positive. "Everyone can relax," he said. "I am, in fact, amazed about how great Wolverine turned out. I was completely riveted to my desk chair in front of my computer... it could not have played better."