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Fox Pulls Marketing for Upcoming Movie in Response to Death of Trayvon Martin

Mar 28, 2012  •  Post A Comment

Fox has withdrawn marketing for an upcoming summer movie, including a trailer and a poster, in response to the controversial shooting death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The preliminary marketing campaign for the comedy "Neighborhood Watch," a comedy with Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill, was removed from Florida theaters, the story says. Martin was reportedly shot and killed by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer.

The film tells the story of four men who are part of a neighborhood watch detail who try to save the world from an alien invasion from outer space.

A Fox representative told the publication, "We are very sensitive to the Trayvon Martin case, but our film [has] no relation to the tragic events in Florida. The movie, which is not scheduled for release for several months, was made and these initial marketing materials were released before this incident ever came to light. The teaser materials were part of an early phase of our marketing and were never planned for long-term use. Above all else, our thoughts go out to the families touched by this terrible event."

In the initial trailer, Jonah Hill’s character is shown with the other three actors on patrol in an SUV and uses his finger to pretend to shoot a group of kids. Fox is jettisoning this early marketing campaign and moving to phase two. The initial teaser poster is being removed from theaters.

The movie continues on track for its July 27 release date.

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