Jan. 19, 2011
As hard as it may be to believe, that is an actual promo photo for X-MEN: FIRST CLASS. It first leaked to the web yesterday afternoon and as soon as I saw it, I was confused. It had many things right (the costumes for example were too right on to be faked) but so many, many things wrong, I didn't know what to think. The first official photo from a highly anticipated geek property couldn't be this badly Photoshopped, could it? Fox wouldn't release it in such lo-res would they? As it turns out, they didn't.
The photo, as you see it above, was never meant to hit the web. MSN was set to debut the first image from X-MEN: FIRST CLASS on their site along with an early interview with Michael Fassbender (Magneto). Somehow an early comp of the image made it into their public image gallery, a fan found it and the rest is unfortunate history.
Fox tried to cram the genie back in the bottle last night (and that's the reason you're only first reading this on JoBlo.com now, as we politely complied with Fox's request that we not post) but sadly twas not to be. The pic was out there and the fanboys were freaking out (and rightfully so).
I'm told the official color-corrected, hi-res image will be up this morning but is the damage already done? If the idea was to start the pre-publicity campaign for X-MEN: FIRST CLASS off on the right foot, this was the opposite.
There will no doubtedly be more photos released to help quell the tide and assure fans that what you see above is not what to be expected when the film hits theaters this summer.
