Neighborhood Watch, an alien invasion comedy, will now be called The Watch to avoid any association with the shooting of the teenager in Florida
Ben Stiller's Neighborhood Watch is to be re-named to avoid association with the Trayvon Martin shooting. Following the removal of trailers and posters advertising the sci-fi comedy in Florida, the film will now be called The Watch, according to the BBC. The name change was put in place to prevent the film being linked with the death of 17-year-old Martin, who was shot and killed by Neighbourhood Watch volunteer George Zimmerman in February. Zimmerman, who is on bail after being charged with second degree murder, claimed he was acting in self-defence.
"As the subject matter of this alien invasion comedy bears no relation whatsoever to the recent tragic events in Florida, the studio altered the title to avoid any accidental or unintended misimpression that it might," said Fox Studios in a statement released yesterday.
The Watch sees a group of suburban dads (including Stiller, alongside Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill and Richard Ayoade) who sign up for a Neighbourhood Watch scheme bear witness to an alien invasion. It's expected to be released in the UK in August and in the US in July.