You’d think that after helming and writing the year’s most successful movie at the domestic box office, Joss Whedon would be a happy man. Turns out he’s got a bone to pick with none other than Mike Birbiglia, director and star of the upcoming autobiographical indie “Sleepwalk With Me,” a 2012 Sundance film produced with the help of the people at This American Life.
In a video released to YouTube, “The Avengers” mastermind urges his loyal followers to boycott Birbiglia’s feature film debut. Why? “Sleepwalk With Me” was originally set to open on August 24th on 30 screens, but thanks to high demand for the indie, that number has since doubled, leaving poor Whedon worried that the wider release will encroach upon the 500 or so screens his summer tentpole is currently playing on (it opened three months ago on over 4,000 screens).
Of course the whole video is in jest, as Whedon kind of admits to near the end of the clip. While Whedon has no reason to worry, it is good to see the Hollywood hero take one for the indie team. Whedon’s own upcoming indie, “Much Ado About Nothing,” premieres at TIFF in September.
Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
