Is Hollywood overestimating the clout of the geek?

July 31, 2008 Michael Bay producing partner Brad Fuller told a Comic-Con audience last weekend that filmmakers were "terrified" about how the franchise's superfans might feel about their upcoming "Friday the 13th" reboot. Paramount was nervous enough about geek reaction to its "Star Trek" prequel that it didn't even show footage at Comic-Con out of concern that it wasn't yet ready for discerning eyes. Reaching the most devoted segments of entertainment consumers months or even years before a film or series debuts was once a luxury; now it's a priority.

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