The scandal, for all its sting, was a wildfire that burned away the last vestiges of industry skepticism. The Aethelred deal was dead, but in its place came a flood of interest from bold, independent distributors who saw the controversy not as a liability, but as the ultimate marketing hook. They secured a partnership with "Meridian Pictures," a respected indie known for championing audacious films. The deal gave them the final cut they demanded, but the budget was a ...