If it is going to happen, and I think it is highly unlikely, I'm sure the announcement will be made at the expo.

If they don't think it will happen, they are unlikely to say that publicly because that would weaken their negotiation position with company's like Stern who they would negotiate with on the licensing fee (yep, MM will have a licensing fee this time, paid to Planetary - it will not be a license free machine, it may be more expensive for Stern or JJP to license than any movie franchise would be as the movie people view merchandise like pins as promoting the movie).

The best thing for pinball would be to have more operators buying games and keeping them out in the wild and in good condition. Rout operators just don't seem to care about the condition of their games; I'd happily play a dollar a play for pretty much any modern pin if it functioned properly.

The rout industry needs a jolt in the arm. More leagues should develop and go play games on rout somewhere...even if it is at your local movie theater or whatever.

Good point. Mostly I am just complaining about the lck of operators in my city. If a decent establishment had a couple games on rout in fully functional condition, I would go there twice a week and bring a friend. Alas, my area doesn't have this available.