Cast member Hugh Jackman poses at an industry screening of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California April 28, 2009. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - FBI agents on Wednesday arrested a New York man on charges that he uploaded a copy of the movie “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” to the Internet before its May theatrical release, a spokeswoman said.

FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said the probe continues into how Gilberto Sanchez, 47, of New York City obtained the copy he posted to Megaupload.com in the spring.

When the leaked movie made it to the Web, officials from Twentieth Century Fox, the unit of News Corp that was behind the film, expressed their dismay out of a concern that it would undermine the box office appeal of “Wolverine.”

Sanchez, who was arrested at his home, was charged with unlawfully uploading a copyright work to the Internet, which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine, the FBI said.

He allegedly used Internet handles such as “SkillfulGil.”

“X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” which starred Hugh Jackman and was the latest in a franchise of films based on the “X-Men” comic books, made $373 million at worldwide box offices.