I've added a citation for Epicurus being the originator of the "Problem of Evil".  There's probably a better one available somewhere, but this one will do for now.  Not sure whether you were looking for a cite for the theory as a whole or not.  I don't see a lot of mainstream media discussion of the "alternate ending" theory (except for maybe this article in The Oregon Herald, a publication with which I am unfamiliar), but there's plenty of discussion of it in online sources (reviewers and blogs/message boards): , , , , , , , , , , etc.  As such, it's not original research, but it'd be nice to have a firm print citation if someone can find one. -