"The Interview" movie is all but scrapped as Sony buckles under the mishap of the recent hacks.
Sony is cancelling the Christmas Day launch of "The Interview" movie, co-starredby James Franco and Seth Rogen. The decision was made after large cinema chains in the US (Regal, Cinemark, Carmike, Cineplex) either postponed or dropped screenings for the movie.
This week's New York premiere of the movie is also shelved, though a spokesman for the theatre has yet to comment on the decision.
"The Interview" movie mishap is but one of the many repercussions of the recent Sony hacks, in which massive data on Sony's plans and properties were stolen and eventually leaked to the public.
Sony released a statement regarding the decision not to screen the movie, at least not on Christmas Day.
"In light of the decision by the majority of our exhibitors not to show the film The Interview, we have decided not to move forward with the planned December 25 theatrical release. We respect and understand our partners' decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theater-goers."
The company also released a statement in response to a recent threat to cinemas which screen the film, saying:
"Sony Pictures has been the victim of an unprecedented criminal assault against our employees, our customers, and our business. Those who attacked us stole our intellectual property, private emails, and sensitive and proprietary material, and sought to destroy our spirit and our morale - all apparently to thwart the release of a movie they did not like.
We are deeply saddened at this brazen effort to suppress the distribution of a movie, and in the process do damage to our company, our employees, and the American public. We stand by our filmmakers and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this outcome."
"The Interview" movie is a satire with a depicted assassination attempt to North Korea's Kim Jong Un. The North Korean government has denied involvement in the Sony hack and the threats, but praises the decision just the same (deadline.com).
