Sony Cancels 'The Interview' Release After Hackers' Threat

Sony Pictures, which was the subject of a massive cyber attack over 'The Interview', has cancelled the planned US release of the film on December 25, after major cinema chains decided not to screen it following threats of violence by the hackers. The comedy, starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, is about a fictional plot to kill North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Hackers, identifying themselves as Guardians of Peace, have warned the public to stay away from cinemas screening the film, reported Deadline. "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 theatre-goers," Sony said in a statement.

"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."

However, many in Hollywood were quick to criticise the decision, calling it a compromise of the media's freedom of expression and warned it could set a dangerous precedent of censorship. Actor Steve Carell took to Twitter to express his distress over the situation, and wrote, "Sad day for creative expression. #feareatsthesoul".

Studio bosses at New Regency have apparently pulled the plug on Carell's 'Pyongyang' for its reported North Korea angle. "Hollywood has done Neville Chamberlain proud today. Wow. It wasn't the hackers who won, it was the terrorists and almost certainly the North Korean dictatorship, this was an act of war," Rob Lowe said.

Mia Farrow tweeted: "Damn. Bad guys won." High-profile producer Judd Apatow, a friend and collaborator of Rogen, who starred in the film alongside Franco, said, "I think it is disgraceful that these theatres are not showing 'The Interview'. Will they pull any movie that gets an anonymous threat now?" Zach Braff said, "Cancelling 'The Interview' seems like a pretty horrible precedent to set."

Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, whose own emails were released in the hack, also spoke about Sony's decision. "Today the US succumbed to an unprecedented attack on our most cherished, bedrock principle of free speech by a group of North Korean terrorists who threatened to kill moviegoers in order to stop the release of a movie," he said in a statement.