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Sony Cancels ‘The Interview’ Premiere After Threats From Hackers; Theater Chain Says It Won’t Show the Movie

Dec 17, 2014  •  Post A Comment

After the hackers behind an attack on Sony Pictures threatened violence at theaters, the studio has canceled the New York premiere of “The Interview,” Bloomberg reports.

As previously reported, the hacker group believed to be behind the recent Sony attack threatened a 9/11-style attack on movie theaters showing the movie, which is a fictional story about a U.S. TV crew hired to assassinate North Korea’s leader.

Sony canceled the Dec. 18 premiere at New York’s Sunshine Cinema, Bloomberg notes.

Following the threat, Sony told exhibitors that they may pull the film from theaters. Carmike Cinemas, which owns stakes in more than 2,000 screens, said it won’t show the film, according to the report.

The hackers are trying to prevent distribution of the film, Sony’s attorneys said. Sony will still release the film and will support whatever decision movie theaters make regarding the film, the story adds.

“We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time,” the hackers wrote, referring to movie theaters showing the film. “(If your house is nearby, you’d better leave.)”

Bloomberg adds: “The threats against cinemas have broader implications because they typically are located inside or near shopping malls.”

Representatives from Regal Entertainment, AMC Entertainment and Cinemark Holdings didn’t respond to requests for comment, the article notes.

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3 Comments

  1. I think a quote from South Park #201 is more than appropriate here

    Kyle: I learned something today. Throughout this whole ordeal, we’ve all wanted to show things that we weren’t allowed to show, but it wasn’t because of some magic goo. It was because of the magical power of threatening people with violence. That’s obviously the only true power. If there’s anything we’ve all learned, it’s that terrorizing people works.

    Jesus: That’s right. Don’t you see, gingers, if you don’t want to be made fun of anymore, all you need are guns and bombs to get people to stop.

    Santa: That’s right, friends. All you need to do is instill fear and be willing to hurt people and you can get whatever you want. The only true power is violence.

    Stan: Yeah.

  2. Many issues come to the fore over this movie.

    I am the first to fight for freedom of expression and that we in this country should never shy away from it due to any form of intimidation or threat.

    At the same time, in this specific case, who in the hell said, “Yeah, that’s a great creative concept, let’s make that movie.” ? Looking at it on surface value, since when is the assassination of any public figure a joking matter beyond private conversation? It’s one thing to joke about a regime, (such as North Korea), but, it is quite another to make the central thrust of an entire plot line the assassination of an actual sitting head of a country.

    I condemn the actions taken against Sony Pictures through the internet. The fact that the institution was apparently so easily violated is another topic and learning opportunity altogether.

    These are volatile times on our little blue satellite and we’re going to have to get our heads out of our damn ipod/iphones and start being in-the-moment-of-where-we-are.

    If we don’t do that, then we have only ourselves to blame.
    Peter Bright

  3. Let’s take the next step and make this the first “online” release of a major film. DirecTV, Dish, and the cable companies have excellent pay systems that could handle this release. With all of the publicity it has received this week alone, it could set a record for pay-per-view.

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