Caffeinated Clint
Not surprising, really, considering the surmounting threats that have been hitting their inboxes, Sony has decided to postpone the release of “The Interview”. The Seth Rogen-James Franco comedy was due to roll out [wide] on December 25.
Hackers have been hitting the studio hard this week promising threats against them, exhibitors, and the cinemagoing public should they push forward with releasing the Kim Jung Un-centric comedy. The distressing threats state that the group will retaliate – on a ‘9/11’ scale (suggesting they’ll blow up theaters) – against any exhibitor who screens the film. As a result, cinema chains have been cancelling the film from their Christmas release schedules.
With all the major theater chains today opting not to screen the film, for fear they’ll be attacked, Sony has issued a release stating that they won’t be releasing the film at present.
“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.
“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.”
So, the hackers won. Congrats. And all of a silly movie. Welcome to 2014.
