Sony Cancels Theatrical Release for 'The Interview'

[Sunny]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALYw9eJ_jf0
Mirror

With theater chains defecting en masse, Sony Pictures Entertainment has pulled the planned Christmas Day release of “The Interview.”

U.S. officials have reportedly linked a massive cyber attack against Sony to North Korea, which is at the center of the Seth Rogen-James Franco comedy.

“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,” Sony said in a statement. “We stand by our filmmakers and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this outcome.”

In announcing the decision to cancel the holiday debut, Sony also hit back at the hackers who threatened movie theaters and moviegoers and who have terrorized the studio and its employees for weeks.

“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,” the statement reads.

A few hours after making the announcent, a studio spokesman said that Sony had “no further plans” to release the comedy, either on VOD or DVD.

“The Interview” centers on a hapless television host who is recruited to assassinate North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. The country has condemned the film and some cyber-security experts believe that it played a role in the hacking attack on the studio. North Korea has denied involvement in the attacks.

Rogen and Franco star in the picture, which cost $42 million to produce.

Sony has been reeling for weeks since hackers broke into the studio’s computer system in November and stole internal documents, email messages, film budgets, spreadsheets detailing top executive salaries and the social security numbers of thousands of employees. The documents and records were subsequently leaked online, setting off a firestorm of media coverage.

Tuesday’s message accompanied another data dump. It threatened violence on theaters that showed “The Interview” and people who attend screenings.

“The world will be full of fear,” the message reads. “Remember the 11th of September 2001. We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time. (If your house is nearby, you’d better leave.)”

In response, exhibition industry lobbying arm the National Association of Theatre Owners said its members must decide individually whether to release the picture and Sony said it would respect theater owners’ decision not to exhibit “The Interview.” That set off a cascade of cancellations.

The bulk of the country’s 10 largest theater chains — a group that includes AMC, Regal, Cinemark, Carmike and Southern Theatres — announced they would delay showing the picture or would drop it altogether. In statements, many of the theater chains suggested that Sony’s lack of confidence in the film prompted their decision.

Regal, for instance, said its decision was “due to the wavering support of the film ‘The Interview’ by Sony Pictures, as well as the ambiguous nature of any real or perceived security threats.”

Sony was more conciliatory even as it said exhibitor defections motivated its decision.

“We respect and understand our partners’ decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theatergoers,” the studio’s statement read.

Bruce Nash, founder of box office site TheNumbers, said that Christmas is one of the busiest times of year for moviegoing and is particularly strong for family films. Any perceived danger or threat might have depressed ticket sales.

“It was never going to be one of the big films of Christmas and clearly chains are going to be concerned about making sure people feel comfortable bringing their children to ‘Annie,’ ‘Into the Woods’ or ‘Night at the Museum,” said Nash.

Source: Variety Edited December 18, 2014 by Sunny

[dads]

It's a work.

[Muur]

what a waste of money making it

[FrickinAwesome]

They really should have thought about the fact that the Koreans would be offended by a movie like this. I mean, it's about assassinating the leader of their country, ffs.

[The Don]

Yes, lets cower in fear. No country is going to bomb or do harm to move theaters unless it's us. If North Korea blew up anything on any day (much less Christmas) where families go to be entertained, the level of shit that the world would hurl at them would be immense. Un isn't THAT crazy that he'd risk his own life over something as stupid as a movie.

 

This whole think kind of stinks to me which leads me to one of two conclusions; The movie might have just sucked and they're looking for a reason to get it memoryholed or it's just a big PR stunt for when they finally do release it on DVD. If the movie was "pulled" and Sony goes ahead and puts it out a few months down the line it'll be seen as "Murica! Fuck yeah!" which should lead to lots of money and publicity.

 

Stick with me here for this one... There's also the possibility that the CIA Entertainment Industry Liaison decided it's time to stoke the fires of the "Hate North Korea Machine" and what better than by taking away a comedy that people are looking forward to coming out on Christmas? Might seem far fetched but think about it, the budget was relatively small so Sony (or whoever is footing the bill) could EASILY absorb the loss. If it seems far fetched that the CIA would do something like this, keep in mind that they have a liaison on payroll to work with/for the entertainment industry. It's not exactly a reach... the likelihood of that being the case admittedly isn't the greatest, but it's interesting to think about.

 

*watches Team America*

[Fozy]

It's either that it's bullshit or the number of cinemas refusing to screen it was enough to stop them from distributing.

[jitz]

I think the movie studios need to better evaluate the movies they make. If North Korea made a comedy about assassinating Barack Obama, it be be seen by the USA and it's citizens as a threat of violence, racIst, and disrespectful.

I think North Korea is in the right on this one. Fuck Sony up.

[The 4th Doctor]

I don't agree with them backing down in fear but hey they saved us from another unfunny seth rogen movie.

[SaviorOfTheMasses]

I approve.

[fufu ÷]

Sony are Japanese. Why should those crazy slants give a shit?

[FrickinAwesome]

Sony are Japanese. Why should those crazy slants give a shit?

American made film.

[fufu ÷]

> the point

 

>your head

[FrickinAwesome]

> the point

 

>your head

I could say the same to you. The movie produced by Sony was made in America, so it doesn't really matter if the Sony company is Japanese, the film was still American-made. Therefore, North Korea felt threatened/insulted by the U.S.A., which is why they hacked their company, and made terrorist threats.

Edited December 19, 2014 by FrickinAwesome

[fufu ÷]

No, you're still missing it.

[FrickinAwesome]

No, you're still missing it.

Explain it then.

[fufu ÷]

WW2 reference to Japs and Muricans. Long seated resentment. Intentional plan to cause terror/military action and gain revenge on the West by poking the slumbering pussycat that is North Korea into doing something silly. Generally along that line of thought. Of course that's all tongue in cheek.

[FrickinAwesome]

WW2 reference to Japs and Muricans. Long seated resentment. Intentional plan to cause terror/military action and gain revenge on the West by poking the slumbering pussycat that is North Korea into doing something silly. Generally along that line of thought. Of course that's all tongue in cheek.

I really don't think that's what they were going for. It just seems to me, like they were trying to make a dumb funny movie, that happened to aggravate the country it was targeting. But, I don't know, maybe that's just me.

[Fozy]

Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe fuck yourself.

[fufu ÷]

 

WW2 reference to Japs and Muricans. Long seated resentment. Intentional plan to cause terror/military action and gain revenge on the West by poking the slumbering pussycat that is North Korea into doing something silly. Generally along that line of thought. Of course that's all tongue in cheek.

I really don't think that's what they were going for. It just seems to me, like they were trying to make a dumb funny movie, that happened to aggravate the country it was targeting. But, I don't know, maybe that's just me.

 

That's why I said tongue in cheek. It's sarcasm. Come on Sarah, I thought you were improving with this.

Edited December 19, 2014 by fufu ♡

[FrickinAwesome]

 

 

WW2 reference to Japs and Muricans. Long seated resentment. Intentional plan to cause terror/military action and gain revenge on the West by poking the slumbering pussycat that is North Korea into doing something silly. Generally along that line of thought. Of course that's all tongue in cheek.

I really don't think that's what they were going for. It just seems to me, like they were trying to make a dumb funny movie, that happened to aggravate the country it was targeting. But, I don't know, maybe that's just me.

 

That's why I said tongue in cheek. It's sarcasm. Come on Sarah, I thought you were improving with this.

 

Sorry, i'm a little out of it today. I've never seen the phrase "tongue in cheek" before today anyway.

 

Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe fuck yourself.

Come on Fozy, stop being a sour puss.

[The Don]

Yea Fozy, quit being a Bringdown Brenda.

[fufu ÷]

Don, stop being a Debbie Downer to Fozy.

[DrJoeyMagnum]

Yea Fozy, quit being a Bringdown Brenda.

STEALING THIS

[The Don]

You mean Kim Jung Zy?

[fufu ÷]

eaZy F