NEW YORK - Under the threat of terrorist attacks from hackers and with the nation's largest multiplex chains pulling the film from their screens, Sony Pictures Entertainment took the unprecedented step of cancelling the December 25 release of the Seth Rogen comedy ‘The Interview.’
The cancellation announced on Wednesday was a startling blow to the Hollywood studio that has been shaken by hacker leaks and intimidations over the last several weeks by an anonymous group calling itself Guardians of Peace.
A US official said Wednesday that federal investigators have now connected the Sony hacking to North Korea and may make an announcement in the near future. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to openly discuss an ongoing criminal case.
Sony said it was cancelling ‘The Interview’ release “in light of the decision by the majority of our exhibitors not to show the film.” The studio said it respected and shared in the exhibitors' concerns.
“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,” read the statement. “We stand by our filmmakers and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this outcome.”
Seemingly putting to rest any hope of a delayed theatrical release or a video-on-demand release Sony Pictures spokeswoman Jean Guerin later added: “Sony Pictures has no further release plans for the film.”
Earlier Wednesday, Regal Cinemas, AMC Entertainment and Cinemark Theatres - the three top cinema chains in North America - announced that they were postponing any showings of ‘The Interview.’ The comedy, about a TV host (James Franco) and producer (Rogen) tasked by the CIA to assassinate North Korea's Kim Jong Un (played by Randall Park), has inflamed North Korea for parodying its leader.
Regal said in a statement that it was delaying ‘The Interview’ “due to wavering support of the film ... by Sony Pictures, as well as the ambiguous nature of any real or perceived security threats.” AMC noted “the overall confusion and uncertainty” surrounding the film.
Sony had offered cinemas the option of bowing out, and when so many of them did (other chains to drop it included ArcLight Cinemas, Cineplex Entertainment and Carmike Cinemas), Sony was left with little choice.
On Tuesday, the hacking group threatened violence at “the very times and places” showing ‘The Interview.’ The Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday there was “no credible intelligence to indicate an active plot against movie cinemas,” but noted it was still analyzing messages from the group. The warning did prompt law enforcement in New York and Los Angeles to address measures to ramp up security.
In Washington, White House spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said the US government had no involvement in Sony's decision, adding that artists and entertainers have the right to produce and distribute whatever content they want in the US
“We take very seriously any attempt to threaten or limit artists' freedom of speech or of expression,” Meehan said.
President Barack Obama commented the hacking Wednesday in an interview with ABC News.
“The cyberattack is very serious,” said Obama. “We're investigating and we're taking it seriously. We'll be vigilant. If we see something that we think is serious and credible then we'll alert the public. But for now, my recommendation would be that people go to the movies.”
With a modest budget of about $40 million (about R463.99m), ‘The Interview’ was predicted to earn around $30 million in its opening weekend before Tuesday's threats. Sony also stands to lose tens of millions in marketing costs already incurred.
“This attack went to the heart and core of Sony's business - and succeeded,” said Avivah Litan, a cybersecurity analyst at research firm Gartner. “We haven't seen any attack like this in the annals of US breach history.”
Sony was also under pressure from other studios. Christmas is one of the most important box-office weekends of the year, and the threats could have scared moviegoers away. Releases include Universal's “Unbroken,” Paramount's “The Gambler,” and Disney's “Into the Woods.” Sony's musical “Annie,” also expected to be a big earner, debuts Friday.
Doug Stone, president of film industry newsletter Box Office Analyst, had predicted that ‘The Interview’ could have made $75 to $100 million. With Sony taking about 55 percent of domestic revenues, that could mean a $41 to $55 million revenue loss, according to Stone.
Sony's announcement was met with widespread distress across Hollywood and by others watching the unfolding attack on Sony. A former senior national security official in the George W. Bush administration said the company made the wrong decision.
“When you are confronted with a bully the idea is not to cave but to punch him in the nose,” Fran Townsend, Bush's homeland security adviser, said on Wednesday during a previously scheduled appearance in Washington. “This is a horrible, I think, horrible precedent.”
Stars, politicians and pundits are weighing in on Sony Pictures Entertainment's decision to cancel the film's release:
- “Dear Sony Hackers: now that u run Hollywood, I'd also like less romantic comedies, fewer Michael Bay movies and no more Transformers. Also, Sony Hackers - I really liked Tyler Perry in “Gone Girl” so hold off on doing anything yet with Madea.” - Michael Moore on Twitter.
- “Sony has absolutely no courage or guts. They should have never pulled it.” - Donald Trump via video on Facebook.
- “No one should kid themselves. With the Sony collapse America has lost its first cyberwar. This is a very very dangerous precedent.” - Newt Gingrich on Twitter.
- “Sad day for creative expression. #feareatsthesoul” - Steve Carell on Twitter.
- “We should not let a pathological regime in N. Korea intimidate us. I'd be 1st on line to see #TheInterviewMovie. Dear (at)SonyPictures - please make #TheInterviewMovie available in DVD so I can decide whether to see it, not N. Korea.” - Rep. Steve Israel, D-New York, on Twitter.
- “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. The wishes of the terrorists were fulfilled in part by easily distracted members of the American press who chose gossip and schadenfreude-fueled reporting over a story with immeasurable consequences for the publicÄa story that was developing right in front of their eyes. My deepest sympathies go out to Sony Pictures, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and everyone who worked on 'The Interview.'“ - Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin in a statement.
- "An un-American act of cowardice that validates terrorist actions and sets a terrifying precedent.” - Jimmy Kimmel to Judd Apatow on Twitter.
- “This only guarantees that this movie will be seen by more people on Earth than it would have before. Legally or illegally all will see it.” - Judd Apatow on Twitter.
- “Wow. Everyone caved. The hackers won. An utter and complete victory for them. Wow. Saw (at)Sethrogen at JFK. Both of us have never seen or heard of anything like this. Hollywood has done Neville Chamberlain proud today.” - Rob Lowe on Twitter.
- “Is that all it takes - an anonymous threat and the numbers 911 - to throw free expression under the bus?” - Bill Maher on Twitter.
- “THE INTERVIEW is now poised to shatter the world record for “spite viewings.”” - Comedian Patton Oswalt on Twitter.
- “My recommendation would be that people go to the movies.” - President Obama to ABC News.
Sapa-AP and IOL