The Interview: Sony's North Korea film to be screened in US
Posted by Krisha Music on Tuesday, December 23, 2014 | 0 comments
Two cinemas in Atlanta and Austin have already revealed screenings. They said via social media that Sony Pictures had authorised
them to show the film, which has been at the centre of escalating
tensions between the US and North Korea. "Breaking news," tweeted Tim League, founder of the Alamo Drafthouse cinema in Austin. "Sony has authorized screenings of THE INTERVIEW on Christmas Day. We are making shows available within the hour." 'Freedom prevailed' The White House welcomed the development, with a spokesman
saying that President Barack Obama applauded Sony's decision and that
the US was a country that "believes in free speech".
Seth Rogen, who directed and starred in the film, tweeted: "The people have spoken! Freedom has prevailed! Sony didn't give up!" Sony had previously announced that the film's release would
be pulled completely, following a hacking attack on the company and
threats against cinema chains that planned to screen the film. That decision drew criticism in Hollywood, with some calling it an attack on the freedom of expression. Mr Obama had also called Sony's initial decision to pull the film "a mistake".
The film was branded an "act of war" by North Korea
Analysis: Alastair Leithead, Los Angeles
What started out as a Christmas comedy caper has become quite
the seasonal thriller. It's got everything: cyber-attacks, terror
threats and an international incident between America and North Korea,
but all of it is a drama Sony Pictures could do without.
The company has been through a lot in the last month, and has
now backtracked on its decision to pull the film completely. As yet the
big theatres have still not said when, or whether, they might screen
the film.
Sony Pictures Entertainment has been hit hard - first by the
embarrassment of personal emails being dumped online. But as the
seriousness of the cyber-attack unfolded, it also became clear that the
personal details of thousands of staff and former-employees had been
stolen - opening the door to class-action lawsuits.
Unreleased films leaked online, and then the pulling of a
major movie, could cost tens of millions of dollars - let alone the
price for the computer network repairs and beefed-up security.
It's a still-unfolding script to a drama the critics might even slam for being a little too far-fetched.
'First step'
Hundreds of independently-owned theatres had signed a petition expressing support for the film and its screening. However, major movie chains in the US are thought unlikely to take part in the release at this stage. Mr Lynton said: "We are continuing our efforts to secure more
platforms and more theatres so this movie can reach the largest
possible audience." He also said he "hoped it would be the first step of the film's release".
The company has yet to reveal further details of its release
plans, but there is also speculation that video on-demand (VOD) will be
offered as part of the package. Sony's decision to show the film came hours after North Korea
suffered a severe internet outage that effectively shut down its
internet services for 10 hours.
North Korea says the film hurts the "dignity of its supreme leadership" It was not clear what caused this. North Korean officials have not commented on the issue.The country's internet services appeared to suffer a second
outage on Tuesday afternoon, but they were restored in under an hour, an
internet monitoring company said. US officials have declined to comment on who might have been responsible for the shutdown.
Mr Obama has previously vowed to respond to a hacking attack
on Sony, which led to sensitive data and unreleased film material being
leaked.The US said an FBI investigation showed that North Korea was
responsible for the cyber attack on Sony - claims denied by North Korea.
The Interview saga
The Interview features James Franco and Seth Rogen as two
journalists granted an audience with Mr Kim. The CIA then enlists the
pair to assassinate him.
- 22 November: Sony computer systems hacked, exposing embarrassing emails and personal details about stars
- 7 December: North Korea denies accusations that it is behind the cyber-attack, but praises it as a "righteous deed"
- 16 December: "Guardians of Peace" hacker group threatens 9/11-type attack on cinemas showing film; New York premiere cancelled
- 17 December: Leading US cinema groups say they will not screen film; Sony cancels Christmas Day release
- 19 December: FBI concludes North Korea orchestrated hack; President Obama calls Sony cancellation "a mistake"
- 20 December: North Korea proposes joint inquiry with US into hacks, rejected by the US
- 22 December: North Korea suffers a severe internet outage
- 23 December: Sony bosses appear to change their minds, saying they will now give The Interview a limited Christmas Day release
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