Sony pulls ‘The Interview’; Reports: North Korea behind attack

Written by O’Boyd

Sony Pictures has decided to pull “The Interview” from all theaters and its planned Christmas Day release.

The decision comes amid Tuesday’s latest release of emails and sensitive documents and a threat from the hackers, Guardians of Peace, about a 9/11-style attack on theaters and surrounding areas of those theaters that show the film.

CNBC and CNN have now reported the Sony hacks are the work of the North Korean government. Federal authorities “have found linkage to the North Korean government, a source told CNBC.

CNN’s Evan Perez said an announcement is expected Thursday that would “assign attribution” to the country, according to Variety.

The FBI has been investigating the hacks since they first happened back in late November.

Sony Pictures released a statement Wednesday about its decision to pull the film.

“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,” said in a statement from the studio, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“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.”

Earlier Wednesday, the country’s four top theater chains joined Carmike Cinemas in choosing to pull the movie, which stars James Franco and Seth Rogen as reporters set out in an attempt to assassinate the North Korean leader, from its locations. Regal Entertainment, AMC Entertainment, Cinemark and Cineplex Entertainment each made separate announcements.

Tuesday, Sony told theater distributors it would not pull the film and would leave it to each theater company as to whether they would show it. Mounting pressure and the decision by Carmike to pull the film led to a tidal wave of sorts.