Sony Cancels Nkorea Parody Film Release After Threats 17 December 2014, by Michael Thurston

Sony cancels NKorea parody film release after threats 17 December 2014, by Michael Thurston

Hollywood studio Sony Pictures on Wednesday will be full of fear," the statement warned. abruptly canceled the December 25 release date of "The Interview," a parody film which has It added: "Remember the 11th of September 2001. angered North Korea and triggered chilling threats We recommend you to keep yourself distant from from hackers. the places at that time. (If your house is nearby, you'd better leave.)" It announced the decision after the majority of US theater chains said they would not screen the film, In Washington, the US State Department sought to about a fictional plot to assassinate North Korean distance itself from the film, while defending the dictator Kim Jong-Un. right to free expression.

"In light of the decision by the majority of our "We're not in the business of signing off on the (theater) exhibitors not to show the film 'The content of movies or things along those lines," said Interview,' we have decided not to move forward spokeswoman Jen Psaki, adding: "Entertainers are with the... theatrical release," it said in a statement. free to make movies of their choosing, and we are not involved in that." "We respect and understand our partners' decision and, of course, completely share their paramount Actor Rob Lowe, among a number of stars who interest in the safety of employees and theater- have small cameo roles in the movie, voiced his goers," it added. surprise on Twitter.

Regal, AMC and Carmike theaters were among US "Wow. Everyone caved. The hackers won. An utter chains who had said they would not show the and complete victory for them. Wow," he said. madcap movie. A red-carpet premiere scheduled for this week at New York's Landmark chain's "Hollywood has done Neville Chamberlain proud Sunshine Cinema had also been canceled. today," he added, in reference to the British leader's infamous appeasement of Hitler before In Canada, the Cineplex Entertainment chain had World War II. also said it would cancel the Christmas Day release. Cyber-attack

9/11 attack threat In addition to the threats, Sony has seen the release of a trove of highly unflattering internal Skittishness about attending the movie followed emails, unpublished scripts and other internal threats by the so-called GOP (Guardians of Peace) communications, including information about hacking group, which invoked the September 11, salaries, employee health records and other 2001 attacks in an ominous warning to any movie- personal information. goers planning to see the film. On Monday, Sony Pictures boss Michael Lynton In a message written in broken English, the group sought to reassure employees that the studio would said a "bitter fate" awaited any who attend the film. not be destroyed by the leaks.

"Soon all the world will see what an awful movie "This will not take us down," Lynton told Sony Pictures Entertainment has made. The world employees, adding: "You should not be worried

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about the future of this studio."

North Korea has denied involvement in the brazen November 24 cyber-attack, which some expert said could possibly have been carried out by disgruntled workers or by supporters of North Korea furious over the movie.

On Tuesday, lawyers filed two class action lawsuits against Sony Pictures in Los Angeles.

One of the suits alleged that "Sony failed to secure and protect its computer systems, servers, and databases, resulting in the release of the named plaintiffs and other class members'" personal data.

"An epic nightmare, much better suited to a cinematic thriller than to real life, is unfolding in slow motion for Sony's current and former employees," the 45-page lawsuit said.

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