It looks like the Sony film, The Interview, will be released after all
The Plaza Theater in Atlanta and The Alamo Drafthouse in Dallas/Fort Worth have both announced that they will be screening the film, starring Seth Rogen and James Franco on Christmas Day.
The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Sony is telling theaters it will also offer the movie simultaneously on VOD. The exact platform it will be released on is not yet clear.
“We have never given up on releasing The Interview and we’re excited our movie will be in a number of theaters on Christmas Day,” said Michael Lynton, chairman and CEO of Sony Entertainment, in a statement on Tuesday. “At the same time, we are continuing our efforts to secure more platforms and more theaters so that this movie reaches the largest possible audience.”
“I want to thank our talent on The Interview and our employees, who have worked tirelessly through the many challenges we have all faced over the last month,” read the statement. “While we hope this is only the first step of the film’s release, we are proud to make it available to the public and to have stood up to those who attempted to suppress free speech.”
The Interview, which revolves around a plot to assassinate Kim Jong-Un, the dictator of North Korea, was at the center of a criminal hack of Sony Entertainment last month, demanding The Interview not be released. Breach of company systems led to leaked emails and other proprietary company information. After a threat from the hackers, invoking 9-11 like terror threats, big movie chains pulled out of showing the film. Sony announced on December 17 that, “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.” The cancellation included any release of the film on any platform, including VOD.
The FBI determined that the government of North Korea was behind the hack. In the wake of President Obama calling the decision to cancel the movie’s release “a mistake,” and general negative backlash from the public, Sony has reversed its decision.
Read More: Obama Addresses Sony Hack, North Korea Responsible
The people have spoken! Freedom has prevailed! Sony didn't give up! The Interview will be shown at theaters willing to play it on Xmas day!
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) December 23, 2014
VICTORY!!!!!!!
The PEOPLE and THE PRESIDENT have spoken!!!
SONY to release THE INTERVIEW in theaters… http://t.co/0KyZQAB6cf
— James Franco (@JamesFrancoTV) December 23, 2014
