Sony Pictures said Tuesday it will screen madcap comedy "The Interview" in some US theaters on Christmas Day, a dramatic U-turn after its
widely criticized decision to cancel the film following a cyber-assault blamed on North Korea.
Just six days after cancelling the film's opening, in a move decried as a defeat for freedom of speech, Sony chief executive Michael Lynton confirmed that the movie would now be shown in
theaters on Thursday.
"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 Lynton, adding that the movie would be released on more "platforms" in the future.
The decision was the latest twist to a crisis
which has engulfed Sony and "The Interview", a
screwball romp about a fictional plot by two US
journalists embarking on a mission to
assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.
North Korea has been accused by the United
States government of launching a crippling
cyber-attack on Sony which saw the release of a
trove of embarrassing emails, scripts and other
internal communications, including information
about salaries and employee health records.
Pyongyang has repeatedly denied involvement in
the hack but has applauded the actions of a
shadowy online group which claimed responsibility
for the cyber attack, the self-styled "Guardians
of Peace."
Pressure to withdraw the film overwhelmed Sony
last week after a series of major US theater
chains said they would not show the film.
It followed chilling threats by the "Guardians of
Peace" which suggested theaters screening the
movie would be targeted with attacks.
- 'Freedom has prevailed' -
But Sony's cancellation was condemned
throughout the entertainment industry as a
capitulation in the face of intimidation.
Even President Barack Obama, who has accused
North Korea of waging "cyber-vandalism"
against Sony, said the studio had made a
mistake by scrapping the film.
"We cannot have a society in which some dictator
someplace can start imposing censorship here in
the United States," Obama said.
Comedian Seth Rogen, the movie's co-director,
lead actor and screenwriter, hailed Sony's
startling volte-face.
"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!" he
wrote on Twitter.
Co-star James Franco sounded an equally
jubilant note, thanking Obama for his support
for the film while poking fun at the US leader
for mistakenly referring to him as "James
Flacco" during a press conference last week.
"CELEBRATING!!!!! "The Interview" starring Seth
Rogen and James Flacco saved by President
Obacco! I MEAN PRESIDENT OBAMA!!!!!
Sorry!!! ?????," the actor wrote on his
Instagram feed.
Though denying involvement in the brazen
November 24 cyber attack on Sony, Pyongyang
had hailed it as a "righteous deed."
The North's top military body, the National
Defense Commission, slammed Sony for "abetting
a terrorist act while hurting the dignity of the
supreme leadership," according to state news
agency KCNA.
On Monday, North Korea was cut off from the
Internet for more than nine hours, triggering
speculation that the isolated dictatorship had
been targeted by United States authorities in
retaliation for the Sony crisis.
The country's Internet access was cut again on
Tuesday, according to a US Internet research
group that has been tracking North Korea's
online activity.
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