More US cinemas cancel N. Korea parody film

A local Nu Metro hall. More major US cinema chains cancelled Wednesday plans to screen the comedy film that has offended North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un, after mysterious computer hackers threatened attacks on theatre's showing the movie, reports said. PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA |

What you need to know:

  • Regal, AMC and Carmike theatres were among chains who will not show the madcap movie about a plot to assassinate the North Korean leader, which is due for release on Christmas Day, according to media reports.
  • Hollywood studio Sony Pictures said it is not pulling the film, but is leaving it to theatres chains to decide whether to show the movie.
  • On Tuesday lawyers filed two class action lawsuits against Sony Pictures in Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES

More major US cinema chains cancelled Wednesday plans to screen the comedy film that has offended North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un, after mysterious computer hackers threatened attacks on theatres showing the movie, reports said.

Regal, AMC and Carmike theatres were among chains who will not show the madcap movie about a plot to assassinate the North Korean leader, which is due for release on Christmas Day, according to media reports.

None of the chains answered requests for confirmation of their plans.

Hollywood studio Sony Pictures said it is not pulling the film, but is leaving it to theatre chains to decide whether to show the movie.

"We plan to release the film," said a source at Sony, which is dealing with fallout from an enormous cyber-attack last month.

The source added that a decision whether to show the film "is with theatre owners, partners whom we support."

DELAY EXHIBITION
A red-carpet premiere scheduled for this week at New York's Landmark chain's Sunshine Cinema also has been cancelled, industry journal Variety reported.

The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) appeared to back chains who decided to cancel screening plans.

"We are encouraged that the authorities have made progress in their investigation and we look forward to the time when the responsible criminals are apprehended," it said in a statement.

"Until that happens, individual cinema operators may decide to delay exhibition of the movie so that our guests may enjoy a safe holiday movie season experiencing the many other exciting films we have to offer."

Skittishness about attending the movie follows threats by the so-called GOP (Guardians of Peace) hacking group, which invoked the September 11, 2001 attacks in an ominous warning to any movie-goers planning to see the film.

CINEMA GOERS IN FEAR
The group warned in a message written in broken English that a "bitter fate" awaits any who attend the film.

"Soon all the world will see what an awful movie Sony Pictures Entertainment has made. The world will be full of fear," the statement warned.

It added: "Remember the 11th of September 2001. We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time. (If your house is nearby, you'd better leave.)"

US officials have played down the threat.

"There is no credible intelligence backing this up at this point in time," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told CNN.

But analyst Jeff Bock of box office tracker Exhibitor Relations said it was understandable that movie theatres did not want to take unnecessary risks.

"Will theatre owners balk at booking the film? It's actually highly possible," he told AFP, adding that the film had been set for a relatively modest debut anyway when it opens on Christmas Day.

WE WILL NOT BE DESTROYED
"Truth be told, "The Interview" wasn't likely to be in more than 2,500 theatres anyways, but that number could actually drop significantly now," he told AFP.

In addition to the threats, Sony has seen the release of a trove of highly unflattering internal emails, unpublished scripts and other internal communications, including information about salaries, employee health records and other personal information.

On Monday, Sony Pictures boss Michael Lynton sought to reassure employees that the studio would not be destroyed by the leaks.

"This will not take us down," Lynton told employees, adding: "You should not be worried about the future of this studio."

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

LAWSUITS

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.