Sony Plans Limited Release of North Korea Film on Christmas Day

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Sony Plans Limited Release of North Korea Film on Christmas Day By Lucas Shaw Dec 24, 2014 5:02 AM GMT+0800 42 Comments Email Print <a href="javascript<b></b>:void(0)">Speed

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Dec. 23 (Bloomberg) –- Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw and Jordan Roberston discuss Sony’s plan to release “The Interview." They speak on “Bloomberg West.”(Source: Bloomberg)

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• Sony to Release `The Interview' on Dec. 25 in 2 Theaters

Sony Pictures (6758) will release “The Interview” in a limited number of theaters on Christmas Day, reversing an earlier decision not to release the picture on that date amid threats of violence.
Sony will screen the Seth Rogen-directed movie at the Alamo Drafthouse chain, based in Austin, Texas, and the Plaza Theater in Atlanta. Laemmle Theaters said on Twitter it will screen the fictional comedy about a plot to kill North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at its North Hollywood location beginning Dec. 31.
“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,” Michael Lynton, chief executive officer of Sony Entertainment, said in a statement today. “We are continuing our efforts to secure more platforms and more theaters so that this movie reaches the largest possible audience.”
Has the Internet Ever Seemed Scarier?
The studio scrapped the Dec. 25 debut after the four biggest U.S. theater chains took the movie off their schedule, a response to threats from hackers linked to North Korea. President Barack Obama said last week the studio’s capitulation to terrorists would hinder freedom of expression.
“As the President made clear, we are a country that believes in free speech, and the right of artistic expression,” White House spokesman Eric Schultz said today in a statement. “The decision made by Sony and participating theaters allows people to make their own choices about the film, and we welcome that outcome.”
Photographer: Ed Araquel/Columbia Pictures/Everett Collection Randall Park as Kim Jon Un stars in 'The Interview'. Close

Randall Park as Kim Jon Un stars in 'The Interview'.


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Open Photographer: Ed Araquel/Columbia Pictures/Everett Collection Randall Park as Kim Jon Un stars in 'The Interview'.





Stepped Forward

Smaller chains and independent theaters stepped forward this week to screen the movie. None of the major chains have said they will show the film, and representatives for the four largest exhibitors didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
“The Interview” stars Rogen and James Franco as a pair of television journalists who are directed to kill Kim by the Central Intelligence Agency. The studio’s executives were concerned enough about the fateful scene that Sony Corp. CEO Kazuo Hirai personally approved a toned-down version. Lynton consulted with Rand Corp. and the U.S. State Department.
Cyber-terrorists protesting the film attacked Sony’s computer system Nov. 24, and released thousands of documents including credit card information, social security numbers and health records of Sony employees. Sony maintained its plans to release the film until the hackers’ threats grew violent and spooked theaters.
International Furor

The attack escalated into a geopolitical incident. Obama addressed the situation in an interview last week while Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, criticized North Korea at a UN forum yesterday.
Sony pulled trailers and marketing materials after canceling the release while Rogen and Franco called off publicity appearances. Lynton said in a CNN interview last week that Sony still planned to release the film, and was exploring how to do it.
“Freedom has prevailed!” Rogen said on his Twitter page today. “Sony didn’t give up!”
Sony also plans to release the film via video-on-demand, according to TheWrap. Releasing the movie without the major theater chains will undercut ticket sales, as the four largest - - Regal Entertainment Group, AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc., Cinemark Holdings Inc. and Carmike Cinemas Inc. -- operate more than half of the theaters in the U.S., according to the National Association of Theater Owners.
“I’m actually really surprised that Sony would reverse course and agree to show the movie given the risks and a limited release -- which seems like more of a stand than an attempt to generate box office,” Eric Wold, an analyst with B. Riley & Co., said in an e-mail.“But, given that President Obama is behind the release, I would assume Sony can use that as a rationale.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Lucas Shaw in Los Angeles at [email protected]
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Anthony Palazzo at [email protected] Bruce Rule, Rob Golum


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