Sony Pulls Plug On ‘The Interview’ After Terror Threats, Cancellations

FILE - In this Dec. 11, 2014 file photo, actors Seth Rogen, right, and James Franco attend the premiere of the Sony Pictures' film "The Interview" in Los Angeles. Amid threats by hackers against movie theater's showi... FILE - In this Dec. 11, 2014 file photo, actors Seth Rogen, right, and James Franco attend the premiere of the Sony Pictures' film "The Interview" in Los Angeles. Amid threats by hackers against movie theater's showing the film, Rogen and Franco pulled out of all media appearances promoting the film Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014, canceling a Buzzfeed Q&A and Rogen's planned guest spot Thursday on "Late Night With Seth Meyers." (Photo by Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP Images, File) MORE LESS
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Sony Entertainment cancelled the Dec. 25 release of “The Interview” on Wednesday after threats from hackers caused some of the nation’s largest movie chains to back out of screening the film.

Regal Entertainment, AMC Entertainment, Cinemark, Carmike Cinemas and Cineplex Entertainment backed out on Wednesday, according to the The Hollywood Reporter.

Regal cited “wavering support of the film The Interview by Sony Pictures, as well as the ambiguous nature of any real or perceived security threats,” in a statement to the paper.

Later Wednesday, Sony Entertainment announced it would be cancelling the movie’s Dec. 25 release, CNN reported.

The film, starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, contains a plotline mocking North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and includes a scene depicting his assassination. The scene was published by Gawker on Monday.

The hackers, who call themselves Guardians of the Peace, breached Sony’s servers on Nov. 24th and leaked emails, film budgets, employee salaries and personal information.

They issued a grandiose threat on Tuesday, warning of a massive terror attack brought on by “the greed of Sony Pictures Entertainment.”

“Soon all the world will see what an awful movie Sony Pictures Entertainment has made. The world will be full of fear,” their statement read.

“Remember the 11th of September 2001,” it continued. “We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time. (If your house is nearby, you’d better leave.)”

It has not been verified that Guardians of the Peace are acting on behalf of North Korea, though the country has praised the Sony hack.

This post has been updated.

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