Advertisement

Steve Carell film based in North Korea canceled over Sony hack, threats

News of Fox's decision to drop the film came on the same day Sony announced it was canceling "The Interview's" Dec. 25 release date.

By Veronica Linares
Actor Steve Carrell was set to star in a now-caceled film based in North Korea. The actor appears pictured on September 8, 2014. UPI/Christine Chew
Actor Steve Carrell was set to star in a now-caceled film based in North Korea. The actor appears pictured on September 8, 2014. UPI/Christine Chew | License Photo

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Development has halted for an upcoming film set to be directed by Gore Verbinski and based in North Korea following the recent threats made against Sony Picture's The Interview.

According to Deadline, the still-untitled film would see Steve Carell as its main character and was scheduled to start production in March. Insiders claim, however, Fox scratched the project over the fallout that ensued after the hack of Sony Entertainment's computer base by a group know as the Guardians of Peace.

Advertisement

Hackers cited The Interview -- a film about a plot to murder North Korea's Kim Jong Un -- as their motivation for the hack.

News of Fox's decision to drop the film came on the same day Sony announced it would cancel The Interview's Dec. 25 release date "in light of the decision by the majority of our exhibitors not to show the film" after the hackers threatened violence on theaters that showed the movie.

Advertisement

Thousands of private documents including employees private information and salaries, scripts and personal emails have been unloaded online by the hackers.

U.S. officials said Wednesday that a North Korean government hacking team known as Unit 121 is believed to be responsible for the attack.

Latest Headlines