Sony cancels Christmas release for 'The Interview'

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Sony Pictures Entertainment has postponed indefinitely the theatrical release of The Interview, a comedy starring James Franco and Seth Rogen as American broadcast journalists enlisted by the CIA to assassinate Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea.

Franco and Rogen, who are both active Twitter users, have not yet commented on the decision to cancel the movie's release.

The film studio's computer system was hacked by an anonymous group known only as the Guardians of Peace, which cited its outrage over the film as its motivation. Tens of thousands of private documents -- including copies of unreleased films, screenplays, financial information and personal emails -- were released online.

The organization went on to threaten violence at theaters that screened movie, prompting theater chains to announce they are refusing to show it. Sony initially canceled the film's planned New York premiere, as well as the stars' promotional appearances in response to the threat, but later Wednesday scrapped the movie's Dec. 25 release altogether.

"In light of the decision by the majority of our exhibitors not to show the film The Interview, we have decided not to move forward with the planned Dec. 25 theatrical release. We respect and understand our partners' decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theater-goers," the studio's statement said.

"Sony Pictures has been the victim of an unprecedented criminal assault against our employees, our customers, and our business. Those who attacked us stole our intellectual property, private emails, and sensitive and proprietary material, and sought to destroy our spirit and our morale -- all apparently to thwart the release of a movie they did not like. We are deeply saddened at this brazen effort to suppress the distribution of a movie, and in the process do damage to our company, our employees, and the American public. We stand by our filmmakers and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this outcome."