Sony releases The Interview online

Amid controversy, confusion and threats, Sony released The Interview online in an unprecedented response to hackers who spoiled the Christmas opening of the comedy depicting the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Sony releases The Interview online

Amid controversy, confusion and threats, Sony released The Interview online in an unprecedented response to hackers who spoiled the Christmas opening of the comedy depicting the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

“It has always been Sony’s intention to have a national platform on which to release this film,” Sony Pictures chairman and chief executive Michael Lynton said.

“We chose the path of digital distribution first so as to reach as many people as possible on opening day, and we continue to seek other partners and platforms to further expand the release.”

The Interview became available on a variety of digital platforms yesterday afternoon, including Google Play, YouTube Movies, Microsoft’s Xbox Video and a separate Sony website.

The move came a day after Sony and independent cinemas agreed to release it in over 300 venues over Christmas.

The wide digital release is the culmination of a set of deals that have been in the works since the major cinema chains last week dropped the movie that was to have opened on as many as 3,000 screens.

Kim Song, a North Korean diplomat to the United Nations, condemned the release, calling the movie an “unpardonable mockery of our sovereignty and dignity of our supreme leader”.

But he said North Korea will probably limit its response to condemnation, with no “physical reaction”.

Seth Rogen, who stars in the film he co-directed with Evan Goldberg, cheered the decision.

“I need to say that a comedy is best viewed in a theatre full of people, so if you can, I’d watch it like that. Or call some friends over,” he tweeted.

It was unclear whether the company will recoup the $40m cost of the film and the millions more spent on marketing by deciding to release it online through affordable formats.

Sony has not ruled out the possibility of screenings of the film by major cinema chains, though their relationship has eroded in recent days.

Decisions by Google and Microsoft to show the movie could open their sites to hacking.

Microsoft reported technical problems with its Xbox sign-in system yesterday, though it was not known whether it was the result of hacking. Microsoft declined to comment.

Sony’s initial decision not to release the film was widely criticised, with President Barack Obama one of the harshest critics.

US officials have blamed North Korea for the hacking, and White House spokesman Eric Schultz said Mr Obama welcomed the latest development.

The president, asked whether he plans to watch the film, paused his golf game and smiled.

“I’m glad it’s being released,” he said on the 18th hole.

Mr Obama was golfing with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak at a military base in Hawaii, where the president and his family are on holiday.

Among the early viewers was 11-year-old Marco Squitieri of Washington, DC.

He had wanted to watch The Interview since seeing a preview earlier this year and had followed the news about Sony pulling the movie then permitting its release.

His family purchased The Interview from Xbox for €14.99.

“It’s pretty funny,” Marco said, laughing as he praised the chemistry of Rogen and Franco and adding that he could understand why the North Korean government would not like it.

“They make fun of North Korea a lot.”

Amy Hurley, an executive assistant who lives in Detroit, paid €5.99 to rent the movie on YouTube Movies and was disappointed.

A fan of Rogen and Franco, she found Franco’s character “way over the top” and thought the jokes “were old and kept going on and on”.

The move to make the film available for rental and purchase before its theatrical release had never before been done with a mainstream film.

Studios have released smaller indie and foreign movies simultaneously in cinemas and on digital platforms, but analysts said the situation with The Interview left Sony little choice.

“This isn’t being done because Sony wants to do it regularly, but rather out of necessity prompted by the exhibitor boycott,” said Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter.

Tyler Pulsifer, manager of the Hartford Spotlight Theatres in Hartford, Connecticut, said he had received 32 calls from people interested in seeing The Interview during the first 90 minutes the cinema was open on Christmas Eve.

“I’d be willing to bet we’re going to sell out,” he said. The cinema has four showings on Christmas Day, and five each for tomorrow and Saturday nights.

“People want to see it because they’ve been told not to,” he said.

Darrell Foxworth, a special agent for the FBI in San Diego, said the agency is sharing information with independent cinema owners showing The Interview out of “an abundance of caution” and to educate them about cyber threats and what help the FBI can offer.

“There’s nothing that’s specific or credible at this time,” he said.

“We’re sharing information with theatre owners and will assist them. We want to raise awareness that cyberattacks are increasing.”

He added: “If you see suspicious activity, make sure to contact local law enforcement.”

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