The Interview: What's Going On With the Release of the Controversial Film

By Shannon Vestal Robson

Updated on 12/23/2014 at 1:06 PM

The Sony hack fallout continues to wreak havoc, but now it's not just about the latest email to be leaked. The movie at the heart of it all, The Interview, is suffering the consequences. The satirical comedy, which stars James Franco and Seth Rogen as an interviewer and his producer who are sent to murder reigning North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, was allegedly the reason hackers attacked Sony in the first place, and their threats have stopped the movie's release. But now, it's looking like some theaters will be able to show the film. Keep reading for the latest.

Sony Pictures
  • The hackers' last threat talked about "a Christmas surprise" and 9/11. Last week, the group who hacked into Sony, known as "Guardians of Peace," warned of a "Christmas surprise" and included the words, "The world will be full of fear. Remember the 11th of September 2001. We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time. (If your house is nearby, you'd better leave.)" Christmas Day was intended to be The Interview's release date. The Department of Homeland Security is investigating the threat and has said there is no credible threat.
  • Sony canceled the release after movie theaters pulled the film. Sony had told theaters they can pull the film, and several movie theater chains did exactly that in the wake of the threats. But after five of the country's top theater chains, Regal Entertainment, AMC Entertainment, Cinemark, Carmike Cinemas, and Cineplex Entertainment, announced they won't be showing the film, Sony announced that The Interview won't be released on Christmas day at all. After Sony canceled the release, President Obama criticized the move, calling it a mistake. While some theaters planned to show Team America: World Police in its place, Paramount Pictures has officially shut that down.
  • But wait! Some theaters may still show it. This week, some theaters are saying they will show The Interview, with Sony's approval. Reportedly, the film may also be on VOD, but it's not clear what the platform will be yet. In a statement, CEO of Sony Entertainment Michael Lynton said, "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."
  • Seth Rogen and James Franco stopped doing press. Stars Franco and Rogen (who codirected and cowrote the film with Evan Goldberg) have pulled out of doing press, which was to include stops at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, and Late Night With Seth Meyers. This comes after the New York premiere was canceled, while the recent LA premiere was unaffected (though press was not invited to the red carpet). Additionally, Sony has decided to scrap the rest of its TV advertising for the movie.
  • Could there be a DVD or VOD release of The Interview? With the film pulled from major theaters, news outlets encouraged Sony to release The Interview online, but Sony initially rejected the idea, saying the studio had no plans to release the film on VOD or DVD, seemingly at the behest of the hackers. However, over the weekend, a lawyer for Sony told Meet the Press that the film "will be distributed." Just don't hold your breath to see the movie soon; he added, "How it's going to be distributed, I don't think anybody knows quite yet. But it's going to be distributed."

Want to know what's in the movie? Here's what actually happens in The Interview.