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Carmike Theater Chain Drops Sony’s ‘The Interview’ After Hackers’ Terror Threat

Exhibition chain scraps rollout of comedy about assassination of North Korea’s leader in wake of massive cyberattack

| December 16, 2014 @ 6:39 PM

Carmike Cinemas has canceled the nationwide Christmas Day release of Sony’s “The Interview,” the first theater chain to do so on the day hackers threatened 9/11-like attacks on theaters that showed the movie, an individual with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap.

The hacking group, which has claimed responsibility for last month’s massive cyberattack that paralyzed the studio and resulted in the theft of thousands of sensitive documents and emails, had demanded that the studio pull “The Interview.”

Also Read: Kevin Hart’s ‘Wedding Ringer’ Press Junket Back on After Being Postponed Amid Sony Hacking Scandal (Exclusive)

The comedy stars Seth Rogen and James Franco as U.S. journalists who are asked by the CIA to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. North Korea last summer warned that the film’s release would be an “act of war that we will never tolerate,” and said that the United States will face “merciless” retaliation. Its government on Dec. 6 denied it was behind the Sony hacking, but called the cyberattack “a righteous deed” and said that it could be the work of its supporters.

Also Read: Sony Hackers Threaten 9/11 Attack on Theaters That Show ‘The Interview’

The Columbus, Georgia–based chain has 276 theaters with 2,904 screens. An individual with knowledge of the situation said Sony was prepared to go forward with the release, but Carmike responded they were pulling their dates.

Tuesday’s threat of violence and another earlier post from the hackers that spoke of a “Christmas present” brought concerns over public safety to the fore. While the Department of Homeland Security said that it had found no evidence of credible threat on Tuesday, Sony gave theater chains that had booked the movie the option of not running it.

The majority of the busiest theaters are in shopping malls, and the landlords of those sites put pressure on the theaters to drop the film, according to insiders familiar with the discussions. With the holiday shopping season in full swing, several major mall owners voiced concerns that fears of trouble or a heightened security presence could keep shoppers away.

Also Read: Sony Hack Attack: 11 Newest Developments

For Sony, scrapping the theatrical release of “The Interview” will result in financial hit of at least $100 million. Its production budget was $44 million, most of the spending on the media campaign was done and there will likely be payments to partners.

That number pales in comparison with the loss of hundreds of millions that Sony potentially faces from the hacking and data dumps, which included personal info on 47,000 Sony employees as well as A-list talent that the studio had done business with. On Tuesday, two civil suits were filed by current and former employees.

Also Read: Hollywood on Edge as Sony Tells Theaters They Can Pull ‘Interview’ After Terror Threat

With Carmike out, the focus shifts to the other major chains including the Regal Entertainment Group, which is the largest with 574 theaters, mostly in the Southeast. Kansas City-based AMC Entertainment with 344 theaters and Texas-based Cinemark Theatres with 322 sites are the next largest and have yet to announce a decision.

If the theater chains opt out of showing “The Interview,” it would take some of the onus off Sony. The studio is faced with the choice of pulling it and being seen as knuckling under to the hackers and not supporting the filmmakers, or going ahead with the release and facing more damaging data dumps and the possibility of violence at theaters.

Sony Hack Attack Timeline: From First Cyberbreach and Leaks to 'The Interview' Release (Photos)

  • Michael Lynton The Grill
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  • Sony Pictures
  • Sony
  • James Franco, Seth Rogen, "The Interview"
  • James Franco, Seth Rogen
  • Amy Pascal and Michael Lynton
  • Sony Chiefs Amy Pascal, Michael Lynton 'Deeply Saddened' Over Hacking Attack
  • Sony Pictures
  • Sony's logo on a wall
  • "hacked by #GOP" message found on Sony computers
  • Sony's logo on a wall
  • Sony Chiefs Amy Pascal, Michael Lynton 'Deeply Saddened' Over Hacking Attack
  • Tom Hanks
  • Amy Pascal, Steve Mosko of Sony
  • Sony's logo on a wall
  • Sony Marketing Layoffs
  • Sony Pictures
  • Movie posters for the premiere of the film 'The Interview' at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles, California on December 11, 2014. The film, starring US actors Seth Rogen and James Franco, is a comedy about a CIA plot to assassinate its leader Kim Jong-Un, played by Randall Park. North Korea has vowed 'merciless retaliation' against what it calls a 'wanton act of terror' -- although it has denied involvement in a massive cyber attack on Sony Pictures, the studio behind the film. AFP PHOTO/STR (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
  • The Throwaways
  • Skyfall Daniel Craig James Bond 25
  • sony hack email nightmare
  • ArcLight Cinemas
  • Sony Chiefs Amy Pascal, Michael Lynton 'Deeply Saddened' Over Hacking Attack
  • Sony's logo on a wall
  • The Interview movie poster, Sony logo, President Obama
  • the interview hollywood tweets
  • Team America World Police
  • The Interview movie poster, Sony logo, President Obama
  • Mike Myers as Dr. Evil on "The Interview."
  • reince priebus chief of staff donald trump health care bill punt end zone football twitter
  • Sony attorney David Boies
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As Sony CEO Michael Lynton prepares to exit, here’s TheWrap’s blow-by-blow of 2014’s devastating cyberattack on the studio

As Sony CEO Michael Lynton announces his resignation, let's look back at one of the darkest periods of his tenure: the Sony hack. 

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