Rival Studios Fuming at Sony for Not Yanking ‘Interview’ in Wake of Hackers’ Threats, Insiders Say (Exclusive)
Growing security concerns over the breach unnerve studios privately hoping the movie will be yanked, while the former hacker behind Sony’s 2011 attack says the studio faces issues for years to come
As it tries to stanch the tide of leaked data from November’s massive cyberattack and quell security concerns over the opening of “The Interview,” Sony Pictures Entertainment is finding a new corner of hostility: other studios.
Once the poster child of identity theft, Sony now finds itself at odds with some industry execs who say that the studio’s reluctance to pull “The Interview” from theaters entirely — combined with the vague threat of a Sept. 11–style attack on theaters showing the comedy — is wreaking havoc with other studios whose movies will be playing side-by-side with the Seth Rogen–James Franco film.
Several studios held closed-door meetings this week to discuss 11th-hour strategies for films that will be out or opening on Christmas Day. The Dec. 25 releases joining “The Interview” are “The Gambler” and “Into the Woods,” while “Annie” and installments of “The Hobbit” and “Night at the Museum” will be out less than a week and looking for strong second-weekend hauls. Contingency plans have included the last-minute winnowing or widening of theater counts, depending on whether the comedy about the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ever sees the big screen.
Whether or not it has become the hack-attack story du jour, already the Carmike and Arclight theater chains have announced they won’t show the movie, yanking it from more than 2,900 screens in 41 states. And Sony shuttered publicity events surrounding the movie, while Landmark and the studio canceled the New York premiere.
But short of Sony yanking the film completely — or a nationwide exhibitor boycott — some distribution officials remain anxious as Christmas draws near.
“As for the other studios, what can they do?” asked one distribution exec. “The theaters can step up security, but I don’t really see any other option. The only measure would be Sony pulling the film.”
Sony did not comment on its distribution plan for the R-rated movie, which has sparked the ire of North Korea, suspected of playing a central part in the breach. The Motion Picture Association of America and the National Association of Theater Owners also declined to comment on the controversy, a sore point among studio execs seeking a public advocate.
Washington, meanwhile, has offered studios little more than vagaries.
“This is only the latest example of the need for serious legislation to improve the sharing of information between the private sector and the government to help companies strengthen cybersecurity,” Senator Diane Feinstein said in a statement to TheWrap on Tuesday night. “We must pass an information sharing bill as quickly as possible next year. Today’s threat against moviegoers is unconscionable and the perpetrators must be brought to justice. Law enforcement is investigating these threats and will do everything possible to keep the public safe.”
But even top studio lieutenants are torn over viable security measures and already expect the controversy to be the death knell for an anemic box office currently down 3 percent from last year and desperate to end 2014 with a flourish. Executives privately wondered whether beefing up security would even serve more deterrent than draw. Already, exhibitors and moviegoers face an unspecified threat from Guardians of Peace, the group claiming responsibility for the assault, which has promised a Sept. 11–style attack on individual theaters carrying the movie.
“This couldn’t come at a worse time,” one studio executive told TheWrap. “Do you really want to drop your kids off at a mall filled with metal detectors and cops? Who wants to take that chance over the holidays — for a movie?”
He and other top-tier managers say tracking already is lagging behind last year for the normally lucrative ChristmastoNew Year time frame. Projections, however, has been wildly off in 2014 and forecasts could quickly rebound, depending on “The Interview’s” distribution fate.
Meanwhile, Hector Monsegur, the former member of Anonymous and founder of LulzSec,the group that claimed responsibility for the May 2011 hack of Sony’s PlayStation network, said the studio was likely breached weeks, if not months, ago — and that the leak could do damage for years to come.
“Sony has been compromised for at least six years that I know of,” said Monsegur, who was arrested in 2011 and became a government informant, leading to the arrest of at least five other hackers and helping foil at least 300 attempted cyberattacks, according to the FBI. Monsegur, who operated under the online pseudonym Sabu, served seven months in prison after his May arrest. Monsegur was given “time served” for cooperating with the feds and given one year of probation.
In an interview this week with tech site CNET, Monsegur said that the GOP likely infiltrated the corporation months ago.
“This is not a new hack,” he said. “Let’s really think about it: If you do a penetration test, and you try to infiltrate a network, the amount of access they were able to obtain would have taken them months, maybe even years.”
The nature of the leaks, which have included personal data, leaked movies, social disclosures and embarrassing internal emails, suggest the hackers have had a long time to pore over information, he said.
“They were able to identify a lot of, for example, password files,” he said. “Clearly, they had to really do a thorough audit of the entire infrastructure. Whoever hacked Sony has been inside there for a very, very long time. And we haven’t seen the end of it.”
Sony Hack Attack Timeline: From First Cyberbreach and Leaks to 'The Interview' Release (Photos)
As Sony CEO Michael Lynton announces his resignation, let's look back at one of the darkest periods of his tenure: the Sony hack.
News of a massive cyberbreach at Sony Pictures began leaking out in late November. Later reports indicated the studio had been warned weeks earlier.
NOV. 24: The hacker group identified as #GOP purportedly took over computers and hijacked Twitter accounts, sending out ominous messages to Sony staff. Read more.
NOV. 25: Sony Pictures employees greeted with an ominous image on their computer screens when they tried to log in for the work week. Read more.
NOV. 28: Sony struggles to fight #GOP hackers who claim stolen data includes stars’ IDs, budget and contract figures. Read more.
NOV. 30: Investigators know North Korea is unhappy with comedy "The Interview," which makes light of an attempt to assassinate its leader Kim Jong-un. Read more.
DEC. 1: Studio has made progress in restoring critical business systems, insider says at the time. Later reports dispute this. Read more.
DEC. 1: Hack analysis: How much will this ‘nightmare’ cost? Damage to Sony’s reputation will be key in determining the cybercrime’s toll. Read more.
DEC. 1: Blogger posts a spreadsheet of the top 17 executives earning $1 million or more. Read more.
DEC. 1: North Korea denies involvement. A government official previously teased “wait and see.” Read more.
DEC. 2: Sony bosses Michael Lynton and Amy Pascal address "malicious criminal acts" in a company-wide memo to staff. Read more.
DEC. 2: Media outlets obtain spreadsheets including social security numbers and detailed performance reviews for 3,000 Sony Pictures employees. Read more.
DEC. 2: When asked if North Korea was involved, a spokesman for the communist country’s government replied, “Wait and see.” Read now.
DEC. 3: Salaries of ‘The Interview’ stars Seth Rogen and James Franco revealed in Sony hacking leak. Read more.
DEC. 4: Hollywood studios ramp up security in wake of Sony hack. Read more.
DEC. 4: North Korea reportedly denies involvement in Sony hack attack. Read more.
DEC. 4: Sylvester Stallone, Judd Apatow are among 47,000 employees compromised in latest leak. Read more.
DEC. 6: Sony Hack Attack "unparalleled," says head of cybersecurity firm. Read more.
DEC. 7: Sony hackers reportedly worked from Thailand and may have North Korean ties. Internet leaks of confidential data traced to a five-star Bangkok hotel. Read more.
DEC. 8: Sony hackers demand ‘The Interview’ pulled: "Stop immediately showing the movie of terrorism." Read more.
DEC. 8: FBI plan to hold employee cybersecurity awareness briefings on the Sony studio lot. Read more.
DEC. 8: Hackers sent top Sony execs a threatening email days before the attack. Read more.
DEC. 8: Hack exposes celebrity aliases for Tom Hanks, Jude Law, Natalie Portman and more in latest leak. Read more.
DEC. 8: Hackers leak sensitive email of Sony execs Amy Pascal and Steven Mosko. Read more.
DEC. 9: Hackers reveal animated ‘Spider-Man’ comedy in the works. Read more.
DEC. 9: Heated emails between Sony Chief Amy Pascal and Scott Rudin leaked. Read more.
DEC. 10: FBI says attack so sophisticated that it would have gotten past "90 percent" of security firms. Read more.
DEC. 11: Sony hack attack theory suggests North Korea was involved but had insider help. Read more.
DEC. 11: Amy Pascal and Scott Rudin apologize for racially insensitive remarks about President Obama. Read more.
DEC. 11: Kevin Hart responds to leaked Sony emails calling him a ‘whore.’ Read more.
DEC. 11: Hackers flash disturbing new warning on staffers’ computers. Read more.
DEC. 11: Amy Pascal talks to Sharon Waxman about whether she's so damaged she can no longer lead Sony (exclusive). Read more.
DEC. 11: Sony had evidence of server breach as early as February. Read more.
DEC. 12: Sony orders its name removed from "The Interview" marketing materials. Read more.
DEC. 12: Sony arm Crackle pulls hacker movie "The Throwaways." Read more.
DEC. 14: Sony demands media stop publishing stolen data. Read more.
DEC. 14: Producers reveal hackers stole James Bond "Spectre" script. Read more.
DEC. 15: Lawyer's letter confirms "The Interview" was the cause of hack attack. Read more.
DEC. 16: Sony hackers threaten 9/11-style attack on theaters that show "The Interview." Read more.
DEC. 16: James Franco and Seth Rogen withdraw from press interviews for "The Interview." Read more.
DEC. 16: Sony tells theaters they can pull "The Interview." Read more.
DEC. 16: Carmike theater chain drops "The Interview" after hacker terror threat. Read more.
DEC. 16: ArcLight Cinemas drops "The Interview" amid hacker threats. Read more.
DEC. 16: Sony CEO Michael Lynton's emails leaked. Read more.
DEC. 16: Former Sony employees file class-action suit against studio. Read more.
DEC. 16: Landmark Theaters cancels "Interview" New York premiere. Read more.
DEC. 17: Bow Tie Cinemas drops "The Interview." Read more.
DEC. 17: Judd Apatow says, "I am going to 'The Interview.'" Read more.
DEC. 17: Rosie O'Donnell says she will not see "The Interview." Read more.
DEC. 17: Five major theater chains pull "The Interview." Read more.
DEC. 17: Sony Pictures cancels release of "The Interview." Read more.
DEC. 17: Hollywood outraged at decision to pull "The Interview." Read more.
DEC. 17: Per CNN, US Government to announce North Korea was behind Sony hack. Read more.
DEC. 17: What are U.S. options if North Korea is confirmed as cyberterrorist? Read more.
DEC. 17: Steve Carell’s North Korea movie "Pyongyang" canceled in wake of Sony hack. Read more.
DEC. 17: Rob Lowe, Judd Apatow, Michael Moore and others express their outrage on social media. Read more.
DEC. 18: Paramount thwarts plans by theaters to replace ‘The Interview’ with "Team America: World Police" Read more.
DEC. 18: Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Rep. Peter King and Colin Powell weigh in on the cancelation of "The Interview. Read more.
DEC. 19: FBI officially implicates North Korea in Sony hack Attack. Read more.
DEC. 19: New Sony leak reveals 50 scripts from Michael Lynton’s inbox. Read more.
DEC. 20: North Korea denies involvement in hack attack, warns U.S and offers to join joint probe. Read more.
DEC. 20: Sony deletes "The Interview’s" social media profiles in wake of hack, movie’s cancellation. Read more.
DEC. 20: Mike Myers returns to Saturday Night Live, reprising his Dr. Evil role from “Austin Powers” to deliver some advice regarding the hack. See more.
DEC. 20: RNC chair Reince Priebus sends a letter urging the CEOs of 10 major theater chains to screen “The Interview.” Read more.
DEC. 21: President Obama insists on CNN that the Sony hack is "cyber vandalism," not "act of war." Watch more.
Dec. 21: Sony attorney says "The Interview" will be distributed despite hackers’ threats. Watch more.
DEC. 22: Security experts register doubts about North Korean involvement in hack. Read more.
DEC. 22: Sony threatens Twitter with lawsuit if additional "stolen information" appears on the service. Read more.
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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.