Sony Pictures Cancels December 25th Theatrical Release of 'The Interview' (UPDATE: No Further Release Plans)

UPDATE — 7:31 p.m. ET: Sony Pictures said that they have "no further release plans for the film," including releasing the picture on DVD or video-on-demand.

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Sony Pictures said in a statement Wednesday afternoon that they have decided not to move forward with the planned December 25th theatrical release of "The Interview" amid terror threats.

“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 December 25 theatrical release," Sony said in a statement  "We respect and understand our partners’ decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theater-goers."

The decision comes on the heels of a terrorism threat made by a group of hackers that recently executed a devastating cyber attack against Sony.

Image source: Facebook

The top five theater chains in the nation announced in the prior 24 hours they would not show the controversial film.

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday evening that Sony Pictures had let theater operators decide whether or not they wanted to screen the film.

“Sony Pictures has been the victim of an unprecedented criminal assault against our employees, our customers, and our business," Sony said in their Wednesday afternoon statement. "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," it added. "We stand by our filmmakers and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this outcome.”

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