ArcLight Cinemas will not be premiering Seth Rogen and James Franco‘s assassination comedy “The Interview” on Christmas Day, an individual with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap.
Southern California’s iconic theater chain pulled the plug on the film Tuesday night, just hours after Sony’s hackers released a new threat which threatened an attack reminiscent of September 11, 2001 targeting theaters that show the film.
Reps for the ArcLight had no comment when reached by TheWrap, but did Tweet moviegoers that “there hasbeen no decision made”:
Thank you for all the questions and comments, but there has been no decision made regarding “The Interview.” We will keep everyone updated.
— ArcLight Cinemas (@ArcLightCinemas) December 17, 2014
ArcLight isn’t the first theater chain to withdraw “The Interview,” which pits the two actors against North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un, from its offerings. Earlier Tuesday evening, Carmike Theaters also scrapped the film.
Carmike is a Georgia–based chain with 276 theaters totalling 2,904 screens. Another individual said Sony was prepared to go forward with the release, but the exhibitor independently chose to drop it.
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 there was no evidence of a credible threat on Tuesday, Sony gave theater chains that had booked the movie the option of not running it.
The full hacker threat reads:
We will clearly show it to you at the very time and places “The Interview” be shown, including the premiere, how bitter fate those who seek fun in terror should be doomed to.
Soon all the world will see what an awful movie Sony Pictures Entertainment has made.
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.)
Whatever comes in the coming days is called by the greed of Sony Pictures Entertainment.
All the world will denounce the SONY.