UPDATED 22:16 EDT / DECEMBER 23 2014

NEWS

Sony backflips: The Interview will now show in a limited theatrical release, VOD

the interviewSony Corp. has announced that it will allow showings of The Interview in a limited theatrical release, after previously cravenly giving in to threats following its much publicized hacking by North Korea.

At the time of writing screenings of the comedy have been confirmed in various cinemas in Texas and Georgia, although The Wrap reports the final number will be around 200 cinemas.

In addition to the theatrical release, Sony will also release the movie on VOD, although which VOD services is not clear, but it’s likely that the Sony owned Crackle will be one service offering it.

“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,” Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment Michael Lynton said in a statement. “At the same time, we are continuing our efforts to secure more platforms and more theaters so that this movie reaches the largest possible audience.”

“I want to thank our talent on The Interview and our employees, who have worked tirelessly through the many challenges we have all faced over the last month,” Lynton said. “While we hope this is only the first step of the film’s release, we are proud to make it available to the public and to have stood up to those who attempted to suppress free speech.”

Sony canned release of the film December 17th following threats made by North Korean sponsored hackers that if the movie were to be released attacks would occur at theaters showing it. The Seth Rogen/ James Franco comedy portrays two hapless journalists who are recruited into a CIA-led plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The decision to cancel the release of the movie received widespread condemnation from both celebrities and the highest office in the land: The President.

“We cannot have a society in which some dictator some place can start imposing censorship here in the United States” President Obama said. “Imagine if producers and distributors and others start engaging in self-censorship because they don’t want to offend the sensibilities of somebody whose sensibilities probably need to be offended.”


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