Actors James Franco and Seth Rogen in The Interview
Getting The Interview withdrawn from US cinemas isn’t enough for the hackers behind the Sony Pictures cyberattack. Now they want all evidence that the film even existed erased from history.
In an email sent to Sony executives and obtained by CNN, the anonymous hackers, who call themselves Guardians of Peace, said the company’s decision to cancel the 25 December US theatrical release of The Interview was “very wise”. Sony opted to pull the movie after threats were made to cinemas scheduled to screen it.
“Now we want you never let the movie released, distributed or leaked in any form of, for instance, DVD or piracy,” wrote the hackers. “And we want everything related to the movie, including its trailers, as well as its full version down from any website hosting them immediately.”
Earlier this week, US government officials named North Korea as the source of the cyberattack against Sony Pictures, which knocked much of firm’s network offline, resulted in the theft and distribution online of five movies about to be released to cinemas worldwide, as well as the exposure of vital records, including celebrity data and more than 47,000 social security numbers.
The Interview is a spoof comedy starring Seth Rogen and James Franco about an attempted assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Meanwhile, screenings of the 2004 comedy Team America: World Police have been cancelled in some US theatres. The film – which features marionette puppets – pokes fun at former North Korea leader (and Kim Jong-un’s dad) Kim Jong-Il.
Please note: Our Late Shift screening of Team America: World Police has been canceled by Paramount Pictures. pic.twitter.com/TlPVzIeICW
— Capitol Theatre (@CapitolW65th) December 18, 2014
Due to to circumstances beyond our control, the TEAM AMERICA 12/27 screening has been cancelled. We apologize & will provide refunds today.
— Alamo Drafthouse DFW (@AlamoDFW) December 18, 2014
