Sony cancels release of controversial film

Sony has cancelled the release of the controversial film depicting an assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un after cinemas decided not to screen it.

The New York premiere of The Interview was cancelled earlier yesterday amid threats from hackers.

Sony Pictures told US cinemas they could cancel plans to show the film after hackers invoking the memory of the 9/11 terror attacks issued ominous threats against film-goers and patrons of the dark comedy.

The development followed threats by the hackers, calling themselves Guardians of Peace, over the film, which depicts an assassination attempt against Kim Jong Un.

The data dump was what the hackers called the beginning of a “Christmas gift”. But GOP, as the group is known, included a message warning that people should stay away from places where The Interview was to be shown.

The New York premiere was planned for tonight. Invoking 9/11, it urged people to leave their homes if located near cinemas showing the film.

In The Interview, Seth Rogen and James Franco star as television journalists involved in a CIA plot to assassinate Kim. The two actors yesterday pulled out of all further media appearances ahead of Sony’s announcement to pull the plug.

The nearly 32,000 emails to and from Sony Pictures Entertainment chief Mr Lynton — from as recently as last month — include information about casting decisions and total costs for upcoming films, release schedules for Sony films through 2018 and corporate financial records, such as royalties from iTunes, Spotify and Pandora music services.

The FBI said it was aware of the threats and “continues to work collaboratively with our partners to investigate this matter”. FBI director James Comey said last week that investigators were still trying to determine who was responsible for the hack.

Meanwhile, Sony Pictures Entertainment faces two lawsuits from four former employees who claim the company did not do enough to prevent hackers from stealing nearly 50,000 social security numbers, salary details and other personal information from current and former workers.

The lawsuits seek to gain class-action status on behalf of those employees whose private data, including medical records, have been released by hackers.

Two employees sued Sony in federal court on Monday, alleging the company failed to secure its computer systemss.

It contends that the latest data breaches are especially “surprising and egregious” because Sony Pictures has been repeatedly attacked over the years, including a 2011 hack that revealed millions of user accounts on Sony’s PlayStation video-game network.