Sony to distribute The Interview online

Sony Pictures has confirmed it will distribute the film at the centre of the North Korea hacking controversy to the public online.

The Interview - which is about the assassination of Kim Jong Un - was pulled from theatres after thousands of files were leaked from the studio's emails.

A number of cinemas say they are planning to run the film tomorrow and now sites such as YouTube and Google Play will allow users to rent it for a fee.

US President Barack Obama has praised the studio for deciding to return the film to selected theatres.