This photo provided by Columbia Pictures - Sony shows, James Franco, center left, as Dave, and Seth Rogen as Aaron, in Columbia Pictures' "The Interview." Sony Pictures Entertainment says the controversial comedy "The Interview" will not be released in Canadian theatres on Christmas Day. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Columbia Pictures - Sony, Ed Araquel)
Republished December 24, 2014 - 11:33 AM
Original Publication Date December 24, 2014 - 8:20 AM
TORONTO - "The Interview" will not be released in Canadian theatres on Christmas Day, and although the controversial comedy was already available for rental online in the U.S. on Wednesday, there's no word on when Canadians will be able to watch it.
Sony Pictures Entertainment said the film, which provoked an international incident with North Korea, is set to open in about 300 American theatres on Thursday, the day it was originally set for wide release on up to 3,000 screens.
The movie was released on demand at 1 p.m. ET on Wednesday on Google Play, YouTube Movies, Microsoft's Xbox Video and a separate Sony website. It costs $5.99 to stream — but Canadians will have to wait to access the Vancouver-shot film online.
"CANADIANS! Sincere apologies but #TheInterview is not available 4 u 2 download yet BUT will be soon. We are working on it!" tweeted the film's Canadian co-star Seth Rogen.
The major multiplex chains in the U.S. and Canada dropped "The Interview" last week after hackers, allegedly backed by North Korea, released thousands of documents online and threatened violence at theatres showing the comedy.
"The Interview" stars Vancouver's Seth Rogen and James Franco as journalists who are recruited by the CIA to assassinate North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un.
A Sony spokeswoman, who did not want to be named, said the company is still looking into the Canadian release of the movie.
Sony Pictures chair and CEO Michael Lynton said in a statement on Wednesday that it was always Sony's intention to release the film on a national platform.
"Negotiations with digital providers began last Wednesday, and, as of this morning the film will be available in around 300 independently owned theatres starting Thursday," Lynton said.
"We chose the path of digital distribution first so as to reach as many people as possible on opening day, and we continue to seek other partners and platforms to further expand the release."
Sony's original decision to shelve the movie drew fierce criticism, including from President Barack Obama, who chastised the company for what he deemed "a mistake" that went against American principles of free speech.
North Korea's Internet was shut down in an apparent attack Monday following Obama's pledge of a response to what he called North Korea's "cyber vandalism" of Sony.
The White House and State Department have declined to say whether the U.S. government was responsible for the outages.
— With files from The Associated Press.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014