Amid Threats, Sony Cancels Release of Franco-Rogen Flick "The Interview"

After receiving terroristic threats to theaters which show the new Sony Pictures film "The Interview," the studio has decided to cancel its release.

Deadline made the release available. It reads in part, "In light of the decision by the majority of our exhibitors not to show the film The Interview, we have decided not to move forward with the planned December 25 theatrical release. We respect and understand our partners' decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theater-goers."

The "exhibitors" mentioned in the statement refers to the largest movie theater chains in the United States. AMC, Regal, Cinemark and a number of smaller regional theater operators all chose to forego the Dec. 25th premier of "The Interview" in the wake of threats made against theaters showing the film, according to NBC News.

The threats against movie theaters showing the film were made by the same group responsible for a devastating cyber attack on the information technology infrastructure of Sony Pictures. The group calls itself The Guardians of Peace.

That attack saw the theft of countless documents as varied as e-mails, Social Security and credit card numbers, scripts and screenplays, and even fully completed films that were set for future release.

NBC says that the US Department of Homeland Security is aware of the threats, but does not have any concrete information to back them up as credible and will continue to monitor the situation.

"The Interview" stars James Franco and Seth Rogen as two journalists who land an interview with the reclusive leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un. The story focuses on a plot hatched by the Central Intelligence Agency to train the two journalists to become assassins and kill the North Korean leader.