The Sony hack has claimed its first two studio projects: Seth Rogen’s The Interview (originally scheduled for a December 25th release) and Steve Carrell’s “Pyongyang” (which was in-development).
While The Interview was referenced specifically by the hacktivists group “Guardians of Peace” as the reason for the cyber attack of Columbia Pictures/Sony, it was the subsequent terrorist threat that really did both films in. In particular, Guardians of Peace warned moviegoers that an attack on the New York premiere of the The Interview was inevitable. Even going as far as to specifically reference September 11th. This created a domino effect that forced Sony to cancel the release of The Interview followed by Twentieth Century Fox pulling all distribution plans for the Carrell project.
Naturally, given the hair on fire coverage of this whole thing, the Twitter-verse reacted. Surprisingly enough, it seems like quite a few of you were planning to support the film before it was pulled. Some even have gone as far as to demand that Sony not cave to terrorism or censorship and release the film anyway. As for the rest of you, the jokes just keep on coming…
All joking aside, we just gave a comfy foothold to censorship & it doesn’t get any better from this point on. #TheInterview
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) December 18, 2014
Dear @SonyPictures: Since you caved on releasing #TheInterview, go ahead and hand Spider-Man rights back to Marvel Studios.
— Kuahmel (@Kuahmel) December 18, 2014
I bet a million dollars that Matt Stone & Trey Parker are gonna turn #TheInterview controversy into a two-part @SouthPark episode.
— Jose Acevedo (@JoseAcevedo1992) December 18, 2014
Theaters may not show Seth Rogan’s new film #TheInterview due to hacker threats. Where where they before his film Green Hornet came out?
— David Brody (@David_Brody) December 18, 2014
Can’t believe the headline “Huge Hack Makes Movie Unwatchable” isn’t about Rob Schneider. #TheInterview #SonyHack
— Jon Bander (@jonbander) December 18, 2014
Fine, I’ll ask the question everyone is afraid to ask, where is Dennis Rodman and why hasn’t he fixed this yet? #theinterview #northkorea
— Chris VanDeHoef (@chrisjvandy) December 18, 2014
I’m pretty sure Saddam didn’t get this bent out of shape when Hot Shots came out in the 90s. #TheInterview
— Marcus Weisgerber (@MarcusReports) December 18, 2014
Posters for #TheInterview are now going for hundreds of dollars on eBay. pic.twitter.com/sq8s0eadOr
— Ryan Parker (@TheRyanParker) December 18, 2014
Due to cancellation of #TheInterview, the opening of “Jaws 19” has been moved up to 2015. #BackToTheFuture pic.twitter.com/7sBfZ2UxNN
— Diane N. Sevenay (@Diane_7A) December 18, 2014
Charlie Chaplin challenged Hitler with 1940 classic “The Great Dictator.” Would it get released today? #TheInterview pic.twitter.com/9Q1fZ2rFES
— cjfarley (@cjfarley) December 17, 2014
And yet in 2004, we all got to go to the theater and enjoy this: http://t.co/jbuClUs7IQ #TheInterview
— Dave Nemetz (@Dave_Nemetz) December 17, 2014
The scene right now at every movie theater in the country. #TheInterview #pouroneout @JamesFrancoTV @Sethrogen pic.twitter.com/P2EMtaaVE3
— Rob Kruz (@robkruz) December 18, 2014