WASHINGTON, December 25 (Sputnik) – A Pennsylvania cinema theatre chain that was going to show The Interview, a controversial comedy about the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, cancelled its plans a day before the promised release over concerns for visitors' safety, the chain's representative has informed Sputnik.
"We won't be showing [the Interview] due to heightened security reasons," a cinema theatre representative told Sputnik Wednesday, adding that the management was not planning to make official statements regarding the matter.
The movie theatre chain informed the public about the cancellation through its Facebook page, saying that "due to safety and security issues THE INTERVIEW will not be shown".
Sony Pictures Entertainment, the company that produced The Interview, announced Wednesday that the movie will be available for rent on-line on Google Play, YouTube Movies and Xbox video. The company is releasing the movie on a limited basis following a cyber-attack.
Last week, Sony cancelled the premiere of The Interview after receiving threats from an anonymous hacker group. On Tuesday, Sony decided to let the comedy run in some theatres on Christmas Day.
The FBI has said that North Korea was behind the cyber-attack on Sony, but Pyongyang denied the claim, calling for a joint investigation.
