Seth Rogen & James Franco's 'The Interview' Release Cancelled, North Korea Responsible For Sony Email Hacking & Leaks - Terrorist Threats Real? No Plans For VOD/DVD

Sony has pulled the plug on The Interview, the controversial new comedy starring James Franco and Seth Rogen about a tongue-in-cheek assassination attempt on North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. In the weeks leading up to this recently cancelled release date, Sony suffered a company-wide email hack, resulting in leaked information about upcoming films and damning evidence against executives about how they talk about some of the biggest stars in the world. The hackers also sent out a warning to those planning on seeing the film that a terrorist attack of the likes of 9/11/2001 would take place at the theaters showing the movie. Though earlier reports suggested the hackers were not affiliated with the hostile country, these reports were false. North Korea was behind the hacking and the threats, thus leading to the cancelation of the film's premiere, with no plans of VOD/DVD releases.

According to Slash Film's report on this news, with a series of updates included, Sony has "no further release plans" for this controversial comedy. Variety reported as well that a possible VOD release could be in the works in order to recoup on the $42 millions budget, but then an updated story ran confirming that this idea was scrapped.

The New York Times has reported that these email hacks were linked to North Korea by United States intelligence operations.

Sony released a statement this week, accepting the fact that numerous theater chains had pulled this comedy in fear of terrorist attacks.

"Sony Pictures has been the victim of an unprecedented criminal assault against our employees, our customers, and our business," the statement went on to say. "Those who attacked us stole our intellectual property, private emails, and sensitive and proprietary material, and sought to destroy our spirit and our morale - all apparently to thwart the release of a movie they did not like. We are deeply saddened at this brazen effort to suppress the distribution of a movie, and in the process do damage to our company, our employees, and the American public. We stand by our filmmakers and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this outcome."

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