NYC Premiere of 'The Interview' Canceled After 9/11-Type Threats as Homeland Security Investigates

The Sony hacking scandal just keeps getting more complicated each day, and what seemingly began as a plot to embarrass some of the studio's top brass is really beginning to cut into business. The Interview, slated for an official Christmas Day release and starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, is about a plot to kill North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and this one film seems to be at the center of the turmoil. The hackers, officially dubbed as the shady Guardians of Peace, are going out of their way to scare the studio into shelving this film, and their tactics seem to be working.

Rogen and Franco have canceled various promotional interviews in connection with The Interview and the film's official New York City premiere, slated for Thursday night, Dec. 18, has been canceled. Why the fear? Well, the GOP issued an ominous statement yesterday, saying in part:

"Soon all the world will see what an awful movie Sony Pictures Entertainment has made. The world will be full of fear. Remember the 11th of September 2001. We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time. (If your house is nearby, you'd better leave.)"

The FBI has been pulled into the investigation, and it claims that there has been no chatter that leads them to believe that the direct threats against movie theaters are legitimate, but no one is taking any chances. So far, Carmike Cinemas and Los Angeles's ArcLight Cinemas have canceled screenings of the film. Homeland Security claims to be inching closer toward figuring out not only who is behind the threats, but also what part of the world they are coming from.

There seems to be some serious consideration being given to the idea that if North Korea is not directly involved, they could have hired an extremist group of some kind to do their dirty work for them. Nothing seems too far beyond the realm of possibility when you consider the resources required to hack into a company like Sony's computer system. The GOP has already managed to do far more than anyone would have thought possible.

Do you think there is even a slight chance of them making good on a threat of violence? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.

Tags

The Interview, Threats, Seth Rogen, James franco, North Korea, Fear, FBI