Nicole Arce, Tech Times

Sony has decided not to release "The Interview" on Dec. 25, which means a group of hackers purportedly linked to North Korea has won the first major cyberwar waged on American soil.

In a statement, Sony says it is "deeply saddened" by the hackers' brazen effort all for the goal of thwarting the release of a movie. It's not just any movie, however. It is "The Interview," a comedy film about a fictional CIA-backed plot to assassinate North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un.

"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 Dec. 25 theatrical release," Sony says. "We respect and understand our partners' decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theater-goers."

The decision to pull out the film comes just days before the three biggest theater chains in the United States, Regal Cinemas, AMC Entertainment and Cinemark Theaters, announced that they will be bowing out from the Christmas Day release of the movie after Guardians of Peace (GOP) posted an ominous message referring to the Sept. 11 Twin Towers attacks and threatening to bomb all movie theaters that will release the film.

"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," the message says. "We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time. (If your house is nearby, you'd better leave.) Whatever comes in the coming days is called by the greed of Sony Pictures Entertainment. All the world will denounce Sony."

Everyone from President Barack Obama to Jimmy Kimmel had something to say about Sony's decision to pull out. In an interview with David Muir aired over ABC News, the President said federal investigators are aware of Sony's latest move and they continue to take the investigation of the cyberattack "seriously." He also says that the government will remain "vigilant" and will inform the public if something "credible" comes up, but for now, his advice is for Americans to "go to the movies."

Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin criticized the media for essentially doing what the hackers wanted them to do by removing the spotlight on the issue of the cyberattack and focusing instead on the embarrassing contents of Sony's leaked internal files.

"Today the U.S. succumbed to an unprecedented attack on our most cherished, bedrock principle of free speech by a group of North Korean terrorists who threatened to kill moviegoers in order to stop the release of a movie," Sorkin says in a statement. "The wishes of the terrorists were fulfilled in part by easily distracted members of the American press who chose gossip and schadenfreude-fueled reporting over a story with immeasurable consequences for the public - a story that was developing right in front of their eyes."

Author Paulo Coelho has just offered Sony $100,000 for the rights of "The Interview" to post it on his own blog, while calling Sony's "lame excuses" for being afraid of the email leaks.

Producer, director and screenwriter Judd Apatow said more people will want to watch the film now that Sony has given in to the hackers' demands, while questioning the credibility of the threat.

Comedian Jimmy Kimmel agreed.

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Tags: Sony Pictures Sony Pictures Entertainment Sony Hack The Interview Guardians of Peace North Korea Kim Jong Un
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