Sony Hackers 9/11 Type Threats Cause Cancellation Of 'The Interview' Movie Premiere. North Korea Being Blamed *UPDATE* Sony Pulls The Plug On Movie's Christmas Day Release (Video)

Video After The Jump

Sony executives are scrambling in the wake of a massive leak of unreleased movies, private emails, and documents.

North Korea has been blamed for the hack because the upcoming film, The Interview, depicts an attempt to assassinate their leader Kim Jung Un. Seth Rogan and James Franco are the stars of the comedy, set to open on December 25.

North Korea has not taken responsibility for the hack, but called it a "righteous deed." A group called the Guardians of Peace is claiming to be behind the leaks. They have warned fans not to go see the film via a statement threatening possible violence.

"We will clearly show it to you at the very time and places 'The Interview' [will] be shown, including the premier, how bitter fate those who seek fun in terror should be doomed to," the note released by the group of hackers reads. "The world will be full of fear. Remember the 11th of September 2001."

Rogan and Franco have cancelled all public appearances and interviews connected to the movie. The premiere was to held on Thursday, December 18, at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema in New York City has also been cancelled, according to TMZ.

The Carmike Cinemas chain, which operates 278 theaters in 41 states in America will not be showing the film.

The Department of Homeland Security has said they don't believe the threats are credible. Nevertheless, the damage has already been done to Sony's bottom line. In addition to The Interview disaster movies that have been leaked so far include Annie, Fury, Still Alice and Mr. Turner.

Unflattering emails from Sony employees about Adam Sandler, President Obama and Kevin Hart have also been leaked to the public.

**UPDATE**

Regal Entertainment, AMC Entertainment, Cinemark and Cineplex Entertainment have joined Carmike Cinemas and decided against showing the film.

**UPDATE 2**

With a growing number of movie chains deciding not to show The Interview, Sony has pulled the plug on it's Christmas release date.

The company has released a statement:

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 December 25 theatrical release. We respect and understand our partners’
decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety
of employees and theater-goers.

Sony Pictures has been the victim of an unprecedented criminal assault against
our employees, our customers, and our business. 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.

A poster for the movie “The Interview” is carried away by a worker after being pulled from a display case at a Carmike Cinemas movie theater in Atlanta on Dec. 17, 2014. (David Goldman/AP)

When or if the $44 million film will hit theaters remains to be seen. The U.S. government has determined that North Korea is behind the Sony cyber attack.