The New York premiere of a film about a fictional plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been canceled following threats by a shadowy hacker group.
The so-called Guardians of Peace on Tuesday released a statement promising a “bitter fate” to those who see “The Interview,” which is set to be released nationwide on Christmas Day.
In broken English, the brief statement invoked the September 11, 2001, attacks against the U.S. and warned potential movie-goers to “keep yourself distant” from theaters that show the film.
It also included another round of leaked e-mails that appear to be from Sony Pictures CEO Michael Lynton.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said it is analyzing the message, but insisted “there is no credible intelligence to indicate an active plot against movie theaters.”
Sony Pictures says it will release the film as planned, but that it will not object if theaters decide to cancel screenings. At least one U.S. theater chain, Carmike Cinemas, has already done so.
Late Tuesday night, Landmark Cinemas, another major U.S. movie theater chain, announced it, too, was canceling Thursday’s premiere of “The Interview” at its New York City location.
Source-VOA
