14 DAY TRIAL // As was to be expected, Hollywood is reacting to news that Sony Pictures has caved in under pressure and threats from hackers grouped under the moniker Guardians Of Peace and pulled the plug on “The Interview,” the action comedy starring James Franco and Seth Rogen.
The film centers on their trip to North Korea, where they must kill leader Kim Jong-un, as per CIA instructions. In messages sent to Sony, the hackers claimed that they would unleash hell, including a 9/11 type of attack on theaters running the film, if the studio didn’t cancel the release.
Sony finally gave in – and this marks a sad day for the arts and for creative expression and freedom of speech, voices online are saying right now.
Clearly, there was no conceivable way for Sony to release the film as planned on Christmas day after the hackers threatened them to bomb everyone and their mother, even if the threat is proved to be unfounded eventually.
Still, by pulling it from theaters, studio executives allowed the terrorists control over Hollywood and set a very dangerous precedent because it showed the world that with enough pressure and just the right words, anyone can get any other major studio to do what they want.
Rob Lowe, Judd Apatow, Jimmy Kimmel and Michael Moore are just a handful of big names speaking on this on social media, and basically blaming Sony for not having the cojones to stand behind the film, which was, after all, a silly comedy, make-believe.
Well, as you can see in the tweets below, Michael Moore has a bit more to say on the topic, but it serves to send across the same message: Sony let the terrorists win the war.
Wow. Everyone caved. The hackers won. An utter and complete victory for them. Wow.
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) December 17, 2014
I think it is disgraceful that these theaters are not showing The Interview. Will they pull any movie that gets an anonymous threat now?
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 17, 2014
. @JuddApatow I agree wholeheartedly. An un-American act of cowardice that validates terrorist actions and sets a terrifying precedent.
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) December 17, 2014
Dear Sony Hackers: now that u run Hollywood, I'd also like less romantic comedies, fewer Michael Bay movies and no more Transformers.
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) December 17, 2014
Also, Sony Hackers - I really liked Tyler Perry in "Gone Girl" so hold off on doing anything yet with Madea.
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) December 17, 2014
Oh, hackers, one more thing - I lost like $180K on "Canadian Bacon". Can u do the opposite of what u just did & get it back IN to theaters?
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) December 17, 2014
