The Interview to be released, straining Sonys relations with theaters and with the rest of the industry... Dave McNary Film Reporter @Variety_DMcNary It looks like a bitter Christmas for owners of major theatrical chains in the U.S., thanks to Sony Pictures Entertainment’s decision Tuesday for a limited release of “The Interview” in a few hundred independent cinemas — with a VOD release coming soon. Exhibitors were already angry over last week’s move by Sony to make them the scapegoat for the Dec. 17 cancellation. Several executives told Variety that they only wanted the film’s premiere to be delayed or modified. Following Sony’s announcement of a limited release for “The Interview,” the move is expected to only deepen the resentments that have emerged over the past week between the studio and major exhibition chains. After the movie was pulled from theaters, the major chains expected not to show “The Interview” due to the plans for an imminent VOD release — violating the longstanding policy that major studios wait several months after a movie opens before distributing it on other platforms. Now that Sony has officially put the movie back in theaters outside the major chains and coupled those plans with what could be a day-and-date VOD release, tensions have been aggravated further. Theater owners were already incensed because they believe Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman Michael Lynton blamed them unfairly last week for not showing the film. After hackers threatened a 9/11-style attack on theaters that screened “The Interview,” Sony said in a statement last week that the majority of exhibitors cancelled their bookings — an assertion that’s been disputed by several exhibitors. In his statement Wednesday, Lynton did not offer details on how soon the VOD release is coming. “We have never given up on releasing ‘The Interview’ and we’re excited our movie will be in a number of theaters on Christmas Day,” he said. “At the same time, we are continuing our efforts to secure more platforms and more theaters so that this movie reaches the largest possible audience.” Authorities have since said that North Korea is behind the hackings as punishment for Sony backing “The Interview,” which centers on a plot to kill the country’s leader Kim Jong-un. Exhibitors have been especially perturbed by the Dec. 19 interview with CNN, during which Lynton said, “The only decision that we have made with respect to release of the film was not to release it on Christmas Day in theaters, after the theater owners declined to show it…Without theaters, we could not release it in the theaters on Christmas Day. We had no choice.” His remarks came after President Barack Obama said Sony had made a “mistake” in pulling the film because it emboldened the North Korean hackers who have tormented the studio for weeks. The major chains may react by toughening up on the prices they’re willing to charge Sony for films or on screen counts for its lower profile films. A spokesman for Sony declined to comment.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 19:56:31 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015