"I think every business has the right to do whatever they want, but when — en masse — all of these businesses decide not to present a movie, they’re basically setting themselves up for other people to threaten them. What do they do when someone says the same thing about the James Bond movie or ‘Annie‘?" Judd Apatow told The LA Times, in response to Sony‘s decision to pull the release of Seth Rogen and James Franco‘s "The Interview." "There may be credible evidence of imminent violence that I don’t know about. But if they don’t really have that information, how many movies are they willing not to release? Our community is based on freedom of expression. Are we going to suppress ourselves every time someone posts something online? It’s a dark future."
It’s a sentiment that many have been sharing following Sony’s shocking news, but for now, the studio is holding fast to their choice to keep "The Interview" under lock and key. The movie has been removed from their website, and while some have suggested a VOD release to counter movie chains deciding not to show the film (which led to Sony pulling the film, along with the U.S. naming North Korea as the source of the massive hack on the studio), that won’t happen either. “Sony Pictures has no further release plans for the film,” a spokesperson from the studio said (via Variety). So for now, the R-rated comedy will sit in a vault somewhere, until….North Korea is no longer a threat? Sony deems it right to release the movie? Or maybe they’ll just eat the loss and keep it hidden away forever.
It’s an outcome that sets uncomfortable precedents, as Apatow suggests. The ramifications are being felt around Hollywood, who are suddenly becoming cautious with North Korea-based projects. The Wrap reports that New Regency has scuttled Gore Verbinski‘s "Pyongyang," which had Steve Carell attached to star, and a spring shoot lined up. Based on the graphic novel by Guy Deslisle, it tells about his travels in North Korea, made possible by a work visa obtained for his gig working on a children’s cartoon show. In an email to Deadline, Verbinski shares his disappointment at his movie being shuttered, while Carell made his feelings quite clear with two tweets:
Sad day for creative expression. #feareatsthesoul
— Steve Carell (@SteveCarell) December 17, 2014
Chaplin pic.twitter.com/LE5w3f3HAs
— Steve Carell (@SteveCarell) December 18, 2014
But, it’s not all grim and sad news. The Alamo Drafthouse in Dallas, unable to show "The Interview," have somewhat brilliantly decided to show "Team America: World Police" instead this Saturday night:
FOR THE RECORD: We were still going to show #TheInterviewMovie…
— Alamo Drafthouse DFW (@AlamoDFW) December 17, 2014
…but now we’ll be showing TEAM AMERICA in it’s place…for FREE(DOM). Because AMERICA, F YEAH. http://t.co/7A7p6ApIIE pic.twitter.com/U3EEqQU1Px
— Alamo Drafthouse DFW (@AlamoDFW) December 17, 2014
But the questions around "The Interview" remain: Is this the new line drawn in the sand? Or an extraordinary response to an extraordinary situation? Share your thoughts below.
Look, Wesley Snipes once said, "Always bet on black". I think that certainly applies here, eh, folks? Actually, no it doesn\’t.
Hackers, North Korea and fear take down Sony Pictures. How bizarre! Sad time for freedom. Sets a bad precedent as well. At the same time I understand from a business stand point movie theatres stepping away from this. Perhaps they should release only in a few theatres with high security then roll it out after that on VOD.
Good.
Sweden has also pulled the film. A sad day for freedom of speech. What will be next? This is very dangerous for the future. Now people know they can bully the film industry and get away with it.