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       One Day After Online Debut, 'The Interview' Has Theatrical Release

   by VOA News

   A week after it was stopped from general release across the United
   States due to threats of violence, the controversial comedy film The
   Interview is set to be released on a limited basis Thursday.

   Hundreds of independent theaters and small theater chains will follow
   through on Sony Pictures' original Christmas Day release schedule. Sony
   initially said 200 independent theaters will screen The Interview, but
   revised that number to over 300.

   Sony distributed The Interview Wednesday through several digital
   platforms including YouTube, Google Play, and Microsoft Xbox. But
   co-star Seth Rogen said on Twitter that "a comedy is best viewed in a
   theater full of people, so if you can, I'd watch it like that."

   The comedy tells the story of two journalists who are recruited by U.S.
   intelligence to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

   North Korea condemned the movie and unknown attackers hacked Sony
   Pictures computers earlier this month, stealing valuable and highly
   confidential information. The cyber attacks were followed by threats of
   violence, prompting several major U.S. theater chains to pull the
   movie.

   Sony said it was essential to release the movie "especially given the
   assault upon our business by those who wanted to stop free speech."
   U.S. President Barack Obama said last week Sony made a mistake in
   canceling the film's release.

   The United States blames North Korea for the cyber attack, a charge
   Pyongyang denies.

   Some mateiral for this report came from AP and Reuters.
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   e-interview-has-theatrical-release/2573232.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/one-day-after-release-online-debut-the-interview-has-theatrical-release/2573232.html