Sony Pictures has cleared the way for the release of ‘The Interview’ in some US cinemas on Christmas Day, less than a week after pulling the movie following a devastating cyber attack that has been blamed on North Korea.
Sony Pictures Chief Executive Michael Lynton said there would be "a limited theatrical release" in the US of the comedy about a fictional plot to assassinate North Korea leader Kim Jong Un, and said the studio was looking for more options to screen the film.
On Wednesday Sony cancelled the 25 December release after major US cinema chains pulled out of showing the film because of threats from hackers. It said it was "deeply saddened at this brazen effort to suppress the distribution of a movie."
Mr Lynton said in a statement: "We have never given upon releasing ‘The Interview’ and we're excited our movie will be in a number of theatres on Christmas Day."
He said Sony was trying to secure other platforms and more theatres "so that this movie reaches the largest possible audience".
The White House said President Barack Obama was pleased that Sony had rethought its decision. "The decision made by Sony and participating theatres allows people to make their own choices about the film, and we welcome that outcome," presidential spokesman Eric Schultz said in a statement.
Mr Obama on Friday called Sony's decision to pull the movie a mistake, suggesting it could set a bad precedent in which "some dictator some place can start imposing censorship here in the United States."
Founder of Texas-based Alamo Drafthouse Cinema chain Tim League wrote on Twitter that it planned to show the film. A theatre in Atlanta, the Plaza Atlanta, said on social media that it will also show the movie.
It remains unclear how many cinemas will be allowed to screen the film and if major movie chains, which had decided not to open the film last week owing to security concerns, would join the group of authorized exhibitors.
See the movie North Korea really, REALLY doesn't want you to see....this time for realsies. http://t.co/cZ2x1KUHjA pic.twitter.com/VlLeDVb17L
— Alamo Drafthouse DFW (@AlamoDFW) December 23, 2014
