Sony Hacks Fallout: Cancellation of Sony's "The Interview" and New Regency's "Pyongyang"

Movie theaters in the US have recently succumbed to terrorist threats connected with the Sony Hacks. Sony has now officially cancelled its film "The Interview" which is a James Franco, Seth Rogen comedy about a plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and New Regency is also canceling Gore Verbinski‘s adaptation of Guy Delisle‘s graphic novel Pyongyang, which is a memoir following “the French-Canadian cartoonist’s travels through North Korea after obtaining a work visa (a rarity for a Westerner) for his job on a children’s cartoon show,” but his journey becomes complicated when he’s accused of espionage. [hit the jump to continue]

Here is Sony's official statement on canceling "The Interview":

In light of the decision by the majority of our exhibitors not to show the film The Interview, we have decided not to move forward with the planned December 25 theatrical release. We respect and understand our partners’ decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theater-goers.

Sony Pictures has been the victim of an unprecedented criminal assault against our employees, our customers, and our business. Those who attacked us stole our intellectual property, private emails, and sensitive and proprietary material, and sought to destroy our spirit and our morale – all apparently to thwart the release of a movie they did not like. We are deeply saddened at this brazen effort to suppress the distribution of a movie, and in the process do damage to our company, our employees, and the American public. We stand by our filmmakers and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this outcome.

As for "Pyongyang" Verbinski was just about to start filming in March with Steve Carell set to star in the comedy, but now New Regency is the latest company to cave into fear, which is exactly what terrorists want.  This is a movie the company could have billed as “From the Director of Pirates of the Caribbean” and starring a likely Oscar-nominee, and they’re choosing to drop it.  With The Interview and now Pyongyang, the message is clear: don’t make fun of North Korea or else.  Hit the jump for a synopsis of Delisle’s book.

Here’s the synopsis for Guy Delisle’s Pyongyang:

A westerner’s visit into North Korea, told in the form of a graphic novel.

Famously referred to as one of the “Axis of Evil” countries, North Korea remains one of the most secretive and mysterious nations in the world today. In early 2001 cartoonist Guy Delisle became one of the few Westerners to be allowed access to the fortresslike country. While living in the nation’s capital for two months on a work visa for a French film animation company, Delisle observed what he was allowed to see of the culture and lives of the few North Koreans he encountered; his findings form the basis of this remarkable graphic novel. Pyongyang is an informative, personal, and accessible look at a dangerous and enigmatic country.