A billboard for the film The Interview is displayed December 19, 2014 in Venice, California. Christopher Polk/Getty Images
So, The Interview might not be completely shut out of theaters, after all. Following the announcement that Sony Pictures was cancelling the movie’s planned Christmas Day release amidst threats from hackers of attacks on establishments showing the film, the studio is reportedly allowing some theaters to screen it.
Earlier this morning, Tim League, founder of the Austin-based Alamo Drafthouse founder tweeted “Sony has authorized screenings of THE INTERVIEW on Christmas Day. We are making shows available within the hour. #Victory” (In a statement issued later, he also said, “Two days til Christmas, and I am proud to be an American.”) The Plaza Theater in Atlanta posted on Facebook that it would have the Seth Rogen and James Franco film playing on two screens Dec. 25 and would also be announcing screening times for Dec. 26 as well.
Soon after the theaters started making the announcements, Rogen himself took to Twitter to celebrate the decision, saying, “The people have spoken! Freedom has prevailed! Sony didn’t give up! The Interview will be shown at theaters willing to play it on Xmas day!” Sony confirmed the release with Sony CEO Michael Lynton saying in a statement, “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.”
Sony initially pulled The Interview after hackers threatened 9/11-style attacks on movie theaters showing the film—a move that made it look as though a group of hackers could censor film content. President Barack Obama called the move a “mistake,” adding, “I would have told them do not get into a pattern in which you’re intimidated by these kinds of criminal attacks.”
Many called for Sony to release the film online, a plan that might still come to fruition: The Wrap is reporting that the studio plans to release the movie on VOD simultaneous with the (for now limited) theatrical release. So far, though, no other details about that release are available, but Lynton did say in his statement “we are continuing our efforts to secure more platforms and more theaters so that this movie reaches the largest possible audience.”
It’s unclear how many theaters will ultimately end up showing the movie, but a source told The New York Times Sony will probably be able to put together a limited release in a couple hundred small theaters. Since the announcement came in with such short notice, however, many theaters are simply unable to shift their schedules in time for Thursday: the Somerville Theater in Somerville, MA has confirmed, for example, that it will be screening the film the week of January 2.
Below is a list of theaters that have said they’ll be showing The Interview. We’ll update it as we hear more, but hit the comments and let us know if showtimes are announced at a theater near you—then let us know if you plan on going. And if you’re a theater owner or employee, use the hashtage #SeeTheInterview—we’ll be keeping an eye on that, and will be updating this list as we hear more.
1. Alamo Drafthouse, Theaters TBD
2. Plaza Theater, Atlanta
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