Sony bosses are rushing copies of The Interview to select U.S. cinema bosses after deciding to release the controversial film today on Christmas Day (25Dec14) after all.
The Interview released Christmas DayA week after bowing to pressure form cyberterrorists opposed to the movie, and pulling the comedy from the Christmas Day schedule, studio executives have changed their minds, and they are planning over 20 screenings on Thursday.
A spokesman for the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Austin, Texas tells TMZ.com that Sony bosses called the owners on Monday (22Dec14) and informed them they would be getting a copy of the film to screen on Wednesday (24Dec14).
Other theaters in Texas, Colorado, Virginia, New York and Georgia have also been given the OK to screen the film, in which Seth Rogen and James Franco play journalists assigned to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The sudden release news comes just days after terrorists calling themselves Guardians of Peace informed Sony executives they had done the right thing in pulling the film from cinemas, adding they were now free to release The Interview with certain changes.
It is not clear if the movie bosses made the suggested cuts.
Rogen has confirmed the news in a tweet, writing, "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!"
Franco adds, "VICTORY!!!!!!! The PEOPLE and THE PRESIDENT have spoken!!! SONY to release THE INTERVIEW in theaters on XMAS DAY!"
Last month (Nov14), Guardians of Peace activists hacked into Sony's database and distributed embarrassing private emails between executives, personal details of celebrities' salaries and unreleased films.
FBI agents have since confirmed the group has ties to North Korea.
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