Sony Pictures has authorized screenings of “The Interview,” the satirical film about the assassination of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un which the studio pulled earlier this month after hackers made terrorist threats if the movie was released.
On Tuesday, Tim League, who owns Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas, announced that his theater was one of only a few in the country that will be showing the movie, which stars Seth Rogen and James Franco.
Breaking news: Sony has authorized screenings of THE INTERVIEW on Christmas Day. We are making shows available within the hour. #Victory
— Tim League (@timalamo) December 23, 2014
The Plaza Theater in Atlanta also announced it would be showing the film.
Breaking Plaza News: The Interview will open Exclusive on 12/25 . The Plaza will be one of the few theaters in the nation to open the film .
— Plaza Atlanta (@PlazaAtlanta) December 23, 2014
Showings will not be limited only to Christmas Day, according to the theater’s management.
The Interview -Times Christmas Day 4pm 5pm 6:30 7:30 9:35 12/26 to 1/1 times will be announced tomorrow. On 2 screens
— Plaza Atlanta (@PlazaAtlanta) December 23, 2014
Sony canceled the movie’s red carpet premier last week and later pulled the film, claiming that larger chain cinemas were hesitant to show it, fearing terrorist threats.
The FBI has stated that the North Korean government is behind a hacking attack which exposed Sony executives’ embarrassing emails, some of which included unflattering comments about President Obama.
Some cyber security experts and law enforcement officials have questioned whether North Korea was actually behind the cyber attack.
Regardless, Obama criticized Sony’s handling of the threats.
“I wish they had spoken to me first,” Obama said at a year-end press conference last week. “I would have told them do not get into a pattern in which you’re intimidated by these kinds of criminal attacks.”