Carmike Cinemas First to Pull THE INTERVIEW After Sony Hacker Threats

Deadline reports that Carmike Cinemas, which operates 247 theaters across the country, is the first to cancel its Christmas Day screenings of Sony's THE INTERVIEW, after the studio decided to give theater owners the choice to drop the film due to this morning's threats from hackers.

A Sony source told Deadline: "We're leaving it up to the discretion of the theater owners and chains and we will support their decision."

Hackers threatened THE INTERVIEW audiences in a message this morning, December 16, specifically mentioning the James Franco and Seth Rogen film while dumping a new load of data from the studio, this time with emails from Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton.

The threat from the Guardians of Peace group reads:

"We will clearly show it to you at the very time and places 'The Interview' be shown, including the premiere, how bitter fate those who seek fun in terror should be doomed to. Soon all the world will see what an awful movie Sony Pictures Entertainment has made. The world will be full of fear. Remember the 11th of September 2001. We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time. (If your house is nearby, you'd better leave.) Whatever comes in the coming days is called by the greed of Sony Pictures Entertainment. All the world will denounce the SONY."

In response, Franco and Rogen cancelled this week's promotional appearances for the film.

As of now, Sony is not officially removing THE INTERVIEW from theaters but is leaving the decision to screen the project up to each owner or chain.

According to USA Today, the FBI is "actively involved in the case, is aware of the threats and 'continues to work collaboratively with our partners to investigate this matter,'" a spokesperson told the website, which is also reporting that federal officials are close to pinpointing the source of the hack.

BWW will bring you more news as the situation develops...