Sony Pictures said it would distribute "The Interview" online
beginning Wednesday through a Sony website as well as services from
Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp.
The controversial comedy at the center of a hacking attack at
the Sony Corp. studio blamed on North Korea will be available from
Google's Play Store and YouTube site, as well as Microsoft's Xbox
Video online store. In addition, Sony will offer the movie from a
special website it has set up: seetheinterview.com.
The deals are part of a major course reversal for Sony Pictures,
which last week said it wouldn't distribute "The Interview" after
major theater chains said they wouldn't show the film following a
threat of violence posted online by the hackers.
On Tuesday, Sony said it would in fact release the Seth Rogen
comedy about an attempted assassination of North Korean leader Kim
Jung-Un as planned on Christmas Day. About 200 theaters, most of
which are independently owned, plan to show the film beginning
Thursday.
The film will be available online beginning at 10 a.m. PST
Wednesday. It will cost $5.99 to rent and $14.99 to buy, typically
a standard price for movies when they are available online several
months after debuting in theaters.
Write to Ben Fritz at ben.fritz@wsj.com and Rolfe Winkler at
rolfe.winkler@wsj.com
Access Investor Kit for Sony Corp.
Visit
http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=JP3435000009
Access Investor Kit for Google, Inc.
Visit
http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=US38259P5089
Access Investor Kit for Google, Inc.
Visit
http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=US38259P7069
Access Investor Kit for Sony Corp.
Visit
http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=US8356993076
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires