Local theaters showing 'The Interview'
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Update: The Roxy in Center City tells 6abc.com they will begin showing The Interview on January 1st starting at 11:00 p.m. Tickets will be available soon.
Earlier version of the article is below.
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Despite cyber hacks and threats, the movie "The Interview" will hit the silver screen on Christmas Day, including in the 6abc viewing area.
Sony has green-lighted showings at independent theaters like Westown Movies in Middletown, Delaware, Penn Cinema's Riverfront in Wilmington, and The Movies at Midway in Rehoboth Beach.
The theaters posted the following messages on their Facebook pages:
Westown Movies
Today Sony announced they are releasing The Interview on Christmas Day to movie theatres. What do you think about that?
Penn Cinema Riverfront
It's been a bumpy rid, but we're exited to announce that The Interview WILL open at Penn Cinema Riverfront on Christmas Day! Tickets go on sale this afternoon. #America
The Movies at Midway:
Sony has reopened the release of THE INTERVIEW. It will play Christmas Day at 9:25pm and after that daily at 1:40pm and 9:25pm. Unfortunately due to the last minute addition we only have room for 2 screenings daily at this time. More showtimes may be added at a later date.
The Pocono Community Theater in East Stroudsburg is one of the theaters showing the movie in Pennsylvania.
On its Facebook page, the theater wrote: In Celebration of FREE speech THE POCONO COMMUNITY THEATER (88 S. Courtland St East Stroudsburg) is only one of around 100 theaters across the country to have BOOKED "THE INTERVIEW" starring SETH ROGEN and JAMES FRANCO- it will open on DEC 25th
6abc.com received a statement from The Philadelphia Film Society concerning The Roxy theater in Center City. They say the theater could not bump their already scheduled movies for The Interview. However, PFS officials did try to program late night screenings of The Interview at The Roxy, however, Sony declined the offer.
6abc.com spoke with Chris Collier, Associate Director of Renew Theaters - which runs the County Theater in Doylestown, the Ambler Theater in Ambler, the Hiway Theater in Jenkintown, and the Princeton Garden Theatre in Princeton.
Collier said their theaters were already contractually obligated for the holidays to show other movies when Sony reversed its decision.
He says Renew Theaters is hoping to get a deal for a one night showing of the movie in January.
In a blog post on http://www.renewtheaters.org/, Collier describes how the independent theaters came together.
"This came after an open letter to Sony from Art House Convergence Director Russ Collins and a petition signed by over 500 independent and art house theaters calling for the release of the film. Renew Theaters, on behalf of the County, Ambler, Hiway, and Garden Theaters, signed this petition and supports the showing of the film. While we will not be opening the film on Christmas Day, we stand in strong support of those theaters that will be doing so."
Meanwhile, Reels Cinemas with theaters in Narberth and Wayne say 'unfortunately, Sony reversed its decision too late for' them to show the movie.
Gina Izzo, Programming & Marketing Associate of the Bryn Mawr Film Institute, tells 6abc.com, "BMFI has no plan to screen The Interview at this time, but fully supports all theaters, patrons, and moviegoers who champion creative freedom."
Sony canceled the film's release last week, following threats US officials say came from North Korea.
The comedy is about a plot to kill leader Kim Jong Un.
The movie will also be distributed via various online platforms Wednesday including YouTube, Xbox, Google Play, and a dedicated website.
