James Franco hails 'victory' over North Korea after Sony announces plan to release The Interview on Christmas Day

 
Film release: James Franco and Seth Rogen star as journalists involved in a plot to kill Kim Jong-Un (Picture: AFP)
Miranda Bryant24 December 2014

Hollywood star James Franco today hailed “victory” over North Korea after it was announced that The Interview movie would be released on Christmas day following a U-turn by Sony Pictures.

The company said last night that it would defy the rogue state by showing the Kim Yong Un spoof from tomorrow at 200-300 theatres in the US.

It comes six days after the company decided to cancel the film - which depicts the killing of the rouge state’s leader - after a hacking attack and threats to harm cinema-goers.

Franco, who stars in the controversial film in which his character is instructed to assassinate North Korean dictator Kim Yong Un, tweeted in response: “VICTORY!!!!!!! The PEOPLE and THE PRESIDENT have spoken!!! SONY to release THE INTERVIEW in theaters…”

The 36-year-old also thanked “President Obacco” making reference to Barack Obama who confused Franco with Baltimore Ravens star Joe Flacco in a recent press conference.

He wrote on Instagram: “CELEBRATING!!!!!”The Interview” starring Seth Rogen and James Flacco saved by President Obacco! I MEAN PRESIDENT OBAMA!!!!! Sorry!!!”

His co-star Seth Rogan was also celebrating. He said in a tweet: “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!”

Among the theatres to show the film is the Jean Cocteau cinema in Santa Fe, New Mexico, owned by Game of Thrones author George RR Martin.

He told the BBC World Service: “It’s a question of free expression, free speech if you would. Like a lot of people, I was offended by the notion that the dictator of North Korea could decide what we were allowed to see or not see. And I think a lot of the people who run independent theatres agree with me on that.

“It’s kind of similar in a strange way to the Salman Rushdie case of a few years ago when a fatwa was issued against Rushdie and chain bookstores at the time announced that they would not be carrying the Satanic Verses for fear of violence but the independent bookstores stood up and said we’ll carry the book gladly.”

President Barack Obama was among the first to praise the decision to show the film.

His spokesman said: “The president applauds Sony’s decision to authorise screenings of the film. We are a country that believes in free speech and the right of artistic expression.”

Independent cinemas in the UK, including the Lexi Cinema in Kensal Rise, have also asked to be allowed to show the film.

The film was originally planned to be screened in 3,000 cinemas across the US.

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