Philly Theaters Won’t Show The Interview After Terrorist Threat [UPDATED]

UPDATE: Actually scratch that. No theaters are going to be showing The Interview. Sony released a statement saying that it is scraping the movie’s release altogether:

In light of the decision by the majority of our exhibitors not to show the film The Interview, we have decided not to move forward with the planned December 25 theatrical release. We respect and understand our partners’ decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theater-goers.

Sony Pictures has been the victim of an unprecedented criminal assault against our employees, our customers, and our business. Those who attacked us stole our intellectual property, private emails, and sensitive and proprietary material, and sought to destroy our spirit and our morale – all apparently to thwart the release of a movie they did not like. We are deeply saddened at this brazen effort to suppress the distribution of a movie, and in the process do damage to our company, our employees, and the American public. We stand by our filmmakers and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this outcome.

ORIGINAL: Five of America’s biggest theater chains have announced that they will not screen new the Seth Rogen / James Franco comedy The Interview after those Sony email hackers threatened terrorist violence against theaters that are showing it.

The Department of Homeland Security released a statement yesterday saying there is “no credible intelligence to indicate an active plot against movie theaters within the United States,” but theaters aren’t taking any chances. The chains that have dropped the film are Regal Entertainment, AMC Entertainment, Cinemark, Cineplex Entertainment and Carmike Cinemas. This would affect your chances of seeing the much-hyped buddy comedy at a handful of Philly theaters, including The Rave in West Philly, UA Riverview and AMC Franklin Mills. Unless of course the hype dies down before its scheduled opening on Christmas Day.