Summary The decision marks a dramatic U-turn by the studio after it announced to cancel movie's release.
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Sony said Tuesday it will release madcap comedy "The Interview" in some US theaters on Christmas Day, after it canceled the movie s debut following threats blamed on North Korea.
"We have never given up on releasing The Interview and we re excited our movie will be in a number of theaters on Christmas Day," said Michael Lynton, CEO of Sony Entertainment.
He said the film would be released on more "platforms" and in more theaters in the future.
A movie theater in Atlanta and a Texas-based chain of cinemas were among the first to announce plans to show the film, but it remained unclear if any major exhibitor would take the movie.
Sony s decision marks a dramatic U-turn by the studio after last week it announced plans to cancel the movie s release following threats by North Korea against theaters showing the film.
The movie about a plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un had enraged the isolated Stalinist state, which was blamed by the United States for paralysing Sony with a devastating cyber assault.
However Sony s decision to cancel the movie was criticised by President Barack Obama and a legion of high-profile figures throughout the entertainment industry.
"We cannot have a society in which some dictator someplace can start imposing censorship here in the United States," Obama said on Friday, describing Sony s decision as a "mistake."
Comedian Seth Rogen, the movie s co-director, lead actor and screenwriter, hailed Sony s volte face.
"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!" he wrote on Twitter.
