WASHINGTON - Top Hollywood star George Clooney has said fellow celebrities and industry figures did not want to sign a petition supporting ‘The Interview’ film featuring the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as they were afraid of the consequences.
In an interview with Deadline Hollywood, Clooney said he wanted to see the film released online to undermine the threats of the hacking gang, who are believed to be supported by North Korean agents.
Sony’s computer systems were breached following a major hacking attack last month, which saw highly confidential material released as well as a string of embarrassing emails.
Clooney says he circulated a letter asking top Hollywood figures to show their support for the embattled studio.
The letter called for the industry to “fully support Sony’s decision not to submit to these hackers’ demands,” and to acknowledge “that to give in to these criminals now will open the door for any group that would threaten freedom of expression, privacy and personal liberty. We hope these hackers are brought to justice but until they are, we will not stand in fear. We will stand together.”
In essence, the letter was “basically saying ... ‘We’re not going to give in to a ransom,’ “ Clooney told Deadline. “As we watched one group be completely vilified, nobody stood up. Nobody took that stand.”
As far as his petition, Clooney couldn’t land a single signature.
The hack of Sony Pictures first came to light in November, and in the weeks since has developed into a devastating saga that’s included leaked Social Security numbers and health information, embarrassing emails from studio execs and a threat that’s led to Sony canceling its release of “The Interview.”
The movie, which stars stars Seth Rogen and James Franco, has a plot that involves a plan to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. U.S. officials believe the attack on Sony was ordered by North Korea’s leadership.
“We’re talking about an actual country deciding what content we’re going to have,” he told Deadline. “This affects not just movies, this affects every part of business that we have.”
“What happens if a newsroom decides to go with a story, and a country or an individual or corporation decides they don’t like it? Forget the hacking part of it. You have someone threaten to blow up buildings, and all of a sudden everybody has to bow down.
“Sony didn’t pull the movie because they were scared; they pulled the movie because all the theaters said they were not going to run it. And they said they were not going to run it because they talked to their lawyers and those lawyers said if somebody dies in one of these, then you’re going to be responsible.”