US official says federal investigators connect Sony hacking to North Korea

NEW YORK (KTRK) -- A U.S. official says federal investigators have now connected the Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. hacking to North Korea and are expected to make an announcement in the near future.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to openly discuss an ongoing criminal case. The announcement came about an hour after Sony Pictures pulled the plug on the release of "The Interview" following threats of terrorist attacks at theaters showing the comedy.

Until Wednesday, the Obama administration had been saying it was not immediately clear who might have been responsible for the computer break-in. North Korea has publicly denied it was involved.

The unidentified hackers had demanded that Sony cancel its upcoming release of the movie "The Interview," a comedy that included a gruesome scene depicting the assassination of North Korea's leader.

Sony issued the following statement about its decision to pull the December 25 premiere:

"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."

Regal Cinemas, AMC Entertainment and Cinemark have each pulled the movie. The chains also were joined in postponing any screenings of "The Interview" by ArcLight Cinemas, Cineplex Entertainment and Carmike Cinemas, which pulled the film Tuesday.

Regal said in a statement that it was delaying "The Interview" ''due to wavering support of the film ... by Sony Pictures, as well as the ambiguous nature of any real or perceived security threats."

In a prepared statement to ABC-13, AMC Theatres said:

"As friends and families make plans for the upcoming holidays, AMC has received many questions about which movies we are playing in the weeks ahead. The recent cancellation of The Interview's premiere and publicity appearances by its leading talent, and the overall confusion and uncertainty that has been created in the marketplace, brings into serious doubt whether the movie will open at all next week. At this time, to best enable AMC guests to plan their holiday movie-going with certainty and confidence, AMC is programming its theatres without The Interview."

Cineplex Entertainment, Canada's largest theater circuit, said safety was the first concern. "We look forward to a time when this situation is resolved and those responsible are apprehended," said Cineplex spokesman Pat Marshall.

After hackers calling themselves Guardians of Peace on Tuesday referenced the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11th in an ominous warning of violence for "Interview" moviegoers, Sony offered theaters the option of bowing out.

The seriousness of the threat is unclear. The Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday there was "no credible intelligence to indicate an active plot against movie theaters," but noted it was still analyzing messages from the group. The warning did prompt law enforcement in New York and Los Angeles to address measures to ramp up security.

The FBI is investigating the identity of the hackers, but suspicion has centered on North Korea, which has issued warnings over "The Interview." The comedy depicts a TV host (James Franco) and producer (Seth Rogen) tasked by the CIA to assassinate North Korea leader Kim Jung-un (played by Randall Park). Sony, which produced the film, has been shaken by a hacking attack by the group.

The National Association of Theatre Owners also weighed in Wednesday: "Individual cinema operators may decide to delay exhibition of the movie so that our guests may enjoy a safe holiday movie season experiencing the many other exciting films we have to offer," the group said in a statement.

The multiplexes that have canceled "The Interview" amount to more than 20,000 screens in North America, most of the theaters in North America. Smaller independent theaters could potentially still show the film.

Sony did not immediately comment Wednesday on the theaters pulling "The Interview." The fate of the film is now very much in question. Sony could potentially release the film at a later date in theaters, try an unprecedented on-demand release or simply hold on to it.

Some in Hollywood lashed out Wednesday at the theater operators, calling their decision a capitulation to terrorists.

"It is a disgrace that these theaters are not showing 'The Interview,'" said Judd Apatow, Rogen's friend and collaborator. "Will they pull any movie that gets an anonymous threat now?"

The Associated Press contributed to this report