ANOTHER UPDATE: Sony has canceled the planned December 25th release of The Interview since the nation’s largest theater chains have chosen not to screen the movie.

UPDATE: More major theater chains have reportedly decided not to show The Interview at their locations, according to various reports, and instead could be asking Sony to delay the release.

The Wall Street Journal’s Twitter account says the four top chains aren’t showing it — which would be AMC, Regal, Cinemark and Carmike, the last of which already decided against the flick. No story as of this writing, just a tweet report:

Meanwhile The Hollywood Reporter cites a source saying the five top circuits are dropping the movie, adding Cineplex Entertainment into the mix along with the other four.

There have been no official confirmations out there that we’ve seen yet.

————————-ORIGINAL STORY BELOW—————–

After the hackers claiming responsibility for the recent data breach at Sony Pictures warned the studio that there would be violent consequences for any theater showing The Interview, the Seth Rogen/James Franco bro-com about assassinating Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, Sony is telling theaters they can feel free not to show the movie.

The movie studio canceled the New York premiere of the flick, which was scheduled to screen on Dec. 18, reports AdAge.com, but has no plans to pull the release nationwide.

Executives spoke with exhibitors yesterday, according to sources cited by AdAge, telling them to do what they want, and that it’ll support whatever decision exhibitors make.

Carmike Cinemas, the fourth-largest U.S. movie chain, has already reportedly said it won’t be showing the film amid the threats of violence. Regal Entertainment Group, AMC Entertainment Holdings and Cinemark Holdings haven’t commented thus far.

“We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time,” the hackers wrote, addressing theaters that will show the movie. “(If your house is nearby, you’d better leave.)”

An official with the Department of Homeland Security told AdAge however, that there is no credible intelligence to indicate there is an active plot against movie theaters in the U.S.

But because some people might worry about attending other movies at the same theater, even if they’re not there to see The Interview, some theaters might choose to nix screenings.

“We believe that the potential risk of the hackers carrying out any threats clearly outweighs the potential minimal loss of revenues to the exhibitors,” an analyst at B. Riley & Co. wrote in a report. “Should increased concern by moviegoers keep some of them away from theaters to any degree, there could be risk to other important 2014 movies to be released in the coming weeks.”

Sony Cancels ‘Interview’ Premiere; Carmike Won’t Show Film [AdAge]

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