Columbia PicturesUPDATE: LAPD Chief Charlie Beck told reporters Tuesday regarding the theater threat: "We take those threats very seriously and we will take extra precautions during the holidays and at theaters. We're very aware of the controversy surrounding Sony studios so we'll take that into account. I won't get into the details of all of that, but suffice it to say we're aware of it and we'll take appropriate action."
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As if there wasn't enough to feel sorry for Sony over...
Along with another clump of stolen files, the group that has claimed responsibility for the hacking that has Hollywood rattled sent a warning message this morning regarding the "Christmas gift" it previously promised to those responsible for the Seth Rogen-James Franco comedy The Interview.
"We will clearly show [the gift] to you at the very time and places The Interview be shown, including the premiere, how bitter fate those who seek fun in terror should be doomed to," read the missive from the group, which calls itself Guardians of Peace.
"We have already promised a Christmas gift to you," the message continued. "This is the beginning of the gift...Soon all the world will see what an awful movie Sony Pictures Entertainment has made. The world will be full of fear. Remember the 11th of September 2001. We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time. (If your house is nearby, you'd better leave.) Whatever comes in the coming days is called by the greed of Sony Pictures Entertainment. All the world will denounce the SONY."
In response, a FBI spokesperson said that the Bureau was "aware of recent threats and continues to work collaboratively with our partners to investigate the Sony attack."
"This now borders on terrorist activity and would define the Guardians of Peace as a terrorist group," cyber security expert and CEO of Red E-Digital Ralph Echemendia told the Los Angeles Times today.
At this time, The Interview—about a moronic talk show host who's tasked with assassinating North Korean leader Kim Jong Un—is currently set to open wide on Christmas Day. No major theater chain has indicated yet that it will not be showing the film as scheduled.
There was no red carpet outside the film's low-key L.A. premiere last week at the Ace Hotel downtown; the film's New York premiere at Sunshine Cinema is currently still on the calendar for Thursday, but Rogen and Franco's Wednesday appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon has been canceled.
Meanwhile, two former Sony employees have filed a class-action lawsuit against the studio in federal court on behalf of themselves and others "similarly situated," alleging that Sony failed to competently protect their personal information. Among the personal data stolen and leaked by the hackers: Social Security numbers, salary information, health care records, severence package details and—of course—many, many private emails. More than 47,000 current and former employees have reportedly been affected.
The named plaintiffs are Michael Corona and Christina Mathis. They're seeking compensatory damages as well as coverage for credit-monitoring services, identity theft insurance and other data-protection assistance.
According to NBC News, Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chairs Michael Lynton and Amy Pascal sought to assure staffers at two separate meetings on Monday that they were doing everything possible in the way of damage control and that they should not fear for the studio's future.
—Additional reporting by Claudia Rosenbaum