Sony Pulls The Interview's Theatrical Release After Hacker Threats: "We Are Deeply Saddened"

"We respect and understand our partners’ decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theater-goers," the studio said

The Interview has been canceled.

Sony Pictures has pulled the plug on the film's theatrical release, just hours after the five major theater chains opted out of screening The Interview as originally scheduled starting on Christmas Day due to threats of some sort of major disruption at the hands of the hackers responsible for the Sony data breach.

"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," the studio said in a statement obtained by NBC News. "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."

The decision comes as reports swirl that Sony is considering a video-on-demand release instead. Guardians of Peace, the group that has claimed responsibility for the hacking and data theft that has left Sony and their fellow studios shaking in their boots, issued a new threat yesterday, compounding their warning that a "Christmas present" was in store by invoking the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

So...

Mission accomplished?

Reactions started flowing in via Twitter, though the only cast member to comment so far has been Diana Bang.

"@Variety This is my lump of cole apparently," she replied to a post about Sony's decision.

Seth Rogen, who along with co-star James Franco had canceled all of his scheduled media appearances for this morning and beyond, was spotted leaving NYC's Mercer Hotel today with luggage.

"Wow. Everyone caved. The hackers won. An utter and complete victory for them. Wow," Rob Lowe tweeted, adding, "Saw @Sethrogen at JFK. Both of us have never seen or heard of anything like this. Hollywood has done Neville Chamberlain proud today."

Judd Apatow, who had compared the theft of Sony employees' private emails to the nude-pic hacking scandal that ensnared Jennifer Lawrence and others had tweeted in response to the theaters passing on The Interview: "I think it is disgraceful that these theaters are not showing The Interview. Will they pull any movie that gets an anonymous threat now?

"What if ananonymous person got offended by something an executive at Coke said. Will we all have to stop drinking Coke? We alsodon't know that it isn't a disgruntled employee or a hacker. Do we think North Korea has troops on the ground in the US? Ridiculous...This only guarantees that this movie will be seen by more people on Earth than it would have before. Legally or illegally all will see it."

"@JuddApatow I agree wholeheartedly," Jimmy Kimmel chimed in. "An un-American act of cowardice that validates terrorist actions and sets a terrifying precedent."