The situation around Sony’s The Interview and the studio’s newfound decision to release it seems to be changing by the hour. And as we get closer and closer to the movie’s initial Christmas Day release date, we are finding out about more and more ways that you might be able to watch the controversial comedy… starting as early as TODAY!
According to a statement picked up by THR, Sony will make Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s The Interview available to stream on various online platforms including YouTube Movies, Google Play, Microsoft's Xbox Video, as well as Sony's own Web site, www.seetheinterview.com. The movie, which will go online at 1 p.m. EST / 10 a.m. PST, and can be rented for $5.99, or purchased in HD for $14.99.
Michael Lynton, chairman and CEO of Sony Entertainment, said in a statement:
It has always been Sony’s intention to have a national platform on which to release this film. With that in mind, we reached out to Google, Microsoft and other partners last Wednesday, Dec. 17, when it became clear our initial release plans were not possible. We are pleased we can now join with our partners to offer the film nation-wide today.We never stopped pursuing as wide a release as possible for The Interview. It was essential for our studio to release this movie, especially given the assault upon our business and our employees by those who wanted to stop free speech. We chose the path of digital distribution first so as to reach as many people as possible on opening day, and we continue to seek other partners and platforms to further expand the release."
The expansion will include a number of theaters who worked out deals to host The Interview on Christmas Day, even as major theatrical chains passed on the film like a political hot potato.
At last count, there are roughly 300 theaters who are going to carry The Interview on Christmas Day. It will be interesting to see how crowds respond to the film, and what type of VOD numbers Sony is able to report as The Interview screens. At the very least, we know that Seth Rogen is pleased.
The Interview is coming. Will you watch? And how?
