Today, audiences can see The Interview, Seth Rogen and James Franco’s comedy about a plot to assassinate North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. The film is up on three major online venues and will be screened in 300 indie theaters starting tomorrow.
Earlier today, it was reported that Google’s YouTube was already in talks to make the film available online so an even wider audience can see it, in case you don’t happen to live near an indie theater playing it. Now, Sony has confirmed that Google Play and Microsoft’s XBox Video will also have the film available.
In a blog post, Google SVP Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer David Drummond wrote that the company did consider the security implications of its decision. After all, the hackers who attacked Sony threatened movie theaters that planned to show it, which is why it was initially pulled. However, Google decided that free speech should not be denied.
“Of course it was tempting to hope that something else would happen to ensure this movie saw the light of day,” Drummond wrote. “But after discussing all the issues, Sony and Google agreed that we could not sit on the sidelines and allow a handful of people to determine the limits of free speech in another country (however silly the content might be).”
Microsoft issued a similar statement, taking a stand for free speech. While they do not endorse the content of the film, Microsoft said that it is backing American citizen’s constitutional right of free speech.
“In the United States, freedom of expression is a fundamental principle that is protected by law. Our Constitution guarantees for each person the right to decide what books to read, what movies to watch, and even what games to play. In the 21st Century, there is no more important place for that right to be exercised than on the Internet,” Brad Smith, Microsoft’s General Counsel and Executive Vice President, Legal and Corporate Affairs, wrote. “After substantial thought, we decided to stand up with Sony and work with others to ensure that freedom of expression triumphs over cyber-terrorism.”
In addition to these three venues, Sony has made the film available to rent online themselves on SeeTheInterview.com.
TheWrap is reporting that Netflix is in talks to make the film available as well, but it won’t be at the streaming service until after Christmas Day.
image of James Franco courtesy of Dara Kushner/INFphoto.com