While it sounded like a really neat idea from the Alamo Drafthouse Theater in Dallas - to thumb their noses at North Korea by showing Team America: World Police in place of Sony’s The Interview - it turns out that Paramount didn’t agree. The studio, which released the film by the creators of South Park in 2004, decided to force the theater to cancel.
As we previously reported, the Alamo Drafthouse announced last night that they would show Team America on Dec. 27, after Sony decided not to release The Interview at all. “...Now we'll be showing TEAM AMERICA in it's place…for FREE(DOM). Because AMERICA, F YEAH,” the theater tweeted, referencing the film’s famous song.
It turns out that other theaters hoped to follow suit by showing the movie as well, including Cleveland’s Capitol Theatre.
However, Deadline is reporting that Paramount is now stepping in and has cancelled these screenings. “Due to to circumstances beyond our control, the TEAM AMERICA 12/27 screening has been cancelled. We apologize & will provide refunds today,” the Alamo Drafthouse management tweeted. The Capitol Theatre wrote that their screening “has been canceled by Paramount Pictures.”
Paramount didn’t offer any further statement on the move.
If you don’t happen to own a copy of Team America, it is streaming at Netflix. The film was made in 2004 and centers on a group of Americans sent to stop Kim Jong Un’s father, Kim Jong Il, from seeking world domination. It was made with marionettes and written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone.