Just days after Sony insisted that no one was going to get to see The Interview, the Seth Rogen/James Franco comedy is now likely the most widely available new release from a major studio. In addition to indie theaters, the film is online to rent and could be up on Netflix in just days. Starz is also set to join the fray.
As previously reported, Google teamed up with Sony to make the film available to rent for $5.99 on both YouTube and Google Play. Microsoft also has it up on XBox Video. Sony also set up its own site, called SeeTheInterview.com.
Still, some are hopeful that it will be available on Netflix, since audiences wouldn’t have to pay a one-time price just for the movie itself. Variety confirmed that Netflix is in talks with Sony and could be up in just a few days.
The Interview does have a chance to be on Starz, since Sony has an output deal with the premium cable network. However, a potential Netflix deal makes this a curious situation, since Starz is supposed to have an exclusive window for Sony films. It does look like Starz is ready to waive the window in this situation.
“As the situation with The Interview is new territory and has been constantly evolving, Starz released the film from its output deal in order to allow Sony maximum flexibility with their distribution strategy,” a Starz spokeswoman told Variety.
Around 300 theaters are screening The Interview, which of course is much less than the 3,000 theaters that would have showed it before hackers threatened the studio and theaters. Major theater chains already backed out, which forced Sony to cancel its wide release. However, on Tuesday, Sony decided to release the film in indie theaters and put it out online Wednesday.
After all the controversy surrounding the film, it has actually earned a mixed response from critics, with a 49 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
image of James Franco courtesy of Dara Kushner/INFphoto.com