Controversial film ‘The Interview’ comes to UltraStar for Christmas

Computer hacking, controversial content, death threats, canceled film releases – what happens inside a major Hollywood studio has repercussions through all theater chains.

Sony Pictures’ “The Interview” created the same roller-coaster ride at UltraStar Multi-tainment Center as it did everywhere else. Now that theater is quickly preparing to screen the film on Thursday.

The comedy about an assassination plot against Supreme Leader of North Korea Kim Jong-un was allegedly the center of a cyber-attack on Sony offices. When hackers threatened to attack movie theaters, theater chains began telling the studio they would not screen the film.

“We were watching like everybody else,” UltraStar General Manager Adam Saks said. “I think everybody was speculating. We had not made a decision.”

With the chains dropping out, Sony announced it would not release the film theatrically, but was looking at other avenues to get “The Interview” to the public.

Tuesday’s announcement from the studio that it really would release the satire on Christmas Day, albeit in a limited capacity, sent wheels turning quickly at UltraStar.

Saks said theaters usually have film buyers obtaining films a couple of weeks out from scheduled release dates, with the final bookings made days before locally publicizing the film screening. UltraStar, Saks said, has a “direct relationship with Sony” and was on top of information as it was dispersed.

The late announcement from Sony gave the theater less than two days to get the word out. But UltraStar was intent on being one of the theaters involved in the limited release and was able to secure the film.

“We are gratified that we can bring to Ak-Chin and Maricopa Hollywood’s hard work,” Saks said. “We wanted to be one who’s going to get these copies. We felt very strongly that this is an underserved market and we want to bring first-class movies here.”

“The Interview” stars Seth Rogen and James Franco as two TV tabloid producers who land an interview with big fan Kim Jong-un and are asked by the CIA to “take him out.”

In June, North Korea decried the film’s premise. This fall, Sony offices suffered a major hack that made highly confidential and personal information public, including the business details of “The Interview.”

The FBI investigated the cyber-attack at Sony and pointed the finger at North Korea as the culprit. In a statement released Saturday in the Korean Central News Agency, North Korean government officials called the investigation “absurd” and denied the allegations. But the official statement also accused the movie of “hurting the dignity of the supreme leadership” of North Korea.

Saks said Sony’s decision-making was highly personal. “It was more than just business,” he said.

Sony put the safety, security and welfare of its people and the public before all other decisions, he added.

“It was a very difficult and unique decision by Sony,” Saks said.

With Thursday’s release, security remains a top priority.

“We have several security measures in place, and now we have a couple of extra measures,” Saks said.