The Interview will be shown in limited cinemas in the US from Christmas Day. Sony Pictures Entertainment has granted the film's release despite threats from hackers directed at cinema goers. Mounting political pressure, including a number of statements released by President Barack Obama, is believed to have contributed to Sony's decision to release The Interview.

James Franco and Seth Rogen
James Franco and Seth Rogen at the Los Angeles premiere of The Interview in December 2014.

Read More: Saturday Night Live: Dr. Evil Had Some Wise Words For The Sony Hackers.

The Interview has been picked up by a number of independent cinemas including two in Austin and Atlanta. A representative for Sony stated the company is hoping the film is picked up by more venues and eventually will be widely available. The film is likely to be shown in around 200 around the US, according to The Wrap. Reports from the same source also suggest Sony may make the film available for a video on-demand release. 

The news of The Interview's release was announced on Tuesday morning (23rd December) by Michael Lynton, the chairman and CEO of Sony. In a statement Lynton described the company's continued efforts to have The Interview released and thanked the film's cast and crew for their support. 

"We have never given up on releasing The Interview and we're excited our movie will be in a number of theatres on Christmas Day. At the same time, we are continuing our efforts to secure more platforms and more theatres so that this movie reaches the largest possible audience," Lynton said in the statement. "I want to thank our talent on The Interview and our employees, who have worked tirelessly through the many challenges we have all faced over the last month. While we hope this is only the first step of the film's release, we are proud to make it available to the public and to have stood up to those who attempted to suppress free speech."

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Watch The Trailer For The Interview On Contactmusic: