‘The Interview’ to screen in Sonoma

The Valley’s Seth Rogan fans got an extra Christmas gift this year: the surprise announcement that “The Interview,” a raunchy comedy about North Korea, will be showing at Sonoma 9 Cinemas after all.

The movie, starring Rogan and James Franco, apparently raised hackles in North Korea due to its storyline about assassinating Kim Jong-un, the country’s autocratic ruler. Ensuing terrorist threats caused Sony Entertainment, the film’s distributor, to cancel plans for a Christmas Day release.

But on Tuesday, in the face of widespread criticism over the decision, Sony reversed itself and decided to allow the showings anyway. A few theaters around the country were able to respond in time, including two in Sonoma County: Sonoma 9 Cinemas, located in the Fiesta Shopping Center on Highway 12, and Boulevard 14 Cinemas in downtown Petaluma.

Both theaters are owned by Dave Corkill, who told the Santa Rosa Press Democrat that “We believe in freedom of speech and we’re going to show it.”

The brouhaha over “The Interview” began last week, when unidentified hackers broke into Sony’s computer network and, soon after, a group threatened “9/11-style” attacks on theaters showing the movie. The U.S. government blamed both the threats and the hack on North Korean operatives, and since then North Korea’s internet systems have shut down for unknown reasons.

The incidents first prompted Sony to cancel its planned Christmas Day release of the movie, resulting in fans being turned away last week from pre-screenings. One such moviegoer, Sonoma resident Emilio “Trip” Ricci, a celebrity-news blogger, told KTVU at the time that he was disappointed after driving to San Francisco for a pre-screening of “The Interview” only to be turned away at the door.

The Associated Press reported on Wednesday that the back-and-forth over whether to release the movie has resulted in showings at about 300 theaters across the country on Christmas, instead of the originally planned 3,000. In addition to the Sonoma and Petaluma theaters, the Rialto Cinemas in Sebastopol on Wednesday had listed the film under its “coming attractions” header on its website.

Also on Wednesday, Sony announced the movie would be released on digital platforms for online streaming – an unprecedented move, according to industry experts.

In Sonoma County, other theater owners said they wanted to run “The Interview” but couldn’t – at least not this week – due to the last-minute timing. Both Sonoma 9 Cinemas and Boulevard 14 Cinemas are part of Cinema West, a 10-theater chain with movie houses around California.

Corkill said “extra precautions” will be taken during showings of “The Interview,” with security guards on duty and a ban on bringing bags or backpacks into the theaters.

As of Wednesday, it was not clear what times the movie would be showing in Sonoma. Online movie listings did not reflect the recent changes, with showings of “Hunger Games,” “Night at the Museum” and “The Hobbit” scheduled, but no “Interview.” Updated movie times presumably will be available by calling the theater’s prerecorded program information at 935-1234.