Netflix on Wednesday revealed its intentions to make Sony’s The Interview available to its 53 million subscribers, according to the New York Post. Ted Sarandos, chief content officer at Netflix, informed subscribers about the plans but gave no details on the efforts made by the company to get the movie onto their service.
Many factors influenced Netflix decision
Sony previously canceled the release of The interview, which is produced under the banner of Sony Pictures and stars James Franco and Seth Rogen, due to the hacking scandal, but it still can be viewed on some video services and in some independent theaters.
In a television conference, Sarandos said, “People want to see the movie, and we want to be able to deliver the movie.”
Netflix faced criticism for not picking up the movie for streaming earlier after Sony canceled its plans for theatrical distribution. Sarandos informed subscribers that many factors influenced their decision, such as the fact that, “It was a very fluid situation … and it was also Dec. 24, when almost no one was in the country.”
Best online film ever for Sony
As of now, there has been no comment from Sony about any offer or request from Netflix. The concept of the movie is interesting, as Rogen and Franco play journalists involved in a CIA plot to kill North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. However, the movie failed to hit theaters because the Sony studio’s computer system was hacked by unknown assailants possibly linked to North Korea. Following the hacking attack, Sony abandoned its plan to release the movie on Christmas Day.
Commenting on the Sony attack, President Obama said that a lot remains to be done regarding U.S. cyber-security efforts.
Earlier this week, Sony said The Interview has been rented or purchased online more than 4.3 million times, earning more than $31 million in consumer sales. These impressive sales made the movie the highest in the company’s list of online film releases ever. Also the movie has earned around $5 million in theater box office sales. The movie is available on Google Play, YouTube Movies, Microsoft’s Xbox Video and on various other video-on-demand services.
When Sony initially canceled the theatrical release, it said that it had not been able to find an online alternative, however, on Wednesday, Sarandos said it was “not true.”
