Theaters Now Pull “Team America” Movie One Day After “The Interview”
Published at(DALLAS) — After a few theaters tried to replace The Interview with another movie highlighting North Korea, Team America has also been pulled from theaters.
Paramount Pictures, the studios behind Team America, did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment, but the theaters said the company yanked the film only hours after the independent theaters said they would show the 2004 movie in place of the James Franco and Seth Rogen satire.
“Due to circumstances beyond our control, the TEAM AMERICA 12/27 screening has been cancelled. We apologize & will provide refunds today,” the Alamo Drafthouse in Dallas-Fort Worth tweeted Thursday afternoon.
Two other theaters — Capitol Theater in Cleveland and Plaza Atlanta — did the same, saying Paramount canceled the showings.
Please note: Our Late Shift screening of Team America: World Police has been canceled by Paramount Pictures. pic.twitter.com/TlPVzIeICW
— Capitol Theatre (@CapitolW65th) December 18, 2014
Team America is the second movie pulled from theaters in two days after cyberhackers threatened theaters that planned to show Sony’s The Interview.
Alamo Drafthouse Wednesday was the first to post the planned replacement movie, written by the creators of South Park.
On its Facebook page, the theater wrote, “For the record, our plan was to still show The Interview … unfortunately these decisions aren’t always ours to make. But in light of these recent events, we only have one thing to say: ‘AMERICA F*** YEAH!’ … Join us for a special showing of the TEAM AMERICA QUOTE-ALONG” with subtitles for the film’s songs on Dec. 27 at 7 p.m.
“This show is FREE, because you can’t spell ‘FREEDOM’ without ‘FREE,'” the theater added.
Now, that planned has been shelved.
For those who have never seen the decade-old movie, Team America’s plot involves Kim Jong-il, the late father of current North Korea Leader Kim Jong-un. It’s another satire much like The Interview, but more violent as American forces battle terrorists led by the World Police. But it’s filmed using puppets.
“We’re just trying to make the best of an unfortunate situation,” James Wallace, creative manager and programmer for the Texas theater, told The Hollywood Reporter about the plan to swap out the films.
The Alamo Drafthouse did not return ABC News’ request for comment.
As for The Interview, Sony pulled the plug on the release date of Dec. 25 after major movie chains like AMC and Regal all chose not to show the movie because of hacker threats.
“In light of the decision by the majority of our exhibitors not to show the film The Interview, we have decided not to move forward with the planned December 25 theatrical release,” Sony said in a statement. “We respect and understand our partners’ decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theater-goers.”
The company added that it stands by the filmmakers and “their right to free expression.”
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