Following the Sony hacking scandal, the studio has put a ban on interviews at the premiere of Seth Rogen and James Franco’s controversial The Interview.
Not only will journalists not be permitted to interview The Interview‘s cast and crew as they walk the red carpet today in LA, but Sony has pulled their invitations to stand on the sideline, USA Today writes.
Only photographers are allowed to cover the red carpet, although the journalists will be allowed into the screening itself to watch and review the movie.
There are no plans to additionally beef up security, however, according to The Wrap.
Sony offers no explanation for their decision. But this follows after the hacking group, who last week leaked the private information of the studio’s employees, demanded The Interview be pulled from theaters.
Restricting access to the stars serves a dual function: not only does it help protect the cast and crew from any potential threats made against them, but it also prevents Seth Rogen and James Franco from making unsolicited comments about the situation.
While Rogen and Franco have been quick to make light of the hacking scandal, there’s no telling what reporters might try to get them to say – and while Sony isn’t actually giving into the hacking group’s demand, they might not want to fuel the fire, either.
In other The Interview news, The Wrap reports that the movie will not be shown in Asia.
It was a Sony spokesperson who revealed this to a Japanese newspaper, saying that this decision was made before the hacking scandal began.