Sony Will Screen 'The Interview' On Christmas Day In Major Reversal Of Earlier Decision

Update 3 p.m. EST: President Obama praised Sony's decision to release "The Interview," reversing its decision to bow to pressure from North Korea to block the film. "The president applauds Sony's decision to authorize screenings of the film," spokesman Eric Schultz said in a statement.

"As the president made clear, we are a country that believes in free speech and the right of artistic expression."

Original post:

Sony Pictures is expected to announce the Christmas Day release of a theatrical version of "The Interview." The move would reverse the studio's cancellation of screenings following a massive data hack the U.S. government alleged last week was the work of the North Korean government. North Korea is widely seen as having launched the hack in retaliation for the release of the comedy in which two journalists are tasked with assassinating North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.

Tim League, founder of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, which has theaters in 17 locations around the country, said in an email to the Dallas Morning News: "Sony has authorized shows for Christmas Day. Will have Dallas shows on sale within the hour," according to an update by the newspaper just before 11 a.m. CST (noon EST).

A representative with the Alamo Drafthouse theater in Yonkers, New York confirmed to NBC News that the Yonkers theater will screen The Interview.

Sony was hacked by a group calling themselves the Guardians of Peace in late November. The hackers reportedly stole 100 terabytes of data, according to Deadline, including advance screeners of a new James Bond film, private financial information of employees and personal emails. The group went on to threaten any theaters that chose to screen the movie and warned patrons to stay away from theaters that went ahead with screenings. Sony cancelled countrywide screenings last week after a handful of theater chains said they would not show the film.

Sony will release the movie simultaneously on video on demand, according to The Wrap, which cited a source close to the studio. Sony has not publicly confirmed the report.