This premiere went ahead ... Actors James Franco (left) and Seth Rogen at the The Interview film premiere in Los Angeles, California, on December 11, 2014. Picture: AFP / STR Source: AFP

The official spoke on condition of anonymity and an official announcement is expected soon.

Until today, the Obama administration had been saying it was not immediately clear who might have been responsible for the computer break-in.

North Korea has publicly denied it was involved.

The unidentified hackers demanded that Sony cancel its upcoming release of the movie The Interview, a comedy that included a gruesome scene depicting the assassination of North Korea’s leader.

Sony Pictures, appearing to bow to that demand, has cancelled the Christmas Day release.

“In light of the decision by the majority of our (theatre) exhibitors not to show the film The Interview, we have decided not to move forward with the ... theatrical release,” it said in a statement today.

The largest theatre chains in the US decided not to play the controversial comedy after hackers vowed a 9/11-style attack at cinemas where the film is screened.

Threats ... Jonathan Watson, Brandon Trost, Evan Goldberg, and Seth Rogen on the set of "The Interview." Pic: AP Photo/Columbia Pictures — Sony, Ed Araquel Source: AP

Five major theatre chains, including Regal Entertainment Group, AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc., Cinemark Holdings Inc. and Carmike Cinemas Inc., won’t play the film until the conclusion of federal authorities’ investigation into the three-week-old cyberattack on Sony Pictures and subsequent terrorist threats.

Together, the four chains control more than 18,000 of North America’s approximately 40,000 movie screens.

The planned New York premiere of the movie tonight was cancelled after a sickening threat warned people not to see the comedy, starring James Franco and Seth Rogen, about a fictional CIA plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Is this the exploding face that caused a thousand hacks? Source: Supplied

“Warning. We will clearly show it to you at the very time and places ‘The Interview’ be shown, including the premiere, how bitter fate those who seek fun in terror should be doomed to,” read a note purportedly written by the anonymous group Guardians of Peace, New York Post reported.

“Soon all the world will see what an awful movie Sony Pictures Entertainment has made. The world will be full of fear. Remember the 11th of September 2001.

We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time. (If your house is nearby, you’d better leave.) Whatever comes in the coming days is called by the greed of Sony Pictures Entertainment. All the world will denounce the SONY.”

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Film under attack from hackers ... New York premiere of The Interview cancelled after a 9/11 style attack threat made to anyone who watches the Sony Pictures’ comedy movie. Picture: AP / STR Source: AFP

The message was accompanied by the release of another set of files linked to Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton.

Sony took the immediate and unusual step of telling theatres they can opt out of their commitments to show the movie.

Then, late on Tuesday night, Landmark Theatres said it was cancelling the movie’s New York premiere, scheduled for Thursday night, at the Sunshine Cinema.

Carmike theatres based in Georgia, said they will not show the movie, according to Variety.

Franco and Rogen have also reportedly cancelled all promotional appearance related to the film.

Hackers’ chilling threat over comedy ... James Franco, left, and Seth Rogen in a scene from The Interview, which is set for release on Christmas Day. Picture: AP / Columbia Pictures, Sony, Ed Araquel Source: AP

Although the note is threatening, “There is no credible intelligence to indicate an active plot against movie theatres within the United States,” a federal law-enforcement source told the New York Post.

The 9/11 threat came as lawyers in Los Angeles filed two class action suits against the embattled studio, claiming it failed to protect employees’ data, stolen in a huge cyber-attack three weeks ago.

One of the lawsuits alleges that “Sony failed to secure and protect its computer systems, servers, and databases, resulting in the release of the named plaintiffs and other class members’” personal data.

“An epic nightmare, much better suited to a cinematic thriller than to real life, is unfolding in slow motion for Sony’s current and former employees,” said the 45-page lawsuit.

North Korea has denied involvement in the brazen November 24 cyber-attack, but praised it as a “righteous deed” potentially orchestrated by supporters furious over the movie.

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