Cedar Rapids hosts sole Iowa screenings of ‘The Interview’

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Galaxy 16 Cine is the only Iowa movie theatre scheduled to show the controversial film 'The Interview” on Christmas Day, according to Wehrenberg Theatres officials.

The film, starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, follows two entertainment journalists who find themselves recruited by the CIA to kill North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un.

The storyline angered the North Korean government and reportedly prompted a group of hackers to break into Sony Pictures servers, leaking sensitive studio emails and other documents. The hackers also threatened terror attacks on any theater showing the film, scheduled to open on Christmas.

Sony initially canceled the release of 'The Interview” for security reasons, after some theater chains refused to show the film. Those chains included Carmike Cinemas, which owns the Wynnsong 12 in Cedar Rapids.

According to Fortune Magazine, roughly 3,000 theaters were originally planned to show 'The Interview.”

Sony backtracked Tuesday and said it would release the film to select theaters. Cedar Rapids' Galaxy 16 is one of about 300 that will be showing it nationwide today.

Wehrenberg Vice President of Marketing Kelly Hoskins said Wehrenberg chose to show the movie because it didn't like the idea of the film being suppressed.

'It's a comedy,” Hoskins said. 'And in our business we are not proponents of censorship, especially of a creative fashion.”

Despite hackers' references to the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Hoskins said security at the Galaxy 16 won't be stepped up. She said officials have faith in current safety measures and that - based on government assurance - there's nothing to fear.

'We've been in touch with the FBI office,” Hoskins said. 'There's no reason for a threat, a realistic threat.”

'The Interview” opens today at 7:15 p.m. and has a second showing at 10 p.m.