Sony strikes deal to show ‘The Interview’ online

The Interview, the movie that just a few days ago looked like it would go unseen by the general public, is now available online.

Sony Pictures announced Wednesday morning that the comedy starring Seth Rogen and James Franco is now available on Google Play, YouTube Movies, Microsoft’s Xbox Video and the website seetheinterview.com. Cost is $5.99 to view and $14.99 to purchase.

“It has always been Sony’s intention to have a national platform on which to release the film,” said Michael Lyton, chairman and CEO of Sony Entertainment in a release. “With that in mind, we reached out to Google, Microsoft and other partners last Wednesday, December 17th, when it became clear our initial release plans were not possible.”

This follows on the heels of Tuesday’s announcement that approximately 200 independent theaters across the country -- including the Alamo Drafthouse in Richardson, and the Texas Theatre and Look Theatre in Dallas -- would be opening the film on Christmas day.

The film, about two bumbling journalists who score an interview with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, sparked outrage in the North Korean government over its portrayal months before its planned Dec. 25 release. A series of hacks into Sony’s computer systems and threats of possible terrorism if the film saw the light of day caused the studio to pull the movie last week.

However, that sparked concern in the U.S., including from president Obama, that Sony shouldn’t have backed down.

This story was originally published December 24, 2014 at 12:35 PM with the headline "Sony strikes deal to show ‘The Interview’ online."