Steve Carell’s ‘Pyongyang’ scrapped after North Korea threat

With Sony’s decision to pull The Interview from its December 26 release date, the fallout is already spreading through the film industry. Most recently affected is Pyongyang, a thriller that would star Steve Carell; that film has now been dropped by its studio, New Regency, a short while before it was due to begin filming in the early half of next year. Based on Guy Delisle’s graphic novel of the same name, it is supposed to have been a dark, paranoid thriller with a blackly comic touch. Pyongyang may have been Carell’s follow-up to Foxcatcher, a much-lauded dramatic performance in which he plays heavily against his comic type.

The movie was set to be directed by Gore Verbinski. In a statement issued to Deadline, Verbinski said:

‘Getting the facts straight:

 

Yesterday, I was told by New Regency and Fox that Fox will no longer be distributing the film. Prior to that, the film was green lit and fully funded by New Regency with Fox distributing. I have been told in no uncertain words that based on the situation at Sony, Fox has now decided to not distribute the film. Without a distributor, New Regency was forced to shut the film down.

 

My thoughts:

 

I find it ironic that fear is eliminating the possibility to tell stories that depict our ability to overcome fear.

 

Gore Verbinski’

What other consequences will Sony’s decision to pull The Interview have on the future landscape of movies?