'The Interview' and North Korea: NYC Official Says There's No Intelligence on Movie Theater Threats Amid New York Premiere Cancellation

The New York premiere of "The Interview" has been canceled amid threats made in the Sony hacking incident.

The Landmark Theatres chain, which was to host the event Thursday at its Lower East Side cinema, announced the cancellation without further explanation.

In a note purportedly written by the anonymous hacker group "Guardians of Peace," moviegoers on Tuesday were threatened with a Sept. 11-style attack, Los Angeles Times reports. Along with the message came the release of another set of files linked to Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton.

"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," the message read. "Soon all the world will see what an awful movie Sony Pictures Entertainment has made. The world will be full of fear."

The note counseled readers to stay away from places where "The Interview" will be shown and leave their houses if they happen to live nearby.

"Remember the 11th of September 2001," it said. "Whatever comes in the coming days is called by the greed of Sony Pictures Entertainment. All the world will denounce the SONY."

It was the first time that the purported hackers made direct reference to the movie since Sony's crisis began on Nov. 24, Deadline reported.

The comedy, which stars Seth Rogen and James Franco, depicts North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un in a negative light, and speculation has been rife that Pyongyang is behind the massive hacking and release of Sony data. The totalitarian regime has denied that charge through diplomats in the United States.

An unnamed federal law-enforcement source, meanwhile, told the New York Post that authorities are not aware of any immediate threats.

"There is no credible intelligence to indicate an active plot against movie theaters within the United States," the official said.

Nevertheless, Sony is allowing movie theaters nationwide to opt out of their commitments to show the movie, a move the New York Post deemed "unusual."