The group behind the Sony Pictures hack that has devastated the Hollywood studio with unknown repercussions that will likely be felt for years has, until now, remained in the realm of the internet. That is to say that, while their attacks have had an enormously negative impact on Sony Pictures and its staff members that are caught in all of this, all of their actions have existed in the cyber world. As we approach December 25th, the release date for The Interview, a comedy by Seth Rogan and James Franco where the two attempt an assassination on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, #GOP, the group believed to be behind the attacks, has steadily upped their threats.

Just yesterday, the group revealed that they have a “Christmas gift” for Sony that will be their biggest one yet. Unfortunately, we know what they mean by that as the group has decided to graduate from cyber terrorism to real terrorism. Details after the jump.

According to a new communication from the group, anybody who attempts to see The Interview is a viable target of terrorism with the group specifically sighting 9/11 and that they “recommend you to keep yourself distant” from theaters showing the film. Specifically:

 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.

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. 

As we’ve mentioned before, it’s always hard to gauge the authenticity of such emails as the group users open forums and shifting emails which could be copied by any third party. Still, it’s hard not to take the threat seriously and be alarmed by the escalation of the situation. Even worse, it’s hard to imagine that there are people who would deem Sony Pictures and a film like The Interview so damning that they would be willing to kill over it.

Discuss:

Do you think Sony should pull The Interview from theaters?