'The Interview' may still see theatres in Toronto, Montreal screenings

Taylor Scollon, meet George Clooney.

George Clooney, Taylor Scollon.

The two of you have a great deal in common. Most notably, you are both determined to get the controversially-cancelled movie “The Interview” in front of an audience.

In Taylor’s case, that audience is in Toronto. That work for you, George?

Scollon has launched an online campaign to screen “The Interview” in Toronto, after several movies theatre chains across North America refused to show the film and Sony Pictures Entertainment eventually pulled its release amid terror threats.

The film, starring James Franco and Seth Rogen, is a satirical comedy about an assassination attempt on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The controversial topic prompted a group of cyber terrorists known as Guardians of Peace to target the studio, hacking into their system and releasing a stockpile of stolen information, including emails and personal data.

The group them vowed a 9/11-style terror attack on any theatre that screened the film. The threat convinced major theatre chains, including some in Canada, to balk and pull the movie from their lineups.

Canada’s Cineplex Entertainment said in a statement that while it is committed to “freedom of expression” it was concerned for the safety of its staff and guests.

But it is that attack on freedom of expression that infuriated the Hollywood elite. Scores of agents and actors stepped forward to denounce the decision.

George Clooney called Hollywood to demand the immediate release of “The Interview,” and started a petition to have it posted online.

"Do whatever you can to get this movie out. Not because everybody has to see the movie, but because I’m not going to be told we can’t see the movie," Clooney told Deadline.

"That’s the most important part. We cannot be told we can’t see something by Kim Jong Un, of all f—-ing people."

Well, Mr. Clooney, a couple of Canadians are standing with you, are have launched bids to have the film screened north of the border.

Scollon, who runs a Toronto marketing agency, has launched a plan to screen the film in Toronto through a Facebook page.

While he doesn’t yet have a theatre booked and doesn’t actually have access to a copy of the film, the date has been set for Jan. 8 and more than 2,100 people have already expressed interest in attending.

"It’s a little unexpected. We’ll need a big theatre," Scollon told Yahoo Canada News.

"If anyone knows James Franco or Seth Rogen, now would be the time to call on that connection."

If the event comes together, the proceeds will be donated to Liberty in North Korea, an agency that helps those who escape North Korean secure refugee status and settle in to new countries.

"This is an attempt to create awareness about the humanitarian crisis that the people of North Korea are suffering through every day. It is something that we often forget about because we don’t see it," Scollon said. “There was a lot of conversation about North Korea because of this movie."

Another event is in the planning stages to screen the film in Montreal. That Facebook group, organized by Anthony Kantara, has 176 confirmed guests for a Jan. 14 screening.

"I find it ridiculous these theatre chains as well as Sony Films are willing to limit freedom of expression and succumb to these threats by a government known to have the worst record of human rights violations," the Montreal organizer wrote.

"I plan to figure out a way to screen this movie."

Like the Toronto show, however, they have not secured a theatre or a copy of the film.

So if anyone knows an executive at Sony who could get their hands of the film, or maybe know the password to their computer account, there are a few freedom-loving Canucks who’d like to get their hands on it.

And more than a few others who would still like to see it.