Ex-Sony CEO Admits Film Greenlight Was Mistake

Michael Lynton, formerly the CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, has expressed significant regret regarding the decision to greenlight the dark comedy 'The Interview.' This film, centered on a plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, led to one of Hollywood's most severe cyber disruptions.

In his forthcoming memoir, Lynton admits that the decision to proceed with the film may have been too hasty. The massive IT meltdown in late 2014, which he initially did not attribute to North Korea, irrevocably damaged 70% of Sony's servers. This attack exposed private communications, scripts, and personal information, including sensitive employee health records and Social Security numbers.

Lynton's memoir, co-written with Joshua L. Steiner and titled 'From Mistakes to Meaning: Owning Your Past So It Doesn't Own You,' is set to publish on February 24. He attributes some of his motivation for approving 'The Interview' to a desire for acceptance and to be seen as an equal among actors and filmmakers. This ambition, he writes, led to severe consequences for the company, its employees, and his family.

The cyberattack resulted in the loss of relationships with major stars and prompted threats against theaters, ultimately forcing Sony to pull the film's wide theatrical release. 'The Interview' later became the first major studio release to premiere online. Lynton's candid reflections offer a behind-the-scenes look at the pressures and personal motivations that can influence major Hollywood decisions.