a threat invoking 9/11, imflipping attacks at theaters plank to show "the interview," that seth rogen and james franco comedy about journalists attempting to assassinate kim jong-un. >> you want us to kill the leader of north korea? >> yes. >> what? >> reporter: the group claiming responsibility for the hack calling itselves guardians of peace, saying online, we recommend to keep yourself distant. if your house is nearby, you'd better leave. promising, soon, all the world will see what an awful movie sony has made. the world will be full of fear. and now, tonight, sony apparently backing down. telling theater owners they are free not to run the $44 million feature. >> you want to go kill kim jong-un? >> totally. it's a date. >> reporter: sony not commenting on the latest threat. but the movie's stars canceled a press tour in the wake of today's message. seth rogen and james franco earlier this week telling abc's george stephanopoulos they stand by their comedy. >> any second thoughts at all? >> at this point, it's too late to have any, really. i mean, no, i mean, i think, again, i lik