Hackers Maybe Sorta Okay with Edited Version of 'The Interview'; Obama says Sony made a Mistake

Today the FBI made what we all knew official, confirming that North Korea was behind the cyber attacks that have crippled and embarrassed Sony Pictures. Here is part of the statement:

"As a result of our investigation, and in close collaboration with other U.S. Government departments and agencies, the FBI now has enough information to conclude that the North Korean government is responsible for these actions."

The attacks which led to Sony internal emails, film scripts, salaries, and other damaging information being leaked to the public, were to force the studio to halt release of the comedy, The Interview, for its depiction of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un being assassination in rather glorious fashion.  The film was taken off the schedule after violent threats were made, causing quite the outcry from Hollywood and others critical of the decision. While it looks like the film won't ever see the light of day, if it were to happen it seems the hacker group is of two minds on how to react.

USA Today reported that Guardians of Peace released a statement saying it was okay for Sony to release the James Franco/Seth Rogen comedy, as long as certain edits were made....

This is GOP.
You have suffered through enough threats.
We lift the ban.
The Interview may release now.
But be carful.
September 11 may happen again if you don't comply with the rules.
Rule #1: no death scene of Kim Jong Un being too happy
Rule #2: do not test us again
Rule #3: if you make anything else, we will be here ready to fight

What's interesting is this is the polar opposite to a message they reportedly sent to Sony execs stating they were "very wise" to cancel The Interview, but now the film needed to be done away with utterly...

"Now we want you never let the movie released, distributed or leaked in any form of, for instance, DVD or piracy. And we want everything related to the movie, including its trailers, as well as its full version down from any website hosting them immediately."

The conflicting messages have left some confused about what the next step could be for Sony, who some have estimated could lose more than $75M on the film. Meanwhile, President Obama has come out against Sony's decision to give in to the terrorist threats, saying...

"I wish they had spoken to me first. I would have told them do not get into a pattern in which you're intimidated by these kinds of criminal attacks." He added, "I am sympathetic to the concerns that they face. Having said all that, yes I think they made a mistake."

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Barack and Michelle Obama's Love Story is Becoming a Movie

Despite what some recently-fired congressional staffers might say, Barack and Michelle Obama have been pretty good role models in the White House. Agree with some of the choices they've made or not, these are two people who genuinely love one another, and when they talk about their first dates you can see their faces light up. The story of how the first black President met the first black First Lady is one that Hollywood is dying to tell, and that's exactly what is happening.

According to Deadline, the Obama romance will be told in the film Southside with You, a drama they hope will be similar to Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise. So expect lots of walking and talking as the story chronicles Barack and Michelle's first date in 1989. At the time he was a first-year Harvard Law student working as an associate at a Chicago law firm, which is where he met Michelle who happened to be his boss. It took some time to convince her (the Prez was and still is kind of a dork) but he eventually won her over and they spent the day visiting a museum and checking out Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing.

So who is going to play younger versions of the most powerful couple in the world? Get On Up and Sparkle's Tika Sumpter will play Michelle Obama, while a casting search is on for someone to be Barack. A point of concern is the writer/director, Richard Tanne, an actor making his directorial debut. 

Who do you think would make for a good Barack Obama?  Filming on Southside with You is to begin in July.

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Watch President Obama and Zach Galifianakis Trade Shots on 'Between Two Ferns'

President Obama has always been a funny guy, and lately he's been throwing a lot more comedy jabs out there than normal. While it could be just an attempt to stay in touch with the younger voters, who he really wants to see signing up for health care insurance, perhaps it was all just training for his appearance on Zach Galifianakis' talk show, Between Two Ferns.

Yep, the POTUS appeared as a guest and....well, he took a few comedy punches to the gut, but delivered a few of his own. Obamacare is of course a topic that gets thrown in his face, but they also talk about movies and foreign policy. My favorite line comes when Galifianakis asks him "What is it like to be the nation's last black President?". Obama comes back with a nicely timed shot about The Hangover 3. It's a funny bit, and worth checking out while downing your morning coffee.

Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis: President Barack Obama from President Barack Obama

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