Screener copies of at least five new Sony Pictures movies are being traded online after the studio’s computers were hacked.
Annie and Fury are among the pirated Sony titles that have seen a surge in downloads since the Monday hack by a group calling itself Guardians of Peace, according to Torrent Freak. The hack disabled Sony’s email and additional electronic systems, with some of the company’s employees regaining use of their email accounts on Saturday.
Following the leak, Fury, which is still in theaters after opening Oct. 17, had become the second-most downloaded film on file-sharing site Pirate Bay.
The other Sony titles being shared online include Mr. Turner and Still Alice, both set for theatrical release later this month, and To Write Love on Her Arms, slated for a March 2015 bow. Many of the pirated copies of the films appear to be awards screeners.
Someone claiming to be part of GOP sent emails to journalists on Saturday, saying that the group had leaked the above titles to the web. The email alleged that the group would soon leak data from the studio as well. It was unclear whether the emails were in fact from GOP or just a prank.
Sony is reportedly investigating a possible North Korean link to the hack. This comes after a statement released Friday by a North Korean government-controlled website threatened the filmmakers of Sony’s upcoming comedy The Interview with “stern punishment.” The plot of the film centers on two guys, played by Seth Rogen and James Franco, who are sent to North Korea to assassinate leader Kim Jong Un.
A Sony rep did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
