Seth Rogen and James Franco Get Beefy Bodyguards After Sony Hackers Demand Ban on 'The Interview'

Seth Rogen and James Franco, the two actors who portray assassins on a mission to "take out" North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un in the now-cancelled movie "The Interview", have been given stronger bodyguards as the hackers who demanded the movie not be released threatened 9/11-type attacks on theaters and anyone who tried to watch the movie.

Both Franco and Rogen have been spotted around town being escorted by big, burly men.

"They're usually not at all the type to have security. James is the kind of guy who takes the subway all the time," an insider source told the New York Daily News.

The source added that the bodyguard is double the size of Franco. On the other hand, Rogen, who told Howard Stern on his show that he didn't fear for himself, also got security upped.

The duo even pulled out all the public appearances, either physical or televised, promoting the movie. They were set to appear on "The Tonight Show" and "Late Night Show" as well.

The hacker group, which calls itself the "Guardians of Peace," has for long been demanding that Sony Pictures not release "The Interview." Plans for a December 25 release were on track when the GOP sent a chilling terrorism threat to Sony Pictures

"Soon all the world will see what an awful movie Sony Pictures Entertainment has made. The world will be full of fear. Remember the 11th of September 2001. We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time. (If your house is nearby, you'd better leave.)," the group said in the letter.

Soon after, Sony postponed the date of release and eventually decided to cancel its release.

"We respect and understand our partners' decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theater-goers," the studio said in a statement.

"Those who attacked us stole our intellectual property, private emails, and sensitive proprietary material, and sought to destroy our spirit and our morale - all apparently to thwart the release of a movie they did not like."

"We are deeply saddened at this brazen effort to suppress the distribution of a movie, and in the process do damage to our company, our employees, and the American public. We stand by our filmakers and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this outcome," Sony concluded.

Meanwhile, the world is split on the decision to not release "The Interview." Social media was abuzz with several condemning the decision and others giving it a thumbs up.

"Lemme get this straight: N Korea successfully censors our media by making anonymous internet threats? Just..Wow," one user posted on Twitter.

Many are suggesting that Sony put the movie up on the internet. Quartz is even suggesting that Netflix buy the movie and release it for online streaming.

"There is still a scenario for Sony to avoid a $100 million write-down and a demoralizing retreat in the face of terrorist threats: Sell The Interview to Netflix, which could then become a hero in the face of cyberbullying, and strike a blow against the hackers who have humiliated Hollywood," Jason Lynch wrote for Quartz.