Citing "a person with knowledge of the situation," the L.A. Times says that Sony is debating* whether to cancel The Interview's December 25 release.

Earlier today, the hackers behind Sony Picture's massive security breach issued a threat against movie theaters showing the upcoming Kim Jong-un assassination comedy, writing, "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."

In response, Sony Pictures began inviting theater owners to postpone or cancel showings of the film. From the Hollywood Reporter:

The situation appears to be very fluid: Neither the National Organization of Theater Owners or the individual national theaters chains have yet publicly spoken about the situation. But according to some insiders, exhibitors are wary of becoming liable if they show the movie and any violence occurs.

This afternoon, we learned that Seth Rogen and James Franco had called off all press appearances promoting The Interview. Now it appears that Sony may cancel the movie's premiere entirely.

UPDATE: A source has told the Hollywood Reporter that Carmike Cinemas will not be showing The Interview. Carmike operates 278 theaters, making it one of the largest movie theater chains in America.

*UPDATE 2: The L.A. Times' tweet is apparently in reference to today's meeting between Sony and theater owners and not some sort of larger cancelation on Sony's part.

UPDATE 3: According to Deadline, Landmark Theatres has canceled the New York premiere of The Interview, originally slated for Thursday with stars James Franco, Seth Rogen and Randall Park in attendance.

UPDATE 4: An employee of ArcLight Cinemas says the upscale theater chain has also pulled The Interview from its five multiplexes, Deadline reports.

[ Image via Sony Pictures]