As the leaks continue — with more confidential computer files disbursed on a near-daily basis — film producers and studio executives said they do not expect any major studios to move forward with projects that center on North Korea. On Wednesday, the film company New Regency canceled "Pyongyang," a Steve Carell-starring comedy set in North Korea. The film, based on the graphic novel by Guy Delisle, was to have been directed by Gore Verbinski.

"I've got to believe that this will spook anybody from considering making the North Koreans bad guys in a film," movie producer Bill Gerber said of the hacking on Sony before "The Interview" was pulled. "Unless you were dealing with something that was fact-based and very compelling, it might not be worth it."

Filmmaker Judd Apatow lamented that the current atmosphere of hyper-sensitivity could rob Hollywood of its ability to center films on real-life villains.

"Are we now living in a world where we're not allowed to say that these are bad people? Are we not allowed to make a movie where ISIS is the bad guy now?" asked Apatow, whose credits include "Knocked Up" and "This Is 40."

For more than a decade, North Korea and its leaders were reliable fodder for Hollywood. Movies including "Die Another Day" (2002), "Team America: World Police" (2004), "Stealth" (2005), "Salt" (2010) and "Olympus Has Fallen" (2013) all depicted villainous North Koreans.

In the case of "Team America," an all-puppet comedy from "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il was lampooned mercilessly. But in that case the country's response was limited to an unsuccessful effort to get the film banned in the Czech Republic.

Eoin Treacy's view

The evolution of cyber terrorism is creating situations where censorship is traversing national boundaries. Considering the libertarian ethos of many hackers, it would appear to run counter to the spirit of freedom of speech to so aggressively attempt to disrupt the release of a movie. While I try not to indulge in conspiracy theories it is hard not to conclude that this effort was at least in part state sponsored. It is a pity that this action will likely deter people from poking fun or insulting the sensitivities of some of the world’s most repressive regimes.

I had no intention of seeing the movie before but suspect I will not be alone in now seeking a means of viewing it for no other reason than to protest the curtailing of free speech.

Sony Corp broke up out of an 18-month first step above the base in early November and found support at the upper side this week. A sustained move below the 200-day MA would be required to question medium-term scope for additional upside.