George Clooney tried to rally support for Sony in the midst of a severe cyberattack on the studio , but the actor and filmmaker says he could n't find anyone to stand with him . In an interview with Deadline Hollywood , Clooney says he circulated a letter asking top Hollywood figures to show their support for the embattled studio . The letter called for the industry to `` fully support Sony 's decision not to submit to these hackers ' demands , '' and to acknowledge `` that to give in to these criminals now will open the door for any group that would threaten freedom of expression , privacy and personal liberty . We hope these hackers are brought to justice but until they are , we will not stand in fear . We will stand together . '' In essence , the letter was `` basically saying ... 'We 're not going to give in to a ransom , ' `` Clooney told Deadline . `` As we watched one group be completely vilified , nobody stood up . Nobody took that stand . '' As far as his petition , Clooney could n't land a single signature . The hack of Sony Pictures first came to light in November , and in the weeks since has developed into a devastating saga that 's included leaked Social Security numbers and health information , embarrassing emails from studio execs and a threat that 's led to Sony canceling its release of `` The Interview . '' The movie , which stars stars Seth Rogen and James Franco , has a plot that involves a plan to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un . U.S. officials believe the attack on Sony was ordered by North Korea 's leadership . U.S. set to blame North Korea for Sony hack . To George Clooney , this is n't just about Sony , or the celebrity gossip that 's emerged . `` We 're talking about an actual country deciding what content we 're going to have , '' he told Deadline . `` This affects not just movies , this affects every part of business that we have . '' `` What happens if a newsroom decides to go with a story , and a country or an individual or corporation decides they do n't like it ? Forget the hacking part of it . You have someone threaten to blow up buildings , and all of a sudden everybody has to bow down . `` Sony did n't pull the movie because they were scared ; they pulled the movie because all the theaters said they were not going to run it . And they said they were not going to run it because they talked to their lawyers and those lawyers said if somebody dies in one of these , then you 're going to be responsible . '' That sense of hesitation and fear was evident to the actor as he tried to drum up support for the studio . Clooney would n't mention names , but he did say that `` nobody wanted to be the first to sign on . '' `` This is n't finger-pointing , '' he continued . `` This is just where we are right now , how scared this industry has been made . Quite honestly , this would happen in any industry . I do n't know what the answer is , but what happened here is part of a much larger deal . ... And people are still talking about dumb emails . Understand what is going on right now , because the world just changed on your watch , and you were n't even paying attention . '' Clooney is n't the only actor unnerved by the fallout from the Sony hack . As news spread Wednesday that the studio would not be releasing `` The Interview , '' in theaters or anywhere else , a number of celebrities came forward to express their frustration . Celebrities criticize decision to pull 'The Interview ' `` I think it is disgraceful that these theaters are not showing The Interview . Will they pull any movie that gets an anonymous threat now ? '' actor and filmmaker Judd Apatow tweeted . `` Wow . Everyone caved . The hackers won . An utter and complete victory for them , '' added Rob Lowe . `` Game of Thrones '' author George R.R . Martin has even offered to screen the film at his independent theater in Santa Fe , New Mexico , should the movie be made available . In a blog post titled `` Corporate Cowardice , '' Martin took aim at the theater chains that declined to screen `` The Interview , '' causing Sony to shelve the film . `` I mean , really ? '' Martin wrote . `` These gigantic corporations , most of which could buy North Korea with pocket change , are declining to show a film because Kim Jong-Un objects to being mocked ? The level of corporate cowardice here astonishes me . '' `` The Interview '' was intended to open Christmas Day as a lighthearted option for holiday crowds . But while `` The Interview '' may once have been just `` a silly comedy , '' `` what it now says about us is a whole lot , '' Clooney said . `` We have a responsibility to stand up against this . ''
George Lucas created a petition in support of Sony . He ' n't get anyone to sign it . Clooney : ` ` We have a right to stand up against this ''