Hackers launched an attack on the company last month, disabling the computer network and stealing and leaking a trove of sensitive information in the most severe cyber attack on a company on US soil.
The identity of the hackers has yet to be confirmed, but it is believed Guardians of Peace, a hacking collective suspected of having links with North Korea, could be behind the attack which saw most of Sony Pictures' computers taken offline. North Korea has been linked to the hack because Sony's film The Interview involves a CIA plot to kill Kim Jong Un, the supreme leader.
Joseph Demarest, the assistant director of the FBI's cyber-division, told a US Senate hearing that methods used by the hackers would have breached the defences of nine out of 10 companies.
The Bond franchise is one of the most lucrative for Sony Pictures and the last instalment, Skyfall, brought in US$1.1 billion worldwide, more than any other Bond film.
The attack on Sony Pictures began on November 24 when a red skeleton-like image appeared on staff computers alongside a warning that data would be released to the web unless its - unspecified - demands were met.
The hackers then leaked four films online, including Annie, Mr Turner and Fury. Guardians of Peace have released company documents every few days for the past two weeks. The first contained a document listing the salaries and bonuses of Sony Pictures staff.
Last week, emails forced two senior Hollywood producers to issue apologies. In an email to Amy Pascal, the co-chairman of Sony Pictures, Scott Rudin, who made Moneyball and No Country for Old Men, described Angelina Jolie as a "minimally talented spoiled brat" who possessed a "rampaging ego".
New emails released yesterday involved Pascal and producer Mark Gordon trashing Leonardo DiCaprio after the actor decided not to star in their Steve Jobs biopic Jobs in one email, while another executive, Tom Rothman, blasts Jaden and Willow Smith for an interview the youngsters did with the New York Times.
Pascal is sent a link by Tom Rothman, an executive at Tri-Star Productions, to a piece in which the Smith children claim they can control time and discuss "Prana energy". The two add that they find nothing of worth in all the music and fiction produced by other people, so write their own albums and novels for entertainment.
Poking fun at the surreal article, Rothman emails Pascal saying: "1. Read this. 2. they r home schooled: don't let this family date your movies!!!"
Pascal tells the Jobs film's producer, Gordon, that DiCaprio just changed his mind about doing the picture, to which Gordon responds, "Horrible behaviour." Pascal writes back: "Actually despicable."
Box office big draw paid less than men
Sony Pictures bosses are red-faced after hackers revealed Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence was paid less than male co-stars in American Hustle.
Jennifer Lawrence.
Leaked emails show Lawrence was paid less than Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, and Jeremy Renner. The Daily Beast reports an email sent to Sony co-chairwoman Amy Pascal from Andrew Gumpert, president of business affairs and administration for Columbia Pictures, read: "Got a steve warren/gretchen rush call that it's unfair the male actors get 9% in the pool and jennifer is only at 7pts." Warren and Gretchen are Lawrence's legal representatives. The email continued: "You may recall Jennifer was at 5 (amy [Adams] was and is at 7) and WE anted in 2 extra points for Jennifer to get her up to 7." The final percentage paid is unknown.
Adams is five-times Oscar-nominated. The popular Lawrence's Hunger Games films are huge box-office successes.
- Telegraph Group Ltd, Daily Mail
