Michael Lynton, former CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, recently spoke out about his decision to approve Seth Rogen’s 2014 comedy, The Interview, which portrays a plot to assassinate the North Korean leader. This move ignited a significant cyberattack on Sony by North Korean hackers, one of the most severe breaches in corporate history. Lynton reveals that after years of suppressing the emotional fallout, he is now confronting the episode openly through a new book he co-authored with longtime friend Joshua Steiner.
In the book, Lynton explains that the primary motivation for greenlighting the film was his desire to break free from his usual role as the cautious executive and feel equal to the actors involved. Reflecting on that moment, he wrote,
“for just a moment, I wanted to hang — as an equal — with the actors. I had grown tired of playing the responsible adult — of watching the party from the outside while I played Risk.”
Michael Lynton, Former CEO, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Opening Up About a Buried Mistake
After stepping down from Sony in 2017 and currently serving as chairman of Snap Inc., Lynton recounts how writing the book became a turning point in addressing the shame and embarrassment he endured following The Interview incident. The book, From Mistakes to Meaning: Owning Your Past So It Doesn’t Own You, explores why high-profile figures, including Lynton himself, sometimes avoid acknowledging their errors.
Lynton shares that while initially he wanted to lock away the dark chapter six months after the hack, his co-author Joshua Steiner encouraged him to confront the issue head-on. This process was aided by Alison Papadakis, a psychologist from Johns Hopkins, and helped lift much of the guilt Lynton had carried. He stated,
“Look, if we both opened up to one another about what our mistakes were and actually tried to understand why we caused them, why we don’t want to deal with them and perhaps brought in a professional to help us [make sense of] this stuff, which we did with Alison Papadakis, who’s a professor of psychology at Johns Hopkins, maybe we can get rid of this shame that we’re both harboring.”
Michael Lynton, Former CEO, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Thanks to this candid approach, Lynton now finds relief in openly discussing the incident, which has garnered much attention in Hollywood. Even former President Obama reportedly questioned his decision, asking,
“What were you thinking when you made killing the leader of a hostile foreign nation a plot point?”
Michael Lynton, Former CEO, Sony Pictures Entertainment
The Fallout and Industry Impact of ‘The Interview’ Release
Lynton explains his resolute stance on releasing the film despite the threats and cyberattacks from North Korea. Emphasizing the principle over the film’s artistic merit, he argues censorship cannot be allowed to dictate corporate decisions.
“Once you make the decision as a company that you’re going to release something, you don’t get to pick and choose, ‘Oh, this one is excellent and therefore we’re going to put it out’ or that one isn’t excellent,”
he says.
“If a third party, which is exactly what happened here, namely the government in North Korea, comes forward and says, ‘We don’t want you to put this movie out,’ and they threaten you, you have to put the movie out at that point.”
Addressing criticism about the film’s quality, Lynton notes that while The Interview may not be a masterpiece, it is undeniably funny. Several viewers have approached him to say they found the movie hilarious.
“Seth made a funny movie, and in that respect, a good movie,”
he remarked.
Relationship with Seth Rogen Since the Controversy
Despite the shared ordeal, Lynton and Seth Rogen had little communication after the controversy, partly because Lynton avoided discussing the matter with anyone for years. However, Lynton expresses admiration for Rogen and indicates a willingness to reconnect and discuss their different views on the episode.
“I think we probably should talk. I admire what Seth does,”
he says.
“I was irritated at the time because I felt that the employees of Sony should have been thanked [by him for working so hard to release the movie].”
Lynton also shares his perspective on Rogen’s new television show The Studio, which draws upon experiences from their time navigating the controversy. Though Lynton has only watched a few episodes, he finds the tone and depiction surprisingly accurate for satire.
“Tonally, it’s spot on. Spot on.”
Lessons Learned from a Split-Second Decision
Lynton reflects candidly on the snap decision to greenlight The Interview amid pressure and competition with Universal. Usually, such decisions involve a thorough process with various stakeholders, but he approved the project impulsively during a table read. Upon reflection, he believes taking more time and consulting with others would have been wiser.
“Had I properly understood that I had been in the job then for over 10 years and I was a little tired of being the suit, the person in the room who was Mr. No, I would’ve perhaps said, ‘Okay, fine, let’s kick this to an afternoon conversation where we bring that group of people together [and then make a decision],’”
Lynton says.
This admission unveils a deeper weariness he felt toward his executive role. He explains that the responsibility of frequently saying “no” is ingrained in Hollywood studio leadership, summarizing that industry veterans expect consistent resistance to projects unless creators persist.
“If you’re not saying no the vast majority of the time, you’re not doing your job.”
Michael Lynton, Former CEO, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Concerns Over the Future of Hollywood and Los Angeles Production
Reflecting on the major merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, Lynton acknowledges the unease across the entertainment sector. He predicts key changes, especially the shrinking theatrical window, which will become a luxury, impacting how films are released and consumed.
More alarmingly, Lynton highlights the drastic decline of production activity in Los Angeles. He starkly compares the current state of the city to “Detroit,” calling it a “sunny version” of the struggling industrial hub.
“It’s scary because it’s the second largest city in America and we don’t want it to fail,”
he says, warning that the city risks losing its production vitality if things don’t improve.
To prevent further decline, Lynton advocates for financial incentives stronger than just tax breaks, including addressing union rules that drive production overseas. He believes the industry must rethink its structure to incentivize filming in Southern California again.
“There’s probably a way to do it, but I think action needs to be taken proactively,”
he states.
Reflection on Leadership and Career After Sony
Though no longer in the executive chair, Lynton fondly recalls the relationships he formed within Sony and the entertainment community, noting the blend of successes and setbacks he experienced. He candidly admits to missing the people but not the high-pressure environment loaded with ego and emotionally charged discussions.
“You rent the seat, 100 percent. I think the part that I don’t miss is the ego and the upset and the emotionally charged conversations that I’m happy to be doing without – or doing less of, I should say.”
Final Thoughts on Embracing Mistakes
Before concluding, Lynton reflects on the broader significance of his book and personal journey. He encourages others to face their mistakes rather than hide them, framing this as a valuable and healing process.
“The point of the book is that the idea of exploring one’s mistakes, while not something that you’d naturally go to, turns out to be a very good idea,”
he says.
“And the book is helpful to do that. Because everyone has a mistake. You do too, I’m sure.”
