Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Online pirates claim to hold Disney's latest 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movie hostage

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Topic: Online pirates claim to hold Disney's latest 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movie hostage

Mike Peterson
Film Handler

Posts: 11
From: Beacon Falls, CT , USA
Registered: Nov 2006

posted 05-16-2017 07:31 AM

Hopefully one day the studios will realize it is not a problem with projector/server security or movie theatre security that is the issue. It is their own.

http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-disney-pirates-caribbean-hack-20170515-story.html

Hackers have once again struck at Hollywood, this time claiming one of the summer’s biggest blockbuster releases — Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” the fifth installment in the highly profitable swashbuckling franchise, starring Johnny Depp.

Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Bob Iger told ABC employees in New York on Monday that hackers have claimed to have stolen a movie and are threatening to release it in segments until their demands, which include a pirate-like ransom paid with Bitcoin, are met.

Iger didn’t identify the movie, and the Burbank-based Disney declined to comment. But a person with knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to comment said the movie that was hacked was the new “Pirates of the Caribbean” sequel.

“Pirates” is set to open nationwide on May 26. The last four installments in the franchise have been huge successes for Disney, collectively grossing nearly $3.73 billion worldwide.

The theft comes a few weeks after hackers stole the latest season of Netflix’s “Orange is the New Black.” Hackers leaked episodes of the new season after Netflix refused to meet their demands.

Disney is currently working with federal authorities to investigate the attack, according to another source not authorized to speak to the media.

News of the “Pirates” hack was earlier reported by the Hollywood Reporter and Deadline.

The hack is believed to be unrelated to a massive ransomware attack that has spread across the globe. Ransom-style computer attacks have grown in popularity in the last few years as banks and other institutions make it harder for hackers to infiltrate their systems.

Hacking isn’t a new problem Hollywood but recent cyberattacks have proved to be damaging. The 2014 Sony Pictures Entertainment hack was devastating to the Culver City-based studio, revealing email communications of the company’s top executives.

Hollywood talent agencies also face regular cyberattacks. Last month, hackers targeted United Talent Agency, causing widespread email problems throughout the company.

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 05-16-2017 09:19 AM

There is an interesting pattern on how these movies stolen by hackers always seem to be big box office mega-budget blockbusters that actually turn out to suck and would have been a financial disappointment regardless, yet conveniently it provides a path for claiming that the studio lost hundreds of millions of dollars due to piracy.

I am in no way endorsing piracy, but I'm betting this movie doesn't perform all that well.

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Marcel Birgelen
Film God

Posts: 3357
From: Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2012

posted 05-16-2017 09:27 AM

I was thinking exactly the same.

This next Pirates movie has potential failure written all over it. So when it bombs at the box office, at least they have a good excuse for their shareholders.

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Dennis Benjamin
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1445
From: Denton, MD
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 05-16-2017 10:10 AM

Hey - other people are noticing this pattern?

Ha.

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Mike Peterson
Film Handler

Posts: 11
From: Beacon Falls, CT , USA
Registered: Nov 2006

posted 05-16-2017 10:18 AM

Good point. $320 million budget which is $70 million over planned budget. Add in marketing costs and you are in the $380 - $400 million range. Makes sense to gear up for the loss when it is estimated to open to $100 million opening Memorial Day weekend. Probably won't even hit that.

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Harold Hallikainen
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 906
From: Denver, CO, USA
Registered: Aug 2009

posted 05-16-2017 10:23 AM

I wonder where this was stolen from. As I recall, the Netflix content was stolen from a post production house.

Harold

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Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."

Posts: 10973
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 05-16-2017 10:34 AM

It would be funny if a copy of the movie was deliberately leaked to hackers. The news generates a lot of free publicity for the movie. If the movie still tanks despite all the news coverage then the studio will have piracy as a scapegoat for the lack of ticket sales rather than the possibility the movie might suck.

Too bad Warner Bros. didn't think of this idea for its King Arthur flop.

One possible bright side to this: the movie studios can't blame theaters for this security leak since the hackers got hold of a copy weeks before the movie theaters were to receive their DCPs & KDMs of the show. Of course the studios will never own up to their share of blame for contributing to piracy due to those damned screeners they give to critics, actors and various connected VIP douche-bags in the movie industry.

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Joe Redifer
You need a beating today

Posts: 12859
From: Denver, Colorado
Registered: May 99

posted 05-16-2017 03:16 PM

If these hackers... ooops, sorry, H4CK3RZ want to be taken seriously, they should release the ENTIRE movie right now. That way when they steal the next movie the studios will know not to mess with them. You have to establish a reputation if you plan on conducting business.

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Timothy Eiler
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 126
From: Litchfield , Minnesota, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 05-16-2017 03:32 PM

quote: Bobby Henderson
One possible bright side to this: the movie studios can't blame theaters for this security leak since the hackers got hold of a copy weeks before the movie theaters were to receive their DCPs & KDMs of the show. Of course the studios will never own up to their share of blame for contributing to piracy due to those damned screeners they give to critics, actors and various connected VIP douche-bags in the movie industry

They must have had exhibitor screenings by now so there is the way to blame the exhibitor

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-16-2017 05:09 PM

quote: Brad Miller
There is an interesting pattern on how these movies stolen by hackers always seem to be big box office mega-budget blockbusters that actually turn out to suck and would have been a financial disappointment regardless, yet conveniently it provides a path for claiming that the studio lost hundreds of millions of dollars due to piracy.

Disney has also backed off their "3 week minimum" for this movie, at least for smaller towns. "Guardians of the Galaxy" was 3 weeks minimum.

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