Steve Carell‘s upcoming film project based in North Korea has been scrapped following the cyber attack and eventual cancelation of James Franco and Seth Rogen‘s comedy The Interview.

Steve Carell’s North Korea Movie Shelved

Carell and director Gore Verbinski were planning to work together on an adaptation of Guy Delisle‘s graphic novel “Pyongyang” with a screenplay by Steve Conrad. The movie, a paranoid thriller set in North Korea, has now come to a screeching halt, reported Deadline. Twentieth Century Fox pulled distribution and company New Regency now wants nothing to do with the project.

The untitled film was slated to commence production in March.

The synopsis of Delisle’s graphic novel on GoodReads reads:

Famously referred to as one of the “Axis of Evil” countries, North Korea remains one of the most secretive and mysterious nations in the world today. In early 2001 cartoonist Guy Delisle became one of the few Westerners to be allowed access to the fortress-like country. While living in the nation’s capital for two months on a work visa for a French film animation company, Delisle observed what he was allowed to see of the culture and lives of the few North Koreans he encountered; his findings form the basis of this graphic novel.

 

On Wednesday, Sony announced that it would not be releasing The Interview, which revolves around a plot to kill Korean leader Kim Jong Un, on Christmas Day – its scheduled U.S. premiere date. Following weeks of leaks, hacker group Guardians of Peace upped the stakes with a violent threat that referenced Sept. 11, 2001. Movie theater chains started to cancel screenings of the comedy, ultimately leading to Sony canceling the film’s release altogether.

Carell was among the many from Hollywood who took to Twitter to express his disapproval of Sony’s decision.

Sad day for creative expression. #feareatsthesoul

— Steve Carell (@SteveCarell) December 17, 2014