The Interview to be released for free on streaming service Crackle

Sony Pictures Entertainment is planning to release controversial film The Interview for free through the online streaming service Crackle, according to reports.

The New York Post cites anonymous sources who reveal that Sony will make the comedy available across Roku boxes, Sony Blu-Ray players, Bravia TVs, online, and on the latest Playstation consoles.

Sony cancelled the original 25 December release of The Interview last week after several major US theatres announced that they refused to screen it due to threats from hackers.

David Boies, one of the company's lawyers, revealed over the weekend that Sony still plans to release the film but claimed no distribution method had yet been confirmed.

"Sony only delayed this," Boies told Meet the Press on Sunday. "Sony has been fighting to get this picture distributed. It will be distributed. How it's going to be distributed, I don't think anyone knows quite yet. But it's going to be distributed."

Other streaming services, including BitTorrent, have reached out to Sony to offer their services as a method of distribution.

Matt Mason, chief content officer of BitTorrent, said: "We have reached out (to Sony) on a number of fronts. It seems like no one else wants to touch this, but for us, this is about the two things we care about most: an open internet and a sustainable future for creativity.

"This is bigger than this film at this point. As a company, we feel we have no choice but to help Sony Pictures and defend these principles."

The decision to delay the release of The Interview, which depicts two US journalists attempting to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, has been widely criticised.

US President Barack Obama said last week that Sony had "made a mistake" by not releasing the movie.