Los Angeles, Dec 20 (IANS): British actor Benedict Cumberbatch has called Sony Pictures Entertainment's response to the recent cyber attacks "worrying", after the studio decided to pull the plug on "The Interview" Christmas release amid security fears.

"I haven't seen the film so I can't comment on the specifics of it, but it is worrying, of course it is worrying," Cumberbatch said in an interview for his latest film "The Imitation Game", reports independent.co.uk.

"We revel in our democracy, we revel in our civil right and freedom of speech and freedom of expression in this culture and in America as well. And to see it attacked from the outside and see people inhibited by fear and terror as a means of silencing voices even if they are of dissent or satire, it's tragic," he added.

On Wednesday, Sony decided to pull the plug on "The Interview" initial release date, saying that it would not be shown on any platform.

In a statement by the studio, Sony said that following the decision by the majority of exhibitors not to show the film, they decided "not to move forward" with the planned Dec 25 theatrical release.

The cyber attacks on Sony began Nov 24, when a group of hackers calling themselves 'The Guardians of Peace' announced that they had "obtained all of the company's internal data" and would be releasing some of the company's "top secrets".

Since then, the hackers have released a number of personal correspondences and confidential information that has embarrassed Sony's top executives, as well as a host of high profile Hollywood names.