Sony hack exposed script of James Bond film ‘Spectre,’ producers say

The producers of James Bond films have acknowledged that an early version of the screenplay for the new movie “Spectre” was among the material stolen in the massive cyberattack on Sony Pictures Entertainment.

The producers said in a statement Saturday that they are concerned that third parties who received the screenplay might seek to publish it — and warned the material is subject to copyright protection around the world.

The producers promised to “take all necessary steps to protect their rights against the persons who stole the screenplay, and against anyone who makes infringing uses of it or attempts to take commercial advantage of confidential property it knows to be stolen.”

The warning was issued by Eon Productions, a British affiliate of Danjaq, the U.S.-based company that co-owns, with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the copyright to the Bond films.

There’s been speculation that North Korea is behind the cyberattack in retaliation for the upcoming comedy “The Interview.” That film depicts an assassination attempt on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. North Korea has condemned the film, but denied the hack.

The revelation is just the latest among the leaks that are causing continuing embarrassment for Sony.

Highly sensitive material is being leaked almost daily, including messages between Oscar-winning producer Scott Rudin and Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chairman, Amy Pascal. Rudin called Angelina Jolie a “spoiled brat,” and he and Pascal shared racially insensitive jokes about President Obama’s presumed taste in movies.

Rudin and Pascal have apologized.

The next 007 adventure — called “Spectre,” after the dastardly fictional terrorist organization featured in “Dr. No” — is so hotly anticipated that even the revelation of its title was a media event. It will be Daniel Craig’s fourth film as Bond.