Timeline: After the hack: Sony Pictures’ road to recovery

Almost a year ago, hackers seized the computer systems of Sony Pictures Entertainment, the Culver City movie studio behind the long-running "Spider-Man" series. Cyberterrorists -- the U.S. government blames North Korea -- wiped data from Sony servers, exposed the personal information of tens of thousands of people, and unveiled embarrassing emails between the likes of then-studio chief Amy Pascal and producer Scott Rudin. Much has taken place since the attack that tried to stop the release of "The Interview."

Here's our timeline of the events in the year since the hack:

Monday, Nov. 24

• News of the hack first surfaced. When employees of the Culver City-based studio tried to log onto their computers, they were greeted by an image of a skeleton with the words "Hacked by #GOP" (a reference to a group calling itself Guardians of Peace) before their screens went dark. Staff from coast to coast couldn't log on to computers or access email.
• The attack resulted in the piracy of five Sony films: The Brad Pitt World War II drama "Fury," the forthcoming remake of the musical "Annie," plus "Still Alice," "Mr. Turner" and "To Write Love on Her Arms."
• Hackers also leaked digital files that contained confidential information. These files contained about 47,000 Social Security numbers of current or former full-time Sony employees, contractors and actors. Judd Apatow, Sylvester Stallone and Rebel Wilson were among those whose personal information was hacked. 

Monday, Dec. 1

• The FBI confirmed that it is helping in the investigation. Sony also enlisted Mandiant, a cyber-forensics unit of the security firm FireEye, to assist in the search for the hackers.
• Widespread speculation centered on whether Sony's release of "The Interview" — a comedy starring James Franco and Seth Rogen about a fictional attempt to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un — led North Korea to retaliate. When asked about potential involvement in the attack last week, a spokesman for the North Korean government told the BBC: "Wait and see." But a North Korean diplomat later told news outlet Voice of America that the nation is not responsible.
• Others thought disgruntled current or former employees could be behind the attack.

Tuesday, Dec. 2

• In an email to about 6,600 employees, Sony's top two executives, Sony Pictures Entertainment Chairman Michael Lynton and Pascal, said they are "deeply saddened" by the security breach. They called the theft and leaks "malicious criminal acts." The executives urged employees to use the identity protection services Sony is offering employees through a third-party provider.
• According to digital security and legal experts, Sony could face an outlay of tens of millions of dollars. When Sony's PlayStation Network was hacked in 2011, the company estimated the cost at $170 million.

Friday, Dec. 5

• Anxiety among Sony employees escalated after some received a threatening email from someone claiming to be a member of the hacking group. It asked employees to sign a statement disassociating themselves with Sony. "If you don't, not only you but your family will be in danger," the message said.

Saturday, Dec. 6

• Lynton emailed employees with an update on the investigation. "The scope of this attack differs from any we have responded to in the past, as its purpose was to both destroy property and release confidential information to the public," the statement said. "The bottom line is that this was an unparalleled and well planned crime, carried out by an organized group, for which neither SPE nor other companies could have been fully prepared."
• Later that evening, Franco poked fun at the Sony hacking while hosting "Saturday Night Live."
• The next day, North Korea again denied being behind the attack. A spokesman for the policy department of the National Defense Committee of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea told the state-run news outlet that such an assertion is "wild rumor."

Monday, Dec. 8

• The group claiming to be the Sony hackers wrote an online message demanding studios stop showing “the movie of terrorism.” The message, which was posted on the website GitHub, said: "Stop immediately showing the movie of terrorism which can break the regional peace and cause the War.” The note also included links to a fourth release of internal Sony data. The hackers also said they were not behind the threatening emails sent to Sony employees on Dec. 5

Tuesday, Dec. 9

• The Los Angeles Times broke news that months before the attacks, Sony Pictures Entertainment executives were cautioned by the Department of Homeland Security that “The Interview” could provoke retaliation.

Thursday, Dec. 11

• Leaked emails that surfaced in the wake of the cyber attack showed Pascal making racially insensitive jokes about President Obama, fiery remarks about Angelina Jolie, drama over the Aaron Sorkin-penned biopic about Steve Jobs and other confidential exchanges.
• Pascal issued an apology for remarks made in emails to producer Scott Rudin in which she made racially charged comments about Obama. She said: “Although this was a private communication that was stolen, I accept full responsibility for what I wrote and apologize to everyone who was offended." Rudin also issued an apology.
• After Mark Ruffalo received his two Golden Globe nominations, reporter Amy Kaufman asked the actor his thoughts on the computer hacking. “A lot of disruption is coming to light,” Ruffalo said. "Ultimately, we need a correction, and that's what this time is," he said. "Whether it's the CIA or the perversion of our values in the material world -- do we see human beings as animals who are disposable with these racial issues? It's all coming to light. All of these things are related." Other celebrities – including Kevin Hart -- and public figures also spoke out on social media.
• Sony held a low-key premiere for “The Interview” at The Theatre at the Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Reporters were not allowed to conduct interviews at the premiere, which also had a strong security presence. Rogen and longtime collaborator Evan Goldberg received back slaps and high-fives from friends, and the two, along with Pascal, stopped to pose for a few minutes of official photos. Before the film was screened, Rogen told the audience: "We just want to thank Amy Pascal for having the balls to make this ... thing.

Friday, Dec. 12

• More leaked emails also showed Sony Pictures executives apparently were concerned about "The Interview" before North Korea began protesting the film this summer, engaging in an internal debate over issues such as release date, publicity talking points and the nature of the film itself that grew more heightened as the controversy boiled over
• The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), said federal investigators are getting closer to confirming that North Korea was behind the cyber attack.

Sunday, Dec. 14

• Lawyer David Boies, writing on Sony's behalf to the Los Angeles Times and other news organizations, described the leaked material as "stolen information" and called on media outlets to destroy emails or other Sony documents in their possession.
• Producers of the James Bond films confirmed that an early version for the new Bond movie “Spectre” was among the material stolen in the cyber attack.

Monday, Dec. 15

• In an “all hands” meeting, Lynton told staff that the hacking “won’t take us down. You should not be worried about the future of this studio."

Tuesday, Dec. 16

• Lawyers filed two class-action lawsuits on behalf of former and current employees who allege that the studio was negligent by ignoring warnings that its computer system was prone to attack.
• The Motion Picture Assn. of America, the chief lobbying arm for U.S. film studios, expressed support for Sony as it tries to recover from the hack.
• The hacking group behind the attack made its first physical threat, urging people to avoid seeing “The Interview” in theaters on Christmas Day. "We will clearly show it [our Christmas gift] to you at the very time and places 'The Interview' be shown, including the premiere, how bitter fate those who seek fun in terror should be doomed to," the hackers wrote.
• In the wake of the threat, Sony told theater owners they don’t have to screen “The Interview." Some began dropping the film and Landmark Theatres said the New York premiere of "The Interview" at Sunshine Cinema had been canceled.

Wednesday, Dec. 17

• Sony canceled the wide theatrical release of 'The Interview." U.S. officials confirmed that North Korea was behind the cyber attack.

Thursday, Dec. 18

• Some analysts predicted a Sony shake-up was possible

Wednesday, Dec. 19

• The FBI said it had "enough information to conclude that the North Korean government is responsible" for the hack. President Obama, in a press conference, called Sony's apparent decision to halt "The Interview's" release "a mistake." Lynton, in an interview on CNN, told Fareed Zakaria that the company had not caved and still wanted people to see the movie.

Tuesday, Dec. 23

• Sony said "The Interview" will play in a limited number of theaters on Christmas Day.

Wednesday, Dec. 24

• Sony released "The Interview" through video-on-demand platforms including Google Play and Xbox.

Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015

• Sony announced "The Interview" made $31 million through video-on-demand. platforms since Christmas Eve launch.

Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015

• Sony CEO Kazou Hirai rallied studio employees in wake of cyberattack.

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015

• Sony said the studio hack cost $15 million in the fiscal third quarter.

Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015

• Pascal announced she was stepping down. She took a production deal on the lot.

Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015

• Tom Rothman was named chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment's motion picture group, replacing Pascal as head of the movie studio. The former Fox Filmed Entertainment head joined Sony in 2013 to rejuvenate its TriStar label. He reports to Lynton.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

• WikiLeaks, the website founded by Julian Assange, posted the stolen Sony documents as a searchable database called "The Sony Archives." WikiLeaks contended that the data was "newsworthy and at the centre of a geopolitical conflict." Sony condemned the release.

Tuesday, Oct. 6

• A U.S. Justice Department official said the government has created a new office to help companies prevent attacks and respond when they happen. John Carlin, assistant attorney general for national security at the Justice Department, said his unit is starting to take a preventive approach to corporate cyberattacks.

Tuesday, Oct. 20

• Sony reached a settlement with current and former employees, agreeing to pay up to $8 million to reimburse them for identity-theft losses, preventative measures and legal fees related to the hack.