Seth Rogen and James Franco’s latest nonsensical comedy, “The Interview,” is somehow being taken seriously by the North Korean regime.
The plot of the movie centers on Rogen and Franco, entertainment talk show personalities that land an interview with Kim Jong-un, who is a huge fan of their show. Their interview turns into an absurd CIA mission to assassinate the North Korean dictator.
North Korea’s official news agency, KCNA, appeared to publish the first official comments on “The Interview” without naming the movie specifically, via an unidentified foreign ministry spokesperson. It sounds as though they won’t be buying tickets to the premiere …
“Making and releasing a movie on a plot to hurt our top-level leadership is the most blatant act of terrorism and war and will absolutely not be tolerated,” Mr. Unnamed Spokesman said.
“If the U.S. administration allows and defends the showing of the film, a merciless counter-measure will be taken,” he added.
Kim Jong-un clearly doesn’t like not being able to control what is said about him in the media. For this reason, North Korea limits foreign media access to elite citizens. Everyone else gets to enjoy the censorship of government-controlled internet access and pre-tuned television sets.
(It’s worth noting that an Atlanta-based game developer is in the process of creating a clearly satirical game that stars Kim battling the U.S. military.)
The film, set to come out this October, doesn’t shy away from jabs at Kim Jong-un in the trailer — nor Franco’s character, who bites on North Korea’s propaganda that the dictator has the ability to speak to dolphins and never use the restroom.
Judging by Rogen’s Twitter, he doesn’t seem too concerned by North Korea’s reaction.
People don’t usually wanna kill me for one of my movies until after they’ve paid 12 bucks for it. Hiyooooo!!!
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) June 25, 2014
Franco has yet to comment.
The country’s official comments follow those of an “unofficial” regime spokesperson.
