In the action-comedy The Interview, Dave Skylark (James Franco) and his producer Aaron Rapoport (Seth Rogen) run the popular celebrity tabloid TV show “Skylark Tonight.” When they discover that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is a fan of the show, they land an interview with him in an attempt to legitimize themselves as journalists. As Dave and Aaron prepare to travel to Pyongyang, their plans change when the CIA recruits them, perhaps the two least-qualified men imaginable, to assassinate Kim Jong-un.

James Franco and Seth Rogen's ‘The Interview’ Slammed by North Korea
Movies | By Eric Czuleger on June 20, 2014 @ 4:15 pm
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Kim Jong-un is not laughing at the antics of Seth Rogen and James Franco in their new film, “The Interview.”

In a conversation with Kim Myon-chol, the executive director for The Centre for North Korea-U.S. Peace, The London Telegraph found that “The Hermit Kingdom” is not pleased about the impending release of the buddy comedy.

The film follows James Franco as a late night talk show host who scores an interview with Kim Jong-un. The CIA decides to turn the host and his producer (Seth Rogen) into assassins. State sanctioned hilarity ensues.

The unofficial spokesman for Pyongyang, who lives in Japan, said that the film “shows the desperation of the U.S. government and American society.”

Despite the film's supposed attempt to subjugate the workers of the world, Kim Myon-chol said that Kim Jong-Un would probably watch the film.

The North Korean spokesperson snuck in one more zinger during his interview with The Telegraph: “A film about the assassination of a foreign leader mirrors what the U.S. has done in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Ukraine.”

He then went on to say, “Let us not forget who killed Kennedy– Americans.” Kim Myon-chol finished the interview by warning President Obama to be careful in case the U.S. military wants to kill him as well.

The message has been received loud and clear in Hollywood. Seth Rogen tweeted about the interview, saying:

Apparently Kim Jong Un plans on watching #TheInterview. I hope he likes it!! http://t.co/5VrsgYlydE

— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) June 20, 2014

We can only hope that “The Great Successor” develops a sense of humor between now and the Oct. 2 release date.

North Korea's take on new US movie: "Act of war"
Associated Press
6 hours ago

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea is warning that the release of a new American comedy about a plot to assassinate leader Kim Jong Un would be an "act of war."

If the U.S. government doesn't block the movie's release, it will face "stern" and "merciless" retaliation, an unidentified spokesman for North Korea's Foreign Ministry said in state media Wednesday.

He didn't mention the movie by name but was clearly referring to "The Interview," which stars Seth Rogen and James Franco as a producer and talk-show host who land an exclusive interview with the North Korean dictator and are then asked by the CIA to assassinate him.

The "reckless U.S. provocative insanity" of mobilizing a "gangster filmmaker" to challenge the North's leadership is triggering "a gust of hatred and rage" among North Korean people and soldiers, the spokesman said, in typically heated propaganda language.

The film's release would be considered an "act of war that we will never tolerate," he said.

With no independent press of its own, North Korea often holds foreign governments responsible for the content of their media. Pyongyang regularly warns Seoul to prevent its conservative press from mocking or criticizing its leadership, something banned within authoritarian North Korea, where the Kim family is revered.

Trailers have been released for the movie, which is set to hit U.S. theaters in October.

The current leader's late father, Kim Jong Il, was a noted movie buff, lauded in the North for writing a treatise on film. He also ordered the kidnapping of prolific South Korean director and producer Shin Sang-ok in 1978, who then spent years making movies for Kim before escaping, Shin said.