Looks like Seth Rogen and James Franco might have just lost an important fan in North Korea. The two stars of the upcoming comedy The Interview are already facing major criticism from the country’s government for the film that depicts an assassination attempt on leader Kim Jong-un.
A spokesperson for the North Korean government has lashed out at actors Seth Rogen and James Franco for the violent plot line of their soon to be released film, The Interview, which has only heightened tensions between the US and the notoriously repressive foreign government.
Seth Rogen and James Franco’s Film – No Laughing Matter
The flick in question – which will open on October 10 – has Rogen and Franco playing celebrity journalists who are eager to get ahead and wind up working for the CIA and are assigned to kill Kim Jong-un, played by actor Randall Park.
“There is a special irony in this storyline as it shows the desperation of the US government and American society,” Kim Myong-chol, an unofficial spokesperson angrily told The Telegraph. “A film about the assassination of a foreign leader mirrors what the US has done in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Ukraine,” he added. “And let us not forget who killed [President] Kennedy – Americans. In fact, President Obama should be careful in case the U.S. military wants to kill him as well.”
Whoa, someone should tell them to relax — it’s just a movie!
Seth Rogen & James Franco’s Killler Comedy
While praising film franchises like James Bond, the North Korean rep for the repressive Pyongyang government dissed US filmmaking. Kim Myong-chol went so far as to call out American films in general for being “full of assassinations and executions.”
But the young Supreme Leader is actually a huge fan of American culture and loves eating Big Macs and watching American films. He also adores playing video games and is obsessed with basketball. The ruler is even besties with player Dennis Rodman, who has called the despot an “awesome guy.”
The spokesperson eventually admitted that the dictator would probably end up watching the movie when it comes out anyway. For his part, Seth Rogen is keeping his sense of humor inact. The actor tweeted about the controversy:
Apparently Kim Jong Un plans on watching #TheInterview. I hope he likes it!! http://t.co/5VrsgYlydE
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) June 20, 2014
What do you think, HollywoodLifers? Does Kim Jong-un need to take a chill pill? Let us know!
— Carolyn E. Davis
