North Korea Declares James Franco Movie an “Act of War”

Kim Jong-un's North Korean government has officially denounced Seth Rogen and James Franco's The Interview, calling it an "act of war" and promising "merciless" retaliation against the US if the movie is released.

“The act of making and screening such a movie that portrays an attack on our top leadership… is a most wanton act of terror and act of war, and is absolutely intolerable,” a spokesman for the regime said to North Korea's state-run news agency, according to AFP.

Earlier this week, an "unofficial spokesman" for the regime — who really probably had no connection to Kim Jong-un whatsoever — said that the Supreme Leader had condemned the film but still planned to view it. Today's declaration is legit and much scarier.

The Interview is a comedy following Rogen and Franco as they portray a producer-anchor duo who set up an interview with the leader as a ruse for an assassination attempt. So, it's understandable if Kim and his brainwashed cohorts take offense — after all, it's a movie about murdering a real-life person! Surely, though, a few beers with Dennis Rodman and this'll be water under the bridge.