Seth Rogen and James Franco are headed overseas for the assignment of their lives in the trailer for their upcoming Christmas film release “The Interview.” The pair play celebrity journalists who score an opportunity to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
After Franco announces it on the air, though, the C.I.A. comes to them with a new plan. “The C.I.A. would love it if you could take him out,” Lizzy Caplan tells them in the trailer, and she doesn’t mean for coffee or dinner.
As the clip progresses, it becomes clear that Rogen is the brains of the operation. Franco is the pretty made-for-television face who can read a teleprompter but doesn’t know the difference between Stalin and Stallone.
As the trailer escalates into absurdity during their stay in North Korea, Franco and Randall Park’s Kim Jong-un bond over their love of Katy Perry, leaving Franco conflicted over their mission parameters.
They were warned that the Kim Jong-un was a master manipulator, and he started early on Franco with a gift of an adorable puppy. Rogen tries to keep Franco on track, but only the film will reveal if their successful or not.
“The Interview” was directed by Rogen and Evan Goldberg from a screenplay by Dan Sterling based on a story by all three. Goldberg and Rogen produced alongside James Weaver. Columbia Pictures will release the film to theaters on Thursday, Dec. 25.