The Interview, the James Franco and Seth Rogen comedy that reportedly inspired hackers to attack Sony Pictures, will not be shown in Asia. The film centers on a TV producer and host sent to North Korea to kill Kim Jong Un.

Sony Corp. made the announcement on Wednesday, reports Japan Times. A spokesman for the media conglomerate, which is based in Japan, said that the decision not to show it there was made even before thousands of Sony Pictures documents leaked to the press.

Audiences in Australia and New Zealand will still get to see the movie.

"It was never going to be released in Japan,” a source told The Hollywood Reporter. “Like some of those R-rated comedies that go down very well in the States, they don't work here and don't get released.”

More leaked emails showed how even Sony Corp. CEO Kaz Hirai was nervous about The Interview. He sent emails to Sony Pictures co-chairman Amy Pascal to discuss how graphically Kim’s death would be shown. Pascal then sent Rogen, who is also the co-director on the film, an email, revealing that she had never received a request like that from Hirai before.

The FBI is currently investigating the attack and it is still not clear if North Korea was directly involved. Still, The Associated Press notes that there will be no interviews with stars at The Interview’s red carpet premiere in Los Angeles tonight. Only still photographers will be invited.

image of James Franco courtesy of INFphoto.com