It doesn’t sound like Seth Rogen and James Franco will be sharing the screen again anytime soon.
Speaking with The New York Times, Rogen reflected on where things stand with his former collaborator, making it clear that he hasn’t been in touch with Franco for years and isn’t looking to restart their working relationship.
When asked about Franco following the sexual misconduct allegations that surfaced against the actor, Rogen said the situation is more complicated than he wants to discuss publicly.
“I honestly think the nuance of it is too personal for me to get into right now. It is a very personal thing. There’s the public-facing side of it, which I’ve spoken about, and I have the same stance publicly that I’ve had, and I think the proof is in the pudding — I have not worked with him in years. But the personal side of it is just so nuanced, and it involves people that I don’t know if I should be dragging into this. I don’t know what I would benefit from getting deeply into it. Nothing has changed since the last time I talked about all this, and I haven’t worked with him in a really long time and I have no plans to.”
Pressed on whether the two still keep in contact, Rogen’s answer was short and direct: “I haven’t talked to him in a long time, no.”
For moviegoers, the split marked the end of one of the defining comedy partnerships of the 2000s and early 2010s. After first crossing paths on Paul Feig‘s short-lived but beloved Freaks and Geeks, Rogen and Franco reunited for a string of fan favorites, including Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, This Is the End and The Interview.
Their professional relationship faded after Franco faced allegations of sexually exploitative behavior in 2018. Five women — four of them former acting students — accused the actor of misconduct, and two later filed a class action lawsuit alleging that he “engaged in widespread inappropriate and sexually charged behavior towards female students by sexualizing their power as a teacher and an employer by dangling the opportunity for roles in their projects.” The case was settled in 2021 for $2.23 million.
Rogen has been sending the same message for several years now. During a 2021 interview with The Sunday Times, the actor admitted he regretted earlier remarks suggesting he might collaborate with Franco again, making it clear that a reunion was no longer in the cards.
“I also look back to that interview in 2018 where I comment that I would keep working with James, and the truth is that I have not and I do not plan to right now,” Rogen said.
Franco later revealed that the two had fallen out of touch. Reflecting on their relationship in a 2024 interview with Variety, he said, “No. I haven’t talked to Seth. I love Seth, we had 20 great years together, but I guess it’s over. And not for lack of trying. I’ve told him how much he’s meant to me.”
