Seth Rogen has weighed in on the long-running theory about why Anne Hathaway quit her role in “Knocked Up.”
Hathaway was set to play a lead role in the classic 2007 comedy alongside the actor, but was eventually replaced by Katherine Heigl. The film ultimately became a commercial success despite Hathaway’s decision at the time.
Anne Hathaway’s decision to leave “Knocked Up” in 2007 has long remained one of the film’s biggest behind-the-scenes talking points, particularly because it was no secret that she was originally cast to star before being replaced by Katherine Heigl.
Nearly two decades later, the film’s lead male actor, Seth Rogen, revisited the topic in a new interview on “The A24 Podcast” alongside Olivia Wilde, who also auditioned for the role but ultimately did not land the part.
Wilde asked whether the narrative that Hathaway quit over a crowning scene was true, to which Rogen initially answered in the affirmative before slightly backtracking, adding, “It could have been a hundred million things.”
However, he said he remembered being told that the crowning scene was the reason, describing it as “a tough one.”
Rogen Says Hathaway Felt The Scene Was Not Her ‘Brand’
Regarding the crowning scene, Rogen explained what Hathaway specifically took issue with and how it may have contributed to her decision to leave the film.
“She didn’t want the crowning of the baby to be visually representative. Even though it wasn’t going to be hers… It’s obviously not real. But she didn’t even want…she felt that it was not her brand,” the actor told his co-star and “The Invite” director.
Looking back on the moment, Rogen said he has no plans to question the claim.
“We had started rehearsing the movie… maybe she was just like, ‘I don’t know if this is for me.’ I don’t know. I will take what she said at face value, which was the crowning,” he added.
Seth Rogen Defends Hathaway’s Decision To Leave
In “Knocked Up,” Hathaway was meant to play Alison Scott, an ambitious TV producer who becomes pregnant after a one-night stand with Rogen’s character, Ben Stone.
The role was ultimately played by Heigl, and the film became a commercial success after its release in the summer of that year.
Despite the actress seemingly missing out on the potential accolades that could have come with playing the role, Rogen sees it as a matter of fate that she did not commit to the film.
“She had a sense, and she knew it was not for her,” Rogen continued. “And history will tell… she has been right about a lot more things than I have over the years.
“So, I think she was probably right. [Heigl] knew what was right for her, yes. And then Heigl was great. Katie Heigl was great,” he also noted.
Rogen Earns Praise For ‘The Invite’
Rogen recently returned to the big screen in Wilde’s film “The Invite,” in which he stars alongside Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton.
His performance as Joe has earned widespread praise from Wilde, who highlighted his emotional depth and comedic strength.
“Seth has this extraordinary ability to ground the most outrageously comic scenarios in such honesty. It’s like he has a pact with the audience where he respects them, but will never underestimate their intelligence,” she said.
“He’s sort of a comedy scientist who happens to have this deeply personal and emotional connection to the audience. With Seth as Joe, I wanted to warm people up with comedy, and then pierce their hearts with grounded emotional honesty,” the actress added.
Seth Rogen Opens Up About Working With Olivia Wilde
For Rogen, starring in the project came down to Wilde’s vision for the characters.
“When she described what she was hoping to do with ‘The Invite,’ I was interested in that collaborative process, developing the characters together over time and then reworking the script based on the new ideas that were emerging,” Rogen said of Wilde.
Reflecting further on his experience working with Wilde, Rogen explained what made the collaboration so enjoyable.
“She and I excelled at arguing with each other. Also, I tend to thrive comedically in situations where there’s a lot of tension and pressure and an underlying doom of some sort, and this was perfect for that,” he shared.
