Seth Rogen says he has ‘no plans’ to work with James Franco again: 'It is a very personal thing'

Seth Rogen shared a rare update on James Franco rift
Seth Rogen says he and James Franco haven’t worked together in years (Barry King/Getty Images)
Seth Rogen says he and James Franco haven’t worked together in years (Barry King/Getty Images)


NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Seth Rogen is giving a pretty clear update on where things stand with James Franco, and it is basically a full stop on their once-famous Hollywood pairing. 

In a recent conversation, Rogen confirmed that he has not spoken to Franco in years and made it clear there are no plans for a reunion on screen or behind the scenes. 

The two were once a go-to comedy duo in Hollywood throughout the 2000s and 2010s, appearing together in multiple hit films including ‘Knocked Up,’ ‘Pineapple Express,’ ‘This Is the End’ and ‘The Interview.’

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 19: Seth Rogen attends the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards at L.A. LI
 Seth Rogen attends the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards at LA LIVE on September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California (Rich Fury/Getty Images)

Seth Rogen says ‘no plans’ to speak with James Franco again 

Rogen, during an interaction with The New York Times, made it clear that his relationship with Franco has remained distant for a long time.“I honestly think the nuance of it is too personal for me to get into right now. It is a very personal thing."

HOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 11:  James Franco attends the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences'
 James Franco attends the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 9th Annual Governors Awards at The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center on November 11, 2017 in Hollywood, California (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

"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," he added.

James Franco previously shared he ‘loves’ Seth Rogen

Franco has spoken warmly about Rogen, reflecting on their long history of collaboration in Hollywood. In a SiriusXM interview in December 2021, Franco expressed deep admiration for Rogen and their years of working together. 

“I just wanna say I absolutely love Seth Rogen... I worked with him for 20 years. We didn't have one fight for 20 years. Not one fight. He was my absolute closest work friend, collaborator. We just gelled,” he said.

Seth Rogen and James Franco's iconic comedy pairing

Rogen and Franco's on-screen chemistry helped define a whole era of mainstream comedy, and for years, they were seen as a reliable creative pairing.That changed after 2018, when Franco was accused of inappropriate behavior.

Actors/filmmakers James Franco (L) and Seth Rogen celebrate The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards with Moet & Chandon at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 7, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)
James Franco and Seth Rogen celebrate The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards with Moet & Chandon at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 7, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California (Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

Following that period, their collaborations quietly stopped, and the duo that once felt inseparable on screen faded out of the Hollywood lineup. 

Since then, there has been no return to their partnership, and Rogen’s latest comments make it clear that the split is not temporary, but something that has settled into a permanent professional distance.

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