Seth Rogen and James Franco won’t be collaborating on any projects together for the foreseeable future.
In a conversation with the New York Times, Rogen stated that he hasn’t been in contact with Franco for years and does not plan to rekindle their professional relationship.
When questioned about Franco, especially following the sexual misconduct allegations, Rogen commented that the situation is complicated and not suitable for public discussion.
“Honestly, I think that nuance is too personal for me to go into right now. It’s very personal. There’s a public aspect to this, and I maintain the same stance. The proof is in the pudding; I haven’t worked with him in years. Still, the personal side is sensitive, and I’m unsure if I should be speaking on this. Nothing has changed since we last discussed it, and I don’t plan to work with him again,” Rogen said.
When asked if they were still in touch, Rogen’s reply was straightforward: “I haven’t talked to him in a long time, no.”
This separation marks the end of a significant comedic partnership from the 2000s and early 2010s. After initially meeting in Paul Feig’s short-lived series, Freaks and Geeks, they went on to create several popular films together, including Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, This Is The End, and The Interview.
Their collaboration began to falter in 2018 when Franco was accused of sexually exploitative behavior by five women, including four former acting students. Two of those women later filed a class-action lawsuit claiming he abused his power as a teacher and engaged in inappropriate and sexual conduct with the students. This lawsuit was settled in 2021 for $2.23 million.
Rogen has repeatedly communicated the same message over the years. In a 2021 interview with the Sunday Times, he expressed regret for earlier comments that suggested he might work with Franco again, clarifying that a reunion isn’t on the table anymore.
“I mentioned in a 2018 interview that I would continue to work with James, but the reality is that we haven’t worked together since, and I have no intention of doing so,” Rogen explained.
Franco later acknowledged their loss of contact. Reflecting on their relationship in a 2024 interview with Variety, he stated, “No, I haven’t talked to Seth. I love him. We had 20 wonderful years together, but I think it’s over. It wasn’t for a lack of trying—I told him how much he means to me.”
