Seth Rogen severed ties with James Franco and has no intention of reviving their creative partnership. The comedian told The New York Times this week that he hasn't spoken to Franco in years and ruled out any future collaboration between them.
Rogen's statement comes after Franco faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct in 2018, when multiple women accused the actor of sexual harassment during his acting classes at Studio 4. Franco settled a lawsuit with two former students in 2021 for $2.2 million without admitting wrongdoing, though he later denied the most serious allegations made against him.
The two actors built a prolific working relationship spanning nearly two decades. They collaborated on "Pineapple Express" (2008), "This Is the End" (2013), and "The Interview" (2014), three films that defined a particular strain of stoner comedy and irreverent humor that dominated mid-2000s to early-2010s comedy. Their on-screen chemistry and off-screen friendship made them one of Hollywood's most bankable creative partnerships during that era.
Rogen's decision to distance himself reflects broader reckoning in entertainment following the #MeToo movement. While some collaborators have quietly moved on without public statements, Rogen chose to directly address the rupture, acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations rather than offering equivocal defenses of Franco.
Franco has largely disappeared from major film and television projects since the allegations surfaced, though he continued acting in smaller independent projects and streaming content. His last significant studio role came years before the misconduct allegations emerged.
Rogen himself has remained prolific, producing and starring in projects like "Pineapple Express" producer Evan Goldberg's ventures and HBO's "Undeclared" revival discussions. His stance on Franco aligns with how many actors and producers have rec