Seth Rogen Opens Up About Career Low Points, Including Controversy Around The Interview

Published: June 11, 2025

Seth Rogen has spoken candidly about the low points in his career, including the controversy surrounding his 2014 film The Interview.

In a new interview, Rogen, 43, said that after making the film, which tells the story of two journalists who try to kill North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, he was worried that he wouldn't be able to recover from the backlash.

"I was very worried that no comedy we made again would seem funny because it had been taken to this extremely serious place," he said. "I felt like maybe I'd pushed things further than you can come back from."

Rogen, who directed the film with Goldberg, starred in it alongside James Franco. The movie sparked outrage from North Korea, who threatened action against the United States over the film. The hack of Sony later that year was also allegedly connected to it.

However, the experience ultimately inspired Rogen's new Apple TV+ series, which he co-created with Goldberg. The show, The Studio, shines a light on the less pleasant parts of Hollywood.

Rogen said that the experience of making The Interview gave him a glimpse into the inner workings of the studios, and he realized that the decision-making process at the highest level of the studios was "raw" and "exposed".

Speaking to PEOPLE in March about The Studio, Rogen said, "It really is just our perspective of all of it. I think we are constantly frustrated by Hollywood and disappointed in Hollywood, and aggravated by it, but at the same time, we see the magic."

Rogen added that the controversy surrounding The Interview made him realize that people's memories are short, and that they quickly move on to the next thing. He recalled a conversation with Kate Winslet on the set of Steve Jobs, where she seemed to have forgotten about the controversy.

Rogen's comments come as he reflects on his career, which has taken some twists and turns. He has spoken about the time after Freaks and Geeks ended in 2000 when he was struggling to find work, but director Judd Apatow would give him and his writing partner jobs, asking them for help to rewrite movies.

Rogen has also spoken about how he was inspired by the experience of making The Interview, which ultimately led to the creation of The Studio.

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