'Long Shot' First Look Photos: Charlize Theron & Seth Rogen Tackle Romance & Politics In Timely SXSW Comedy

When you think of the great rom-com duos of all time, you might consider Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, as well as, Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. But you probably wouldn’t think that Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron would fit that bill. Alas, the duo is attempting to prove everyone wrong in the upcoming film “Long Shot” (formerly known as “Flarsky”).

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As revealed in new first-look photos (via EW), Rogen and Theron hope to bring some romance to the world of politics. Yes, those aren’t normally genres that work well together, but with producers Rogen and Evan Goldberg onboard, we’re willing to give it a shot.

“Long Shot” tells the story of the US Secretary of State, played by Theron, who has aspirations for the Presidency. She hires an upstart speech-writer, Fred Flarsky (Rogen), to help her, and in doing so, the duo develops a love connection, where the uptight politician becomes enamored with the more relaxed underling.

Rogen explains, “We wanted to make a movie that acknowledged the political realities we all live in without trying to make too heavy-handed directives, and at the same time make something that’s highly enjoyable and highly entertaining that appeals to as wide an audience as anything I’ve made.”

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Theron says that the romance between Rogen’s character and her own is the result of something missing in the politician’s life.

“There’s a nostalgia to [the relationship] and she really enjoys that, this remembrance of her when she was young,” Theron says. “She somehow has forgotten that and he reminds her.”

And you wouldn’t be wrong for thinking Theron is an odd choice to lead a rom-com opposite Seth Rogen. As the actress explains, her idea of “comedy” is vastly different than what her co-star is known for.

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“If anybody knows me from any kind of comedy, it’s probably the darker comedies that I’ve done that are maybe not considered comedies to a lot of people, that maybe are just horror movies,” Theron says. “It’s not my play zone. I explored a little bit, but not to the level of working next to Seth Rogen and trying to keep up with that.”

Joining Rogen and Theron in the star-studded cast are O’Shea Jackson Jr, Andy Serkis, June Diane Raphael, Ravi Patel, and Randall Park. Also, audiences can expect to see Alexander Skarsgård playing the hot Prime Minister of Canada and Bob Odenkirk playing the current President of the United States.

“Long Shot” is set to premiere at this year’s SXSW Film Festival and will be released in theaters May 3.

Here are the first look photos:

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