Between streaming hits like Apple TV’s “The Studio,” voice work in films like “Kung Fu Panda 4,” various producing duties, and buzzy festival hits about to hit theaters like Olivia Wilde’s “The Invite,” Seth Rogen’s career is going just fine. But even with all of that on his plate, THR reports that Rogen recently hinted he may get back to film directing, something he hasn’t done since 2014’s infamous “The Interview.”
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It’s not hard to understand why Rogen hasn’t directed a feature-length movie since that film, a satire about a talk show host and his producer (James Franco and Rogen) tasked by the CIA to assassinate North Korean dictator Jong-Un Kim, caused an international incident. For those who don’t remember, North Korea threatened the United States if Sony Pictures released the film in theaters, with the studio being hit with a cyberattack shortly afterward. The film was subsequently released to rent on streaming on December 24, 2014. North Korea obviously never follows through on its threats, but it rightly spooked then-friends Rogen and Franco, as well as Rogen’s co-director and producing partner, Evan Goldberg. Earlier this year, ex-Sony chief Michael Lynton called greenlighting “The Interview” “the biggest mistake of my career.”
Now, twelve years later, Rogen feels the lure of the director’s chair again. “It has been a while. The last one we did almost started a war, so that made us maybe a little gun-shy for a little while,” Rogen said at the premiere for Wilde’s “The Invite” on Wednesday night. “We eased back in through television, and it seemed to go well, so we do talk about maybe, hopefully, directing a film next year, actually.” But is he worried North Korea may retaliate when they hear the news? Quipped Rogen, “We’re not the biggest problem anymore.”
Yet, it’s not as if Rogen hasn’t directed anything since “The Interview”: he and Goldberg directed episodes of “Preacher,” “Future Man,” and “Black Monday,” and most recently co-helmed the entire 10-episode first season of “The Studio.” As for what their next film-directing gig might be, Rogen played mum but did praise his “The Invite” co-star Wilde for her duties behind the camera. “I’ve worked with some people who are acting and directing at the same time, and I always really enjoy it. To me, she was very bold in both respects, which I found to be really impressive, like she was taking big swings both as an actor and director,” Rogen commented.
Rogen and Wilde star in “The Invite” as a couple struggling to keep their marriage together, whose dinner invite to their neighbors, played by Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton, turns out to be more than they bargained for. Wilde’s third feature premiered at Sundance back in January to positive reviews (read The Playlist’s review here), and opens everywhere on July 10. Other films for Rogen this year include voice work in “Supergirl” and “Tangles,” and “The Wrong Girls,” an ensemble comedy.
Stay tuned for when Rogen gets back behind the camera for another movie. Maybe it’ll be an actioner, given his recent hot take about Sylvester Stallone’s filmography? Rogen’s assessment in general isn’t wrong, but don’t forget about “Rocky…”
Seth Rogen says Sylvester Stallone has only made four good movies.
— Tig (@Tig_Bo) June 26, 2026
"What's the over/under on actual good Stallone movies? I think it's like four." – Ike
"Demolition Man. Tango and Cash is enjoyable, but it's not a good movie." – Seth
"Stallone is maybe not as good as… pic.twitter.com/QUPtpLklcu
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