Rogen-Franco Split Confirmed
Seth Rogen Confirms No Future Work with James Franco After Misconduct Allegations
Key Points
On The New York Times’ “The Daily,” Rogen reiterated that the situation is too personal to expand on and contrasted the “public-facing side” of his view with the “personal side,” saying, “the proof is in the pudding” because he “have not worked with him in years,” and adding that he “don’t know if I should be dragging into this” the other people involved.
The coverage details the specific arc of their collaboration: it began with NBC’s “Freaks and Geeks” (1999) and ran through major films including “Knocked Up” (2007), “Pineapple Express” (2008), “This Is the End” (2013), and “The Interview” (2014).
The class-action suit described in the articles included former acting students: the New reporting says “five women,” “four of them former acting students,” alleged Franco misused his position as a teacher/employer, and that he settled in 2021 for “$2.23 million without admitting wrongdoing.”
Franco’s earlier comments to Variety went beyond “it’s over,” including, “No. I haven’t talked to Seth. I love Seth, we had 20 great years together, but I guess it’s over. And not for lack of trying,” a characterization Rogen’s renewed remarks are described as confirming.
Seth Rogen says his friendship and working relationship with James Franco is effectively over. Speaking on The New York Times' podcast *The Daily*, Rogen confirmed he has not talked to Franco "in a long time" and has no plans to work with him again. "The proof is in the pudding," Rogen said. "I have not worked with him in years and I don't plan to right now."
The remarks come as Franco tries to revive his career after a 2021 class-action settlement worth $2.23 million over misconduct allegations tied to his acting school. Franco had already confirmed the split to Variety, saying, "I love Seth, we had 20 great years together, but I guess it's over."
Rogen Draws Line Between Public Words and Private Truth
On *The Daily*, Rogen pushed back on the idea that he owes the public a full explanation. He said the "nuance" of the situation is "too personal" to spell out. He drew a clear line between his "public-facing side" and his "personal side." "I don't know if I should be dragging into this the other people involved," he said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Rogen had been more ambiguous in the past. Back in May 2018, he told Vulture he still planned to work with Franco despite the allegations. But by May 2021, he had shifted. He told *The Sunday Times* he "despises abuse and harassment" and would not work with Franco again. His June 2024 comments confirm that position has not changed.
Twenty Years of Collaboration, Then a Hard Stop
Rogen and Franco met on NBC's *Freaks and Geeks* in 1999. Over the next two decades, they built one of Hollywood's most profitable comedy partnerships. Their films together include *Knocked Up* (2007), *Pineapple Express* (2008), *This Is the End* (2013), and *The Interview* (2014). *Pineapple Express* alone grossed over $102 million domestically, according to Box Office Mojo.
Their last major project together was *The Disaster Artist* in 2017. Since then, the pair has not shared a screen or a set. Franco told Variety he has tried to reach out. "Not for lack of trying. I've told him how much he means to me," Franco said. Rogen's latest comments suggest those efforts have gone nowhere.
Franco's Acting School Allegations Led to $2.23 Million Settlement
The break traces back to January 2018, when five women — four of them former acting students — accused Franco of sexual misconduct at his Studio 4 acting school. Plaintiffs alleged he pushed students into "increasingly explicit sexual situations" under the cover of acting instruction, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The school has since shut down.
In June 2021, Franco settled a class-action lawsuit for $2.23 million without admitting wrongdoing. Lead plaintiffs Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gaal had described the school as a "pipeline for his personal use." Franco later admitted on a podcast to having a sex addiction and sleeping with students. He has since sought work in Europe, appearing at the Cannes Film Market in 2024 to promote an Italian film called *Hey Joe*.
Franco Eyes a Comeback, But Without His Most Important Ally
Franco's path back to Hollywood is narrow without Rogen. Rogen's production company, Point Grey Pictures, has grown into a major force behind shows like *The Boys* and *Invincible*. Franco no longer has access to that network. His current projects are independent and largely based outside the US, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Meanwhile, Rogen has moved on. His brand now spans cannabis, animation, and prestige TV. By cutting ties with Franco, Rogen has insulated himself from ongoing controversy. The split closes the book on one of the most successful comedic duos of the 2000s — a partnership worth hundreds of millions at the box office that ended not with a fight, but with silence.
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