Seth Rogen Gets Candid About James Franco-and Why There's No Going Back

Once one of Hollywood's most beloved comedy duos, Seth Rogen and James Franco haven't worked together in years-and it appears there's little chance of that changing.

Rogen recently offered a candid update on his relationship with longtime friend and frequent collaborator, revealing they haven't spoken in a long time and suggesting that some wounds from Franco's fall from grace may never fully heal.

"I honestly think the nuance of it is too personal for me to get into right now," Rogen told The New York Times when asked if he'd ever work with Franco again.

"It is a very personal thing. There's the public-facing side of it, which I've spoken about, and I have the same stance publicly that I've had, and I think the proof is in the pudding - I have not worked with him in years," Rogen continued. "But the personal side of it is just so nuanced, and it involves people that I don't know if I should be dragging into this. I don't know what I would benefit from getting deeply into it. Nothing has changed since the last time I talked about all this, and I haven't worked with him in a really long time, and I have no plans to."

Rogen publicly distanced himself from Franco in 2021 after the actor faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. In 2018, five women accused Franco of sexually inappropriate or exploitative behavior, and in 2019, two former acting students filed a lawsuit alleging sexual misconduct at his acting school. The case was settled in 2021. Franco later acknowledged having sexual relationships with students and said his behavior was wrong.

When asked during The New York Times interview whether he still talks to Franco, Rogen didn't mince words: "I haven't talked to him in a long time, no."

Franco acknowledged the end of their relationship in 2024, telling Variety, "I haven't talked to Seth. I love Seth. We had 20 great years together, but I guess it's over."

Rogen and Franco collaborated on a string of popular comedies, beginning with the 1999 cult series Freaks and Geeks and continuing with films such as Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, This Is the End, and The Interview.

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This story was originally published June 14, 2026 at 3:44 AM.