After her reportedly Award-worthy turn opposite Ryan Gosling in this year’s Sundance disintegrating couple drama Blue Valentine, Michelle Williams will star opposite Seth Rogen in the Sarah Polley-directed Take the Waltz, according to Deadline Hollywood.

Waltz is the story of a commitment-phobic woman who must confront the fact that she only likes the Honeymoon period of relationships.

Polley, who also wrote the script, showed the type of promise in her directorial debut, 2006’s Away From Her, that some filmmakers don’t realize late into their careers. It’s also good to see a movie being made about the woman being the commitment-phobe rather than the commitment-ends-all-problems mentality of stereotyped female characters in many a Hollywood romantic comedy, and love of the Honeymoon period of a relationship is something anybody can relate to regardless of age or gender.

Williams has definitely shown that she has far better acting chops than the rest of the Dawson’s Creek cast. Polley proved she can utilize the natural talent of great actresses by directing Julie Christie all the way to a late-career Oscar nom in Away From Her, so no doubt she can do the same with the growing talent of Williams. The wild card here is Seth Rogen who, despite being a fellow Canadian, seems out of Polley’s league. It all depends, of course, on what tone she’s going for. My guess is that with the younger cast, the lighter subject matter, and the presence of Rogen, Polley will be going for a dramedy or a tragicomic tone rather that the seriousness of her debut film. Source

“Jay and Seth vs. The Apocalypse” is a confusing project. The general premise is simple enough — two slobby guys played by Jay Baruchel and Seth Rogen survive the end of the world and continue to be slobs while holed up in their claustrophobic apartment — but things get odd when you realize that the movie has a trailer, even though production hasn’t started. The obvious question is, what’s going on with this movie? Is it getting made? Was the teaser just a tease for something that will never arrive?

While promoting “How To Train Your Dragon,” Baruchel spoke with io9 to clear the air on the long dormant project. The comedian said that while he’s still planning on making “Jay and Seth,” it’s all a matter of timing for himself and his co-star.

“Seth and I have a lot of things going on, so we just got to figure out a time in the year where it makes sense for us to carve out at least six months to do it,” he said. “We’ve been working on it and writing it for the past two years. There’s a studio that wants to make it, so everybody wants to do it. It’s just a matter of timing. I’d say that we at least start making the thing in some capacity by the end of this year.”

Baruchel was light on the plot specifics for “Jay and Seth,” as he feels he’s already said too much in the past that has made him and Seth “look like an ass.” But beyond the film’s primary setting of a post-apocalyptic apartment, Baruchel did reveal one running gag he hopes to implement in the disaster comedy.

“I want a recurring joke, because it takes place in Los Angeles, and there’s a lot of famous people in Los Angeles, I want a bunch of cameos, but I just want them to be corpses,” he said. “I want them to be like ‘oh god there’s Will Smith’s dead body in the corner!’ And it would actually be him. So that’s my recurring joke for the movie: I want there to be a lot of dead famous people in it.”

Source

Seth Rogen is hardly the image that comes to mind when you mention the words “Winter Olympics,” but he and his crew will be hitting Vancouver during the games in a quest for movie-making gold. Rogen will produce and star in “I’m With Cancer” in his native stomping grounds at just about the same time the world will be descending on his fair city to do things like watch figure skating and curling.

The mad logistics of this plan are not lost on one of the “I’m with Cancer” stars. “We’re going to be the only movie filming in Vancouver during the Olympics,” James McAvoy lamented during a press day for “The Last Station.” “There is a reason no one else is filming during the Olympics.” The Scottish star added that there were “fabulous” aspects to the idea and said he planned to take full advantage of the shoot to catch some events. Not that the Scots are a particular powerhouse in the winter games, but you get the idea.

The reasons for the movie location are biographical rather than any Olympic subplots (so there is hope we will never have to see Rogen in one of those form-fitting speedskating outfits). The story deals with Rogen’s Vancouver life and friend Will Reiser’s battle with cancer in his mid-20s. McAvoy will play Reiser, who wrote the screenplay and is executive producing. Rogen plays himself in the movie and Anna Kendrick plays a young, inexperienced psychologist assigned to help McAvoy’s character.

“You wouldn’t call it comedy,” says McAvoy. “But there are bits of it that are funny. Because Seth’s in it, everyone calls it a comedy.” (Source)

Vancouver native Seth Rogen’s movie, The Green Hornet, is back filming. Cameron Diaz returned on set now that she has wrapped Knight and Day, starring Tom Cruise.

The Green Hornet has been plagued by setbacks (including losing both Nicholas Cage and Stephen Chow as co-stars) and the Hollywood industry buzzards have been mercilessly predicting disaster. But don’t count Rogen’s movie out yet. A set source says what’s already been shot is “totally great.” Said the source, “I’m not kidding, the rushes are terrific.” It was originally supposed to open in theatres this summer, but the new release date is December 2010. (Source)

Anna Kendrick has signed on to her first film following her breakout role opposite George Clooney in “Up in the Air.” Kendrick will join James McAvoy and Seth Rogen in the untitled Mandate dramedy formerly known as “I’m With Cancer.” Director Jonathan Levine (“The Wackness”) has taken over directing duties from Nicole Holofcener, who dropped out of the project because of personal reasons.

McAvoy stars as Adam, a 25-year-old who learns he has cancer. The character is based on the real-life experiences of Will Reiser, who was diagnosed with cancer in his mid-20s and successfully battled the disease. Reiser wrote the screenplay.

According to Variety, Kendrick will play a young psychologist assigned to Adam’s case. The film begins production next month in Vancouver. Rogen, Evan Goldberg and Ben Karlin are producing. Reiser is executive producing alongside Mandate president Nathan Kahane. (Source)

If you’ve been following the coverage of Seth Rogen’s The Green Hornet the past several months, then you’ve read about all the problems the production has encountered — from concept to production — to say nothing of the lack of love it seems to engender online (yes, we’ve been guilty of a few flippant remarks ourselves). Now comes word that Taiwanese actor/musician Jay Chow, who will star alongside Rogen as Green Hornet’s sidekick Kato, isn’t really terribly interested in acting after all, with speculation ensuing that he just sees this as an opportunity to advance his music career.

“I went to Hollywood not just to make it big and develop my film career,” Chow is quoted as saying over at ComicBookMovie. “I went there to also introduce my music to the Americans. So that they will notice me.”

Chow seems dissatisfied with the Hollywood production machine, complaining that it takes too long to make movies.

“In Asia, we get through a movie very quickly. We get the script, we get working and it’s done,” he said. “In Hollywood, they have rehearsals that go on for half a month before they begin shooting, and shooting can go on for months. I’m a newbie. There is a lot of waiting around before my scenes and I cannot speak too loudly. I have to be well-behaved.”

Source

When it was announced that actor-director Stephen Chow would be dropping out of Seth Rogen and Michel Gondry’s adaptation of the classic radio serial The Green Hornet, many questioned whether this might be the final nail in the coffin of a production already beleaguered by a number of setbacks.

Gondry was offered the director’s chair following Chow’s departure, but that still left the hero without his trusty sidekick, Kato (famously portrayed by Bruce Lee in the ’60s TV show). Enter Jay Chou, an award-winning musician, singer, producer, actor, and director from Taiwan, most widely known in the U.S. for his appearance in Curse of the Golden Flower.

In a recent interview with Channel News Asia, Chou said there were a number of reasons why he simply “had to” take the role of Kato.

It’s a role that Bruce Lee once played, plus it’s a positive Asian role which is rare in Hollywood. Anyway, I went to Hollywood not just to make it big and develop my film career. I went there to also introduce my music to the Americans. So that they will notice me.

In a separate interview with The Star Online, Chou said that he had fun working on The Green Hornet, but that the Hollywood-style production tried his patience.

In Asia, we get through a movie very quickly. We get the script, we get working and it’s done. In Hollywood, they have rehearsals that go on for half a month before they begin shooting and shooting can go on for months.

The Green Hornet was adapted for the screen by Rogen and his frequent collaborator Evan Goldberg. The movie also stars Cameron Diaz, Christoph Waltz, Edward Furlong, and Edward James Olmos. (Source)

Hello everyone! I wanted to wish you all a very Happy New Year and all the best for 2010. On behalf of Seth Rogen Online I hope you all have a prosperous year.

The Huffington Post has released their Top 10 Films of 2009 list. Surprising to many, “Observe and Report” made the list! Below is what they had to say:

7. “Observe and Report”
Where have all the Travis Bickles gone? Quick answer — the shopping mall. And if you got behind (me Satan), or rather, director writer Jody Hill’s subversive, hilarious, weirdly poignant and almost horrifyingly timely Observe and Report, you’ll see Travis, not only as a power-hungry security guard in the form of a schlubbier Seth Rogen, but also as a regular Joe consumer. He might be traversing the food court or staring at the ice skaters in the center rink or wondering if he can afford a flat-screen TV while making his mortgage payment, but he’s there, facing down all of that cheaply made fast food, recycled air and overpriced merchandise. He’s killing time and, to become even more of a downer here, he’s killing his soul. Yes, he’s killing his soul at…Cinnabon. It’s funny and yet it’s not. It’s heartbreakingly sad. And weirdly joyful (especially in a heroin moment. That’s right, a shooting-up heroin moment). It was also one of the bravest, most underrated movies of the year. One day it will be considered a classic.

Movieweb.com compiled a list of the “Best Films of the Decade (2000-2009).” The list included both audience pick and critics pick.

Aught Blog Critic’s Pick for 2005? The Forty Year Old Virgin.
Directed by Judd Apatow, this R rated comedy went on to earn $109 million at the box office. With the PG-13 rating dominating the early part of the Aughts, Apatow created a smart and intelligent adult sitcom that revolved around real human themes and emotions. In one fail swoop, he proved that an R rated comedy could still cash in at the box office. This one flick kick-started far too many careers to count, including Paul Rudd’s, Steve Carell’s, Seth Rogen’s, and Jane Lynch’s. Not to mention creating a brand name out of the last name Apatow. While many similar films have followed in its footsteps, no other comedy has meant as much to this decade as The Forty Year Old Virgin.

Aught Blog Critic’s Pick for 2007? Superbad.
Directed by Greg Mottola, this Judd Apatow produced comedy went on to earn $121 million at the box office. It also proved to be the funniest film of the entire decade. Earning more laughs per minute than any other film made in the last ten years, Superbad redefined vulgarity and the use of profanity for laughter’s sake. It also upheld its human relationships, centering itself on the true bond of friendship. It’s a one of a kind movie miracle that doesn’t happen very often. And it’s still heralded as the greatest teen flick of all time, besting even John Hughes’ epic entries in the genre.

Source/Complete List